I hated that bitch.
“She’s a good mom to Derek, so I guess I’ve let everything go because of that. But I agree with Deacon that she got pregnant on purpose, poked a hole in the condom or something.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Deacon was furious at the time, but when Derek was born, it was like it never happened. He fell in love with his son and married Valerie without thinking twice about it. I never imagined Deacon as a father because of the way he is, but he’s the best father I’ve ever seen.”
“Yeah…” I’d never seen them together, but I could picture it.
“Valerie is a really attractive woman,” he said. “You know, Miss California, size double zero with big tits, trophy-wife type. She wanted the best husband, and she set her eyes on Deacon…and didn’t let go.”
Ugh, I really hated her.
He bit into the last piece of his cone then wiped his mouth with a napkin. “So, you want to go see a movie or something?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s just going to be a while…” I pretty much had my entire cone left to eat.
He grinned. “Take your time.”
I used my key to let myself inside the residence, bringing a new bag of coffee beans since Deacon was out. I also had his mail, and since I’d been on the way up here, I brought his dry cleaning.
I kicked the door shut behind me then stilled when I saw the woman sitting at the dining table.
It seemed to be a different girl every time, like Deacon was going out at night and picking up women wherever he went. It wasn’t my place to judge or even think twice about it, but it always left a bad taste in my mouth whenever I saw them.
I needed to stop coming in the mornings entirely.
I cleared my throat and set his clothes over the back of the couch. “Good morning.”
She looked up from her phone and, just like the other girl, ignored me.
I carried the coffee beans into the kitchen, ground them up, and started the coffee machine.
“Can you make me some eggs too?”
That bitch better not be talking to me.
I grabbed two mugs of coffee and set them on the dining table.
She looked up at me, like I was gum on the bottom of her shoe. “The eggs?”
Who the hell did this bitch think I was? “I’m Deacon’s assistant. He doesn’t have a chef.”
“But you’re his assistant, right?” she asked. “You do what he tells you. So, you do what I tell you.” She pointed at her chest. “So, I’m telling you to—”
“Get the fuck out.” Deacon emerged from the hallway and threw her heels on the table.
I was so distracted by my boiling blood that I hadn’t even noticed him step into the room, looking like a titan in that black suit.
She turned to him, immediately timid like she hadn’t expected him to hear all that.
He stared her down, not with his usual look of intensity, but with undeniable rage instead. “Take your shit and get the fuck out of here.” He didn’t raise his voice by much, but the steel in his tone was a little scary.
She shrank down in size. “I’m sorry. I thought she—”
“She is a fucking human being. You are trash. Leave.” He grabbed her chair and yanked it back, pulling it across the hardwood even with her weight still inside it.
“Stop yelling at me—”
“You don’t want me to yell, then get your ass out of my chair and walk out those damn doors right now. Show your face here again, and I’ll call the police. Say another word to Cleo, even look at her, and I’ll make your life a living hell.” He grabbed her heels and threw them across the room where they banged against the front door. He took a step back so she could pass. “Go.”
Mortified and on the verge of tears, she quickly walked to the front door, gathered her heels, and then left the penthouse.
When she was gone, he released a breath, his nostrils flaring. “I’m sorry about that.”
I had been about to knock that bitch out myself, but I didn’t need to because Deacon did it for me—using his words.
He grabbed the mug and took a drink of his coffee.
I was motionless because I still couldn’t believe what had happened. “It’s okay…”
He took another drink before he left the mug on the table. It was the first time he’d looked at me, as if he’d been too embarrassed up until that point. “If I’d known she was a bitch, I wouldn’t have brought her here.” He grabbed his satchel and hooked it over his shoulder.
It was obvious these were one-night stands—for one purpose. He was newly single, so I didn’t judge him for it. Just wished he had better taste. All the women were gorgeous, but their personalities and manners could use a tune-up. “People don’t show their true colors up front.” I was touched by the way he’d defended me so ruthlessly, but the whole situation was still awkward, so I wanted to move on. “Do you have some availability this evening? There’s something I wanted to show you.”