Chapter One #2
“Right.” Ethan looked around at the crowds of people, then turned to the small group behind them and asked, “Excuse me, who is catering tonight’s event? The food is delicious.”
The woman he’d addressed gave him a tight-lipped smile, no doubt horrified by the things she’d just overheard. But her high-class upbringing demanded she show good manners and respond.
“I believe the restaurant JULIEN is catering tonight.”
“That’s what I thought. I just wanted to be sure. Thank you.”
Oh shit— “Red works for her dad,” Zayne said.
“Who, tonight, is working for your dad.” Ethan pulled his phone from his pocket and typed something in, then he nodded and turned it over to Zayne.
There on the screen was a photograph of the handsome man who’d just been glaring them to death. He was dressed in his chef whites, and underneath the photo read: Internationally renowned, multi-Michelin-starred chef Julien Thornton-Priestley.
He scrolled a little further down to see: Thornton-Priestley has opened a successful string of restaurants across the United States, England, and France…
“Her father is a famous chef. Suddenly I wish I was into the culinary scene. Maybe I would’ve made the connection.”
Ethan tugged on the sleeves of his jacket and smirked. “That would’ve made tonight easier, that’s for sure. We had her last name right there on the contract—it just never clicked.”
Zayne rubbed at his forehead. “No wonder she’s so good for her age. She’s been cooking her whole life.”
“It would appear so.”
Zayne was about to ask how Ethan thought the conversation outside was going when he caught sight of the senator in his periphery.
Fuckin’ hell, he was heading back in their direction, more than likely about to ream them a new one for not leaving when he’d told them to, and Zayne wasn’t really in the mood for another confrontation tonight.
“Hey? You wanna head out to the hallway and wait for Red there?”
Ethan glanced over his shoulder and nodded when he spotted the senator. “Definitely. Let’s go.”
They made their way toward the main doors, but just as they were about to step outside, Zayne saw Chef Julien march back into the ballroom. He had a scowl on his face and looked like he wanted to punch something—probably one of them.
Zayne squeezed Ethan’s hand, drawing him to a halt, and as they looked in the chef’s direction, it was as though he sensed their attention.
Julien glanced across the crowded room and zeroed in on the two of them, and with his dark hair cut short and the silver at his temples, the brilliant shade of his green eyes stood out like a laser beam.
Damn. Julien Thornton-Priestley was hot.
“He looks pissed.” Zayne turned to Ethan, who was caught in the same stare-off.
“That’s an understatement. I don’t see the other two, though, do you?”
“Nope, just him.”
Julien’s eyes narrowed a fraction, but then he quickly dismissed them and headed off to what Zayne suspected were the kitchens.
“Dinner’s about to be served, remember?”
“That’s right.” Ethan led him through the doors and out into the hallway. “I’m rather sad we won’t get to experience his food tonight, knowing who he is.”
Zayne scoffed. “Yeah, even I might’ve braved the senator’s wrath for that meal, but somehow I think our heads would’ve ended up on the platters if we stayed.”
“Hmm. You might be right.” As the quiet of the hallway found them, Ethan turned serious eyes on Zayne. “Speaking of, are you okay after that showdown with your father?”
“Yeah. It’s all good. If I’m being honest, I’ve been looking for a way out of that deal for a long time.”
“Really?”
“Really. I just didn’t want it to affect us in any way.”
“Why would it affect us?”
Zayne hated talking about anything to do with his father. But he especially hated talking about this particular topic.
“Zayne?” Ethan reached for his chin. “Answer me. Why would it affect us?”
“I don’t know, this was always just my way to…” When Zayne couldn’t quite get the words out, Ethan arched a brow.
“To?”
“Contribute, okay? I was able to drum up clients at these bullshit events. They bring in money—lots of it. If I’m not doing that, what the hell do I bring to the table?”
“You better be joking.”
Zayne shrugged, and fire flashed in Ethan’s eyes.
“I don’t give a goddamn fuck about these assholes and their money, Zayne.
I only come here because I know you do. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
” He took a step forward, backing Zayne up against the wall.
“The majority of our members come to the club to see you . They hear about your demonstrations, see one, and then keep coming back for more. It’s the idea of watching you, touching you, being with you , that keeps them coming back. ”
Ethan leaned in and flicked his tongue over Zayne’s earlobe. “That’s got nothing to do with your father’s connection and everything to do with the fact that you’re one hot motherfucker.”
“Jesus…” Zayne sucked in a deep breath, feeling his cock stiffening behind the zipper of his pants.
“If we weren’t waiting on Chloé right now, I’d take you into one of these rooms and use that leather belt of yours on your ass for doubting that.”
Zayne thrust his hips up against the thigh wedged between his legs, but the sound of a door opening had the two of them turning.
Chloé stormed out of a room with her blue dress swirling at her feet. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and angled her head high, then she started in their direction as though she were stomping a catwalk.
“Damn.” Zayne whistled. “Would you look at that.”
“Hard to look anywhere else.”
From the flames of her auburn hair down to her icy-blue stilettos, it was clear Chloé was irritated. She was muttering to herself and her cheeks were flushed red, and as she continued up the hall, Ethan looked back at Zayne.
“Looks like someone’s fired up. Ready to go get our girl?”
Hell yes, he was.
* * *
ETHAN SLIPPED HIS hands in his pockets and did his best to adjust his stiff dick as they made their way down the hall toward the sizzling siren leaving a trail of fire in her wake.
Tonight had not gone as planned. Something he did not enjoy or appreciate.
But it’d been out of his hands and no one’s fault but fate, and that fickle bitch had been fucking with him his entire life.
So he shouldn’t be all that surprised that something he’d been looking forward to had ended up a complete disaster.
He glanced over at Zayne, still upset by the idea that he would ever doubt his worth in any aspect.
It wasn’t a new concern, not by any means.
Zayne had been dealing with this mindset since he was a boy, and when it had come to putting up capital for their business, he had balked at the idea of Ethan being the one to do so, when for Ethan, it had been a no-brainer.
He had more money than he knew what to do with, and not because of anything that he’d ever done.
His wealth wasn’t something he’d accumulated on his own.
It wasn’t something he’d even wanted. But again, fate had decided that particular path for him.
So if he could share it with the man he loved, then at least the fucked-up cards he’d been dealt as a child weren’t for nothing.
Ethan turned his attention back to the spitfire headed in their direction—another wild card fate had thrown their way. This one, however, he was more than happy to play with.
He had no idea what to expect from Chloé and this situation they now found themselves in. She was clearly upset. But why? And at whom?
She’d almost reached them when she finally raised her head, and when her stormy eyes locked on the pair of them, her chin kicked up a notch higher.
Her entire demeanor had changed from the open and carefree woman earlier to the guarded and defensive one he saw right now. She looked ready to fight, ready to take down whoever got in the way of her mission, and Ethan was curious what exactly that mission was.
“There you are,” Zayne said, grinning amiably. “We were about to send out a search party for you.”
“No need.” Chloé came to a stop opposite them and straightened her shoulders. “I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”
Yes, someone is definitely in a mood.
“Didn’t doubt that for a second, Red. I was more worried about your fathers.”
She let out soft little huff and rolled her eyes. “They’re fine.”
“Fine, huh?” Ethan said.
“Yes. They’re fine .”
He didn’t believe that for a second. She was too tense, too on edge, and she looked like she wanted to scratch his eyes out for questioning her. Too bad—he was just getting started.
“So, they’re okay with the fact that you’re out on a date with two men?”
“Well, they weren’t thrilled about it, but I explained.”
“And how did that go?”
“Just as I said, fine .”
He was getting really sick of that word. Three times it’d fallen from her lips, but he’d let it go…for now. Their wildcat was wound up tight, and he had a feeling that one wrong move would have her hissing and clawing her way out of the corner she currently found herself in.
Patience, he reminded himself. It was one of the only virtues he possessed.
“In that case, how are you?”
“I’m—” She must’ve sensed something in that moment, because she quickly deviated from what he suspected was another fine . “I’m a little bit…annoyed.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “A little bit?”
“ Yes . I knew they’d be upset—I lied to them. I deserve that. But I figured once they knew why I lied, they would understand.”
Zayne scoffed. “Red, I don’t think any father is ready to handle the idea of his daughter dating two guys.”
“Yeah, but my fathers aren’t just any fathers. They did the exact same thing I’m doing, but for some reason are being all high and mighty about it.” She frowned and shook her head. “I expected that from my papa. But not Dad, not Papounet . They were so…so disappointed.”
She shut her eyes and rubbed her hands over her face, her initial annoyance now turning to defeat, and it pulled at something in Ethan’s heart.
He reached for her hands and lowered them from her face. “I’m sure that when the shock wears off, you’ll all talk and sort things out. They were just taken off guard. That’s all.”
She bit down into her lip and nodded. “Maybe.”
He glanced over his shoulder to Zayne and noticed the same concern in his eyes. They needed to get her out of there. The last thing she needed was Zayne’s father—or her own—to find them again and round out the evening.
“Are you hungry?” he asked her.
“Hungry?”
“Yes. Since I don’t think we are going to be invited to the chef’s table tonight—”
“Oh God.” Chloé grimaced. “You know…”
“That one of your fathers is Julien Thornton-Priestley? Oui , we know.” Color bloomed on her cheeks. “We put it together while you were gone. Why didn’t you tell us that JULIEN was your family’s restaurant?”
“I—” Chloé started to speak and then let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I was going to a couple of times and then it just snowballed out of control, I guess.”
Usually, Ethan would reprimand or punish his sub for such an omission. But with everything that had happened tonight, he was willing to let this one go. Chloé had enough to deal with right now, and he wasn’t about to add to it.
“Well, I don’t know about you two.” Zayne moved up beside Chloé and took one of her hands, kissing her knuckles. “But I’m ready to get out of here. One father wanting to kick my ass is bad enough, but three…”
A quick burst of laughter left her lips, and he winked at Ethan over her head. Things might not have gone as planned tonight, but they sure as hell hadn’t been boring.