Forbidden Lust

25

Barrett

The Hamptons deal was signed, sealed, and delivered. My team was celebrating around the boardroom table on the twenty-ninth floor in the building I owned in midtown while I watched with a sick feeling at the base of my stomach.

Why hadn’t I put up a fight when Connor asked me around for dinner tonight?I’d practically invited myself too, knowing full well I’d be witnessing Lourde vying for another man’s affections right in front of me.

I felt like fucking roadkill just before impact. I’d intentionally shut Lourde out, admitting I didn’t see her in my future. I did it for her. I did it all for her. But that sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach hadn’t left since she walked out on me two days ago. It had only gotten worse. Boozy nights since have been made worse by thundering hangovers. Happiness should pour out of me after securing the Hamptons’ deal of the century. But it was the opposite. I was a fucking nightmare.

“Boss, have a drink with us. You should celebrate.” Olivia left her interior design team and walked over. I hadn’t even noticed her beside me until she spoke.

“Not now, Olivia,” I said.

She took that as an invitation to sit down. Fuck.

“What’s going on, Barrett? Ever since you’ve been back, you’ve been... well, if I can be blunt, an ass. Even at the Hamptons, you seemed distracted.”

I looked over at her, surprised by her admission. Olivia was always upfront. That’s why I’d hired her. But never that upfront. Straightforward and brilliant, she was one of the few people who stood up to me, and I respected her for that. Plus, she didn’t have a boner for me like most other girls in the office.

“Well, that’s blunt. But you know I’m an ass.” I took a sip of the sparkling water. “I just have a lot going on, is all.”

“You have been an even bigger ass.”

I lowered my gaze in a warning shot.

“This hasn’t got to do with a woman, does it?”

I laughed. “Yeah, you’re not going there.”

“Oh! It does?”

“No,” I snapped, shutting her down immediately.

Confusion etched across her face. “Well, then, if it’s not a girl, it wouldn’t have something to do with that detective who was loitering around in the lobby earlier?”

I gripped the base of my chair. “What detective?”

“Didn’t your PA tell you?”

“No. I told Aimee not to interrupt me today and hold all my meetings.” I’d had the occasional detective around the office before, asking questions about an investor who turned out to be indicted for money laundering. But none since then.

Quickly, I scanned my messages, but I couldn’t see anything from my Aimee. I tried calling her, but she had already left for the day.

Hi, you've reached Aimee Wiles from ZF Constructions. Please leave a message.

“Aimee, call me back. It’s urgent.” I slammed the phone down.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Olivia said.

“Or it’s something.”

“Maybe someone murdered someone at 21 Park, and they need the ventilation plans because they hid the body in the air shaft.”

I laughed, but the levity was short-lived as the image of my mother’s lifeless body came flooding in. I shook it away.” Let's hope not.” I gathered my things. I couldn't be here anymore. “Will you do me a favor, Olivia?”

“Sure.”

“Keep the party going, keep everyone happy. Take them out to Nobu. I can't stay. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Oh, fabulous! Sure thing, boss, enjoy yourself.” She stood up, grabbed her champagne flute, then threw me a wink.

“It’s not like that, Olivia.”

She waved me away with her hand and walked back over to the team.

* * *