It’s been a week. I haven’t answered her calls, and I certainly haven’t called her. Instead, I’ve worked my ass to the bone, and when I’m not working, drank myself to oblivion. Like right now, that’s what I’m about to do.
I lift the bottle to my mouth. No need for pretense. I’m not drinking to enjoy myself. I’m drunk because I’m pissed. She fucking lied to me. And if there is one thing I refuse to put up with, it’s a fucking liar.
This is the reason I don’t date anymore. It’s one thing or the other. They’re either out for my money or the acclaim that comes with being with me. That’s the one thing I miss about Addison. It was so easy. I never had to deal with this bullshit.
Fuck.
I take another deep swig of the amber liquid. It burns my throat as it pours its way down. This is pathetic. What am I doing? I’m in my goddamn prime. Lord of my own empire and I’m sitting on my floor of the hotel drinking alone. There are a million women I could call right now. Who’d be here down on all fours pleading with me to fuck them right now. But I don’t want any of them. All I want is a blond haired, blue-eyed goddess who makes me insane at times.
I should call her.
But I don’t.
I still need some time to process the lie. It’s not necessarily that she did the coke, but the lie I can’t get over. I’ve never been addicted to anything . . .
Maybe I was too hard on her.
Taking another swig, I pull my phone out and dial her number. Voice mail. She’s probably getting high. The thought infuriates me even more. I reach for the bottle, but this time it’s empty. Rather than call for another, I decide to head to the roof bar and grab a drink.
Once in the lobby, my phone rings. Addison.
“Lancaster here.”
“Spence, do you have to answer that way. You know it’s me. I certainly know it’s you.”
“Point taken. So, what can I do for you at . . .” I look down at my Rolex. “At nine p.m. on a Friday evening.”
“I’m back in town.”
“Your point.”
“I need you to sign some papers.”
“You do realize it’s nine o’clock, right?”
“Oh, shut it, Lancaster.” Her mocking tone over the syllables to my name has me laughing. “You’re one to talk. You’re always working. You work so hard you don’t even have your own place. You just jump from hotel to hotel.”
“I like it that way.”
“You like the control. Don’t want to pass over any reins to anyone else.”
“I’m smart.”
“You’re a control freak. Don’t you want roots?”
“Never said I wasn’t. And no, I don’t.” Taking a deep breath, I calm myself. “So, papers. Can it wait until morning? I’m just going to Oak to have a drink.”
“You promised me a drink. And a drink I will get. I’ll meet you there.”
When I step into Oak, the wine bar on the top floor of the building, the hostess greets me. “Hello, Mr. Lancaster,” she purrs. “Your regular table?”
I nod. My usual table is a small intimate table in a secluded alcove overlooking the city. Small candles, sheer drapes and a stunning view makes this stand one of the most sought after tables in all of the city. But I’m the owner, so it’s mine.
“Addison Price will be joining me.”
She can’t help but pout at the news. Word must be spreading through the hotel that Olivia and I are on the outs. It’s the nature of the business. As tight a ship as I run so my guest’s information won’t leak, the staff loves to gossip about me. I bet she’s hoping I’d close the curtain and show a bit of my wicked playboy ways.
My usual scotch is set in front of me by the time I make it to the table and sit. Someone deserves a raise, that’s for sure. I’ll make sure to have my assistant give Jimmy one on Monday morning.
I’m halfway through my scotch when Addison arrives at the table. She slips in beside me, her body close to mine. The warmth of the liquid permeating my body has me loose and not wanting to do business, and as the heat of her body radiates off her, my body has a mind of its own.
“Addison.” My voice is lighter than normal, and not as rough around the edges. Must be the booze.
“Rough night?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not particularly,” I deadpan.
She reaches her hand out and squeezes mine once before setting hers back on the table. “Spence. How long have we known each other? You can talk to me.”
“Do you read Exposé?”
“Yeah,” she pauses, her eyes peering into mine, “maybe it’s for the best.” She stares at me for a second, her body inching over to mine.
“What are you doing, Addi?”
She smiles at the familiar nickname I haven’t used in years, and places her hand on my lap, dangerously close to my cock. So close she actually flicks it lightly with her fingertips. It stiffens against her in response, and she licks her lips seductively.
“I miss you, Spence. I miss us.” Her hand covers me, palming me. I’m painfully hard now, and drunk enough that I’m not sure I care that it’s her. I could pretend it’s not. I could pretend it’s someone else and lose myself for a minute. Maybe then the pain would go away from losing Olivia.
Olivia.
What am I doing?
Just the thought of Olivia has me sobering. My eyes adjust and I see Addison more clearly now. Lifting her hand, I remove her from my crotch.
“There’s no us anymore. You took care of that when you cheated on me.”
“We were young. I was different.”
“Addison,” I warn as she moves to place her hand back on me. I grasp it in mine, halting her. “Don’t do this. Don’t do something you’ll regret later. We have a good working relationship.”
“We can have a better one.” Her face is so close to mine her breath whispers against my cheek. “Can you imagine us together? We’d be unstoppable.” And with that her lips find mine. Press against me.
Seeking entry.