As if on cue, my cell beeps with a message as I’m getting ready for my shift downstairs.
Are you free later this evening? I have drinks with clients and some people from work, but I want to see you. I can come to you…
The sinking feeling is back full force as I look over the text. Cole is a great guy, he’s open and honest, and ridiculously gorgeous, not to mention fun. I realize that I have actually missed talking to him over the past few days. I didn’t leave his apartment on the best terms and then when I returned home after shooting down his advances, I fell straight into bed with Cal.
I couldn’t dislike myself more than I do right now. I need to fix this.
I’m working tonight, but could come over after. It will be late, is that okay?
I need to talk to him, and I owe it to him to at least do it face to face. My cell beeps almost instantly.
Can’t wait.
My stomach rolls at the prospect of hurting him. I like him a lot, more than I should. He would be the simple, smart, safe choice—I’m not stupid—I know that. I’m a reserved version of myself when I’m with him, and I like that. God knows I could do with being a little more driven by my head than my heart. I let Daniel walk all over me, and I’d vowed not to ever let that happen again. Cole is the polar opposite of him…but maybe that’s part of the problem? Maybe I’m attracted to guys that are rough around the edges, and Cole’s a little too smooth.
Then Callum walks in and all rational thoughts go out the window. I know from what the girls tell me that he’s not looking for a relationship, he’s looking for sex. I can’t help that little part of me that clings on to the hope that maybe that’s not true; maybe I’m different. Or maybe I’m just clinging to anyone and anything after the past couple of months. I’m scared to go to my apartment, I’m in debt up to my eyeballs and when I need to be the most clear-minded I’ve ever been in my life, I’m letting myself get bogged down by men.
Why can’t I just focus?
JEFFREY MICHAELS, OWNER of Michaels’ Associates, and my ticket to making partner at the firm, is in town tonight. I buzz Sophie into my office.
“Yes, Mr. Silverman?”
I look up from unbuttoning my cuffs and rolling my sleeves up. I don’t have time to call home and change, so I smooth down my tailored blue slacks and look up at Sophie.
“Steven, myself and a few other guys from the office have arranged drinks and a little entertainment while Mr. Michaels is here. It never hurts to slather on the charm and turn up the hospitality when it comes to clients as important as Jeff Michaels. Please have a car arranged for us as soon as he’s done with his next meeting. We’ll be headed over to Reveal.”
“Will that be all?” she asks in her chipper, eager-to-please voice.
“Yes, thank you, Sophie. Oh, and have a nice weekend.”
She smiles as she exits my office and closes the door softly behind her. Sophie’s a nice girl, very quiet and timid. She’s engaged to a guy almost twice her age and very outspoken and abrupt. I would never have placed them together, but then again I guess you should never judge a book by its cover. Just because Sophie looks like a shy and studious young woman in the office doesn’t mean she’s the same person at home.
Jeff waltzes into my office; he’s the archetypical cowboy—the only thing missing is his horse as he stands before me in his black button-down, dark jeans and a black Stetson. He’s not much older than me and has amassed quite an empire, forming one of Texas’s largest energy suppliers. He’s thriving and expanding amid the rising demand for natural gas, and we’re in the middle of a merger with a pipeline company, co-founded and run by one of Michaels’ old friends. If this case goes through it will take Jeff Michaels to new heights within the oil and gas market, and me straight to partner.
It’s also no secret that Jeff likes the ladies, so Steven thought it a good idea to take him to Reveal, my younger brother’s establishment. I don’t normally like to mix business with my home life, but Cal’s place is renowned for being one of the finest burlesque clubs in New York City. I’m sure it will be a hit with Jeff.
“Steve here says we’re visiting a strip club?” Jeff drawls with his thick southern accent as Steven hovers by the door.
“Not quite, but close,” I laugh and usher them out toward the elevators. I’m anxious to get done as soon as possible so that I can bow out and meet Robyn. She’s plagued my mind for the last three days, and I hate how we left things when she walked out on me at home. I thought that she was avoiding me, but she’s agreed to come over when she’s finished with work this evening, which means I want to be done with these guys and home as soon as possible.
“I’m sure you’ll like Reveal. It has some of the best views in New York,” I say with a wink as I press the button to take us down.
We’re seated at our table, front and center. I’d sent Callum a text saying I’d be here with a client tonight. All the other times I’ve visited I’ve grabbed a booth at the side of the stage. My little bother’s come through for me tonight, and these seats are excellent. There’s a complimentary vintage Bollinger awaiting us as the cute redhead seats us, and I make a mental note to thank Callum before we leave if I don’t see him sooner. I look out toward the bar to see if I can catch a glimpse of him anywhere, but it’s too dark and I struggle to see beyond the crowd that’s gathering.
We’ve missed the first performance, and the girls are all parading off stage as we make ourselves comfortable. I glance down at my watch and sigh; the ride over took far longer than expected. Traffic is never good but tonight was particularly heavy. I don’t want to skip out on these guys too early, but I’m anxious to see Robyn. Weighing the options between spending the night with a 200-pound bearded Texan or Robyn, with her soft curves and pouty lips, I know which one I’m going to push for. Even if it is the wrong choice, career-wise. I’m hoping that a bucketload of alcohol and the lure of Cal’s dancers will be enough to keep Jeff entertained and happy.
The buxom little server asks if she can get us anything, and I almost cringe as I see Jeff’s not-so-subtle attempt at slipping her a few bills and squeezing her ass. I want to point out that this isn’t a sleazy titty bar where you can pay for private dances, but I’m not about to alienate Jeff when we’re so near to closing this case and finishing up the merger. I can almost smell the paint that will decorate the walls of my new corner office; the end is in sight. I lean back and look around the bustling room. Cal’s done an excellent job in this place, and I’m proud of him for sticking to his guns and making it work, despite the lack of encouragement from our mother. She’s a religious woman when it suits and doesn’t like that fact that her baby boy runs a club that dabbles in the sins of the flesh. I think that’s how she termed it the last time she complained to him, asking why he couldn’t put his college education to better use and run a more upstanding company. He takes it well, far better than I could or would. I admire the fact that he doesn’t dance to someone else’s tune. He knows what he wants and he goes after it, regardless of what others think. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that maybe he’s the one that’s got it right. I mean sure, his ex, Lisa, screwed him and stomped on his heart for good measure, but apart from that he has his shit together pretty good. He has a job that makes him happy and has free time on his hands to enjoy life. He’s got the balance right. I hope to hell that I find that equilibrium soon.