by Sam Crescent
She took a seat on the sofa, and he watched as she grabbed a glass of wine, taking a drink. “You left your leather jacket in your office. I saw it, and I did a little research. There’s an old picture of you in a newspaper clipping some years ago. Your club made headline news. Was that woman today part of your club?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not denying it then. You’re a biker?”
“Yes.”
“A billionaire biker.”
He took a seat next to her, nodding. “Yes.”
“You do know that sounds crazy, right? A billionaire who spends his free time being part of a biker club.”
“It’s an MC, and I don’t advertise what I do.”
“You’re surrounded by rumors though, all the time.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “It gives me an edge in the boardroom.”
“If you think so.”
“I know so.”
She rested her head on the back of the couch, and in that moment, Richard finally saw her. Temperance, in her own space, surrounded by her own personality, and he liked it. Even Jay, her best friend, suited her. Pictures of Jay and Temperance dotted the walls. She wasn’t some sweet, innocent girl, but a woman who liked what she liked.
“Jay is my best friend. I’ve known him since I was a kid, and he’s an accountant. We share an apartment, and it works for us.”
He didn’t know if he should be jealous or not. He loved sharing a woman, and seeing the way Jay was with Temperance, it made him wonder if there could be something in it for the future.
“I should apologize to him?” Richard asked.
“Nah, it’s Jay. He’s very protective of me.”
“Are you two done?” Jay said, coming out of his room. He wore a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt.
“It’s your apartment as well. Anyway, you wanted to meet my boss, here is your chance. Jay, please meet Richard, my boss. Richard, this is my best friend, Jay.”
“I’d say it’s a pleasure but it’s not,” Jay said, moving around to sit in a chair opposite. “Do you think it’s right to fuck your female employees?”
“Jay?”
Richard held his hand up. “I’ve not been with anyone else, and what I had with Tempe tonight has been building for awhile.”
“Tempe? That’s what you call her.”
“This is ridiculous,” Temperance said.
“You got a problem with that?”
“She’s my friend. Only I call her that.”
“Jay, you’re sounding like a child.”
Richard stared at his opponent as Jay looked at Temperance. He hadn’t become a billionaire by failing to read all the signs. He saw it as clearly as he was seeing the yearning on Jay’s face. His earlier assumptions had been correct.
“Don’t worry about it, Tempe. I’m sure I’d be pissed, and rather territorial if the girl I’d been in love with for some time, suddenly showed interest elsewhere.”
Temperance burst out laughing. “You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t?”
“You control the boardrooms, but you don’t know everything. Tell him, Jay.”
Richard leaned back, getting comfortable as he stared back at Jay. “Go ahead, tell her, Jay.”
Silence fell on the room, and he waited. He didn’t give a fuck if Jay was in love with Temperance.
He wasn’t going to back down without a fight, and then he’d win. Tonight he had a taste of her, and that wasn’t going to be the last time. However, Jay opened up a great deal of possibilities.
Chapter Four
“I can’t,” Jay said.
“What? Sure you can. You’ve been sleeping with women all this time. You’re not in love with me. We’re best friends. We did that, and you said it made everything too awkward.” Temperance looked at Richard, but he was too busy staring across at her friend. The way he was looking at Jay made her nervous.
What was Richard thinking?
She didn’t have the first clue, and that scared her.
“I know what I’ve done, and I know what I feel.”
“No, this can’t be happening.” She tucked her legs up underneath her and stared at her friend, not really seeing him. “This night is just getting crazier by the second.”
“I love you, Tempe,” Jay said.
She shook her head. “I’ve just seen a woman leave. A woman you call your Friday, or Red, because you can’t remember her name.”
“I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Don’t try to pretend you’ve not had sex with every single woman that you’ve been with.”
“No, I have slept with her, but I’ve not slept with each woman in a long time. It has been a few months. I’ve been cutting things off with them. You wouldn’t have noticed as you’ve been working all the time.”
“I can’t believe this right now. You’re telling me that you’re in love with me?” She was aware of Richard watching the whole thing between her and Jay.
“Yes.”
“No. I can’t do this now. Not with everything.” She got to her feet, and turned to look at Richard. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I just—I’ve got to go to bed.”
She left the room, not looking back, and slammed her door closed.
None of this could be happening. She didn’t for a second think it was possible. Jay didn’t love her, and Richard coming to her at her apartment, was just crazy.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared down at the floor, trying to make sense of everything, and once again, she drew a blank.
There was no way to make sense of what the hell was going on with those two.
****
“Why did you have to do that?” Jay asked.
“Why did you have to keep it a secret?” Richard was intrigued by the man. He didn’t feel jealous as he saw an opportunity here to live out part of his desires. Jay had been in her life for a lot longer than he had. From just listening to them, he knew Jay had been Temperance’s first, and they shared an apartment. There was a chance they could share, and he was more than willing to give that a shot.
“You don’t just advertise that shit.” Jay stood and started to pace.
“You’re supposed to be best friends.”
“We are best friends.”
“And yet you can’t even tell her how you feel.” Richard rested his head on his hand, curious about the man pacing before him.
“You know what, leave.”
“Why?”
“This is my apartment, and if you don’t leave, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.” Jay moved to stand in front of him. “I don’t give a shit if you’re some kind of biker.”
Richard always loved it when men stood over him. It was what made standing up so exciting.
Getting to his feet, Richard stared down at her friend. “Just so you know, I won’t be backing down. Tempe is mine.”
“Do you really think she’s going to go for a guy like you?”
“I had her on my desk this very evening. I’ve got a better shot than you. I’ll see her soon.” Richard made his way to the door, glancing back at Jay. “It was nice to meet you, and I have a feeling this isn’t going to be the last time.”
He always liked to get ahead of the competition.
Leaving Temperance’s apartment, Richard climbed into his car and made his way to the luxury clubhouse that he shared with nine other billionaires. They were the closest thing he had to a family, and to a brotherhood. He’d never grown attached to anyone else. The billionaire bikers had become his family, and without them, his main focus would be on his business.
Richard loved the club, and he also loved helping others.
The women they had saved, that was what the meaning of the club stood for him. The BBMC, protected the vulnerable, and saved those in need on a personal level. It wasn’t just about signing a check, which he could easily do. Anyone could sign a check, but only a few could get their hands dirty.
Driv
ing toward the club, it gave him time to think about his little PA. Temperance was proving to be different from how he imagined her. He truly believed she was a prim and proper woman, who believed promiscuity was what was wrong with the world. Of course, he’d gotten it wrong on every single count.
Jay opened up something that Richard had tried to ignore. He loved sharing a woman, and with Jay, it would be the perfect way to start a relationship that excited him. Every other time, sharing a woman, the sex had been amazing, but something had always been missing. He and Tempe had a connection, Tempe had a connection with Jay, it could work.
Parking at the underground parking facility, he saw there were several of the club members already there.
Making his way toward the main bar, he found Lewis, John, Blake, and Jackson at the bar drinking. Russ and Anna were also present.
“Hey, Richard,” Russ said.
He gave the men a nod, and made his way up to the bar, taking a seat. There was no sign of the women, and he glanced around the main room, seeing it empty besides the men sitting there.
Anna rounded the bar, and gave him a smile, her rounded stomach showing signs of her late pregnancy. “What can I get you?”
“You’re a barmaid now as well?” Richard asked.
“Just for tonight. Sean, Jamie, and Malcolm are keeping the rest of the women busy.”
“Russ is not keeping you busy?”
She laughed. “Not this week, no.”
“How come?” Richard’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Enough, Richard,” Russ said.
“What? It’s a perfect reasonable question. Why do you have to bite my head off?”
“It’s personal. Leave it alone.”
“What can I get you?” Anna asked.
“An explanation would be good.” Richard folded his arms.
“Why are you being a dick?” Russ stood up, and turned to face him.
“I thought we shared this kind of information.”
“Ignore Richard. He’s got his own issues. He fucked his PA this evening,” Lewis said.
Turning to the other brother, Richard glared. The drama tonight was starting to piss him off. “Does Mandy know who you are yet?”
“You hit below the fucking belt,” Lewis said, getting to his feet. The stool clattered to the floor, and Richard stood as well. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“My problem? I ask a reasonable question, and that fucker is going on the defense. I remember a time when we could ask this kind of shit—”
“Stop!” Anna said, yelling to be heard. “We’ve had a little complication, and the doctor has advised that I take it easy. I’m not to strain myself or have sex. That’s all I’m going to tell you. Please, don’t irritate Russ anymore. It has been … tough.”
Richard was the world’s biggest dick. No, he wasn’t a good friend, and he was an asshole. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m going to go lie down.”
She left, and Richard wanted to beat the shit out of himself, which was hard to do.
“Fuck! You just couldn’t let it go, could you?”
Running fingers through his hair, he looked at his friend. “I’m sorry, man. What is going on?”
“She’s having problems, and I brought her here to relax, and because we had a club meeting tonight, which you missed.”
“A club meeting? I didn’t know we had a meeting.”
“I couldn’t get through to your cell, and I told Tina to let you know.”
“Shit. I left my cell at home. Tina didn’t give me any fucking message.” Running fingers through his hair, he looked around at the club brothers, staring at him with disapproval. He got that, and he understood their anger.
“Can I go and apologize?” he asked.
“Yeah, but don’t upset her anymore.”
Richard nodded, and before he left, he turned to Lewis. “I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m an asshole.”
“That you are, and I appreciate the fact you know the truth, and that you are an asshole.”
“How is Mandy?”
“Confused, scared, terrified, and she wakes up at night, screaming, not knowing what the hell is going on. Whatever those fuckers did to her, I hope she never remembers.”
“Has she seen her family yet?”
Lewis shook his head. “No. She doesn’t want to see them. I try. At the moment I’ve been able to get her in a room with a two way mirror, where she doesn’t see them, but they can see her. Not to talk to her, just to know that she’s alive, and she’s doing okay. They’re trusting me to take care of her.” Lewis snorted. “I can’t take care of her. I couldn’t even stop her from being taken.”
“You can’t blame yourself for that shit. It was years ago.”
“It doesn’t change the fact she was still taken.” Lewis took a sip of his soda.
“Where is she now?” Richard asked.
“Therapy, just talking with someone.”
“She doesn’t remember anything,” Blake said.
“Doesn’t matter. She still has feelings, and nightmares. We’re not allowed to rush her to remember what happened.” Lewis glanced down at his watch. “I better go and pick her up.”
Richard watched Lewis leave, seeing a change within the brother.
“He’s found her, and it hasn’t done him any good,” Jackson said.
“No. She’s a shell of the woman he knew.” Richard turned to Russ. “I’m going to go and see Anna.”
“Sure.”
Richard left the main clubhouse and walked toward Russ’s room. He gave a little knock and waited for Anna to call out for him to enter.
Opening the door, he found Anna curled up on the bed, crying.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
He couldn’t do tears. It was his one weakness with women, tears. They scared him.
“You don’t need to say sorry. You’re always glib like that.” She wiped underneath her eyes, sniffling some more. “I’m being stupid.”
“You’re not stupid at all.” He moved, taking a seat on the bed. “I was being insensitive.”
“Lewis said you were being a pussy tonight. What did he mean by that?”
“Fucker shouldn’t have said anything.”
Anna laughed. “It’s not very nice, is it, when people start to invade your privacy?”
“Is this payback?” Richard asked.
“No. I was just wondering what made you say the stuff that you’ve actually said. You’re glib, but you’re not cruel.”
Richard sighed. “I had sex with my PA.”
“Temperance?”
“Yeah, how do you know her name?”
“I called a few times to leave messages for you. Russ asked me to.”
“I had no idea.” He’d always assumed that Russ had called directly.
“I’m always helping out where I can. I don’t like to feel like a waste of space. I have to do something.”
“You’ve got to rest now.”
“Yeah, Russ, he’s been freaking out a little. I had a little bleeding, and the doctor recommended that I rest and abstain from having sex. Russ hasn’t touched me since.”
“Everything is okay though, right?”
“Yeah, everything is okay. How are you dealing with crossing that line with your PA?”
“I’m handling it okay. I’m more worried about her.”
“I don’t understand.”
Richard told her what had happened, including the incident with her friend.
“You’re not jealous though?”
“No. I’m not jealous. I’m intrigued.”
“Intrigued how?”
“Let’s just say there is something I’ve wanted, and with Temperance and Jay, there’s a possibility I could have it.”
“And Temperance just walked away?”
“Pretty much. She doesn’t know how I’m feeling about this though. Jay can help me to have what I w
ant.”
“She may not have feelings for him.”
Richard snorted. “They’re best friends.”
“So?”
“He was her first.”
“So?”
“You’re not helping me, Anna.”
She chuckled. “What I’m trying to say is besides the obvious, that women are complicated, and not all of us stay hung up on those facts. We can have friends that are men without having any sexual desire for them. I consider you a friend, and I don’t want to sleep with you.”
“Charming.”
“Come on, you don’t want to sleep with me.”
“Very true. You’re tainted by your love of Russ.” He was doing everything he could to make her smile. Richard had seen the pain in her eyes, and the fear of what was happening to her. He liked Anna. She was strong. The BBMC had been there when she needed them most. Anna’s friend had been taken, and trying to save her, she’d gotten taken as well. During her time being captured, Anna was beaten, starved, locked in an animal cage, and witnessed her best friend dying.
He had a lot of respect for her, and for how she had handled what she’d gone through. Not many would have been able to bounce back from that.
“You could share her, you know?”
“What?” he asked. He was a little taken back seeing as that was what he wanted to do. Richard had no intention of Anna knowing that, though.
“Share her. Share Temperance.”
Richard laughed. “You’re really going to offer me advice on sharing. I bet you couldn’t share Russ.”
“First, I’m not an idiot. I know you like to share your women, Richard. Secondly, this is not about me and Russ. We’re not into that. You are. Thirdly, you weren’t jealous of Tempe’s friend, and we both know what you meant about there being a new possibility with him.”
“Everything is fucked up right now.” He didn’t like how easy he was to read.
“I always love it when a businessman talks dirty.”
“Hey, that’s me you like talking dirty,” Russ said.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” Richard got up and made his way toward the door.
“Talk to her,” Anna said. “Talk to Temperance before you start assuming what she wants, and try to make sure she’s part of the decision. You billionaires are a little self-centered at times.”