The longer I sit here the more agitated I become. The waitress clears my empty glass. I mumble “thanks” as she eyes me, her heavily made-up lips curving into a smile.
“You all alone tonight?” she purrs.
“Just waiting for a friend,” I reply, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. She’s got to be at least forty, and I don’t doubt she’s been around the block a few times.
She shrugs. “If you need company, I’ll be over at the bar. I finish at midnight.” She winks and then wanders off.
I shake my head and laugh, lifting my hand to rub my chin. I see Carlos walking through the bar and my expression hardens. Just the sight of him makes my mood sour. Fucking prick.
“Good to see you again, Roman. Thanks for meeting me. Nice place, huh?” He falls into the seat opposite me and pulls out a cigarette. I shake my head no as he offers me one. He shrugs, placing one between his lips. The smell of stale cigarettes and vomit brushes past my senses and I can’t actually tell if the stench is him or just this place.
Yep. He definitely fits in here.
“What do you want, Carlos?” I say.
“I wanna meet my daughter. I’m going to make contact with her, then she’ll turn to you for advice, and I want you to convince her of the wonderful reasons why she should give me a chance.”
I snort. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? I mean, this has to be a joke.”
“It’s no joke, Roman. I’m going to be a part of my daughter’s life, and you’re going to help me.”
“And if I don’t?” I challenge. I already know the answer, but I can’t help pushing this guy.
“You know what’ll happen if you don’t help me. And you know that means losing her.” His sly smile pisses me off—mainly because he’s right. I think about my reaction to Beth spending the night with Coop. God only knows how she would react to all the shit Carlos has on me.
I kick back my chair. Carlos’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Where you going?” he asks.
“I’m leaving. You could have said all this fucking shit over the phone. You didn’t need to drag me out to some shithole bar. I’ll do what you want me to, but I don’t have to sit here and share a fucking drink with you, you useless scumbag.”
I storm out without waiting for his response. I glance at my phone and see it’s barely eight thirty. I’m way too worked up to go home and face Beth, so I get in my car and head to the club.
**
I’m alone in my office when Scarlett walks in. She stops, her eyes widening when she sees me sitting on the sofa.
“Roman,” she sputters. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Mind explaining why you’re in my office then?” I ask casually.
“Invoices,” she replies quickly, reaching for a folder. “You obviously have something on your mind again.”
“What makes you say that?” I grumble. Why does she think she can read me?
“Well, for starters, you’re here. This is the first place you come when something is on your mind.” She pauses, running her finger along the length of the large oak bookshelf beside her. “Why don’t you talk to Beth about whatever is bothering you rather than hiding away here? It can’t be good for you.”
“That is none of your business,” I fire back.
She shrugs and steps closer to me. “Maybe it’s Beth you have a problem with?”
I freeze as her fingers touch my leg. She moves closer to me until she is almost straddling my thigh. I reposition myself, pushing her away in the process. Within seconds, she is back on me, trying to sit on my lap.
I push her off again, this time with more force, angry that she isn’t getting the message. Why does she think I would ever do that to Beth? Because every time you have something on your mind you flee to the club. It was the truth. Scarlett probably knows more about me than Beth. The things she could tell Beth about me if she wanted to…if she was angry enough to. I sigh, and try to think of a way to get out of this without
“You all alone tonight?” she purrs.
“Just waiting for a friend,” I reply, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. She’s got to be at least forty, and I don’t doubt she’s been around the block a few times.
She shrugs. “If you need company, I’ll be over at the bar. I finish at midnight.” She winks and then wanders off.
I shake my head and laugh, lifting my hand to rub my chin. I see Carlos walking through the bar and my expression hardens. Just the sight of him makes my mood sour. Fucking prick.
“Good to see you again, Roman. Thanks for meeting me. Nice place, huh?” He falls into the seat opposite me and pulls out a cigarette. I shake my head no as he offers me one. He shrugs, placing one between his lips. The smell of stale cigarettes and vomit brushes past my senses and I can’t actually tell if the stench is him or just this place.
Yep. He definitely fits in here.
“What do you want, Carlos?” I say.
“I wanna meet my daughter. I’m going to make contact with her, then she’ll turn to you for advice, and I want you to convince her of the wonderful reasons why she should give me a chance.”
I snort. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? I mean, this has to be a joke.”
“It’s no joke, Roman. I’m going to be a part of my daughter’s life, and you’re going to help me.”
“And if I don’t?” I challenge. I already know the answer, but I can’t help pushing this guy.
“You know what’ll happen if you don’t help me. And you know that means losing her.” His sly smile pisses me off—mainly because he’s right. I think about my reaction to Beth spending the night with Coop. God only knows how she would react to all the shit Carlos has on me.
I kick back my chair. Carlos’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Where you going?” he asks.
“I’m leaving. You could have said all this fucking shit over the phone. You didn’t need to drag me out to some shithole bar. I’ll do what you want me to, but I don’t have to sit here and share a fucking drink with you, you useless scumbag.”
I storm out without waiting for his response. I glance at my phone and see it’s barely eight thirty. I’m way too worked up to go home and face Beth, so I get in my car and head to the club.
**
I’m alone in my office when Scarlett walks in. She stops, her eyes widening when she sees me sitting on the sofa.
“Roman,” she sputters. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Mind explaining why you’re in my office then?” I ask casually.
“Invoices,” she replies quickly, reaching for a folder. “You obviously have something on your mind again.”
“What makes you say that?” I grumble. Why does she think she can read me?
“Well, for starters, you’re here. This is the first place you come when something is on your mind.” She pauses, running her finger along the length of the large oak bookshelf beside her. “Why don’t you talk to Beth about whatever is bothering you rather than hiding away here? It can’t be good for you.”
“That is none of your business,” I fire back.
She shrugs and steps closer to me. “Maybe it’s Beth you have a problem with?”
I freeze as her fingers touch my leg. She moves closer to me until she is almost straddling my thigh. I reposition myself, pushing her away in the process. Within seconds, she is back on me, trying to sit on my lap.
I push her off again, this time with more force, angry that she isn’t getting the message. Why does she think I would ever do that to Beth? Because every time you have something on your mind you flee to the club. It was the truth. Scarlett probably knows more about me than Beth. The things she could tell Beth about me if she wanted to…if she was angry enough to. I sigh, and try to think of a way to get out of this without
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