4. Alex
4
ALEX
Present…
“Alex, you fool. Why would you go through with it?” An indignant voice boomed from my phone’s speakers and resonated around my office.
It was my latest business acquisition… which was still in the works. I heaved a sigh and rocked back in my chair. Spinning it around to face the window, I gazed out at the city from my high-rise vantage point, briefly admiring the constant ebb and flow of pedestrians and cars weaving through the streets.
I lived in Massachusetts my entire life, but I was from the wrong side of the tracks. So, I tend to stop and admire the other side that I’d been fortunate enough to find myself on.
“You know, Jamie, my dad died when I was a baby. However, between you and Michael, I don’t lack father figures. You guys are unbearable. ”
Jamie scoffed. “We have no choice but to lecture you when you go off the deep end and do something reckless.”
I wasn’t the least offended that he called me reckless. Jamie Winchester had the right to call me out on my shit because we’d been friends for a long time. Our tight-knit crew also comprised Michael, Lincoln, and Spencer. We had all remained tight since Harvard.
“The deep end?” I repeated. “That’s extreme.”
“You can get extreme sometimes…”
“You call making a genius business move extreme and reckless? Seriously? ”
“I would have considered it genius had it been any other company but BioTech,” he said. “I can’t believe you suckered me into giving you the fuel you needed for a hostile takeover of your ex-girlfriend’s company. You made me an unwitting accomplice, you dick. I have nothing against Olivia Brentwood.”
“Well, as my best friend, you should.”
I heard Jamie mutter, “Jesus Christ,” and the tiniest smile played on my lips. I imagined him massaging the bridge of his nose as he typically did when he was annoyed. I’d called him months ago asking about BioTech, which he’d been thinking about investing in as a favor to his father, who he was getting on better terms with.
Old man Winchester was a friend of the late old man Brentwood and wanted to help the family out… something along that line. Anyway, Jamie stepping in to rescue Olivia was a possibility, and I couldn’t have that. A revenge scheme had quickly brewed, and I thwarted Jamie’s plans to become a major investor in BioTech. When Olivia fell, I wanted to ensure she had no cushions under her gorgeous ass. I hated that I still found her so damn attractive.
“You’re not an accomplice, by the way,” I said. “I haven’t committed a crime. My mild criminal days are long behind me,” I joked, prompting Jamie to groan.
“You’ve always been a nut job, Alex.”
“Sure, but a hot and funny one, according to the ladies.”
He sighed heavily. “I still stand by what we discussed yesterday. You’re playing with fire.”
My jaw tightened. We had one of our regular group chats and the gang all insisted that going after BioTech was the worst idea I’d ever had… and I’d had plenty of bad ones. Jamie thought he had talked me out of pursuing the company. Little did he know that the ball had been rolling for a while and the job was almost done.
“Why do you guys think that Olivia still has a hold over me?” I asked with growing irritation.
“Because it’s been nine years and you’re going out of your way to get back at her.”
My derisive snort echoed. “This is about business , Jamie.”
“Right…” he drawled.
It was hard for me to make my usual witty comeback because the mere mention of Olivia’s name sent me into an emotional vortex. One part of me couldn’t help remembering the good times we had while another part wallowed in anger about what she did. I didn’t think seeing her again would dredge up so much hurt. I’d assumed time would lessen the severity of the emotional blow she gave me.
“Think what you want, Jamie. Owning BioTech will expand my reach in the business world. I’m not backing down. I don’t care who owns it now… It will be mine soon.”
Jamie’s deep sigh said he was done arguing about it. He always said I was “a stubborn son of a bitch,” so he knew he wouldn’t win the argument. “Whatever, Alex. Just be careful. ”
I laughed. “It’s tech and business, Jamie, not a life-threatening mission.”
“I mean be careful with your heart, genius.”
“ Pfft.” I shook my head. “Since you fell in love, you’ve turned into a sentimental sap.”
“I was there when you and Olivia broke up, man. It wasn’t pretty… on your end…”
My eyebrows snapped together as memories of that dark period in my life threatened to surface. Yeah, I was a mess for a while, but… “Not to worry, my friend, I’m immune to matters of the heart.”
After Olivia, I never made the mistake of entering into such a pathetic, vulnerable state such as falling in love. No woman would ever have such a hold over me again.
“We’ll see…” Jamie said.
My frown deepened at the ominous note in his voice. I then roll my eyes. “You worry about me too much. I’m touched, really, but… stop. I’ll be fine and richer in a few months.” I grinned as if Jamie could see me.
After a long pause, he sighed and said, “Okay… We’ll talk later.”
After I hung up, I continued to stare out the window, but this time I wasn’t admiring the view. I became lost in thought about Jamie’s obvious worry and then I recalled my meeting with Olivia after nine years. The mild concern about my friends’ warning resurfaced, but I shoved it aside. Despite old feelings being dredged up, I was too pissed at her to be deterred.
She underestimated me as most people in her world did. Well, it was my world now too. The exclusive sphere of the one-percenters is what I used to call it. A lot of them laughed and looked down their wealthy noses at me when I launched my start-up. I ignored them because I knew I’d have the last laugh. Here I was, richer than most of them who doubted me.
However, I felt no satisfaction about that fact… not as I thought I would when I was younger and clawing my way to the top. It was because, during my climb, Olivia was the one whom I ultimately wanted to prove something to. When it came down to it, I didn’t give a shit about anyone else’s opinion.
Shit . Did I delude myself into thinking that she no longer had a hold over me?
“Son of a…” I violently pushed my chair back and stood up. I wouldn’t allow her to creep back in and burrow under my skin. Never again. I had to get out of here and distract myself with my favorite hobby. Sex. Another woman was sure to drive all thoughts of Olivia out of my head until I was ready to destroy her.
I couldn’t believe this shit. I hit my favorite strip club—no shame here—for a distraction, and what did I end up doing? I talked about Olivia fucking Brentwood. Jesus Christ!
“So, how long did you say you two dated?” asked the woman sitting across from me.
“Three years,” I sighed. I spent the last thirty minutes reliving my college romance and venting about the way it ended.
Candy, a stripper—that’s right, my favorite one, nodded and stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray on the small table beside her. We were in a booth that afforded us relative privacy. This wasn’t the typical seedy tittie bar. This one was more upscale, and there were rules.
Security was stationed close enough to the private booths in case anyone got it into their heads to want more than dancing from the ladies. You had to pay extra for more than a dance. I wasn’t into any of that. I simply came here for the drinks and to ogle the magnificent female form without touching. I never paid for pussy… ever.
Candy swept her platinum blonde hair over one shoulder. She sat back, her expression thoughtful. “Three years… for people like you and me, that’s a goddamn eternity.”
I snorted my amusement and took a sip of my drink. “People like you and me?”
She shrugged. “People who might wither at the mere mention of commitment.”
I snorted again, but I didn’t comment because she wasn’t wrong.
“However…” She held up a finger. “You dated Olivia for three years . She meant a lot to you.”
“I was eighteen… just a kid. I was young and stupid.”
My excuse didn’t fly with Candy. She arched perfectly shaped eyebrows. “The way you downplay your feelings indicates that you’re full of shit. You loved the hell out of that woman.”
My eyes narrowed on Candy’s face. This was why she was my favorite stripper… I actually had conversations with her… you know, when she wasn’t jiggling her tits in my face. We had a strange dynamic, one my friends thought was crazy yet hilarious. They were used to my eccentricities. It was just in my nature to have therapy sessions with an exotic dancer.
“Fine, I did love her… like crazy. Olivia was the first woman and only woman I’ve ever loved.”
“So, she’s the reason you frequent this club and pick up one-night stands…” Candy deduced as she idly swung the leg she had crossed over the other .
“You’ve been keeping an eye on me, Candy?”
“Uh-huh.” She lifted slender shoulders. “I like you, Alex. I may gyrate in front of you naked for tips, but you’re not like a lot of the guys who come in here. You treat us like human beings… like ladies . You’re always respectful.”
I blinked as I was hit with a blast from the past. “ I like you, Alex. You’re always respectful.” I’d heard those words before. That’s what Olivia said to me the night I took her home when I ran into her outside that frat party. I guess she was surprised that I didn’t make a move on her that same night after finding out she was no longer dating that Ken doll.
“Well, Candy, of course, I’m respectful of women. Even at thirty, my mother will still box my ears if she finds out I’ve done otherwise.” And I had the utmost respect for Fiona Knight, my amazing mother…
I felt eyes on me, and I glanced at the burly security guard watching us. His gaze narrowed on me as he gave me a disapproving frown. The employees weren’t supposed to just sit around chatting with customers, I suppose.
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I yanked out a few fifties and put them on the table. I then gave the guy glowering at me a pointed glare and he looked away.
Candy smirked. “That’s a hefty tip.”
“Well, you’ve earned it, sweetheart. Thanks for listening.” God knew I couldn’t vent to any of my buddies about Olivia.
Candy’s laughter circulated the tiny booth. “So, when are you going to see her again?”
“Let’s not talk anymore about my ex,” I suggested. “What’s your real name, Candy? I’ve known you for what… eight months? I think I’ve earned the right to know. Do you ever think about leaving this place? I can help…” My rapid-fire chatter stopped when she threw her head back and cackled .
“Oh, Alex, you poor thing. This woman has really done a number on you, huh?”
I frowned.
“You’re trying to use me as a distraction,” she noted. “Not that I mind. You’re very generous.” She glanced at the stack of cash on the table. “But I don’t need rescuing. I’m here because I want to be.”
I shrugged and nodded. I could respect that.
“I’m not usually interested in more than dancing for the customers, but…” She did a slow sweep of me. “I’ll make an exception for you. If you’re interested…”
I stared at Candy for a while. “I don’t buy women, Candy. They all fall into my bed because they want to.”
A little smirk lifted her lips. “I’m sure they do, hot stuff. Who said anything about you paying?”
I sat taller on the leather couch and assessed her the way she had me. There was probably desperation in the way I studied her… A desperation to feel something for another woman so I could forget Olivia Brentwood.
“I made a rule to not cross the line with the employees here but, I’ve been known to break plenty of rules.”
She grinned at me, and I returned it.
An hour later, I sat naked with my feet on the lush hotel carpet. My elbows were on my knees and the heels of my hands were pressed into my eyes.
That did not just happen…
“It’s okay, Alex,” Candy’s soft voice resonated with pity.
“No, it’s not fucking okay,” I growled.
“Hey, plenty of men suffer from that condition. ”
“I don’t have a condition ,” I said as I rounded on her with wide eyes.
Her skeptical expression made me shake my head. This had to be the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me.
I got Candy to the hotel across the street from the club. Things were going fine until I had her in bed. Then when I looked down at her, I couldn’t get it up because… I kept thinking about her . Fucking Olivia Brentwood!
Candy shuffled off the bed, grabbing her dress and underwear that were strewn on the floor. As she got dressed, she said, “Really, don’t worry about it. I understand.”
The sympathy in her tone worsened my humiliation. She was convinced that I had erectile dysfunction, and I wanted to die. Not to toot my own horn, but I never had a problem getting it up, and I had the stamina of a stallion… according to the redhead I had in my bed last week.
I blew out a breath. “Can I walk you back to the club or take you home…?”
“You’re sweet.” She smiled as she grabbed her purse. “But I’m fine.”
I ignored the way she spoke to me as if I were some poor eighty-year-old who tried his hardest to get it up but failed. God . Stifling a groan, I got up and quickly put my pants on. I plucked my wallet out of the back pocket and gathered all the cash I had left in there. I didn’t even count it, but I did glimpse the fifties and a few hundreds.
Candy held her palms up. “We talked about this. This isn’t that…”
“I know, but take it.” I put the cash into her hand. “It’s for wasting your time.” She probably could have made it in tips or whatever had I not brought her back here.
She sighed and then stuffed the money into her purse. I walked her to the door, and I saw her watching me from my periphery. “Alex, you’re a really nice guy.”
“Mhmm.” I opened the door. My jaw was clenched tightly the entire time.
“It’s okay if sometimes you can’t… you know…”
I lifted my eyebrows.
She stepped into the hallway and turned to me with that goddamn look of sympathy. “My real name is Candace. If you need someone to talk to about your condition… I’m doing online psychology courses. Maybe I can help.”
I gawked at her. “For the last time, I don’t have a… You know what? Never mind. Thanks, Candy… Candace… I’ll be fine.”
She smiled sadly and then walked away. I shut the door with a scoff and then slapped my forehead. “What the fuck?”
One meeting with Olivia and she was already ruining my sex life… Jesus!
I glanced at the king-size bed in the middle of the hotel suite and an image of her with her hair spread over the pillow and her mesmerizing eyes cloudy with passion flashed in my mind. My dick twitched and started to rise. I glanced down at the tent at my crotch with disgust and disbelief. “Oh, now you want to get up? Traitor .”
This was bad. I guess Olivia had burrowed her way back under my skin already… fuck . That thought only angered me and made me more determined to get my payback.