Chapter 10

10

Lena

"So, how long have you worked for him?" The pretty pink-haired woman leans in toward me. Her name's Summer and she's Sinclair's wife. Sinclair, as I've learned, is one of the owners of 7A Investments, one of the leading financial service companies in Europe, as I gathered from one of the emails sent to me earlier. Good thing I scanned through it before leaving the office. JJ could have warned me this meeting was about a potential merger. Not that he'd have thought to do that, of course.

"Would you believe it if I told you today is my first day at his office?" I raise my glass of water to my lips.

"No." Summer glances from me to JJ, then back to me. Her eyes gleam. "He's hot, eh?" she says in a low voice.

The water goes down the wrong pipe, and I burst out coughing. I spill some of the water on myself.

"Ohmigosh, I'm so sorry." Summer uses her napkins to dab at the front of my blouse.

I continue to cough, and some more water spills from the glass I have in my hand. "Shit." I place it down on the table, then press my knuckles to my mouth in a bid to stop coughing. A large hand slaps my back, and again. The water finally slides down my gullet and I stop coughing. Tears wet my cheeks, and I accept the napkin from Summer and pat my them dry.

"You okay?" JJ rumbles.

"Yes, of course. Sorry. Carry on." I ball up the napkin and fix a smile on my face.

"I'm so sorry," Summer whispers to me. "It's being pregnant..." She motions to the barely perceptible bump around her middle. "Afraid all I have is sex on my mind."

I choke back a laugh. She's direct—I'll give her that—but her manner is so self-deprecating, I can't bring myself to take offense.

"Don't worry," I whisper back.

"You sure you're okay?" JJ's voice is laced with concern, and perhaps, frustration. I risk a glance at him, and his forehead is furrowed. His glance is tinged with impatience. Of course, we're here to talk about a very important deal, and here I am, totally messing this up.

"I'm good," I say in a firm voice and straighten my back. "Sorry about that."

"Oh, please don't apologize. That was my fault entirely." Summer turns to JJ. "Please forgive me. I distracted your associate."

JJ's lips kick up. "No harm done," he says in a gentle voice, then turns to Sinclair. "As I was saying, I'd very much like to invite 7A Investments to be one of the first to back Club Infinity."

"You're starting a nightclub?" I burst out before I can stop myself.

"A gentleman's club, actually," Sinclair murmurs.

"A gentleman's club which is also open to the ladies, surely?" Summer pipes up.

JJ glances toward her. "You're right, it's a club that's open to everyone who qualifies. The only criteria behind memberships is that they're limited to those nominated by an existing member, and to be eligible to be a member, you need to have made a difference in your particular field."

"Hmm," Summer presses a finger to her cheek, "so it can be a contribution in any form? Not just cash?"

"Definitely not just cash. The club will not distinguish between people based on their monetary worth. It's not just their net worth but the value they've added in terms of their art or their service to people, or what they've given back to the community."

"And who would have the final approval?" I ask.

"Me, of course" —JJ's lips twist and he turns his attention back to Sinclair— "and if 7A agrees to back the club, you'll get one person nominated to the board who will have the right to veto the membership."

"Who else is backing the club?" Sinclair's eyes gleam. Good God, the man's hot. With his dark hair, chiseled cheekbones, those broad shoulders which stretch his tailor-made jacket, and his thick thighs spread wide apart, he takes up most of the space on the settee. In comparison, his wife is petite, and with her mischievous eyes and boho style clothing, she couldn't be more of a contrast to him. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her close. She all but melts into his side. He looks down at her, and his features soften.

A ball of emotion clogs my throat. Gosh, the two of them look so much in love. Will I find someone who looks at me the way Sinclair looks at Summer? I do have a boyfriend, though, don't I? Does Isaac look at me like that? Like he can't get enough of me. Like he'd do anything for me. Like he can't stop himself from touching me, and can't take his eyes off me. Like the world begins and ends with me. A ball of emotion clogs my throat. My heart thrums like the wings of a butterfly. I glance toward JJ to find him staring at me.

I scowl at him. He narrows his gaze. There's a considering look on his face. "It's not for public disclosure yet." He turns to face the Sterlings. "But for you, I'm making an exception. Investors include the Sovranos and the Soloniks."

Sinclair straightens. "You mean the Cosa Nostra and the Bratva ?"

There's no change in expression on JJ's face, but the very fact that his features grow impassive warn me that he's on alert. "Is that a problem?"

Sinclair's shoulders tense, then his features relax. "On the contrary, the Don of the Cosa Nostra and I are bound by marriage now, so this will help consolidate the relationship."

"You mean this will help you keep an eye on their goings on, don't you?" JJ smirks.

"I mean—" Sinclair bares his teeth in the semblance of a smile, "—since the Cosa Nostra have been legalizing their businesses, I'm sure the Don and I will be happy to have more dealings in common."

At this point, a waiter wheels over a bucket of ice and a bottle of champagne, along with champagne flutes that he places on the table. He opens the bottle with a pop and pours it into our glasses.

When he leaves, Sinclair raises his glass of champagne. "To new associates."

JJ clinks his glass with Sinclair's. "And to old friends."

Two hours later, we're on our way back home in JJ's car. After the toast, JJ and Sinclair discussed some other business while Summer told me more about the Seven and their wives and girlfriends, and how over the moon she is that she and Karma are pregnant together. The meeting wrapped up shortly after. Summer kissed me goodbye and exchanged numbers with me. All in all, I enjoyed myself. It was 5.30 p.m. and JJ indicated he was ready to head home. I expected him to return to the office, but I'm more than happy to turn homeward instead.

"Sinclair's wife is lovely," I murmur.

JJ doesn't reply. He glances out the window, his forehead furrowed. His suit jacket is unbuttoned to reveal his crisp white shirt. There's a slight shadow over his chin and cheeks, which is the only indication that it's the end of the day and not the beginning. The rest of him is as put together as if he were on his way to the office instead of on his way home.

"What do you make of Sinclair?" He turns to me.

"Eh?" I blink. "You're asking me?"

He scowls, "Do you see anyone else here?"

A-n-d, there he is. The alphahole I've come to expect. Clearly, he was on his best behavior because of the company we were in.

"Well?" His scowl deepens. "I asked you a question, girl."

"I do have a name."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

I firm my lips. I will not get angry. Will not get angry. Jerk-ass is my boss. And he's given me a roof over my head. He was probably born with a bad attitude. There's nothing he can do about it. I should pretend he's a child. Yeah, a grumpy, petulant kid who has yet to learn his manners. Yes, that's what he is.

I stare straight ahead. "I think he's as much of an ornery, uncompromising business man as you. As confident as you about his ability to influence people so they fall in with his plans. He must believe in your vision for he agreed to invest in your initiative. Also, I think he trusts you."

"Why do you say that?" he asks.

The curiosity in his tone makes me shoot him a sideways glance. "Because he brought his wife along for the meeting. He strikes me as the type who'd never agree to his wife meeting a person unless he had complete faith in you."

"Or he was using it to put me at ease, while he plots a way to ambush me," JJ says almost to himself.

This time I turn to face him. "You really don't trust anybody, do you?"

"Not a soul." His tone is matter-of-fact.

My phone—my personal phone— buzzes again. I pull it out and peek at the chat notifications in my family group.

Josh: Lena where are you?

Josh: Lena

Mira: She's probably shacked up with a boyfriend. Do you have a new boyfriend Lena?

Josh: Lena?

Seema: Lenny baby what's the goss?

Mom: Leave her alone, you guys. She must be busy with a new assignment. That is all it is, right, Lena?

Josh: Lennaaa?

Mira: Think we should try calling her?

Josh: Let's

Seema: Oooh better still maybe we should take that trip to London and surprise her

Wha-a-a-t? My gaze widens. No, no, no, I can't have my siblings landing here. I begin to type?—

Me: STFU you guys. I'm alive just busy

Josh: Lenaaa hey is it true that Guinness tastes better in London than anywhere else in the world?

Mira: You're talking about Ireland specifically Dublin you dumbass

I laugh aloud.

"Something funny?" JJ's voice cuts through my thoughts.

"What? No, it's nothing." I pocket my phone, then glance out the window. I was only messaging my family. That's allowed, right? So what if I'm technically still at work and with my boss?

"Was that Isaac?"

I blink, then blow out a breath. "No, not Isaac."

He pauses as if considering my reply, then, "Are you seeing someone else? Is that what this is about? Because if you are being unfaithful to my son, I promise you, that's not a good idea you?—"

"How dare you accuse me of cheating? Also, it's no business of yours. It's between me and your son."

"And I am invested in my son, so it's my business. Is that what this is about?" He leans in closer. His dark eyes are stormy, like the darkness at the bottom of a well when you peek over the side. Something ugly stirs in them, like the eels which dart through the surface of still water. "You taking advantage of my son? Moving in with him, getting him to give you a roof over your head, then going off and being with someone else? You fucking someone else, Lena? Is that what you're doing?"

"And if I were?" Anger crowds my chest. My throat is choked up with a strange feeling I can't define. Heat flushes my skin and I feel the rage vibrating off of me. "What's it to you? You may have given me a place to stay and a job, but you don't own me. My personal life is my own."

"No, it's not. Not as long as you're my son's girlfriend."

"What the—" I gape. Did he really just say that? He couldn't have said that.

Something ugly twists in my stomach. I lean in close enough so my face is only a few inches from his. "I'll fuck anyone I want," I say through gritted teeth.

His features harden. "What did you say?"

He lowers his gaze to my mouth, and liquid heat squeezes my belly. What? No. You can't have that reaction to this… this… douchebag. Asshole thinks he owns me? Well, I'm going to set him straight.

"I said, I'll. Fuck. Anyone. I. Wa?—"

He clamps his fingers around my neck, and yanks me to him.