Mr. Big Ego (Dirty South Book 3)

by Kat Addams

  I snapped on my cuff links and straightened my electric-blue jacket while Gabe waited in the hall. He had chosen to wear a ski mask, and I slipped on Phantom Man.

  “Ready to head out? It’s getting pretty packed in there,” Gabe said, tugging at his mask. He looked as if he were about to rob a bank.

  “Let’s go. Ready as ever!” I clapped him on the back and thanked him for his work this week.

  Even though he was still getting the hang of things, he had done a lot for me.

  “Would you like me to get with Lisa on a welcome speech? Do you want to address everyone? An introduction? Anything?” he asked while we navigated through my winding halls.

  When I’d built my party room, it was supposed to be a pool house. But with all of our promotional events, I’d had the contractor turn it into a venue I could use again and again.

  “No, that won’t be necessary. I’d actually like to remain anonymous tonight. Be an outsider and all. I think I had enough attention at that last party. I want to enjoy this one. Here.” I handed him a handful of beads from my pocket. “You enjoy it too.”

  “Thank you! I’m sure I will. Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like this.” He opened the door to the back entrance, letting me inside.

  We walked down yet another hall until we were inside the main room.

  “Just be careful of the older ladies. They’ll eat you for dinner. They play … rough.” I twirled a string of beads in my hand.

  The room was awash in black lights, fog machines, bubbles, and anything that glowed. I’d always wanted to do something like this, but I had been afraid it would backfire on the pretentious branding of Fleur-De-Lis. At this point, I didn’t care. I didn’t necessarily want to be a magician anymore or join a circus. But I knew I didn’t want to be Victor “Asshole-in-Chief” Beaumont either.

  I stepped through the crowd, searching for her. I knew she was here somewhere, but I had no idea what she would be wearing. Finding her among the sea of masked partygoers was going to be tough. I elbowed my way through the crowd as the deejay started to spin records. The fog machines went off, a siren blared, and the dance floor lit up in waves of color.

  This is wild.

  The room became busier and busier as people nonstop filed inside. Most wore the usual masquerade feathered masks, but I noticed a few devils, public figures, and even a dinosaur head.

  “Looking for someone?” Samantha tapped my shoulder.

  I turned to greet her, but my voice caught in my throat as soon as I saw her extravagant parrot mask. Flashing rainbow feathers stuck out from her hair and her feathered dress.

  “Do you like it?” She twirled around. “I bought it for Sara. I thought she would like it, but now, she isn’t here to see it … which is perfect. I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief! Gabe is an angel, by the way. Good job on him.”

  “Samantha … you’re stunning. You look like you walked straight out of Carnival!” I leaned down to kiss her cheek, scratching my nose against her feathers. “I was hoping you’d be here.”

  “Why? Do you want another business meeting? Is that why you’re in the Phantom Man mask again?” She crossed her arms across her chest.

  “Are you wanting another business meeting?” I smirked. “No, wait. That’s not how this is supposed to go. Hold on. Let me gather my thoughts. I want to do this right.” I took a deep breath.

  “What right?”

  “Never mind. That’s a little later. I—can you stay? Can we have fun, for old times’ sake? No working for either of us. Let’s just hang out. Dance, drink? No business meetings unless—” I put my hands in my pockets, fumbling with the beads.

  “I can’t. It’s not that I don’t want to stay. I have a hard time being around you, Victor.”

  “Are you still mad at me?” My heart plummeted into my stomach. I’d thought we were at least amicable and I was forgiven by now.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just that … I still have feelings. Don’t freak out. They’re fading. But they’re still there.” She looked down at her shoes, scuffing the bottom of her heel back and forth across the floor.

  I reached out and grabbed both of her hands, holding them in my own. The touch of her skin made my dick harden.

  I grinned from under my mask. “Me too. Let’s do this together. Pretend tonight is the way we were? Before I let my circus ruin everything?”

  “More pretending?” Her arms went limp.

  “Just for a little while. Come on; dance with me,” I dragged her onto the dance floor and pushed my hips into hers.

  “I swear, that thing never goes down! Maybe you should get that checked!” She laughed while grinding into me.

  I held her close, swaying back and forth. Her long hair tangled in my fingers as I clutched her tight. I didn’t want to let go. The music stopped, but we kept on swaying.

  “This feels nice.” She smiled into my chest.

  “Can I have your attention, please?” the deejay called from the stage.

  Samantha pushed herself off of me and snapped her eyes to the stage.

  “This isn’t supposed to happen. Hold on. Let me find Lisa.” She ran off into the crowd before I could pull her back.

  “Wait! It’s—”

  Malcolm stepped onto the stage in his clown gear.

  Figures.

  I made my way to the front of the crowd to pull him off the stage. No telling what he was planning. I didn’t have time for this. The deejay was supposed to announce my surprise, not his.

  “Malcolm!” I gritted my teeth and waved to get his attention from the edge of the stage. “What are you doing?”

  “Living,” he muttered.

  What the fuck?

  Malcolm grabbed the microphone out of the deejay’s hands. “Thanks for letting me take over for a minute. Everyone, can I please have your attention? Most of you know me. I’m Malcolm Beaumont. Yes, the black sheep Beaumont. I have always been an outcast and set in my less than honorable ways—until at least … until I met her. Lisa.” He pointed out into the crowd, straight at another clown. “Lisa changed my life. She changed my attitude, my behavior, my everything. And I want everyone to know that. I need everyone to know that. I’m not an asshole-in-chief.”

  That fucker stole my line.

  “I am Malcolm Beaumont, and I want to ask the love of my life, Lisa, will you marry me?” Malcolm got down on one knee, pulled a ring box from his pocket, and popped it open.

  I saw a blur of red and white rush by me and straight up to him, knocking him over. The crowd roared with laughter.

  “I guess that’s a yes?” he asked, picking himself up off of the floor.

  “That’s a hell yes,” Lisa answered into the microphone.

  Everyone clapped their hands and cheered.

  This was supposed to be my part, I huffed.

  I made my way onstage, bypassing the two clowns, and whispered to the deejay to make my announcement.

  “We have one other announcement. We wanted to make this night extra special, even more so than you all just witnessed. Everyone, please file outside through the side doors. There is a bonfire, drinks, and more food. Mr. Beaumont would like to personally address his friends outside.”

  The crowd shuffled outside as I scrambled to find my pervy parrot, Samantha.

  “What’s going on?” Malcolm asked.

  “Shit! The thing! I’ve got to do the thing! I’ll find her. Just go!” Lisa kissed Malcolm and ran offstage.

  I followed behind her and pushed my way through the crowd and to the bonfire that was being set ablaze in the middle of my backyard. I had twelve attendants to keep watch on the fire and another fifteen to serve and host the outdoor activities. I’d learned from the best … who was still nowhere to be found. I ran my hands through my hair.

  Gabe rushed to my side, his shirt was half-unbuttoned, and he had a pile of beads around his neck. Lipstick smeared across his mouth.

  “Sorry! I didn’t know this was happening so soon!�
�� he panted.

  “Me either. Malcolm stole the show and fucked it up. So, it was now or never. Have you seen Samantha?”

  “Not since earlier. I’ll look. Need anything else? Want me to stand behind everyone with a fire extinguisher?”

  “Already got that covered. Thanks though. Just bring her to me when you find her.”

  “Got it!” He ran off into the crowd.

  The bonfire grew taller and taller as the smell of burning wood filled the air. I hoped this wasn’t a mistake. I swallowed hard and took a stand in front of the blaze. The attendants had kept everyone on one side. My assistant, a fire chief I had paid an enormous amount for, stood beside me with a microphone, directing everyone to stand back.

  I caught sight of rainbow feathers running through the crowd. Lisa had ahold of Samantha’s arm, pulling her toward me.

  “What is going on? I didn’t plan this! Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? Lisa says she has no idea what this is about. Victor?” Samantha’s eyes were wide. She turned around in circles, looking at all of the people who stood, waiting and watching us.

  “Shh. It was my idea. Did you really think I was going through a whole party without pulling a Victor Beaumont?”

  “Figures. So much for pretending.”

  “Exactly.” I grabbed the microphone from the fire chief. My hand shook so bad that I could barely grip it. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m Victor Beaumont, owner of Fleur-De-Lis.”

  I took off my mask and tossed it in the fire. The crowd gasped and murmured among themselves. Samantha’s hand went to her collar.

  “I also have a special announcement to make tonight. I wanted to personally thank my beautiful girlfriend, Samantha Masson, for making this party and all of my events amazing. There must be something in the Beaumont rum because I, too, have been changed. This wonderful woman, who you see standing in front of you, in her dazzling rainbow, is the love of my life, and she’s changed me for the better. Now, you all get to learn just how even more awesome I really am.”

  The audience clapped their hands and cheered.

  “That’s why I’m shedding the mask.” I stepped toward her and smiled.

  She glanced around the crowd, still clutching her collar.

  “Please join me in letting go of our masks that we must wear in our day-to-day lives even if only for tonight. Be yourselves, have fun, be safe, don’t get burned.” I handed the microphone back to the fire chief, who was instructing an excited crowd to start a line to throw their masks into the flames.

  “You took your mask off.” Samantha looked up at me. Her eyes searched mine.

  “I did. There’s no going back from that one now, is there?” I pulled her to me, removed her mask, and cast it into the fire too.

  We watched as the flames curled the feathers into ashes.

  “Burning away an old life.” I kissed her forehead. “Oh, wait. I forgot. I got you another necklace! Here. Take these!” I pulled the beads from my pocket and slipped them over her head.

  “Beads? You don’t expect me to show you my boobs, so you can honk them again now, do you? Besides, I never took my old necklace off.” She reached inside her collar and pulled out the diamond phantom charm.

  “Beads!” someone from the crowd hollered. Followed by, “Burn the bras!”

  “What? No!” I looked around me, panicking.

  Several women had begun unclasping their bras and holding them up with their masks. Some twirled them above their heads, and others wrapped them around men’s necks. Beads, bras, and boobs went flying. Everywhere I turned, tits were jiggling in my face.

  “Victor Beaumont, we’re going to have to talk about this party-planning you did.” Samantha wagged her finger at me.

  “I didn’t plan this! I swear!” I held up my hands, helpless. I had no idea how things had taken a turn for the worse—or better. I was only happy no one had fallen into the fire—yet.

  “Are you serving your rum?”

  “Yes. Of course.”

  “Is this New Orleans?”

  “Well, yeah…” I bit my lip. Maybe I should have Samantha help me run Fleur-De-Lis.

  She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at me. “Does a Beaumont ever learn?”

  I looked at the masks burning bright in the bonfire. “This one does.”

  Epilogue

  Samantha

  “I can’t believe we’re doing this again.” I rolled my eyes.

  “What did you expect from those two bozos? Come on. We got this.” Victor held the side of the circus tent up for me to slide under. “Besides, I get to perform some tricks this time! It’ll be fun!”

  “Fun, you say. Right. I guess at least this time, there won’t be any tigers or assholes.” I glanced around at the men and women with their noses in the air. “Well, maybe some assholes but not our assholes at least.”

  “Do what?” Victor grabbed his butt.

  “You know what I mean! Our seats are up front. Let’s go. I need to sit down before I’m called to help.”

  “You okay?” He put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed.

  I wished I could melt into his arms right now, but Lisa needed me.

  “Weddings. They trigger me a bit, is all.” I clutched my purse to my chest, suddenly dizzy.

  “Oh. So … no wedding for you?” Victor’s bottom lip poked out.

  I wanted to take it between my teeth.

  “I didn’t say that. I’m just tired. Weddings exhaust me.”

  He grabbed my hand and brought my knuckles to his lips. “Let’s get you some rest tonight. I promise, I’ll tell my dick to cut it out. Maybe slip it some sleeping pills.”

  “I’m good on all that. I like that little trick of yours. Don’t ever stop or let go.” I winked at him.

  He pulled my chair out from under the table and sat down beside me. I had about twenty minutes before I needed to start looking for Lisa. I had to make sure her clown attire was perfect for the Beaumont circus wedding. In just a few short minutes, the other Beaumonts would be arriving, and even though I’d met Victor’s family, I didn’t want to rub elbows with them all night. They still wore masks.

  “Have you run into Sara around town any since I let her go?” Victor scooted his chair closer to me.

  “What makes you ask that?”

  He nodded toward the bulldogs coming in for the show.

  “Ha! She was a bulldog, wasn’t she! I haven’t seen her since you fired her. She never made it back to my old neighbor’s apartment as far as I know.” I shivered, thinking about how far I’d come. I hated that apartment and the flock of horny nitwits.

  I had been living with Victor these last few months. We had sold the house and split the money evenly among Lisa and all of our vendors. They had paid off debts and repaid college loans, and some had taken a well-deserved vacation. These days, working for Victor Beaumont was much less stressful and much more rewarding.

  “Sara was just another part of that old circus,” he muttered. “Good riddance.”

  “So, tell me again, what are you going to do for your tricks? Are you doing that scarf one I like? Or the hat one? I know you mentioned the cards. What else?” I turned my body toward him and reached out to rub his bouncing knee.

  He seemed nervous. Too nervous for the man I knew. The man I knew liked to perform.

  “Victor?”

  His eyes were glazed over. He turned his head from side to side, checking around him. “I have a new one. Do you want to see it now or later?”

  “Now, of course! Show me! You should have shown me earlier!” I rubbed my hands together and smiled.

  “Okay.” He sucked in his breath. “But first, kiss me.”

  He gently grabbed my chin between his thumb and index finger and guided my lips to his. The heat between us washed over me, making me even dizzier. I pulled back to look into his eyes as he tucked my hair behind my ear and gave me his devilish grin.

  “What’s that? You have something in your hair! Ho
ld still.” He tugged at my hair, furrowing his brows.

  “What is it?” I brought my hands to my hair, but he had already sat back, and he waved a diamond ring in front of me.

  “It’s that new life. Officially the new life. As my bride. I’m yours, and you’re mine. Remember?” The ring shook between his fingertips as he took my hand and slid it on me. “If you’ll have me.” He hesitated.

  My voice caught in my throat. “Wait! I have a trick too.”

  “Oh?” He leaned into me.

  “Yes,” I whispered. I grabbed my purse and pulled out the document I had received from my doctor. I had taken a pregnancy test a week ago and wanted to confirm it was one hundred percent positive before letting Victor know. “Read this.”

  His eyes scanned the page, and his knee quit bouncing. I stayed silent, watching his expression as he gently set the paper down on the table. As if the paper were the baby—our baby. His eyes bulged.

  “I’m yours, and you’re mine. This”—I held up the paper—“is ours. If you’ll have us?” I dipped my head to the side, trying to read his face.

  For once in his life, Victor Beaumont was speechless.

  “One kid down, nine to go, Mrs. Samantha Beaumont.”

  I beamed back at him. That was a name I’d thought I’d never hear.

  Playlist

  Did you know Mr. Big Ego has an official playlist? Check out the awesome tunes below! If you’d like to listen to the whole playlist on Spotify, please click here.

  “Mr. Vain” | Culture Beat

  “King of New Orleans” | Better than Ezra

  “Magic Man” | Heart

  “Whatever You Like” | T.I.

  “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” | Alice Cooper

  “Business” | Catfish and the Bottlemen

  “Pretending” | Glee Cast

  “All I Do Is Win” | DJ Khaled

  “The Reason” | Hoobastank

  Acknowledgments