Money Man (King Maker 1)

“It’s just I saw you with a hot redhead earlier. Did you scare her off?”

“Didn’t you have company?” I asked dryly, not answering his question.

“I did. One for me and one for you. But you scared them off too.”

I turned away from his probing glare as the bartender appeared with the Lagavulin and poured me another two fingers. I tossed it back before putting down a couple of fifties. I left them next to my empty glass and met Connor’s quizzical gaze.

“I’m headed home,” I announced, having already made the decision to call it a night.

I caught sight of the blonde the redhead was with earlier making a dash for the door. I looked back at my brother.

Connor’s lips had thinned. “You’re going to be old before your time,” he said, pointing at me.

“Some of us have work in the morning,” I said, getting to my feet.

“I work,” he said with a grin showing all his teeth.

“You play,” I said. “Not all of us have that privilege.”

His smile was never ending as I turned my back on him. He didn’t follow as I made my way out after notifying my driver.

I stepped out into the night, greeted by blowing snowflakes, a reminder of home and all I’d left behind. If I wanted to conquer an empire, there were deals to be made. Negotiations for one in particular began tomorrow. I smiled to myself, thinking about that one. I had a feeling that deal wouldn’t be sealed in a conference room.

Four

BAILEY

I opened my eyes, but quickly closed them against the brightness of the sunlight filtering into the room. Waking up hungover was never fun. And for me, it wasn’t a regular occurrence. Though I recognized the symptoms.

Even though I’d thrown up most of what I’d consumed the night before on the curb, enough alcohol had been absorbed in my bloodstream for my head to pound like a marching band paraded through it.

Slipping my feet over the side of the bed took considerable effort. Once standing, I got the most uncomfortable sensation between my thighs. Yes, I had most definitely been banged hard last night—as if I needed the reminder. I ached at my very center. On wobbly feet, I headed to my private bath, courtesy of Lizzy’s kindness.

Finding an apartment in New York on short notice was an impossibility. Thankfully, my former college roommate had an empty room she eagerly lent to me at no charge and no restrictions on the length of my stay. Still, I was on the hunt for a place of my own because I didn’t want to take advantage of her kindness, even if she didn’t need money.

Looking in the mirror, I pushed back the auburn mass of my hair to spill down my back. Today, it looked redder than usual. I wasn’t sure if that was because of my mood or if it was because it was winter. Summer seemed to bring out more of my natural highlights.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, my pale blue eyes stared blankly back at me in the mirror. They looked familiar, yet I wasn’t sure about the woman who reflected in the mirror.

Who was I? What had I done with Bailey Glicks, the girl who’d grown up believing people should save themselves for marriage? Sex had been taboo. Hell, sex after marriage was meant for procreation, not pleasure.

I often wondered if maybe I’d left home a little over four years ago for sexual freedom over the possibility of a career outside of the home or maybe it was both. If my parents knew just how far from grace I’d fallen, would my father ever allow me home to see my mom or siblings again?

I shoved those thoughts away and tried to believe that Lizzy was right. What was done was done. I couldn’t take it back. If I was honest with myself, I’d enjoyed it—a lot. I’d never felt that way before, free and acting on my own instinct instead of the will of others.

In the kitchen, I pulled out a bottle of Perrier because Lizzy didn’t have regular bottled water. I couldn’t fault her. She’d been brought up with a diamond-encrusted spoon in her mouth. My parents wouldn’t understand or approve of all the modern conveniences that were right at home in this kitchen, especially the stainless-steel appliances that hadn’t seen much use until I came along. Marble countertops finished off the place, and on top of them sat a crystal Waterford bowl that before I’d arrived had only been decoration. Because of me, it now had a purpose holding fruit. I grabbed a banana and started to peel it. I still felt sick, but bananas were rumored to help ease the effects of a hangover.

Sitting at the counter, I dreaded going over to Lizzy’s parents’ house for New Year’s brunch. Then later, I had a date with a stockbroker. Yay for me… not.