“No.”
“Hmm.” She smiles against her wine glass.
“What are you thinking?” I smirk
“Nothing.” She smiles sarcastically. “I was just going to give you some tips, you know, in case you ever had an inkling or urge to,” she shrugs and waves her wine glass around in the air. “… date my Julian.”
I fake a laugh to cover my lying ass. “Oh, you’re so funny.” I should’ve got wine. Hell, I should’ve got tequila.
She falls serious. “Am I? Or do you want to hear my advice?”
I frown.
“I know why every single woman who tries to snag him fails.” I sip my coke; I need to know the tips without her knowing I need to know the tips.
“You are a character,” I tease as I down my drink.
“Julian hasn’t had a girlfriend since Alina died.”
“His wife?”
She nods. “It did something to him.”
My face falls.
“He closed off when he met her, and he never recovered after she died.”
“That’s so sad,” I whisper.
“It is, but now he’s very lonely.”
“I know he sees people… women,” I tell her to try and make her feel better.
“Yes, but only on his terms.”
“His terms?”
“He only wants to see a woman to use her for sex. As soon as they fall in love with him, he breaks it off every single time.”
“He told you this?” I can’t imagine him ever telling anyone this, let alone his mother.
“He doesn’t have to. I know that’s what happens. He calls them needy.”
“Why is it so bad if anyone falls in love with him? I don’t understand.”
“He doesn’t want the responsibility of making anyone else happy. He’s guarded. A lot of women want him for his money, and he’s more than well aware of that.” It’s not the money I want. It’s his huge jackhammer dick, I think to myself.
“Why would any woman chase a man just for his money? It’s an absurd way to live.” I tut.
She sips her wine as she studies my face. “Do you know anything about Julian’s money, or about the Masters Group, dear?”
“No, and I don’t want to. Just talking about money makes me uncomfortable.”
She smiles, as if impressed, making me feel like I’m at a job interview.
Our meals arrive. “About those tips you have,” I say as I take my first mouthful, of food. I know I shouldn’t be hinting, but this is need to know information. I could sell it on the black market.
She smirks at me. “Well, if I were to date Julian, I would keep my cards very close to my chest because he will run if he senses a relationship blooming.”