Hot Vegas Nights (The Trifecta 1)

"He insinuated you did, and they’re separated. There are rumors she cheated on him." My voice is barely above a whisper.

"She tried to sleep with me one night. She was all over me, but I saw her wedding ring and shut her down. She was mad and said she'd tell her husband we slept together anyway. She wanted out of her marriage, and was trying to use me. She was so drunk I assumed she never went through with it. When I didn't hear anything from a scorned husband I figured nothing happened. I guess I was wrong.

“Oh my God.” This can’t be happening. “See Ben, you just can’t keep it in your pants and it causes mayhem.”

Ben laughs a bit. “It does cause mayhem.”

“Shut up, dude,” Damien says.

“Look, this guy can’t just fire you for no good reason.” Ben steps closer to me. “We’ll fight this. If it’s what you really want. It’s not like you even need that job anyway.”

“It wasn’t just some job. It was my stepping stone. I went to school and got my Master’s in Business Management. I wanted to work from the ground up at an office without my father’s influence. And when I was done learning everything I could at every level I was going to start my own business. I had a plan. A well laid out plan and you had to storm into my work and mess it all up.”

“You can find another job.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want another job, Ben.” It’s like he can’t even hear me.

“Well, I can tell you Mr. Carnet will not get away with this,” the brother’s voice in unison.

“No, it’s ok. I don’t want you guys making more of a mess than it already is.”

“Clara, I didn’t know,” Ben says, apologetically.

I wave my hand, slumping onto their large, overstuffed sofa. “It’s fine. I’ll figure it out.”

“We may have an idea,” Damien says, grabbing my attention.

“Stay out of it Damien,” Ben says.

Ben’s eyes widen as if he’s been trapped. I cock my head to the side, trying to figure out what’s going on, and what has Ben looking so frantic.

“No Ben, this is a great idea.”

“It’s not a good idea and you need to stay out of it.” Ben reaches out his hand and I take it. “We need to get to work.”

“What’s your brother talking about?”

Ben pins me with a stare. “Nothing.”

“Look, if it can help me with my job situation, then I want to hear it.”

Ben crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m trying to keep this all business between us, but it’s kind of hard to do when you’re around.”

Before I can question anything, Damien and Axel lead me into the kitchen. “Can we talk to you in here?”

“Don’t do this,” Ben says from behind me. “We’re going to be late for work.”

“We’ll be fine. Like I said, they’ll wait for the Trifecta.” Damien sits me down at the kitchen table, while Axel goes and pours me coffee.

“I think we should go.” Ben says, taking the coffee from my hands.

“Hey, I wanted that.” I say, trying to get it back.

“No coffee. No talking. You need to go, Clara.”

I like the way Ben appears to be panicking about whatever his brother’s are insinuating. I wiggle in my chair getting comfortable and watch Ben squirm.

“You have your Master’s in Business Management? And you got in trouble at your job today?” Damien turns the chair around sitting on it backwards. Axel does the same thing. Ben paces the kitchen, running his hands through his hair.

“I do, and thanks to your brother I’m suspended from my job until they decide if my father is going to sue, and when they realize he isn’t I’ll be out of a job.”

“This can work out perfect.”

“Can you tell me what’s going on? I’m confused.”

“It seems our brother didn’t mention we’re buying Big Willie’s.”

“You’re buying the strip club?”

“Yes, we’re buying the strip club. We don’t need an outsider.” Ben says from across the room.

“How interesting.” I put my elbows on the table and my hands under my chin.

“It’s not really. We need to go.” Ben comes over putting his hands on the back of my chair as if he’s going to pull it out and kick me out.

“Stop, Ben. We’ve both agreed to do whatever we can to make our club the best.” Axel opens his eyes wide as if he’s trying to do a secret triplet talk.

“Yes, but what makes you think Clara is what we need?” Ben asks with frustration tinting his voice.

“Because I have a feeling she’s exactly what we need.” Damien grabs Ben’s shoulder, shaking him.

“So we’re just going to go on a feeling?” Ben asks.

“Yep.” Damien smacks Ben. “What are you doing tonight?” Damien asks me.

“I don’t know. I guess I'll go home and start scanning the help wanted ads. Unless you have a better idea?” I blink all innocence on my face as I look back at Ben who is still clenching my chair. Ben groans and rubs his hands over his face.