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Chapter 15
Jordan’s place is unbelievable. He had the entire private patio decked out like a haunted house. His library has a raised landing, and the industrial steel and cable stairs leading to them are lit with an eerie red light. Streamers, ghosts, witches, even zombies decorate the entire place. Waitstaff circulates with smoking drinks, and gourmet eats shaped like Halloween treats.
The place is packed with people dressed in costumes. I had finally settled on going as Indiana Jones, so over the last few days, I didn’t shave my stubble. Olivia looks great in her Princess Leia costume. I circulate the room for a while, hanging out with JC, Jordan, Emma, Chase, Matty, Megan, and Lexi. Hunter and Rory should be here soon. I haven’t seen my niece lately, and I’m anticipating it.
It’s chilly out, but the big marble and stone fireplace on the patio has a roaring fire going. When I head outside, I hear a familiar voice. Olivia is at the corner of the courtyard, away from other people. She’s talking to a man with an Australian accent. I know it’s wrong, but I move closer, hiding behind a couple of full-sized zombie statues.
“Jake, I can’t believe you’re really here,” she practically gushes. “You didn’t tell me you were coming the last time we spoke.”
“I told Jordan I wanted it to be a surprise. When he mentioned that he knew you, I had to come. Now that the deal is finished, I can relax a little.”
“Are you staying for a while?”
“I might be moving to the states. My company got sold, and Jordan asked if I would like to join Grayson. I told him that I would have to see the deal first, but it won’t be a hard decision now that I know you’re here.”
“When will you know?”
“Jordan’s team is working on an offer now. It better be good for me to go from being my own boss to working for someone else,” he replies with a laugh.
“I’m so glad. I’ve missed you.”
“Not more than I’ve missed you. I should have never let you go.” He bends down to kiss her, and my stomach churns. How fucking long has she been talking to this guy? She could have told me. It must be why she’s been so cold to me lately.
No longer in a festive mood, I turn to get out of here. I’m on my way out when Lexi calls out to me.
“Lucian, where are you going?”
Glancing around, I signal for her to wait before I pull her into the bathroom and close the door. “Did you fucking know?” I snap, unable to hold back.
“Don’t talk to me that way,” she throws back. “Besides, know what?”
“That fucking bastard Jake was around? That he was planning to move here.”
She diverts her gaze. “I, um, I didn’t know.”
I grit my teeth. “The fuck you didn’t. You didn’t have the decency to tell me, and neither did she.”
“What did you want me to say? She’s a grown woman!”
“I thought we were going to get together. She told me that! All I had to do was be patient. I’ve done that, and this is what I get?”
Lexi shakes her head. “She didn’t know that Jake was dealing with Jordan. It was an accident that they reconnected.”
“The fact that she can just jump into his arms so easily tells me that she was just playing me. She had no intention of giving me a chance.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it, though? I’m fucking outta here. When you see your friend, tell her that I would appreciate if she would remove her things from my home. I’ll be away for the weekend, so tell her to leave the key on the counter before she leaves.”
Lexi grabs my arm as I yank the bathroom door open and I wrench it out of her grip. Stabbing the button for the elevator, I seethe. Fortunately, it arrives quickly, I step inside and hit the L for lobby, and the doors close quickly. The urge to self-destruct rises as I rush out. The night is crisp and clear when I get outside. I decide to walk, stopping briefly into a liquor store to pick up a bottle of Jack.
Rather than going home, I walk to Central Park and sit on a bench to drink. In a matter of an hour, I’m drunk, but I don’t give a shit. I can’t go anywhere, and I don’t want to see Olivia, so I can’t go back to my apartment. All my friends are at the party, and I can’t let them know where I am. My only option is Zane. I know he’s going to be pissed, but I have no one else. I find his contact on my phone and dial.
“This better be good,” he says when he answers.
“She’ll never be mine,” I slur.
“Lucian, what the fuck. Are you drunk?”
