by A. L. Zaun
“Her work is very important to her, but she’ll always have it. She needs to learn balance. You didn’t come all this way to be entertained by an old man, and she didn’t come here on business.”
I ran my finger over the rim of the glass in the same way I’d run it around Madison’s lips earlier this morning. I thought about everything he’d said, what Madison had done, and how she’d felt when I was inside her.
I stared at the forbidden amber liquor.
“She doesn’t let me drink this.” I took a sip. “I have no idea why. She says it has to do with self-control, but we drink wine.” I took another sip, allowing the warmth to flow slowly down my throat. “I agree with the last part of what you said.” I held the glass in my hands and decided I would blame it on liquid courage, but I knew the truth. I was calling bullshit. “Madison was wrong to leave me, but from what I’ve seen, it’s what she knows. You spent most of last night kissing ass with customers instead of spending time with her.”
He came around from behind the bar with a look that could kill. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” His mouth contorted in the same way Madison’s did when she was about to go Ice Princess Bitch on me. “You’re out of line, young man.”
Fuck. I ran my hand through my hair and then pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re right,” I conceded.
His confident expression changed as his eyes fell, and his shoulders slumped a bit.
“So are you. I don’t want her repeating the same mistakes I keep making,” he admitted regretfully.
“She’s always talking to me about manners,” I huffed. “Well, it seems that she needs to learn respect. She’s my best friend, and I’ll do anything for her, but she can’t keep doing this shit.”
“You’ve got balls, Rick, putting me in my place here.” He polished off his drink.
“She’s going to be livid that I’m drinking.” I took a small sip. “But I live for making her angry. She’s hot when she gets mad.” My lip curved as I stared at my hands, holding the contraband. “But if her disappearing has anything to do with that motherfucker, I’m going to lose it.”
As the words settled, it dawned on me that the restaurant was about to open, and Alex was nowhere in sight. I felt a chill run through me, and my eyes shot up when I heard a door close.
Chapter 16
Madison
The cab ride from Sarabeth’s was quick. I pushed down any lingering doubts I had about coming here. I held my head high as I walked down the familiar corridor. Taking a single deep breath, I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, clearing my head of all distractions and preconceived notions of polite decorum. I turned the knob and pushed open the door.
I used a slow, steady voice and fixed my eyes straight on him. “You either have a fucking brain tumor that’s causing you to behave irrationally, or you’re on drugs. Otherwise, you’ve sunk to new lows.”
His dark brown eyes glanced up from his computer screen as he sat back in his chair with a smug grin on his face, accentuating his chiseled jaw.
“None of the above. Why don’t you come over here and sit on my cock?” he suggested before puckering his lips.
“I’m fine where I’m at. If I go near your cock, it’ll be to shove it up your ass.” I crossed my arms. “You’ve gone too far, and this bullshit has to stop.”
“Or else what?” He shrugged his shoulders and brought his hands behind his head. “Come on, let’s have fun. I thought you’d like the pictures. You have an amazing body.”
“Fuck you, Alex. You’re sick and twisted. Pictures? Un-fucking-believable. What do you want?”
“I want to fuck you,” he replied bluntly, reaching for a slip of paper on his desk. “Oh, and here’s the dry cleaning bill.”
I pulled off my scarf and dropped my purse on the chair behind me. Bracing his desk, I shot daggers at him.
“I’m not interested in playing your games. You have five seconds to start telling me what you want, or I’m out of here.”
“You’ve always liked playing our games. He’s changed you.” He got up from his chair. “And not in a good way. You’ve become soft and lost your edge.” He came around his desk and stood in front of me as his eyes traveled the length of my body. “Six months ago, you would’ve either been turned-on and fucked my brains out or you would’ve laughed and told me better luck next time.”
He ran his hand along my face. My stomach dropped, and my breakfast rose in my throat.
“But you care what he thinks about you.”
I rebuffed his touch, turning away from him. “I’m done. Do whatever you want with regard to those pictures,” I called his bluff.
His fingers gently tilted my chin back, his smoldering eyes piercing me. His lip curved into a grin.
“We haven’t even started.” His eyes glanced down to my mouth. “Your little boy toy can never give you the rush I’ve given you.”
Thump, thump, thump beat in my ears as he moved closer.
“I can see it in your eyes. I could fuck you right now, and your pussy would be thrilled.”
Fight or flight.
My eyes traveled around his office. I had once spent countless hours in this room when it used to belong to my grandfather. It still held a certain mystique of old-world charm and nostalgia in its décor, keeping in line with the traditional feel of the restaurant as a whole. I could almost see my grandfather sitting behind his large mahogany desk, calling me over and making me feel as though I was part of his decision-making process.
“I’m building a kingdom for my princess,” he told me. “It’ll all be yours one day.”
“Oh, Gramps, a princess? Really?” I asked, slightly offended.
He laughed at my attempt at maturity.
“I want to be like you when I grow up. I don’t see you wearing a gown and waiting for someone on a horse to rescue you. I don’t need everything. I just want Mark’s.”
“Maddy, you’re twelve. Little girls want to be princesses and have their prince,” he reasoned.
“You’re digging yourself into a bigger hole,” I said, nudging him.
He pulled me in close to him and tapped my nose, promising me, “I’m going to teach you everything I know.”
My eyes continued to take in everything. The abstract art on the walls seemed such a contradiction with the old-world curves of the cherry desk, but somehow, the chairs with their distressed leather pulled the room together and gave it a warm feeling. It was all so familiar but different.
The pounding in my ears softened. My eyes shot up to Alex’s.
“We’re done,” I stated, devoid of any emotion. “If you want to discuss business, we can do so during business hours. Send me naked pictures again, and I’ll file a fucking harassment suit against you. Don’t fuck with me.”
His smile widened. “Look at that. Twenty minutes with me, and you’re back, not giving a shit who you’d take down if they got in your way. Imagine what’ll happen when I fuck you. You’ll get your edge back.” He paused, stepping back. “You and I are the same. We’re shrewd, savvy, and ruthless. I have Donovan’s in Miami. You want it? You’re going to have to take it from me, or you can climb on my cock, and we can do it together.”
I shrugged my shoulder, unaffected. “Then, I’ll just have to take it from you,” I countered, unintimidated by him.
He reclined against his desk, stretching his long legs in front of him. “Good luck, but this here”—he motioned to his crotch—”is the only way that’ll happen.”
“Your overconfidence will be your downfall.”
“I’m not being arrogant in this.” He opened his arms. “Come here.”
I looked down at my watch. Rick and my grandfather would be here soon. I needed to wrap things up. “Go to hell.”
He puckered his lips. “Come on now. You’re going to need a little comforting from an old friend.”
He reached out for my hands that I quickly withdrew.
“Have it your way,” he said, unaffec
ted.
“Games and riddles? Just spit it out if you want. Like I said, I’m done,” I told him, opening the door.
“You’re going to lose, Madison, but I’ll be here, and so will my cock.” He laughed, coming up behind me as I stepped into the hallway. A chill ran through me when his lips grazed my ear.
“It was Mark’s idea all along. You’ll never win.”
Pushing down the sting of betrayal, I countered matter-of-factly, “Then, I’ll just have to build my own kingdom.”
“You do that, princess,” he scoffed.
I ignored him and the memories of my grandfather telling me about my legacy. As I walked down the long corridor to the door leading to the main room, I felt the walls closing in on me like a scene from a horror movie. I took several slow breaths, trying to get enough air in my lungs. The eerie sensation of Alex’s breath on my neck and the stench of his cologne still swirled around me. I refused to look back to see if he was still there. I wasn’t about to let him win.
My phone vibrated in my pocket as I approached the thick mahogany door that stood between the rest of the world and me. Pulling out my phone, I saw a text from my grandfather, saying they’d already arrived here and would meet me at the bar. I slipped it back into my pocket without responding. I wasn’t sure what to say to my grandfather. Mason had alluded to our grandfather’s involvement in this decision, and now Alex had confirmed it.
Why?
I couldn’t begin to wrap my head around that betrayal, and I wasn’t one to nurse my wounds or engage in self-pity. Those were for the weak-minded. I’d met my life’s quota yesterday. Still, Alex’s words had pierced my heart, and a part of me was breaking. I trusted my grandfather implicitly. For years, we’d talked, planned, and strategized. Sure, my initial goal had been to take over Mark’s, but things had changed, and I needed to be in South Florida. He’d known and understood.
How could he do this to me?
I just had to get the hell out of here. I had never been one to entertain escapism unless it involved sex, but this weekend, I seemed to have become proficient at it. First running from Rick, now I had a strong desire to run to him and turn back the clock. I wanted to go back to being that girl blushing as she sat next to the man tickling the back of her neck with his fingers at brunch.
Go back to the magical moment in the park.
Go back to when I let go and he caught me.
Catch me, Rick. I need you to catch me.
I ran my hands over my hair before tucking it behind my ears. Then, I grabbed the doorknob and exhaled slowly. On the other side of this door, Rick and my grandfather would be waiting for me. Oddly, the idea of the temper tantrum I would interrupt comforted me. I could already see his storming eyes and clenching jaw. I had promised to make it up to him, and I would.
I’d deal with my grandfather and Alex tomorrow after Rick went back home. For now, my focus would be Rick.
I rolled my shoulders and stretched my neck, easing some of the tension.
I pushed the door open and peeked at the room as I’d done so many times as a little girl. The room was coming alive. In less than half an hour, the doors would open.
Rick was sitting at the bar with his hands wrapped around a glass. I was certain it was his scotch of preference. His dark hair was disheveled, looking as though he’d run his fingers through it—a lot. My grandfather sat next to him with his hand on Rick’s shoulder.
We’re in a full-blown tantrum.
I walked up to them. At first, I was going to place my hands on my grandfather’s shoulders, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even look at him. Instead, I sat on the stool next to Rick, laying my hand on his leg.
“Hey.” I wasn’t about to insult him with a flirty tone or dismiss his tantrum.
He tilted his head to look at me. His eyes were a raging fury. Slowly, he turned his face back to his drink and said nothing.
“Rick, look at me,” I pleaded softly.
He stared at his hands holding his drink. “Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?”
“This is not the place for this,” I reminded him with a steady tone.
“Then, why the fuck did you tell me to meet you here?” he asked before turning to address my grandfather. “Right now, she’s getting pissed and is going to threaten to cut off my dick, shove it in a food processor, and then throw it down the garbage disposal, but you know what? I don’t give a fuck. Why? Because she’s already fucking cut it off.”
I cringed.
My grandfather patted him on the back. “Don’t worry, Maddy. He’s been multilingual for a while and very entertaining.”
Rick nodded in agreement.
“Were you able to resolve whatever problem you had?” my grandfather asked.
I tried to look at Rick. My eyes started to flutter up to meet his, but I couldn’t. “Let’s go,” I said to Rick, getting up off the stool.
As I stood, my body tensed when I felt hands on my arms.
“Hello, Mark, it’s good to see you.” Alex rubbed up against me, and I could feel him getting hard from the contact.
“Hon, you left this behind.” He hung my scarf over my shoulders, and a cold chill ran through my body. Rick’s eyes darted up to the mirror behind the bar, and he saw Alex smirking as he leaned in and grazed my neck with his mouth. My stomach dropped, my eyes closed, and my hands squeezed into a tight fist.
Rick pushed back hard, the stool making a grating sound against the hardwood floors. Gone were his hazel eyes with green and amber specks. They were replaced by wild darkened eyes.
Huffing like a bull, Rick turned toward Alex with hands clenched tight. “I told you to keep your motherfucking hands off of her.”
In the mirror, I could see Alex’s shoulders square in a subtle challenge.
He jutted his chin with a smug grin on his face. “Oh, I’m sorry, Rob. I didn’t even notice you there.”
The tension in the room was thick. The only thing separating Alex and Rick was my small body. I wanted to turn around and drive my knee up into Alex’s crotch and make him cry like a little girl, but Rick was a ticking time bomb, and any slight movement in the wrong direction might set him off. My grandfather said nothing, unaffected by the maelstrom brewing in his midst.
I placed my hands on Rick’s heaving chest. My own heart raced. “Look at me.”
His eyes were on a taunting Alex whose crooked grin widened.
“Look at me,” I repeated more forcefully without raising my voice.
He was immobile.
I slowly snuck my hands up to his face. “Baby, look at me,” I pleaded.
“Well, I have a restaurant to run.” Alex placed his hands on my shoulders, looking straight at Rick. “You really should do something about your anger issues. You never know when you might piss off the wrong person.” He sneered and then addressed my grandfather, “Mark, wanna come and take a look around before the doors open?”
“I’ll join you shortly,” my grandfather responded flatly.
My eyes were on Rick, who was finally looking at me with downcast eyes rimmed with a pinkish red hue.
“Let’s go home,” I urged, coming closer to him.
I didn’t know when it had happened—that moment when things between us had changed. Maybe there wasn’t a specific time or event. Perhaps it was gradual. He had been right when he said he wasn’t the same man who had walked through the doors of Martini Bar that fateful evening. The plan had been to help him. He had been the broken one, but in the process, he’d saved me. We hated each other most of the time, and right now, I was certain he loathed me. I took comfort though in knowing that he was feeling something strong and passionate about me.
He slipped my hands off of his face. “I have to go.” Pushing away, he headed toward the door, slipping on his coat.
“Let him go, Maddy. He needs some space,” my grandfather suggested, bringing his arm around me.
“No, I won’t.” I pulled away from him urgently.
I followed Ri
ck outside into the bitter cold. The sky had grown gray, and the temperature had dropped. The noise of the city was all around us. Traffic was at a standstill, cars inching their way along the crowded road. Pedestrians were scurrying to their next stop, all bundled up. Rick stood on the corner, running his hands through his hair.
“Rick,” I called out, jogging toward him. He turned around to face me. His jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes were a mixture of anger and hurt. “It’s not what you think.”
“When have you ever given a shit about what I thought?” he asked.
“I’ve always cared about what you thought,” I insisted over the city sounds. “Come on, let’s go. It’s freezing.”
“You’re full of shit.” He looked out over the street. “You don’t want to be around me right now. It wouldn’t be pretty.”
“Don’t assume what I want. You want to go, then go,” I told him, reaching for both of his hands and lacing my fingers with his. “I know you hate me right now. I fucked up. I keep fucking up. I’ve picked up that very bad habit from you.”
His lip flittered like he wanted to smile, but he didn’t. “Your attempt at a sense of humor is an epic fail.”
His eyes fell on my lips, and the distance between us narrowed. I could feel the warmth of his breath touching my face. He pressed his mouth over mine. Letting go of my hands, he cupped my face, deepening his kiss. I held on to him, pushing myself toward him as close as I could.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered into his mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know,” he responded, looking deeply into my eyes.
Then, suddenly, the light changed. He shook his head and broke away from me. I stood, completely frozen, watching him leave me behind.
Chapter 17
Madison
I sat on the bed, balled up as I stared out the window, holding a glass of wine. I’d started brewing hot water for a cup of tea, but after the day—no, the fucking weekend—I’d had, I needed something stronger. I swirled the drink in my hand, watching the liquid dance, and then I brought the glass to my lips, breathing in the woods and berries. The wine smoothly slid down my throat, warming my body as it attempted to soothe my soul.