“I’ll catch you later,” Falco said; it sounded like a promise. She felt so turned on she hurried to the door and exited, stopping in the bathroom to freshen up one more time. Then instead of returning to the table she looked for her paintings. She found one by a small corner in a sitting area and people were staring at it. She quietly listened to them describing her piece and what she as the artist might have been feeling when suddenly a hand landed on her waist. She gasped, looked up, and locked gazes with Mercury.
He held her gaze and licked his lower lip.
“You’re a hit tonight. The most beautiful woman in the place, and the most sought after artist,” he said to her then guided her deeper into the room.
His large, warm hand was commanding, controlling, and a complete turn on. She still hadn’t recovered from Slade’s kiss or that promise in Falco’s words before she hurried from the hallway. Now here was Mercury James, the most intimidating, quiet, seemingly powerful leader of the bunch and she wasn’t on edge but instead completely accepting and responsive.
“I don’t know about that, Mercury. It seems more like I landed in the middle of trouble,” she replied and then glanced at one of her other paintings. In front of it on the easel was a sign that said SOLD. Tears stung her eyes and she didn’t know why she was getting so emotional.
Mercury cupped her cheek and tilted her chin up toward him. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
She blinked. “I’m just being silly, emotional, and I don’t know why,” she told him and he narrowed his eyes at her then looked at the easel and painting then back at her.
“You’re a very talented artist. Selling your first pieces must make you feel proud and sad at the same time.”
She squinted at him.
“Sad?”
“Sad to have lost a part of you, as I’m certain every painting is, but proud to be in the moment when someone would find your work so appealing they’re willing to spend money on it.”
She was shocked that he got it. That he understood what she was feeling. Her lips parted and he stroked her jaw, pressed her closer to the wall, and eyed over her breasts and then her lips.
“I don’t want you going back over to that table with those men.”
She looked away. “Mercury.”
He gripped her chin and pressed his other hand against her waist.
“I said I don’t want you to, but I understand your reasoning behind going. Just know that those men are dangerous, conniving, and definitely trouble. They’re involved with things that you don’t need to even get close to. Can you trust my brothers and I to steer you from trouble?”
She swallowed hard. “I hardly know you or your brothers.”
“We want to change that, but first we need to keep you out of danger tonight. Tell me that you’ll obey my command? That you’ll take my word they’re trouble and the moment dinner is over, you find a way to leave and get Mulgoff to pay you so you can be done.”
She saw his eyes narrow and then his hold on her hip tightened. She stared at his lips, at his distinguished nose, narrowed eyes, and intense expression and she wondered what his lips might feel like against hers. What it would be like to have his full attention and not just for sex but more.
“Rose, is everything okay?” She saw Corpias, and she knew that was why Mercury tightened up. His brothers must have spoken through their communication devices, warning him. It was a good thing to be interrupted before she did something stupid like kissed the man.
Mercury didn’t release her, but turned slightly.
“Yes, of course, Corpias, I’m fine. I just bumped into Mercury. Do you know him? We were looking at some of my paintings,” she added and tried to step from his hold but Mercury had a different plan. His arm eased along her waist and she felt his hand grip her hip.
Corpias gave Mercury the once over. “Molokai is waiting for you. Dinner is being served.” He stuck out his hand for her to take. She looked at Mercury, who was in a dead stare with Corpias. She looked at Corpias and the situation unnerved her. There was something between these men and Mercury didn’t back down but seemed to be challenging Corpias. She suddenly felt like being with Mercury was a smarter decision, but she needed her money, and she made a promise in a deal to have dinner with those men. The decision was made for her.
“Oh, then I should get back.” She turned to look at Mercury. She reached up and stroked his jaw. He eased his hand from her hip, then along her lower back, grazing her ass, making her gasp as she locked gazes with him. Those eyes promised her things. Things her inexperience with men gave her no real warning about, but obviously her body was curious as her pussy swelled and her heart raced with desire.
“Thank you, Mercury. I appreciate the compliments. It was so nice seeing you again.” She went to step back but Mercury pulled her close and kissed her cheek as he whispered into her ear. “Get away from them after dinner. I’ll find you and make sure you get home safely.” She nodded as she pulled back and then she gave a wave to him. As she walked with Corpias she looked at that sold sign.
Then she felt the hand at her lower back and Corpias guided her to the table. Molokai stood up.
“We were getting concerned.”
“No need. I met a friend of mine by the paintings and he was complimenting my work and catching up.”
She took a seat as the waiters began to carry over trays of food and more drinks.
“What friend?” Mulgoff asked.
“Mercury James,” Corpias stated, sounding annoyed, and she noticed Molokai narrow his eyes at her and look her over.
“Ah, Mercury James. He’s a very wealthy man, and does fantastic security work. You’ve known him long?” Weiller asked her.
“No, but his good friends are dating one of my best friends. I was just talking to him about my painting being sold. It was so weird to see that sold sign.”
“Weird?” Weiller asked her.
“Well, yes. Every piece I make is a part of me. I put so much into each piece. It’s hard to explain.”
Molokai moved his hand onto her knee under the table and caressed her thigh. She stared at him as she tightened up. “I understand. It’s bittersweet. To learn that someone has enjoyed your painting so much that they purchase it and will make it part of their home and enjoyment, but to lose it, to never see it again, is like losing part of yourself.”
Her eyes welled up with tears despite the fact that she now knew this man was trouble. She nodded and he squinted at her then gave her a wink.
“I want to see more of your work. Where do you keep your pieces?” he asked her.
“In storage and in my apartment.”
“Can we make plans for me to see them?”
She shyly looked away.
“Maybe some other time,” he said and then moved his hand and raised his glass. “To Rose and her knockout performance that cost me sixty million, which was definitely worth it, and to her success in selling her first painting. May there be many more nights like this one,” he said and they all clinked glasses and celebrated, but Rose didn’t quite feel like celebrating. Instead she looked for one of the James brothers and wished she was with them and maybe celebrating with them together.
* * * *
“Where is she now?” Mercury asked Slade as guests were leaving and some stragglers continued to hang around. Their security team was doing additional sweeps of the place and helping to secure merchants’ valuables as they packed things up.
“She’s in the back room with Mulgoff and Copias. She should come out that way any minute,” Slade told him.
“Pack things up. I’ll get her and take her home,” he stated and then Mercury saw Molokai and Weiller. They were heading out of the main dining area and hopefully back where they came from. To think that the Russian had a hand in nearly getting Rome killed had Mercury struggling with what to do next. He would need to talk with Graham and Vaughn and get some more updates while he met with Hiatte as well to see what he may have not told them about his relationship with Vol
upus. Mercury and his brothers invested a lot of time and money in this business. They were the best and no one was going to destroy their business, never mind hurt those they loved.
He glanced at the empty hallway. Where the hell was Rose and what was taking her so long?
* * * *
“Come again?” Rose said and grabbed on to the desk as Mulgoff chuckled and Corpias smirked.
“A little over a hundred thousand, plus ten thousand for tonight’s work.”
“Oh God.” Corpias grabbed a chair and she sat down in it. She crossed her legs. Now wearing a black skirt and light pink sleeveless blouse, she felt as if the room was spinning. She was in shock. Her paintings combined sold for more than a hundred thousand dollars. He also said ten thousand for tonight but he said five before tonight.
“Wait. Ten thousand for tonight’s modeling job, but you said five. I don’t understand.”
“Molokai purchased that diamond for ten million more. Hell, I should give you even more than ten thousand for the night.”
“Wait. My part is done with that deal, correct? I didn’t miss some sort of additional responsibility or anything?” she asked and he smiled and leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms in front of his chest and finding her reaction way too amusing.
“Rose, there are no additional responsibilities. You did amazing tonight, and now we need to make plans for your gallery showing.”
“My gallery showing? What do you mean?”
“I have had several top notch gallery owners approach and ask about showing off your work and introducing your talent to the elite. You think this was a great amount of money for your paintings, just wait until we organize a top notch event. You’ll be filthy rich and will have an even better studio than before because you’ll be able to afford a better one.”
“I don’t believe this. I owe you so much, Mulgoff. I mean, we meet while I’m bartending and you offer me the modeling job, and then put my paintings on display here tonight and they sell for crazy prices. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“You don’t need to repay me. You’ve worked hard and have done what I hired you to do each time with an outstanding performance. I didn’t know if your paintings would sell or not. All I did was display them and have people available to answer questions about your work. It was your vision, your expertise, and talent that sold those paintings. Whether your other work can hold up to having a successful gallery event is in your hands.”
She placed her hand against her forehead.
“What do we need to do first?” she asked.
He smiled. “You need to go home and rest. I’ll be in touch about the gallery event and any other modeling jobs. One thing I might suggest is that you try to stay in Molokai’s good graces. He has an interest in your work.”
“I’m not too sure about him. I more than likely won’t see him again either. Not when I’ll be spending time painting and trying to organize a gallery event.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. He enjoyed your company, and I think he anticipates meeting you again. He would be a good man to have in your corner as you face some powerful people who may want to stand in your way of success. After all, it isn’t only about your talent. As you know, it takes knowing the right people, having the perfect business people backing you to ensure your success and help promote your name and the product you are selling. But don’t worry about those small details. Allow me to, and you just keep painting and organizing the pieces you plan on displaying. Corpias will bring you to the car and my driver can take you home.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I have a ride,” she said and stood up and smiled.
“Thank you so much, Mulgoff,” she said and he went to shake her hand but she hugged him instead and he chuckled. She stepped back and felt her cheeks warm.
“Thanks.”
“So sweet. You are a gem, and worth way more than any jewel I’ve ever had the pleasure to incorporate in my designs. I’ll be in touch.”
She grabbed her bag and Corpias walked her out of the room. The moment she was in the hallway she locked gazes with Mercury.
“Are you all set?” Mercury asked.
“Yes. Thank you for waiting. I didn’t know I would be so long and I appreciate the ride.”
Mercury pulled her close and gave Corpias a mean expression.
“You know my brothers and I wanted to wait for you to ensure you get home safely. You must be tired.”
“Exhausted,” she said and then looked at Corpias.
“Goodnight, Corpias.”
“Goodnight,” he replied but looked so angry it made her heart race. Mercury must have sensed her fear as he gripped her hand tight and walked her out of the hallway and into the main lobby.
He lifted his wrist to his mouth.
“I have her. We’ll meet out front.”
He guided her out of the building and into the parking lot and she tightened up as a black SUV pulled up front. He opened the side door and helped her get in. Rylan was in the back seat, Falco was driving and Slade was in the front passenger seat. The door closed after Mercury got in and the SUV took off.
Rylan pulled her close. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
“I’m fine. Everything was fine. More than fine, actually,” she told him and she explained about the money she made, about the gallery event and about what her next steps would be.
“I can’t believe that meeting Mulgoff caused all of this to happen. It’s incredible and I feel like I owe him so much for pulling this off.”
“You don’t want to owe Mulgoff anything. Your work is exceptional and would have sold in the right setting,” Slade said from the front seat.
“You’re wrong. I needed someone with connections. Someone who created an imaginary hype around my work that got people to spend more than a hundred thousand dollars on a no-name artist like me. Come on, Slade. You have to understand where I’m coming from.”
“No, you don’t seem to understand the seriousness of those men you were keeping company with. Molokai is involved with illegal things. Mulgoff wants control of your work and success because it will bring him money. Did he have a take from that hundred grand plus he gave you in a check tonight?” Mercury asked.
“What? A take, what do you mean?”
“You didn’t ask him, did you?” Rylan asked with an attitude. She was really feeling on the defensive right now.
“He didn’t mention anything about that.”
“Fuck. You don’t even know what he wants in return for doing this for you,” Mercury scolded.
“What would he want? He didn’t mention wanting anything, he just mentioned…”
“What? What did he mention?” Rylan asked her.
“That I keep an open mind about Molokai. That he has power and connections that could help me be successful.”
They were all silent but she felt the anger. It was palpable. Tears stung her eyes and she was confused. God, she was stupid. It was like everything she ever wanted could be at her fingertips but it came with a price. Apparently she didn’t read between the lines or understand the unsaid words of men like Mulgoff and Molokai.
“You’re not doing business with them. You’re not going to do the gallery event,” Mercury stated and stared straight ahead as if he had the final say in her life. What gave him the right to say something like that? She needed this. She didn’t want to be poor, to be hungry and needy. She wanted to paint, to express her creativity and live without fear of failure again in her life.
Tears filled her eyes. “That is not your decision to make. It’s mine.”
“Want to bet?” Mercury whispered, teeth clenched. She swallowed hard.
“I am not going to throw away this opportunity because you think it’s a setup. I have waited my whole life for this. To have my work be in demand, on display at some upscale gallery where people pay big money for artwork. Do you understand the personal success that will bring me, never mind the monetary freedom? You probably don’t. Y
ou have money, you have power, your fancy cars, your fancy house, and the ability to snap your fingers and have women kneel at your feet. I’ve had to struggle for every ounce of what I have, which isn’t much. I’ve gone without eating to buy more paint to finish a painting. I’ve had to lose my pride, my studio, my self-respect, and came so close to winding up in a shelter or having to tell my friends I’ve failed and can’t even support myself. You don’t know what my life has been like and tonight, this past week, and meeting Mulgoff has changed all of that. He hasn’t asked me for anything but to do the work he hired me for and I did. I paraded myself around to sell that diamond and I’m a shy, quiet person. I’ve sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice if it is going to help me be successful. So don’t you dare try to come into my life and make demands you have no right making. Stop the car. I want out,” she said and sat forward.
Mercury placed his hand on her thigh. “You’re not going anywhere. We’ll work this out, but first you need to learn a few rules.” He turned in his seat, gripped her hip, and pulled her up onto his lap. She gasped at his forcefulness and how easily he lifted her up to straddle his waist. Mercury cupped her cheeks and she covered his hands with hers and stared down into his eyes, wide-eyed and intimidated.
“You have a lot to learn, but I think my brothers and I are up for the challenge.” He pulled her closer and kissed her. She moaned into his mouth. She felt wild and just as needy as he was. He slid one hand away from her cheek and neck and moved it up under her skirt against her thigh. She lifted up and ran her fingers through his hair, a hunger so grand, so deep pulled at her entire being. She had never been kissed like this. She never felt so aroused, so turned on in her entire life.
As he deepened the kiss he turned her to the left and lowered her to the seat. Her back hit the leather and he moved partially over her as Rylan grabbed her arms and pulled them above her head, causing her chest and pelvis to lift upward.
She gasped when Mercury released her lips and unbuttoned her blouse.
“Mercury.”
“You’re incredible, Rose. So fucking sexy and beautiful, and I was jealous all night. All fucking night watching other men want what is going to belong to me and my brothers.” He lowered down and licked along her breasts then up to her neck, sucking hard as Rylan shifted so he was partially on the floor of the SUV, holding her wrist above her head against the seat with one hand and then lowered his mouth to hers.
A Shot of Love Potion [Love on the Rocks 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 9