by Nana Malone
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I bit my lip as I peered up at Ben. He lounged against the door of the car, and his gaze could only be characterized as… hungry.
“Hell yes, I want to do this.” His smile was all predator.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you ever not smug?”
A bark of genuine laughter broke loose. “I’m not smug.” I lifted a brow and he gave me my favorite smile. The one that was genuine with a hint of bad boy but shy kid underneath it all. “All right. I’m a little smug. But a little confidence never hurt anything. Besides, you like me smug.”
A giggle burst out. “So we’re really doing the public thing? Like announcing to the world that I’m your girlfriend. On this date?”
“What you are is too important to define as girlfriend, but that word is just as good as any other.” His ice-blue gaze was intent. He meant what he was saying.
“All right, then let’s make this Instagram official, Mr. Billionaire.”
He laughed. “You’re okay with the cameras?”
I winced. “Not particularly, but I’m with you, so I don’t really care.”
“Let’s do it.”
Scott paused the car in front of Elias’s restaurant. It was the see-and-be-seen spot in London. It was also impossible to get a reservation there. When Ben told me where he’d made dinner reservations, I could only gawk at him. I’d seen television stars photographed outside of the restaurant. “Can I ask why this restaurant again?”
“Well, for starters, the food is excellent. It’s got this Asian-African fusion thing going. I thought you would like it. And it also makes a bold statement.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, that we’re together. That I’m yours and you are mine.”
The way he said that word sent a shiver up my spine and ruined my panties. Though honestly, why had I bothered wearing any around him? “You’re sure that you want to make that statement?”
He nodded. “Yup. Last chance to back out before Scott opens the door.”
In truth, I was terrified. But not of being seen with him or someone placing us together. I just didn’t want him to change his mind. I wanted all of this to feel right, for once. For that exhilaration and thrill to be in my life for more than just a short time. I searched his gaze, taking in the same beautiful face I’d seen from day one. My Viking. “Let’s do it.”
He flashed me a grin, and then Scott opened my door. Ben got out on his own side and then came around to take my arm. Sure enough, there was paparazzi. And they were ready. It was as if someone had told them we were coming, because they snapped away, each flash blinding, each captured photo a moment in time that couldn’t be taken back.
“Ben! Ben!”
“Over here, Ben.”
“Who’s your date, Ben?”
The questions came rapid fire from several photographers.
While my eyes suffered from whiteout, he took it in stride, standing with me on the pavement, my hand in his. Looking down at me, he mouthed, “Too late to back out now.”
I couldn’t help it. I grinned and laughed. “This was your plan all along to cement me to your side forever?”
He shrugged. “You have to admit, it’s a brilliant plan.”
With one more turn and a nod toward the photographers, he took my hand and led me in.
The lighting was a soft blue inside the lobby. White floors with some marbling, elegant and sophisticated. A black crystal chandelier hung above us. There was a hostess standing to the right. She smiled when she saw Ben, but he only gave her a sparing nod of his head as he bypassed her. “This way.”
“The hostess looks pissed.”
He shrugged. “She shouldn’t. She works for me.”
I snapped my gaze to his. “What?”
He grinned. “Yeah. You think I would take you to an environment I didn’t control?”
I could only shake my head. “Of course not. One of these days, I’m taking you to a diner.”
He chuckled. “Oh, don’t get in a huff. The food is excellent. I think you’ll love it. And I get to keep you safe. What’s not to love?”
There was an art gallery to the left, and I paused as I saw a painting with the vibrant colors of west Africa with a landscape that looked like a market. “Oh, can we stop for a second?”
His smile was indulgent. “Of course, you can do whatever you want.”
I stepped in, pausing at an image of one of the dark-skinned women with a beautiful red and blue headdress. She had an ornate beaded necklace around her neck. It had rows and rows of beads in a multicolored pattern that sort of looked like a rainbow. “God, that’s stunning.”
“That was an acquisition at auction a couple of years ago.”
I glanced around. “All of the artwork is yours too?”
He shrugged. “Well, I footed the bill. But my mate, Elias, he’s the chef and the brainchild behind this place.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Elias Dadzie. His mother’s Vietnamese. His father is from Ghana. He’s a friend.”
I nodded slowly. “Ah, I see. His last name, I think, is Fante. I love that you found a Ghanaian chef.”
“I mean, it’s not hard. This is London. There’s talent all around everywhere. I once ate at the spot he had in South London. Bridge used to take us there. He grew up with Elias before he met us.”
“He’s a friend of Bridge’s?”
Ben nodded as he explored the images. There was one of schoolgirls in bright green school uniforms, their heads shorn, playing what looked like ampe, which was sort of the Ghanaian mash up of rock, paper, scissors and hopscotch.
I couldn’t help but smile looking at it, all those memories coming to the foreground. “I remember my cousin trying to teach me how to play. I was hopeless.”
“You’ll have to show me sometime.”
“You want to learn how to play a child’s game?”
“Well, with you, I’m assuming there would be laughter involved. And possibly nudity. So I’m all for it.”
“Oh my God, you are actually impossible.”
“I’m convinced you like me that way.”
I shrugged. “Perhaps.”
There were some sculptures present too. Large-scale pieces of the thinking man and essentially a family tree with whatever great nature at the top and her mountain of children underneath. “God, this is amazing.”
He nodded with a smile. “Come on.” He took my hand, his warmth enveloping mine. His stride was sure. He knew exactly where he was going and what he wanted. And he wanted me.
We stepped into an atrium of sorts. There was lounge seating around the edges and a bar. “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure.”
In the corners, there were calabashes made into ice chests that held massive champagne bottles. The carvings on the sides were of animals. “Oh my God, you have calabash.”
He smiled. “Well, like I said, this is Elias’s dream. I gave him money, looked at the plans, and approved them. What would my lady like to drink?”
“What do you suggest?”
“Let’s have a look at the menu.”
I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to look at the menu, but I did. I glanced down at the engraved metal with what looked like a gold leaf etching, and my eyes went wide. “Are these akpeteshie drinks?”
“If that means palm wine, then yes. A whole cocktail list.”
“This is amazing.” He’d brought me here to make me feel at home. Well, hell. I blinked rapidly to kill the impending water works. I was not going to ruin my mascara.
“Elias infuses flavors from both Vietnam and Ghana in the cocktails.”
“Oh my God, this is... I don’t even know what to say.”
He grinned like a kid on Christmas morning. “Are you happy? You look happy.”
“I am happy. Thank you, Ben.”
He ordered something for me that contained palm wine, lemongrass, ginger, and a fruit element. It was sweet and zin
gy. The akpeteshie was more of a hidden flavor, but I knew well enough not to drink too quickly. Akpeteshie was notorious for knocking you on your ass. It was essentially Ghanaian moonshine.
As we stood drinking and talking, I heard a familiar voice and glanced around. At the end of the bar was an all too familiar face.
It took a moment for Ben to catch where my gaze had gone, and then he muttered a curse under his breath. “Come on, let’s go.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to hide. Besides, this is your restaurant. I’m not the one who’s out of place here, they are.”
His thumb grazed over my cheek softly. “You know you’re incredible, right?”
I squared my shoulders. “A very good-looking man keeps trying to tell me that.”
“Well, you should believe him.”
It took Dexter a moment to recognize me, but then he rose from his seat and strode over. “What the fuck are you doing here?” His gaze sliced over Ben and he sneered. “I knew you were fucking him.”
With a sigh, I turned. “Dexter, who I am or am not giving epic blowjobs to is really none of your business.”
“Well it is my business if you’re a whore. Maybe, you gave me something.”
“Says the man who cheated on—”
Before the words were out of my mouth, Ben moved to crowd Dexter, backing him down with his sheer size. “Apologize, arsehole.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine Ben. Arseholes are going to arseholes. They can’t help it.” To Dexter, I said, “Go back to your meeting, or your date, or whatever the hell that is. I have no intention of letting you ruin my night.”
He’d been sitting with three other people. One brunette who looked vaguely familiar and two other men. One of them I didn’t recognize. The other was Fenton. I bit back my groan. Dexter placed a hand on my elbow. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
The growl that escaped from Ben’s throat was feral, low, and if I was being honest, hot as fuck. “If I were you, Dexter, I would get my hands off of her.”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
Ben laughed then. And it almost sounded like there was really humor there. But I knew better. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, and I knew he could be unpredictable, at best. “No. She dumped your sorry ass. You cheated on her, remember? With some average redhead. I mean, what the hell is wrong with you? You had perfection and you tossed it away. Now she is mine.” There was that word again. And again, instead of being annoyed, it made me wet.
“I didn’t toss anything away. If you weren’t in her head—”
I slapped a hand on Dexter’s chest. “Back off. You and I are done. I’m with Ben now.”
“You sure did replace me fast. I guess all that money doesn’t hurt.”
That stinger hit right in the chest. But I lifted my chin. “I’m so sad that I wasted any time worrying about you and what you’ve done to me, about how I’d fit into your life. I should have left you ages ago.”
Direct fucking hit. His face fell and he blinked several times. “You don’t mean that.”
“Sorry if that hurts you, but I’m being honest, not cruel. You didn’t treat me well. And you lied. You set out to make me feel like I was nothing. So, for that, you can fuck right off.”
Fenton chose that moment to come over too. He grinned at Ben as if they were old chums. “Covington. It’s good to see you again.”
He stuck out a hand, but Ben just glowered down at it. “Mills, I’m not sure why you insist on pretending we’re friends. Especially in public.”
Fenton huffed. “There’s no need to for hostility, old boy. You know how it is. We must pretend for the masses.” And then Fenton did the one thing that I knew was going to get his head ripped off. He leaned over as if he was going to kiss me.
I attempted to step back, but the bar was in my way. But I didn’t have to worry because Ben slapped a hand on Fenton’s chest. “One more inch, and I separate your nose from your face. You’re ugly as it is. Don’t make a bad situation worse.” Ben’s voice was barely a growl.
It was in that moment that his mask slipped to one of anger and rage. But then he shoved it right back into place and that was even far more alarming. “Covington, you’re making a mistake. Olivia and I are old friends.”
“Didn’t I already tell you to leave me alone? We’re not friends.”
Ben rolled his shoulders and leaned over to the bar. “I’ve had enough. Clay?”
The bartender came over. “Yes, boss.”
Ben inclined his head toward Fenton and Dex. “Please show our guests out.”
“Right away, sir.”
Within seconds, security appeared at the entry to the bar, and Fenton’s face went red. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Ben slid his arm around my bare shoulders. “Well, I should have mentioned I own the place. And you are trespassing. So, enjoy eating elsewhere, gentlemen. My girlfriend and I have a very private date waiting for us.”
He handed me my drink and steered me away from them. Not quickly. Not like we were in a hurry. “Are you okay?”
I really considered this question. Was I okay?
Yeah, I was. I did feel disappointment in myself about Dexter, that I’d been too dumb for too long. But I refused to hold on to that shame any longer. And better yet, I had zero fear when it came to Fenton. I no longer had to put up with him. And that was all thanks to Ben.
“I’m with you, so yes, I’m okay. Now feed me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
19
Livy
Despite bone melting orgasms and a cat nap, I’d still woken up feeling restless, so I headed to the library to get some work done.
An hour later and my neck hurt. Hell, my whole back hurt. I’d been hunched over research files for what felt like days. This two-full-time-jobs thing was taking its toll.
In stark contrast to LBB, life before Ben, I felt entirely supported. Ben had given me a desk in his library with proper filing cabinets, a big whiteboard, and a tackboard that I could hang things on. When there was downtime in the office and I wasn’t needed, he’d send me home, with an armed guard of course, and tell me to work from home the rest of the afternoon to give me more time to work on the book. What kind of man did that for someone?
This man. A good man. Why aren’t you in bed with that good man?
I ran my hand over my face. It felt like I had bitten off way more than I could chew. I had the pieces. They just didn’t make sense to me yet, and I couldn’t connect the dots. I thought I’d tipped over a hornet’s nest in my search, but it didn’t make sense.
This was all information my mother had already dug through, and she’d just died of the worst killer there was… plain old cancer. There was no hiding from that. Cancer was deadlier than the mob or human traffickers or whatever. So why were people after me?
That line of thought always brought me back to the Elite. I didn’t have anything they wanted. I didn’t have any information about them. I’d copied the files, but they didn’t know that. So why was I the target?
My phone rang. I smiled when I saw it was Telly. “Hey you.”
“Sweetheart, you know it’s 11:30 pm, right?”
I frowned and lifted my gaze to peer at the clock. “Oh, right. I guess it’s late. If it’s so late why are you calling?”
“Why are you not shagging that fine man?”
“I’m not shagging that fine man because, I’m working.”
She sighed and I could practically feel her eyeroll through the phone. “I know you well. I’m calling to tell you off. Go to bloody bed.”
“There’s a lot to do, Telly.” But she was right. My eyes were burning. I needed to sleep since I was very likely going to have an early morning wake-up call.
“Do you need me to write a magical algorithm so your research all makes sense?”
“I didn’t know that was in your job description. Make all of this shit make sense. And of course, Ben has got me an editor who’s
up my ass and wants to see pages, and I just don’t want to rehash this same information. I want to give this meaning. You get me?”
“Yeah, I mean, Caroline Ritter was a real person. And the fact that you want to honor her and your mother is great, but you’ve got to honor yourself too.”
I was spinning. I needed to take a breath. “Can I tell you something?”
I could almost hear Telly sitting up. “Who do I kill?”
“Why is it always killing with you?”
“It’s easier to go stabby-stabby than talk about my feelings.”
“That’s fair.”
“So what gives?”
I knew she’d get it. Not that Ben didn’t get it. But with Ben there was ego involved. And I felt like I needed to explain my feelings of hurt in some way. “I saw Dex tonight.”
There was a pause, then she asked, “Where?”
“Ben took me to dinner at Elias’s.”
Telly whistled. “Jesus, do you know how hard it is to get into Elias’s?”
“I have a feeling it’s not going to be hard for us to get in again. Ben owns it. So next time, you and Carmen are joining.”
“Holy shit. She’d love that.”
“Of course. You’re with the band.”
“Well, in that case, I’m sort of sorry I told you to be wary of him.”
I leaned back against the soft microfiber upholstery of the couch and rubbed my eyes. Maybe she was right. I should go to bed. I probably wasn’t getting much real work done now anyway. “Man, you’re easily bribed.”
“Yes, I am. Now, tell me what happened.”
“We were at the bar getting a drink, and there Dex was. Still delusional. And of course, his shadow was with him.”
Telly groaned. “Jesus. He is like a recurring boil. No matter how many times you treat it, it could still come back.”
“That is so gross, Telly.”
“It’s the truth. God, I wish you had let me beat Dex up way back when you first met him in that pub and he was such a little dick.”
He had been sort of sarcastic. “I thought that was part of his charm. I was young and stupid.”
“How did Ben take it?”
I grinned. I shouldn’t get so much pleasure from his reaction, but I did. “He had them tossed out.”