Chapter 1

James

A cool hand ran down my chest and across my stomach as my alarm clock sounded. I’d done something I normally didn’t do by allowing Mandy to spend the night, but since it wasn’t our first time together and the weather had gotten bad, I decided to have a heart.

She was a good girl and a lot of fun, but as her hand moved lower, my first thought was that my friend Mark would be over soon for our morning workout.

Before I could protest, she slipped beneath the covers, and her lips moved across my shaft and down to my base. A mental battle occurred in my head, to let her continue or not, and though I knew I only had a few minutes, who was I to turn down a blowjob.

I hissed out a breath as she took me into her mouth and rolled her tongue around my tight, veiny flesh. I would try and finish fast and then send her on her way. She knew there was nothing between us, and our repeat opportunities were random at best. If I’d met up with someone else at Club Expose, then they’d be the one gracing my bed.

Her mouth sucked hard and I bucked my hips, holding her down on me as I stroked her hair. She didn’t even struggle for air, not even when she took me down into her throat. She was a pro and gave me just what I’d gone to the club looking for.

A knock sounded at my door as I tensed for my release knowing that it was best not to keep Mark waiting. Mandy took me deeper, sucking and slurping as she gulped. “Expecting someone so early?” she asked raising up and wiping her mouth.

“Yeah, why don’t you go get cleaned up, and I’ll see you around.”

She crawled to the edge of the bed and got up to gather her clothes as I walked to the bathroom for a robe. “I’ll be at Expose every night this week. See you around.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I went to the door and opened it, walking away as Mark entered from my private elevator lobby.

“You should put a bench in your front entrance if you’re going to finish nutting before you answer the door.”

“Nothing gets past you, does it? And here I thought I was discreet.” I went to the kitchen as he followed.

“Yeah, I don’t blame you, man. I do wish you’d settle down though. You know, find a nice girl and stick to her.”

“No one deserves to get stuck with me. I’ve got too much baggage. Besides, me and the girls down at the club have a good time, and I like my no-strings lifestyle.”

“You’re a glorified hermit, and it’s pathetic.”

“Ouch, tell me how you really feel? I’m not a hermit. I get out all of the time. I got out last night in fact, which is how I picked up Mandy.” I also got out of the house every day to go to the labs and meetings. I was a very busy man who dealt with people every day.

“You know what I’m talking about.” He gave me an accusing look.

“No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I knew. He’d been my lawyer for years and he knew more about me than most, including why I lived the lifestyle I lived.

“You do. It’s the same reason you built a home gym when you have a perfectly good gym on the 50th floor of this building. You avoid contact with people. You’re a loner, and I’m not blind to the reason why.”

“Because people annoy me?”

“James; what happened to your sister was horrific, but the media has died down, the trial is over, you’ve been to counseling for two years now. It’s time to get back out and live, man.”

“I’m not hiding.”

“Your denial is not healthy.” He turned his head as Mandy walked out with wet hair and wearing the clothes she’d had on the night before.

She gave a sultry smile and blew us a kiss. “I’ll see you, James.”

I waved as she made her way out and then walked over to lock the door behind her. Mark stood up and followed me to the gym as I headed that way. “I can sure see why you like those girls down at the club, but I hope you're safe.”

“Always. I’ve got too much to lose not to be.” As a man whose net worth was just over a billion dollars, I had to be careful when it came to paternity suits and other scandals. “You know me; I’m going to dodge as much drama as I can.”

“Yes, which brings me back to you needing to get out more. When your best friends are your lawyer and your accountant, that speaks volumes.”

“That’s all a man like me needs in life.” I gave a soft chuckle. “But thanks for the concern.”

“Do you want to grab a late breakfast when we’re done? I don’t have to be into the office until noon.”

“No. Today’s the day. I’m talking with the people down at ScriptTech about the allergy tablets. I was offered a deal, but I’m not sure how things are being handled. If I don’t like their plans, I’ll have to find another company.”

“You could make a fortune with that company; I’d keep that in mind.”

“We’re talking about life-saving drugs. I wish it could be made for free; I’d give it away.”

“You have a good heart, man. But I think you’re crazy. You worked hard in development, it’s only right you get paid for your work, and besides, it’s no different than any other medicine out there that people are charged for.”

I didn’t want to argue that because in some cases it was a true statement, in others, not so much.

“You know,” he continued. “I bet you’d meet a few interests right here in this building if you took a notion.”

“Who would that be? With my luck, I’d have to deal with that asshole Darek Dillon.”

“Hey, he’s not so bad. I’ve been to one of his seminars, and he’s sincere enough.”

“You paid that guy to talk to you about success? You’re one of the most successful lawyers I know and talk about profiting from other people’s misfortune.”

“What misfortune is that?”

“Being born gullible, I’d suppose.” I started my rep of arm curls.

I heard the barbell clank against its rack. “You’re a cynical son of a bitch; you know that?”

“I’m just saying; he’s gotten rich selling bull-shit motivation to people who lack self-esteem. What kind of person needs to listen to someone tell them what they already know?”

“Not everyone knows it, is the point. He’s not living here in The Avalon for nothing. You’ve got to be pretty brilliant to reside in Billionaire Towers.”

“Not necessarily. You can get here being a pretty clever criminal. Sue me for thinking that Darek Dillon is that kind of guy.”

“Then why live here at all? You don’t even use the amenities. You’d probably save money living elsewhere.”

The Avalon housed the biggest concentration of Billionaires in the world, and I called the 61st floor home. I hadn’t decided to live here for the prestige, but for the security and privacy that it afforded.

After my sister, a victim of domestic abuse by a wealthy boyfriend was brutally murdered, I became the key witness for the prosecution, which put my face all over the tabloids. With our father being deceased, and our mother living out of the country, I was the focus in our fight for justice. It had been the worst time of my life, and it was only made worse by paparazzi trying to make me into the grieving party boy who would surely spiral to ruin with drug and alcohol use. Anytime I was seen out, anytime I had a drink in my hand, anytime I just wanted to go to a club, it was slapped on the cover of a magazine. During that time, there was no such thing as privacy, and I guess that’s why now I cherished it.

After her killer was prosecuted and sent to death row, my life had slowly settled down, and my privacy was regained.

“I have to live somewhere, why not here where others at least respect my right to privacy. At least most of them.” I’d tried to mingle with the others when I first moved in and I met some decent men, but then there was Darek Dillon.

As America’s favorite motivational speaker, he’d motivated my fiancé at the time to leave me. And though he insists he wasn’t banging her, I wasn’t giving him the benefit of the doubt. Since then we’d been mortal enemies, and I’d just as soon punch the guy in the face than be friends.

Luckily, Mark got an early morning call about a case, and I was left to finish my workout in peace. I had to focus on the success of my product, and hope that the meeting would put it in good hands.