But somewhere along the line, I think Drake just decided to throw that message away. Because here he is, sitting there at the bar, one hand on Natalie's knee, looking at me.
"Are you here by yourself, Sloane?" Drake asks, and I can feel the snide tone seeping out of his fucking voice. He knows that I'm here to stop him from fucking Natalie. Whatever, I don't need to stop him. Natalie's free to do what she wants. Just because Drake is older—I think he's 35—doesn't make him wiser.
"Like I said," I say with a forced sigh. "I was playing some racquetball and thought I'd stop here for a drink."
Drake looks at me with a fucking smirk. Asshole. I'd like to wipe that smirk off his face.
"What are you guys up to?" I ask, trying to stay friendly.
"Drake is going over the alternatives for financing Dirty Lil' Angels," Natalie says quickly. I can see her eyes travel to Drake and meet me. She's trying to keep the peace.
That's fine. I'm not here to fight. Yet.
"I guess that makes two of us then that are interested in your company, Natalie," I say, taking a few steps toward her, completely ignoring Drake. He doesn't even exist in my world. "Looks like you might become the center of attention."
"I'm always the center of attention, silly," she says, sticking her tongue out at me. "People love me. They can't help it."
"Make sure you know who you're loving though, babe," I tell her, eyeing Drake. "Not everyone is as innocent as you."
"Oh?" Natalie asks with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not really that innocent, you know."
I smile at her and she smiles back. And then there's a cough.
Again, the world intrudes. In the form of fucking Drake Carlton.
"Well, Sloane, I hope you have a pleasant evening," Drake says to me. "As you can see, we've already begun ours."
I look over at Drake for the first time. He's staring at me. With his arm still on Natalie's knee. She doesn't remove it. But she's not encouraging it, either.
She's waiting to see who's gonna win her.
"Are you leaving soon?" Drake asks again. I can tell he's starting to get exasperated with my presence.
Good.
"Oh, I just got here, Dad," I say with a fucking smarmy ass smile. "I'm not leaving here for a good, long time."
"Well, good," Drake says, his eyes becoming steely. Fuck this man if he thinks I'm just going to fucking leave and let him proceed uninterrupted.
"I'll be next to the terrace windows," I say to them both. "Catching up on some emails."
Then I look to Natalie.
"Can't wait to catch up with you tomorrow, sis," I say. I can see her cheeks flush. She's thinking of what's going to happen.
Whatever happens here tonight, tomorrow will hang over her head.
Make her wonder what else is coming.
Fuck Drake if he thinks he got to her first.
This game has just but fucking begun.
Drake
"Can't wait to catch up with you tomorrow, sis," Sloane yells out, and I can't help but smile as I watch him retreat with his tail between his legs.
What was he thinking, coming here unannounced? Racquetball my fucking ass.