CHAPTER 64 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
S IPPING MY WINE, I smile in the right places, as well as looking suitably interested in the small talk and gracious comments given to my “husband” for his generosity.
Whoever these “second tier” staff are, I have no idea, but this afternoon’s work event has now morphed into a lavish dinner with an endless supply of drinks for these men, along with their partners or wives.
I turn my glass around by the stem, thankful the dinner is over. After last night, I’m careful to alternate wine with tonic water, not wanting a repeat of what happened, however enjoyable it was.
Red made it clear we must adhere to the rules, and although I’d have happily broken them last night, I’ll never be so careless to allow that to happen again.
I squirm, his thigh too close to mine. The occasional brush of his hand to keep up appearances doesn’t help either.
Even the waft of his scent burns me with heat, a continuing reminder of his mouth between my legs.
.. Something that was not completed, leaving me with a nagging, unfulfilled ache urging me to reach the place I’d headed towards.
The unresolved frustration never far away with my continuing heightened sense of arousal.
It’s not something I can dwell on. Instead, I pull myself together and play the inevitable part my decision to marry Red has landed me with.
Red holds a bottle of wine up. “No, thank you.” I force a smile in his direction. He’s making the right public gestures showcasing our “happy marriage”, but there’s coldness in his eyes - the opposite of last night.
Whatever I’d been fooled into starting to believe, Redmond Bateman does not want me - just what our association brings, I’ll do well to remember that the next time I fantasize about what his massive cock can do, judging on his expertise with his mouth.
“You seem a bit on edge, princess,” he drawls, trailing his finger along my arm.
A flurry of goosebumps appears where his finger connects, and I inwardly seethe.
Yet another reason why I should have worn a jacket over this sleeveless dress.
“I’m not on edge - just amazed at the amount of staff you have.
” My voice is as pleasant as his, but the coldness in my eyes matches his own.
Red grins at a man and his wife sitting in the group we’ve joined - one of many groups so far. We’ve trailed around a thousand people so Red can act like head honcho. It makes me sick.
“I have lots of staff, and giving my second tier a decent night on the house is something I’m ashamed to say is grossly overdue. After all, these men do the lion’s share of the work in my firm, don’t you, Bill?”
“Fascinating,” I say, keeping my saccharine smile firmly fixed. What Red’s words really translate to mean is, “these men do the majority of killing and drug running while I reap the benefits” .
Red Bateman reserves things like hacking reporters to bits himself for special occasions.
My teeth grate as he slaps Bill on the back, like they’re best friends. I haven’t seen Bill before and doubt I’ll see him again. Everyone knows that no one matters to Red Bateman, but are too scared to voice anything but gratitude.
Quickly reminding myself that I have to remain the “dutiful wife”, I bite back the sarcastic comment I itch to throw in his direction.
Let the men continue their good-natured banter.
What gives me the right to spoil this guy’s one night of having a laugh with the Big Bad Boss without fear of reprisals?
As for Bill’s wife - there’s little to say, even if I want to, which I don’t, because the envy seeping from her in my direction acts as a natural defense barrier.
You have no idea, love , I think, ignoring my urge to laugh at the irony. No one could be jealous of my life if they knew what it comprised of.
Feeling a distinct sense of daggers in the side of my head, I glance around.
I thought as much. Liam .
I focus on him and the man he’s with at the bar. By the looks of it, they’re having a right good old laugh, yet Liam still finds time to cut me death stares?
Pathetic.
The man Liam’s with isn’t someone I’ve seen before.
He doesn’t look the type to have a laugh with, yet they’re getting on like a house on fire.
The slightly built, bespectacled man in a pinstripe suit looks out of place compared to most of Red’s heavily built, stocky staff.
Interest piqued, my eyes still on Liam, I lean towards Red. “Who’s that?”
Glancing up, Red follows my gaze to his brother and the mystery man. “The guy talking to my brother?”
He effortlessly places his arm around my shoulders, his proximity an unnecessary reminder of the supposed “union” we can’t have. I shiver but also detect tension in the way his arm falls.
“It’s one of my accountants.”
I don’t miss the tinge of venom in Red’s voice. “He doesn’t look your usual sort,” I say, wishing he’d move away, but to my horror, he leans in, his breath hot on my ear.
“And what is my ‘usual sort’, princess? You?”
Fuck. He’s getting me bothered. I don’t need his tricks tonight because it’s hard enough as it is. “I meant...” My words trail off as Liam’s harsh glare swivels towards me once again. He’s still laughing with that man, but his eyes are stone cold.
Then I see an acknowledgement so minuscule, one blink and you’d miss it. Slapping the accountant on the back, Liam’s arm remains around the man’s shoulders and they both head off.
Good riddance.
I turn back to Red, his line of sight flicking from Liam to scan the room.
He rises from his seat and holds his hand out.
I take it, purposely blanking the effect his touch has.
I have to make the effort, but him running his eyes over me like he’s undressing me doesn’t help my overall countenance.
“Who are we planning to ‘mingle’ with next? Obviously, I can’t wait. ..”
“Sarcasm gets you nowhere, princess. You should realize that. From what I hear, you still prefer lurking around corridors and checking out fire escapes.”
I blanch. Liam told him? Why should I be surprised?
“I wasn’t sneaking about,” I snap. “I needed fresh air.” I then blush, vividly recalling exactly why I needed that fresh air.
My hand moves to my mouth. Even thinking of that night reminds me how swollen my lips were from Red’s savage kiss, but I pull myself together.
Then I remember the men I overheard. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it was Liam and Oscar. Regardless of the shift between us, I should tell Red about it. “Listen, I need to tell you something.”
“There’s no point in telling me what you were doing in the corridor now, sweetheart,” Red growls, his voice low. “You still haven’t cottoned on that I know everything that happens, but you should...”
“If that’s the case, you’ll already know that I overheard two men talking about passing on updates.”
Frowning, Red pulls me to one side against the wall, the look in his eyes chilling me to the bone. “What fucking updates?”
“I don’t know that, do I!” I can’t help but smirk.
Interested in what I’ve got to say now? “But I know this event was mentioned.” I frown, trying to remember the exact words.
“One of them said something about an ‘opening’, which would be passed on with the other info when ‘he’ wasn’t breathing down their necks. ”
“And who the fuck is ‘he’ supposed to be?” Red’s voice takes on a low hiss.
“I thought they might be referring to you and... well... erm... me.” I fidget slightly. “If I remember correctly, there was something about ‘not firing on all cylinders’ and being hung up on a ‘stupid bitch’.”
Red’s handsome face morphs into a scowl. “Who exactly were they?”
“I couldn’t see.” I shrug. “But...” Do I say this or not? Yeah, why not! “The voices sounded like... like your brothers...”
Red stares at me for a moment and then laughs - and it’s a hearty laugh at that. I blink, confused. He thinks this is funny?
“Dear God, Arianna. Is this the best you can do?” Taking back hold of my arm, his other hand grips tightly around my waist as he steers me back into the throng.
All anger has now magically dropped from his face, but it’s present in the words he hisses in my ear.
“We all know there’s no love lost between you and my brothers, but aren’t you above resorting to bullshit to drive a wedge between me and them? ”
I open my mouth, then shut it again and glare at Red defiantly. If he believes that and thinks I’m making it up for effect, then on his head be it!
If he’s so sure he knows everything, then he can work out who believes that he’s lost control over his own firm and deal with whatever that brings himself!
With all niceties gone now that we’re out of the orbit of anyone close enough to see the icy glare in our eyes, my heart sinks as we head toward a group of women.
Staff wives, their eyes light up at Red’s approach, but change to resentment with me at his side.
“Evening, ladies.” Red turns on a megawatt smile that’s guaranteed to impress. “I hope you’re having a good evening?”
“It’s fantastic, Mr Bateman!” A surgically enhanced blonde twirls her long-taloned fingers in her hair extensions. “It’s good of you to include us wives in this.”
“And why would I not? Your husbands do an excellent job,” he drawls. “Have you met my wife? This is Arianna.”
The mood of the sycophantic women immediately shifts. It’s so blatant I could laugh, but instead I react as expected. “Hi there.”
Red drops his arm to my waist and pulls me towards him. It takes all my strength not to push his hard body away. It’s too much of a temptation, as well as an insult after how he’s just brushed off what I told him.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he whispers. This time his lips do brush my ear, and the memories of where else that mouth has been and where I’d like it again, barrel back into my brain.
My cheeks color, but the stab of arousal doesn’t detract from his words.
He’s leaving me here with these women? “Where are you going?” I hiss. “Don’t leave me talking to...”
“I won’t be long.” Knowing he’s got a captive audience, Red cups my face, his lips graze mine and then he’s gone.
I watch his fine figure cross the room as he heads towards the door of the conference suite, then lose him in the crowd. It is only then that I turn towards the collection of unwelcoming Stepford wives.
I want to kill Red for this. I want to kill him for many reasons, but instead I’ll just have to pull on deep reserves and make conversation with these hostile bitches.