Page 39 of Greed

Hell to the no Mr. Rhodes, she most certainly didn’t want him.

* * *

“Minetta!” I yelled, but between the compromising position I’d been in, and the line of girls that quickly blocked my way as they pawed at my body, I’d been unable to reach her before she slipped into the elevator. The look in her eyes…why should it bother me?

“Shit,” I growled. “Everyone out now,” I yelled.

The girls ran for the door, the guards growling and picking up those that were stubborn. As they scurried along the hallway, they reminded me of a rat infestation fleeing an exterminator.

How had this happened? And worse, why did it bother me that she saw me like that? Annoyed, I stomped my way over to what Minetta had dropped. Bending, I picked up the large fruit basket and what looked like broken chocolate flowers from the floor. Ripping the little card off the plastic, I flipped it open.

Thank you.

Your kindness and generosity are so appreciated. I know thousands will be affected positively by your donation, and I just wanted to tell you how much it means to all of us who volunteer at the Food Bank but especially me.

Please accept this token of our thanks.

Minetta

“What fucking donation?”

“The one I gave.”

My spine straightened, a snarl on my lips as I stood to face Michael. My brother leaned against the door, looking as smug as I’d ever seen him. His arms were crossed over his chest, a smile on his lips, challenging me.

“I wondered when you would show up. I’d heard rumors of you sniffing around.”

“Ah, the proverbial grapevine,” Michael drawled, and all I could picture was ripping his head from his body.

“You’re like a cockroach, Michael. You kicked my ass out of Heaven, yet you can’t seem to stay away.” I tossed the basket on the table and went in search of something strong to drink.

“What can I say? I miss you.”

“Well, maybe you should’ve thought of that before you betrayed me.” I glared over my shoulder at him as I poured the well-aged brandy. “Especially since I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That is a debate for another night, I have somewhere to be, but I wanted to come by and say Hi. Let you know I’m in town for a little bit.”

“You are so full of it. You don’t do anything without an agenda. So tell me, brother, what do you want from me, and what does it have to do with that girl?” I leaned against the small bar in the corner, my eyes shooting daggers as they stared at Michael.

“I don’t want anything from you, brother. I simply wanted to know how you were doing. As for the girl….” Michael shrugged. “She seems interesting, really a one of a kind. She makes me laugh, and well… I plan to take her out to dinner tomorrow and then see where the night leads us. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what I mean.” Michael smiled, his perfectly white teeth showing.

My hand froze as the glass touched my lips. “What exactly do you mean you’re interested in her? When it comes to you, that could range from friendship all the way to she needs to die. That’s a lot of wiggle room.”

“Oh stop, I mean it exactly the way it sounds, brother.” Michael gave me a wink. “As for the donation, that was just me being nice. I wanted to give back, and this way, everyone thinks your company is extremely generous, and you didn’t have to hand over a single dime. What great advertising, it’s a win-win for both of us.”

“My company already is the best.”

“Maybe, but now people that have never heard of you will know the company name.”

“My company doesn’t need your brand of help, and I don’t want you seeing Minetta,” I said and then mentally kicked myself for my loose tongue. Rule number one with Michael, don’t let him know he’s getting to you. But the thought of his hands running down her body, his lips touching hers, was enough to make a sin want to kill.

“Why do you care about this simple girl anyway? I thought you hated all humans and anything to do with them, except their money, of course,” Michael twisted his head like he was some fucking bird analyzing me. I hated the look. I hated his face. I hated everything about him.

“I do hate them.”

“Well, then there we have it. There shouldn’t be a problem. I will wine her, dine her, and see where the night leads. She does look like she would be quite the hellcat in bed. Don’t you think? It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”

I was back to wanting to rip Michael’s face off. How dare he step foot in my building, but now he was threatening to fuck my girl. Mine! Not his, not anyone else’s, mine.