Her head tilted slightly as her eyes narrowed.
“Said she would make my life miserable if I didn’t stay out of her way.”
“So she basically admitted she’s using your brother?”
I shrugged. “Why not? She already knows that I know what she’s doing.”
“That’s still pretty ballsy…did you tell your brother?”
I nodded. “I did. But he didn’t believe me…just as I expected.”
She shook her head slightly. “What an idiot.”
“When it comes to that woman, he can’t see straight. She’s brainwashed him. I tried to warn him for his own sake, but he doesn’t want to listen to reason. So, I guess I’ll stand by and watch his life fall apart.”
“That woman is evil.”
Never heard anything truer. “Yes.” I shouldn’t base my view of all people on Simone and Coen, but they were a sharp representation of reality. Once a beautiful woman seduced him, my brother turned into a back-bending bitch. And once Simone had the chance to be extremely rich, she stopped at nothing to get what she wanted. It was like an episode of Game of Thrones, but in modern times. For a man like me, I would never have the opportunity to meet a woman without my reputation accompanying me. She would always know I was rich. She would always know Simone humiliated me to the public. There was no possibility of meeting a woman on a blank canvas. I wasn’t a regular man with a regular job. People knew exactly who I was before they even got the chance to know me.
“I hope your brother realizes the truth before it’s too late.”
“He won’t.” I’d watch Simone rip his life apart before she tried to commandeer the company. She was a pain in the ass, the biggest pain in the ass. She would rip my family apart until there was no possibility of reconciliation.
That was the worst aspect of all.
Monroe watched me with pity in her eyes, the sincerity obvious. I said she wasn’t a friend, but the truth was, she was the only person I confided in. I told her about my life, even brought her to that charity dinner. And she seemed real with me, like she enjoyed my company because I was pleasant, not because of my money or the money I paid her. “You’re a good man, Slate. Even after what Coen did to you, you tried to help him…again.”
“No. I just don’t want Simone to get her hands on my company.”
“That’s what you say…but I know that’s not the main reason. I know you want to protect your brother even after he betrayed you. That’s the sign of a real man, to put aside his own pain to help someone…even if they don’t deserve it.”
16
Monroe
After we finished dinner, we got into the back seat of the car. Our evening hadn’t been as fun as I’d hoped it would be. Lately, it seemed like we were fighting rather than having a good time. Slate was in a bad mood, stressed about his brother and his future bride. When he told me he would never change, I felt the sadness in my heart.
I never considered a real relationship with him. It was something that didn’t cross my mind. But the idea of never seeing him again after our night together…made me sad. He’d become an important person in my life, someone I spoke to on a daily basis. We had lunch together, dinner, and even went to special events together.
He was my friend…even if he didn’t consider himself to be one.
I knew I didn’t love him. How could I love someone who called himself a Cherry Popper? But I knew I didn’t want this to end.
“My place or yours?” he asked, looking out the window.
Our night had started off strong, but when I questioned his character, he quickly turned bitter. It cast a shadow over the evening that blocked out all the light. So I was surprised he asked the question, assuming he would just want to drop me off. “Your place.”
He told his driver where to go.
I looked out the window and felt my heart start to palpitate. We’d been doing this for three weeks, and I still hadn’t opened my legs. I was more comfortable with the idea, but now that I knew it would be our last night together, I didn’t want to go through with it. I wanted to drag it out as long as possible. That wasn’t fair to him because that was not what he paid for. He paid for a service—and I was supposed to provide that service. Now that I didn’t want to lose him, that could only mean I was ready…and I should finally fulfill my end of the deal.
We arrived at his penthouse and stepped inside. I slipped off my heels right away and left them by the door. I’d worn my favorite dress because I wanted to impress him, and judging by the intense way he looked at me now, he was definitely impressed.