4. Entrapment
CHAPTER FOUR
entrapment
AIDEN
“I’d say ignore them,” Mark answers, but I shake my head in response.
I’m fucking sick of this blogger.
Those pictures of Katrina and me in the What Happens in Mayfair blog were an unpleasant surprise. I took her to a bar known for its understated luxury, and although it’s not a private club, it’s under the radar—a hidden gem. Well, it was, until the blogger linked it in their post, that wanker.
And the way they portray me, like some arsehole with an ulterior motive?
The worst part is, those photos were clearly taken by someone near us—inside the bar. What if the person who took those photos followed me later that night? If I become a liability to Le Lounge, they’ll cut my membership… Just the thought makes my skin crawl.
“Agree. Ignore them,” Sebastian adds. “That’s what I’ve been doing, and it seems they’re over me.” Sebastian swirls his glass of whiskey. The blogger was infatuated with Sebastian for a long time. Especially when with his various brunettes and the show they put on every weekend.
Unfortunately for Sebastian, the blogger might turn elsewhere, but the paparazzi will always keep an eye out for the last Vincent fortune heir, no matter what he does. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with them as well.
Is he on to something, though? The blogger got bored with him, and they’re done with Mark. The last few months they’ve been watching me. Does it mean soon they’ll move on to something else? It’s a risk to assume.
“As a precautionary measure, I got Vic to source a private investigator for me.”
“That’s taking it a bit far, isn’t it?” Mark asks.
“Just protecting my business.”
Mark raises an eyebrow. “Why is Vic doing that for you? Isn’t he an event coordinator?”
“He has a fluid job description, and I trust him implicitly.”
Vic has worked with me since the very start of The Orion, but I’ve known him for nearly two decades—well before I branched out of property development and into Mayfair luxury establishments.
He’s married to the photographer I modelled for at university.
Vic would never risk our friendship, or his husband’s reputation with his celebrity clients, by leaking gossip.
I lean back into my red velvet armchair in the Diamond Members’ Lounge at The Orion. It’s quiet for a moment. Only the popping and crackling of wood in the Victorian-style fireplace beside us.
With the low number of Diamond members I allow, this is the least-frequented room in the club, which makes it the best place for frank conversation—personal or business—without eavesdroppers.
This downtime with my friends is something I treasure.
Although it’s not as often as it used to be.
What happens when Mark gets married? Has children?
“Where’s Elliott tonight?” I ask.
His chair’s still empty. I’d like to hear what he has to say, considering he’s the one who suggested I try dating someone I hadn’t considered before.
In the past few months—with Mark living with his girlfriend, Rey, and Sebastian exercising all the time—Elliott has been my most reliable company here, and I appreciate his analytical mind and well-thought-out advice.
“It’s on the group chat. His brother had some sort of work emergency, and Elliott had to help him out,” Sebastian says.
“Oh, right.” I have half a memory of reading it while doing something else. Elliott’s good to his brother like that. I like to think I’d do the same if I had one.
“Was it your admin day today? Or is something else troubling you?” Sebastian asks.
I sigh. “Except for that blogger, nothing, Sebastian. I’m sweet as ever, don’t you worry. Just had an early morning.”
Yeah, that must be it. It’ll pass.
“With someone special?” He sets his drink down carefully, keeping eye contact.
“Not like that. I was working.”
“Something special, then?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“You don’t sound enthused about it,” Mark adds. “Why don’t you wait until after the augmented reality event on Saturday? Do one thing at a time.”
“I needed to kick it off now. The timing was important for my designer.”
As a potential investor, I learned about LEAF Design Studio’s reduced value and had my chief of staff dig up what had happened. With what I found out, I moved my project up by four months so she wouldn’t get stuck without work. It’s going to cost me more, but it’s still doable.
“Your designer? You mean Linnea?” Mark asks, letting out a huff.
“What’s with the attitude?” Sebastian asks, leaning forward to pick up his drink again.
“She’s that Scandinavian woman Rey worked with earlier this year when she was painting the first floor, and she was kind of bossing her around,” Mark grumbles.
“She wasn’t bossing her around. She’s my lead designer.
” I lean back, only half-bothered by the comment.
So Linnea can be a bit blunt at times, but she’s fucking excellent at her job.
People should simply listen to her. Although I can see how someone who doesn’t know her could struggle to see past her professional exterior the way I’ve learned to.
She doesn’t seem to realise, but when she gets excited, her eyes light up, even when she’s trying to keep her face straight.
“I don’t think I’ve met her,” Sebastian says, shrugging. “I suppose I should be more involved in your company, being an investor and all.”
“Yeah, both of you,” I say. “Only Elliott reads the bloody reports. Even Lord Rupert Beauchamp is more involved than you two, and he invests in half of London.”
To be fair, so does Sebastian. His investment in my company is a side gig for him.
“Is there anything about your new special project in there?” Sebastian asks.
“Only that I’ve invested in a strategic property on Grafton Street.”
“Can’t stop, can you?” Mark shakes his head.
“You know I won’t.” I chuckle. “Don’t pretend you don’t love it.”
“My seventeen years of giving all my time to Infinio Games feel like a hundred now,” Mark says, reclining in his chair and folding his hands on his stomach. “Remember, you always told me there’s more to life than work? Seems the tables have turned.”
Do I need to remind him what he always used to say? That you don’t stay a billionaire by sitting still?
He’s getting soft.
Whatever. I’ve got a project to focus on.
“I’m glad you said something,” Sebastian says. “You’re worrying me, Aiden. You were the one of us who always wanted to find the girl of your dreams and told the rest of us to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. And now… Lately… I don’t know. What happened?”
I sip my drink so I don’t snap at my friend.
“I agree,” Mark adds in my silence. “You seem to prefer Le Lounge to the real world these days.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, although I appreciate the love, brothers.” I lean my head back in my chair, avoiding their scrutinising stares.
Sebastian scoffs. “I mean it.”
“Me too,” I say, sitting up again to look at them both. “I’m the same as always. Just staying active. Still searching for love, you know—dating, letting Mum set me up.” And she’s been ramping that up lately. Jesus.
“But are you, though? You went on a date with Katrina Starre, for Christ’s sake,” Sebastian says.
I shrug, though I agree it was a waste of time, and I hate that the What Happens in Mayfair blogger has focused on it.
And that it’s on Katrina’s page. She’s an influencer or socialite, whatever the official title is, which isn’t a negative thing on its own, but she collects stories from dates with rich or famous men like trophies.
I’m not sure why I thought there’s a chance people had just misunderstood her, that there’d be more beneath the surface, but she was definitely only in it for the story and a free night out in an expensive club.
And she’s one of many with that motivation.
Seems I can’t find the right people. The right person.
“Just broadening my horizons. You would never have dated Rey if it wasn’t for the masquerade.” I direct the last part to Mark, and he shrugs. He knows it’s true.
“But taking Katrina Starre out…” Sebastian says, the disdain in his voice palpable. “I hope you wore protection,” he mutters.
“Hey, don’t be a twat.” I glare at him. “It’s the girls that need protection from you, right?”
Sebastian stills. His eyes on mine, but there’s no comeback. Maybe I’m the one who should ask if he’s okay.
“And no,” I add. “I mean, I didn’t have to.” I lean my elbows onto my knees, meeting Sebastian’s dark eyes. “You know I don’t sleep with everyone I go out with, right? I’m not a player like you,” I say, gesturing to him. I hide the shame at taking my issues out on him behind a smirk.
“Get off your high horse, Aiden. You have Le Lounge for your needs.” His voice is calm, but the implication stings.
It’s not at all the same. He’s just jealous… He didn’t get through the membership process because of his frequent tasteless press appearances.
Sebastian glances at Mark. “And I don’t do that anymore, for the record.”
Mark raises an eyebrow at him, but doesn’t weigh in.
“Yeah, well.” I sigh. “Guys, just let me keep doing what I’m doing. I’m good.”
I take the last sip of my whiskey and push off my chair.
“On that lovely note—arrivederci, gentlemen. I’m off to someone who thinks better of me than you two arseholes.” I do an exaggerated bow and wave before I head out.
“Say hi to your mum,” Mark shouts after me.
“Gioia mia, you made it,” Mum croons.
My joy. Ever since I was little, she’s called me this.
She kisses both my cheeks, leaving wet patches on my skin that turn cold in the evening breeze. I step into the hallway, and she studies me, her smile widening. “You look so like your father.” She pats my cheek. “My handsome boy.”
Every time…
I’ve not had the heart to tell her I don’t like to hear it. The only reason I endure it is knowing that she means it in the best way.
Mum moves down the hall towards the kitchen. “Come through, we’re all in the garden.”
“All?” Her partner, Will, moved in earlier this year, but I can hear other voices too, and it doesn’t take long to realise…