Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chase
I grabbed my surfboard and headed down to the water, dying to catch some waves and not thinking about how I had to attend my father’s barbeque. I didn’t invite him to my party, so I didn’t understand why he needed to ask me to his.
I sat on my surfboard, waiting for the next wave to hit, and thought about Kinsley, wondering what she did last night. Who the hell did she think she was? Why the fuck did I even care? I was still pissed off at her for telling me I had served my purpose.
After showering and running some errands, I drove to my father’s house in the Hollywood Hills. As I walked through the door, I saw Penelope walking up the stairs.
“Nice of you to make it, Chase.” She smiled. “Your father will be pleased.”
“Thanks, Penelope. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” I spoke sarcastically.
I headed towards the patio, pushing my way through the crowd of people who were gathered in the living area.
As I stepped onto the patio, I looked around to see if Steven and Lexi were here yet.
As I pulled out my phone to text them, my eyes diverted to the bar area, where I saw Kinsley talking and laughing with Adam Bancroft, a total douchebag whom I’d known for years.
What the hell is she doing here, and why is she talking to him? I thought to myself.
“Well, well, look who’s here.” I smiled as I walked over to the bar.
“Hi, Chase.” Kinsley smiled.
“Chase, my man.” Adam grinned as he patted me on the shoulder. “Long time no see. How have you been?”
“Hello, Adam. I’ve been great. Thank you. How’s Mary doing?”
“We aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“Sorry to hear. She was such a lovely girl. I didn’t know my father invited you,” I spoke to Kinsley. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention it.”
“He invited me yesterday, and we didn’t really talk.”
“No. I suppose we didn’t,” I spoke. “Well, it looks like the two of you are having a fun conversation judging by all the laughter I saw, so I’ll let you get back to it.” I walked away with an attitude.
I grabbed two glasses of champagne from the tray one of the servers was carrying around, downed one, and started on the other as I turned and watched Kinsley and Adam chatting it up again. She was flirting, and I wouldn’t say I liked her body language.
“Jealous?” Lexi spoke as she walked up and stood next to me.
“Of course not. Why the hell would I be jealous?”
“Then why are you standing here staring at them like you’re ready to kill someone?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I finished off my second glass of champagne. “I was actually looking for my dad. Have you seen him?”
“Last time I saw him, he was talking to Mr. Baine.”
“Sydney is here?” I cocked my head.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I thought the two of them had a falling out.”
“I don’t know. They were looking pretty chummy to me,” she spoke.
“Why the hell is Kinsley talking to him?” I asked as I narrowed my eye. “Can’t she tell what a douchebag he is?”
“You’re a douchebag, and she talks to you.” Lexi smirked. “I always thought Adam was hot. They look cute together.”
“What the hell is the matter with you? You’re her friend. Go and talk some sense into her. And no, they don’t look cute together. She can do better.”
“You mean like you?” Lexi’s brow arched.
“Of course, but only if I’m looking for a relationship. Which you know damn well I’m not and never will.”
“If you say so.” She sighed and walked away.
“Chase, there you are,” my father spoke as he walked over to me.
“Hello, Dad. Why is Kinsley here?” I asked, still staring at her and Adam engaged in a conversation.
“She’s my secretary. Why wouldn’t I invite her?”
“She’s your temp, and you’ve never invited the temps to one of your barbeques.”
“She’s with us for at least two months. Do you have a problem with her being here? I thought the two of you were getting along now.”
“We are. I just wondered. That’s all.”
“Why are you staring at her and Adam?” he asked.
“I’m not staring.” I glanced over at him.
He narrowed his eye at me and was about to say something when Penelope shouted his name from a few feet away.
“We’ll talk later. Go and enjoy yourself. There are plenty of beautiful women here.” He winked.
Indeed, there were. Everywhere I looked, I saw beautiful women dressed in tight short dresses and bikinis that barely covered their assets.
Kinsley
After having a long but great conversation with Adam, I mixed and mingled with some of the guests from the office that were at the party.
To me, this was amazing, and I never thought in a million years that I’d be invited to parties like this.
I glanced over at the beautiful infinity pool and saw Chase with two women, one on each side of him.
He was in the pool, leaning against the edge with his arms around them.
A feeling erupted in the pit of my stomach—a feeling I didn’t like.
I took in a deep breath and walked over to them.
“What’s going on over here?” I smiled.
“Hello, Kinsley.” Chase grinned. “I’d like you to meet Karina and Renee.”
I gave them each a small smile.
“Where’s Adam? The two of you seemed to be attached at the hip.” He smirked.
“He had to make a phone call,” I spoke.
“Would you like to join us? I’m afraid I only have two arms, though.”
“Umm. No. That’s okay. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your little ménage a Trois.”
“Darling, the more, the merrier.” He grinned. “Right, ladies?” He glanced at each of them.
“Yeah. The more, the merrier.” Karina smiled.
I wanted to vomit as I rolled my eyes and walked away.
And to think I slept with him. Jesus, what was I thinking?
That he was a hot and gorgeous man? That he had the body of Adonis?
That I knew he would be incredible between the sheets?
Yeah. That was exactly what I was thinking.
I sighed as I walked over to where Lexi was talking to one of our co-workers, Dana.
“Hey, you.” Lexi smiled. “I saw you talking to Adam. What’s going on?” She grinned.
“Nothing.” I grinned back. “Actually, we’re going on a date tomorrow night.”
“Good for you!” Lexi high-fived me. “He’s a nice guy, and he’s hot.”
“We seem to have a lot in common. But I did tell him I wasn’t looking for any type of relationship, and he said he wasn’t either. He just got out of a three-year relationship.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re meeting new people.” She smiled as she hooked her arm around me.
“Hello, ladies.” Ben smiled as he hooked his arm around both his fiancée and me. “How about we get some food?”
After getting our food, we sat at an empty table, where Adam joined us. While we were talking, Chase walked over and sat in the empty seat next to me.
“May I join you?” He smiled as he sat down.
“What happened to your little ménage a trois?” I raised my brow.
“I got bored.” He grinned.
“Still nobody special in your life, Chase?” Adam asked.
“And lose the title of Los Angeles’ sexiest and most eligible bachelor?” He smirked.
“I guess you’re right.” Adam chuckled.
“So, what happened between you and Mary? I thought the two of you were getting married?”
“We decided to call it quits,” he replied.
I sat between them, very uncomfortable and in disbelief that Chase would even ask him about his prior relationship.
“Who cheated?” Chase asked.
“Nobody cheated.”
“So that girl I saw you with in Vegas who wasn’t Mary was just a friend?”
The look on Adam’s face turned serious as he glared at Chase.
“Yeah. She was just a friend.”
“Of course. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” He winked.
“I know you’re the expert on that,” Adam spoke.
“Not really. What or who I do never stays in Vegas.” Chase grinned. “I have nothing to hide. I’m an open book.”
“You are not.” I laughed.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?” Adam asked as his eye narrowed slightly at us.
“Other than the fact that we’ve had sex? No, nothing,” Chase spoke, and I wanted to fucking throat punch him.
“And when was this?” Adam asked.
“A few days ago.” Chase smiled.
I sat there with a lump in my throat and a sick feeling in my stomach. The anger that resided in me was ready to unleash.
“Okay then. Listen, Kinsley. I better get going. I have somewhere else I have to be in a while. It was nice meeting you, and I’ll be in touch. See ya around, Chase.”
“Of course. Let’s do dinner one night and catch up,” he shouted as Adam walked away.
I turned to him and began hitting his arm several times. He backed away as he grabbed hold of my hand.
“What the hell are you doing?” he calmly asked.
“Why did you tell him we had sex?!” I angrily spoke through gritted teeth.
“He asked.”
“No, he didn’t! He asked if anything was going on between us, and all you had to do was say no!”
“I did say no, besides us having sex. What’s the big deal?”
“We were supposed to go out on a date tomorrow, and now you ruined it!”
“Oh. Well, if he’s that insecure, then that’s his problem.
Besides, you don’t want to go out with him anyway.
He’s a cheater. Trust me. I saw him in Vegas with a woman.
They were not just friends. Need I remind you that he had a fiancée at the time?
And considering what you went through with Henry, I just saved you some heartache. So, you’re welcome.” He smiled.
I stared at him while taking three deep breaths to try to control myself from killing him.
“Stop telling people we had sex or I’m going to tell your dad!”
“You’re going to tell my dad what?” He chuckled.
“That we had sex! Twice!” I got in his face.
“Now, Kinsley. Don’t do anything rash.” He put his hands up.