Devotion (The Seductors Series Book 3)

by Wilde, B. L.

  “I wasn’t thinking that…”

  “Sure you weren’t. Stop worrying, he can’t find you,” he snorted. “I’ve just seen your progress report, too. Sonia will be pleased.”

  “I’m hoping to get my first meet with my target tomorrow.”

  “I’ll let Sonia know. Take care and stop worrying. I’ve got this covered.” Was it wrong that I was a little disappointed? Secretly, I was hoping Oliver was behind the virus. Jade, you wouldn’t be that lucky. All of that is over. You need to move on. I could still dream, though, right?

  “Where is my Singapore Sling?” a guy slurred over the bar at me.

  “It’s almost done,” I called over the noise of the crowd, adding the last shot of gin. Remembering all these cocktails was tough even for me.

  “Jade!” Gabby shouted from the other end of the bar. “We need more Vodka. Can you get some from the cellar?” I nodded, handing the guy his drink before making my way downstairs.

  I was bent over in the cellar when I heard male voices behind me.

  “Now that is a luscious ass. Lean over a bit more, Baby.” I stood up, turning to see two security guys ogling me. Tim and Simon, I gathered. I knew Carl was working the front door.

  “Don’t you boys have work to do?” I glared.

  “You’re the new chick, Jade, right?” Wow, these guys were really clever.

  “Yes, and you’re Tim and Simon.”

  “How do you know that?” one of them asked.

  “I’ve been warned about you two already,” I smirked, trying to get past them. I was pinned against the wall as I tried to move.

  “You find something funny?” the creep chuckled darkly.

  “Tim, man, come on. If the Boss sees us, we’re in so much trouble.” The other guy was trying to pull his friend off me.

  “I’m going to be watching you carefully, Jade. I’ve already taken quite a shine to you. I like your attitude.” Great! Another fucking asshole to look out for.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” a firm voice called. Tim and Simon quickly released me. Their sudden action caused me to drop the two bottles of vodka I was holding.

  “M…Mr.…Mr. Stone…we were just…”

  “Harassing the waitresses again. I can see,” Mr. Stone seethed, moving his eyes to me. I pretended to tremble, clutching my waist. “Look at the poor girl. Go and do some work! I’ll be having words with the two of you later!” Both men scurried off.

  “Mr. Stone I…I’m sorry about the vodka, please don’t fire me. I need this job!”

  “You’re the new girl, am I right?” he mused, walking into the cellar. Mr. Stone wasn’t a bad looking guy. He was lean with mousy brown hair and deep blue eyes. Getting physical with this guy wouldn’t have bothered me before I’d met Oliver, but I was still repulsed when I thought about another man touching me. I’d have to get over that, though. I had a mission to complete. This wasn’t the last target I’d have to sleep with, either. I still had four years of my contract to complete. This was just the beginning.

  “Y…yes,” I muttered, looking down at the floor. I needed to work out what kind of man he was. Insecure Jade was always a good character to start with.

  “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

  “No, they just scared me a little.”

  “They’re harmless, really. Their bark is worse than their bite. I’ll speak to them later and tell them to leave you alone.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “I don’t have many blonde waitresses, and Gabby tells me you’re a quick learner.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Stone.”

  “Call me Adam,” he grinned. “And don’t worry about the vodka. I’ll take it out of Tim and Simon’s wages.” I nodded with a little giggle. “You better get back to work. Friday is a busy night here.”

  “Of course,” I stressed, moving quickly to grab two more bottles of vodka. Purposely, I bent over right in front of him, giving him a good view of my ass. I was wearing my denim shorts and a low cut top. I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me. “You can leave you know, I don’t think I'll get into any more trouble tonight,” I called over my shoulder.

  “I’m rather enjoying the view right now.”

  I turned to look at him, slowly standing back up. “Oh, I see.”

  “They were right about your ass, though, Jade.” Mr. Stone smirked as I walked passed.

  “I don’t mind you looking, Mr. Stone. I may have bent over that far on purpose.” I smiled seductively, hurrying back up to the bar before he said anything else. The game had begun.

  “You took your time,” Gabby snapped, snatching the vodka from me.

  “I’m sorry. Mr. Stone was talking to me.”

  “What about?”

  “He asked if I was the new waitress. I was having a bit of trouble with Tim and Simon, too.”

  “Will they ever learn? Adam will fire their asses one day if they keep that shit up. Ignore them, Jade. They have small cocks, so they feel the need to prove their masculinity by trying to intimidate the new girls.”

  “Mr. Stone gave them quite a tongue lashing. I don’t think they’ll bother me again.”

  “Adam must like you. He’s never done that before,” she mused, going back to the customers at the bar. “I need more glasses. Can you walk the floor for me?”

  “Sure,” replied, grabbing a tray to collect the empty glasses from tables.

  I was amazed at how tiring bar work was. Being on my feet for hours and trying to remember all the different orders was a lot to take in on my first night. I knew I would get better with time, but I was exhausted by the end of my shift. I hadn’t seen Mr. Stone again, either. He must have gone home after I’d seen him earlier. It wasn’t like he had to stay and lock up. He had managers for that. I mean...this was one of thousands of his bars scattered across the country. He probably didn’t even come in every day.

  “You did good tonight,” Gabby smiled, watching me put my coat on. “I’ll see you tomorrow night at seven.”

  “Thanks,” I beamed, picking up my bag and leaving.

  “Are you done for the night, Jade?” a voice called behind me once I was outside. I turned, shocked to see Mr. Stone leaning against an SUV.

  “Y…yes,” I replied, puzzled.

  “I was about to get something to eat. Are you hungry?”

  “Go for a meal…with you?”

  “Have you had a better offer?”

  I gave him a shy smile. “Sure, I could eat.” He pushed off the SUV and opened his car door for me. I was wrong; Mr. Stone had taken the bait earlier.

  He drove me to a small restaurant and few miles down the road.

  “How are you enjoying working at Stone’s?” he asked, opening the restaurant door for me.

  “It’s a lot to take in, but I love it so far.”

  “Have you always lived in San Francisco?”

  “No. I moved here from St. Petersburg a few weeks ago. That’s why I really need this job. I’m all alone here.”

  “Is that so?” he mused, motioning for the waiter to find us a table.

  “Do you take all your new waitresses out for dinner after their first evening shift?”

  “Not many, but I feel responsible for what happened earlier.”

  “That wasn’t your fault.”

  “They are my employees. That makes it my problem.”

  “What does that make me then?” I questioned. He was about to respond but the waiter interrupted him to take our order.

  “How long are you planning on sticking around, Jade?” He poured us both a glass of wine as he spoke.

  “As long as I have a job. I have no reason to leave.”

  “What made you leave St. Petersburg?”

  “A relationship ended badly. I needed to get some distance.” I wasn’t going to play my seductive card yet. If this guy wanted me, I was going to make him work for it. That was the best way to ensure I didn’t end up a one-night stand. Well, that and the fact I would ro
ck his world when I did eventually sleep with him. I’d met many men like Mr. Stone before. I knew what I needed to do.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Was it a long relationship?”

  “I was in love with him and he broke my heart.” I smiled sadly, running my fingertips over my wine glass.

  “He was an idiot to let a girl like you go.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t bring me here to talk about my exes,” I giggled, sipping my wine.

  “No, I didn’t.” His eyes widened suggestively. Dream on, Mr. Stone. You’re not getting a piece of this tonight.

  “Why did you bring me, then?”

  “Well, from your comment in the cellar earlier, I got the impression you might be interested in me.”

  “There is a difference between finding someone attractive and being interested, Mr. Stone.”

  “Are you going to tell me which one you are?”

  “I need to work out what kind of man you are first. You’re my boss. I’m not going to do anything that might get me fired.”

  “What do you mean by the kind of man I am?” he frowned, tilting his head.

  “I’m not easy, Mr. Stone. If you’re looking for a quick thrill, I’m not your girl.”

  “Jade, I’ve told you, call me Adam.”

  “Okay, Adam.”

  “And what makes you think you won’t enjoy a cheap thrill with me?”

  “I don’t do cheap thrills with any man. I’m worth more than that.”

  “I see.” His eyes gleamed over. Something told me he was a man who might enjoy the chase, which worked for me. I wouldn’t have to jump into bed with him right away.

  “So, you’re telling me I’ll need to work a bit harder?”

  “Maybe.”

  We made small talk for the rest of the evening. He bragged about his empire of bars scattered all over America. He made himself sound so honorable, but of course, I knew that was far from the truth. By the time he dropped me outside my apartment a few hours later, I was exhausted. It had been a long day.

  “I’ll see you at work tomorrow, Jade,” he muttered, looking down at my lips.

  “Thank you for dinner.” I jumped out of the car before he had the chance to try and kiss me. He’d have to work a lot harder to get anything from me, but at least I’d been able to work out what kind of a man he was.

  I only hoped this mission would help me heal, because the moment I fell into dreamland, Oliver was there waiting for me.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So how is the mission going?” Georgie asked. I was currently at my apartment, lying on my bed. We were on a landline call, so headquarters couldn't monitor our conversation.

  “I’m playing hard to get.”

  “Since when do you play that role?”

  “He’s a fuck once then move on kind of guy.”

  “Okay, but why should that matter? You know one night with us is never enough for any guy. That’s why we’re Seductors. How long have you been on the mission now?”

  “Almost four weeks.”

  “You’re stalling! Jade, bite the bullet. It’s just sex.” That was easy for her to say. She’d never been in love.

  “I will soon. My target travels a lot. He’s away right now.”

  “What has Sonia said about your progress?”

  “She’s been fairly understanding under the circumstances.”

  “I bet she has—the fucking bitch!”

  “I’m okay, Georgie, really. I’m learning to cope.”

  “Do you know how hard it is for me to keep my mouth shut about all this? I want to march into Sonia’s office and tell her just what I think of her and this fucking organization we work for!”

  “What’s the point? We’d get Molly into trouble, then my mission with Oliver would be questioned. It’s better for us all to move on.”

  “I’m worried about you, Jade. You haven’t been yourself. It’s like all the life has been sucked out of you.”

  “I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me, Georgie. I just need time. I’m getting better.”

  “What if he comes looking for you?”

  “That would be impossible.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. Yes, it was impossible, but Oliver had still managed it.

  “You know our computer system picked up a virus a few weeks back, right?” Where was she going with this? “Didn’t you find it all a little strange.”

  “Oliver didn’t hack our servers, Georgie,” I snorted. “We caught that virus from the Military system.”

  “Doesn’t Oliver deal with the Military?” I froze. He did, but I couldn’t see any logical reason for him to try and gain access to the Seductors’ network…unless he had ignored my plea and was trying to find out who had tried to steal his power core. “Jade, are you still there?”

  “He wouldn’t,” I gasped.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “He’d have come for me by now, Georgie. The virus was downloaded almost three weeks ago. Miles would have tracked him.”

  “Just be careful. I know I overreact, but I can’t help it. You’re like a sister to me.” Tears stung my eyes. I felt that way about her, too.

  “You worry too much. Nothing is going to happen. If Oliver was going to come and get me, he’d have done it by now. And truthfully, I know he wouldn’t hurt me, even after everything I have done to him. I saw it in his eyes before I left. He begged me to stay, even after he discovered why I’d disappeared the first time.”

  “So I’m being paranoid?”

  “Yes,” I giggled. “How is your mission going, anyway? Where are you now?”

  “I’m in Rome and it’s going good. I should be done in a few weeks.”

  “You’ll have to come and visit me in San Francisco when you get back, if you can.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Oh, I have to go, Jade. My target is back.”

  “Bye, Georgie,” I replied before we both hung up.

  Damn, Georgie! Why did she have to make me think so much? It was just a virus. Oliver wouldn’t have put his life in danger like that. He promised me. Jade, he didn’t promise anything, remember?

  I went to work early that evening. My mind was racing with so many scenarios that I needed the distraction.

  “You’re early,” Gabby grinned, watching me hang my coat up.

  “I was bored at my apartment,” I sighed.

  “It’s tough starting in a new town. I understand.”

  “You have no idea,” I breathed.

  “I was about to do a liquor count. Want to help me out?”

  “Sure.” I followed her out the back.

  “You missed a fine piece of eye candy earlier,” Gabby muttered while we began to do an inventory of the bottles.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, the girls and I were all fawning over this guy from out of town. He was a great tipper, too.”

  “Let’s hope he comes back then. I could do with a good tip.”

  “Mind you, I’m sure you’d have hardly noticed him. You seem to only have eyes for Adam. I have to say I’m impressed. He never chases anyone.”

  “I’m not a one night stand kind of girl. I made that clear to him the first night he took me out. I have to admit, I’m a little shocked that he’s still trying to pursue me.”

  “He told me you aren’t like the other waitresses.”

  “He’s talked to you about me?”

  “He’s really taken with you, Jade. I haven’t seen him this way before. Drop your defenses a little. He may be a player, but something makes me think you might be able to tame him.”

  “Really?”

  “You’d land on your feet with that guy, too. He’d look after you.”

  “I do like him,” I sighed, acting flustered as I sat down facing her.

  “Then what's the problem?”

  “I’ve been hearing some rumors about other dealings he’s involved in.”

  “You mean the drugs? Jade, he wouldn’t pull you into all that. He keeps his two bu
sinesses separate. He wouldn’t jeopardize his good name by merging them. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “My ex was a dealer. It’s not easy for me to get involved in all that again.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “You really think I should give him a chance?” I questioned. Gabby nodded with a big grin on her face.

  “Jade, we need more gin,” Penny, one of the waitresses, called. Gabby was taking the night off and had left me in charge. I nodded, heading out the back to get a few more bottles.

  I could hear voices in Adam’s office as I picked up the liquor. I hadn’t notice him arrive and realized he must have come in through the backdoor. Suddenly, a bulky man came charging out of his office, almost making me drop the gin in surprise.

  “It wasn’t my fucking fault, Mr. Stone!” the man seethed back toward the office. “I can’t be fucking everywhere!”

  “Just get me my money. That’s what you’re paid to do!” Adam’s tone was deadly, which was a side of him I hadn’t seen yet. He came into my view as the burly man stormed off. “Good evening, Jade,” he grinned, his eyes raking over me from head to toe. “You still haven’t replied to my dinner invitation for tomorrow night.”

  “I’m still trying to get the evening off.”

  “You’re going to dinner with the boss. You don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I wouldn’t want to leave Gabby short staffed,” I muttered, taking a step back as he stalked toward me.

  “How long are you going to play hard to get?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I smirked, holding the gin bottles close to my chest.

  “I’m not a very patient man.”

  “I’m sure there are plenty of other women willing to drop their panties for you. Why wait in hopes that I will?”

  “I like the challenge.” He backed me up against the wall, his hands digging into my hips.

  “Your bar is out of gin,” I whispered as he watched my lips.

  “Tell me you’ll have dinner with me tomorrow and I’ll let you go.”

  “You’d let your bar run out of gin?”

  “To get dinner with you—yes.”

  “That’s not very good business sense.”

  “Just say yes, Jade,” he purred, running his hands through my hair. His stale whiskey breath fanned my face. I was desperate to turn away, but I couldn’t. I had to give in and I knew it; I’d led him on for long enough.