Chapter 22 The Check That Wouldn’t Disappear
POV Damian:
“She didn’t deposit the check,” I said. It bothered me more than it should have.
“Damian, be honest—are you upset because she didn’t deposit the check, or because she hasn’t come to see you?”
My brother waited patiently for my answer, but it wasn’t like I had it ready on the tip of my tongue. I was irritated, that’s all I knew.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
I thought of Savannah—a redhead I used to fuck a few years ago. She’d stolen my credit card without me realizing it, got herself a bigger pair of implants, and bought a video game for her brother. I didn’t sleep with either of them again, but at least she returned my card and said thank you. I just chose to forget it ever happened and never told my brothers.
Savannah didn’t even take that much advantage of me—and she still came to thank me. So why the hell hasn’t the insolent one come to see me?
“I want her to come to me,” I confessed.
“For what?” my brother asked, and I looked straight at him. There was no point denying it anymore.
“So I can have the chance to ask her out.”
“Damian, Damian, Damian…” he said, shaking his head with mock pity. “You’ve fallen for this woman—and all it took was her calling you an asshole.” He burst out laughing. “A chance to ask her out, and it only cost you one million dollars. God help you, brother, if things actually work out and you decide to propose.”
“It’s not that serious. I just want to get to know her better, that’s all.”
Liam laughed even harder.
The insolent woman intrigued me—plain and simple. I ignored Liam’s laughter and went back to work. I needed to keep my head busy, to stop thinking about her and how much space she was taking up in my thoughts.
...
Five days later
Ann Arbor. Of course, I had to have a meeting with our partner in that damn city. Every time I manage to forget the insolent woman exists, something happens to remind me of her infuriating existence. I’ve barely thought about her lately—today I’ve checked my bank balance only four times. Yesterday it was six. Progress. Liam uses that information to tease me, but he doesn’t know a damn thing.
I’m not falling for a woman I barely know. I just want to find out what the hell she did with the check I gave her—nothing more.
I try to focus on what Richard is saying, but I can’t concentrate. I’d much rather it were Ethan sitting through these meetings. Madison, Richard’s daughter, shoots me a look from across the table, and under the desk, I feel her foot sliding up my leg.
Perfect. Just what I needed.
How do I make it clear I’m not interested in fucking her without sounding rude?
“That’s an excellent idea, Daddy,” Madison coos, her sugary voice directed at Richard but her eyes fixed on me. It makes my stomach turn. “Don’t you agree, Damian?”
Her foot climbs higher, dangerously close to my cock. I shove my chair back and stand, buttoning my jacket in irritation. This is Richard’s move—he talks and talks while his whore of a daughter tries to seduce whoever he’s meeting with. It didn’t work on Ethan, and it sure as hell won’t work on me.
“Richard, to be honest, I didn’t hear a word you said. My attention’s on something else I need to take care of,” I said. Madison smiled wider, clearly thinking I’d fallen for her little game. “I have to go. Let’s reschedule this meeting for tomorrow.”
“Damian, I’ll be traveling tomorrow,” Richard said.
Perfect.
“I can run it for you, Daddy,” Madison offered, winking at me. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“I don’t see why not, sweetheart,” Richard said, looking at me. I exhaled, already knowing I’d have to accept this crap. “That’s fine with you, right, Damian?”
Of course it’s not. But what choice do I have when all I can think about is going to Scarlett’s address?
“Yes. See you tomorrow.”
I left the room before either of them could say another word. All I needed was to go to the insolent woman’s house and demand to know what she’d done with the check. I knew that once I got my answer, everything in my head would finally go back to normal.