Chapter Nineteen
Julian
I hate this man. Always have, always will.
I lead Melody into this VIP room that looks like Keith’s taken up residence. It’s a dirty den crafted to fit with his sickening tastes. I’m grateful the lights are kept low. Still, what little I can see feels like a blend between a Shanghai Whorehouse and the Spearmint Rhino.
Keith’s holding court in a wide booth encircling a stripper pole, with a gaggle of girls around him, some of which look like they’re straddling that line between looking like they’re underage and actually being underage. Vodka bottles litter the table and he’s got a lipstick-stained martini glass in his hand.
Melody squeezes my hand and I squeeze her back.
“Julian fucking Stone,” Keith says, slanted smile on his face and his slick accent squicking my spine. “It’s been too long since you and I tossed a few back. So good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Keith,” I reply.
Melody leans in to whisper to me, “this guy creeps me out. Do we really need to be here?”
“Yes. And he creeps me out, too,” I whisper back.
We sit down at the booth and I make sure to put myself between Keith and Melody. He’s got a ravenous smile on his face and a greedy look in his eyes — I’ve long since learned never to turn my back on the man. Every dirty rumor I’ve heard about him has turned out to be an understatement of his sickness.
“Who’s this? Is the famously-single Julian Stone seeing someone?” he says, and the tone of his voice says he’s plainly hoping Melody is not seeing me. He’d rather she be an offering, instead.
“My fiance,” I answer.
Melody raises her hand wordlessly, defiantly showing off her ring.
Keith looks noticeably surprised. He glances at me in disbelief and his smile goes from pervy-smarmy to shocked-smarmy. “Engaged? Did you suddenly get tired of the fun of the single life? There’s just so much to taste out there, how could you give it up?”
In a sweeping gesture, he points to the women he’s got draped around him, most of whom don’t look at all happy to be there. I wouldn’t be shocked if they’re all professionals.
“I found someone worth settling down for,” I say.
Melody smiles at me. It’s quick and shy, but beautiful.
“How boring,” he says. “I got tired of the married life quickly — which my wife was incredibly grateful for. Once a dog, always a dog, so I say.”
I occupy myself by pouring Melody and myself a drink: straight vodka. Whatever helps ease the pain of dealing with this dirtbag.
She looks grateful as I had her her glass.
“I wouldn’t know. But I’m not here to make an engagement announcement or deliver wedding invitations.”
He rolls his eyes in this exaggerated way that grates on my nerves. “Of course I know that’s not why you’re here. You’re after the same thing your mother’s after.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You talked to her?”
He nods, grinning. “Last night. She made a very long and exhausting argument.”
Melody makes a quiet gagging noise, and I feel a bit nauseous myself.
“What’d you tell her?”
“There wasn’t much talking involved. But she’s due to come by again tonight,” he says, running his finger slowly across the cheek of one the women draped over him.
Goddamnit. Not only is Victoria trying to undermine me, she’s coming here?
“You know she’ll run the company into the ground. She didn’t manage shit while my father was alive. The one good business decision she made was marrying my father and locking him in with a few kids.”
Keith gives me a sickly smile. It’s twisted, and it feels like a misnomer calling it a smile. There should be some other word for greedy, sleazy expressions like his. “You know I only care about two things: money and pussy. She’s giving me half, right now. And who knows, maybe she’ll be as good at running the company as she is at —”
I cut him off; I can’t take hearing any more. Being around this guy makes my nerves stand on end. “She wont. She doesn’t know the first thing about how to run Stone Capital. She doesn’t have a bone for business in her body, except those nights my father gave it to her.”
Keith chuckles. “Well, I didn’t ask her here because she’s smart. She’s just very dedicated. It’s nice to have a woman like that around… energetic, beautiful, eager to please.”
He gives Melody the kind of look that I can read like an open book.
I stand up and plant my clenched fists on the table. This guy’s walking on the razor’s edge of my patience and one more step out of line and his night will end early.
“Listen, can we stop talking about you fucking my mother? You’re not going to support her bid, because, as long as I’ve known you, Keith, for as much as you like women, you like money more.”
He holds up his martini glass, twirling it idly, letting booze splash out the sides and onto the table. “If you want to really talk business, then fine, let’s get serious. Enough distractions.” He snaps his fingers and dismissively motions for the women around him to leave. “You too,” he says to Melody.
“Don’t even think about talking to my fiance like that,” I growl at him.
He shrugs, and fuck Stone Capital I’m ready to kick his ass, but Melody grabs me by the arm. “It’s fine, I’ll wait outside.”
I lean to whisper in her ear and give her a kiss. “I’m sorry you even had to meet this asshole. I’ll try and make this quick.”
She nods and kisses me back.
I watch her leave, savoring every second I get to see her hips sway as she walks out the door. It’s a sight too hot for words and makes my body blaze with desire.
I turn back towards Keith.
“Let’s talk business.”