Page 4 of The Hot Shot

CHAPTER THREE

SEBASTIAN

A conference event and information get together for the major players and clients who fit the bill, all to raise funds in the name of mental health. It was the perfect place to bring awareness to change in people.

It also gave me the contacts to start afresh, to gain names and build a portfolio and make me ready to cut those apron ties from Brendan without a single bit of regret. Jace had already had our business cards created with our new branding he’d created—JS Optimum Designs—ready to hand out to any potential suitors. I had also done the job to secure the one deal for the motherfucker, but he didn’t need to know that I’d already done that in the bar prior to attending The Rainbow Room. He didn’t specify that securing a new client had to be done at the event at all. All he said was that he wanted a new client.

Well, Will Dallington was the lucky bastard he’d have the pleasure working with. It was exactly the kind of job Brendan liked to conduct and in his favorite area of expertise—fitness. It was a new patented product that would easily go viral, but the client didn’t have the knowledge to make it happen. He was a sure winner, but the downside was it was not where I wanted to expand. I knew I’d see all sorts of clients in this line of work, but I wanted to be known for a niche, too—restaurants and bars. I wanted people to travel far and wide to get my opinions on how to make their venues stand out with its own twist, away from the cheap, happy hours and sticky carpets. It was my calling and it was one that I was determined to excel at.

“Jace, are you ready to mingle?” I asked, wiggling my brows after patting the inside pocket of my designer suit jacket, ensuring I’d placed my essentials for the night in place. I couldn’t catch myself short without my wallet, keys or phone, after all. “It looks like we can finally enter.”

“I thought we’d have been given priority, what with heading up the acting sponsors on the list?” Jace countered as he watched the swarm of people begin to start to mingle and make their way through the ever increasing crowd. “Did you not tell them that we’re here?”

“Oh, they know, but I declined the public display and field show extravaganza that would have happened if we’d accepted that offer.” I winked at Jace, watching as his face scrunched up in confusion. “If we were in there we’d be automatically swarmed as the sponsors for the event, ushered straight to the podium without a second glance. Why do you think I refused all publicity linked to Asquire previously?”

“You clever fucker. You want him to look like a fraud and a no-show so that it affects his reputation whilst you work the crowd for yourself and our venture?” Jace whispered in a remarkable tone, ensuring that no one could hear his words. The last thing we wanted was gossip getting back on our little plan, prior to being ready to make the move on Brendan and the firm. Our contracts had a month left on each of them before we could have the choice of renewing our time and allowing Brendan to keep control of our strings like the puppet master he deemed himself to be. Or we could break free, stand tall and break those ties, once and for all. “It’s like you have it all lined up. It just would’ve been nice to have known, man.”

“I thought you would have twigged.” I raised my eyebrows, surprised they didn’t hit my hairline. “Come on. I’d never be seen dead at something like this for Brendan.” I huffed out a large breath. “I used your ass plenty of times as an excuse to feign off his requests to be his face for possible clients. It’s what I do. This though, is all for us. We’re a team and we deserve a future. If I’m going to line anyone’s pockets, then it’s for the pair of us—not him.”

“I…” Jace raised his hand to run his fingers through his hair before halting and stopping. He gripped the back of his neck harshly as a deterrent. “Nearly fucked the hair up then.” He chuckled. “I just didn’t think. You wouldn’t think I’m normally the closer of the deals between us when I missed the obvious well-placed deception you spewed to old man Rightside.”

“Better start practicing the moves then man and getting back in the game. We can’t afford any fuck ups,” I stated before I patted Jace’s shoulders. At the same time, I noticed the two men waiting on the door for us to enter. “Let’s go in and make the right impression then, shall we?”

I didn’t wait for Jace to respond. I just straightened my spine and took in a large breath. Tonight, was just the start of securing my place and name.

* * *

The Rainbow Room was everything I expected it to be and more. With its prime location and opulent style, it was the perfect place for tonight’s event. Asquire Marketing & Advertising had helped to ensure that the theme of the event tonight had met the clientele and strategies we’d been pushing—well, that I had been pushing for. The team couldn’t have matched my expectations any more perfectly than if I’d picked out every item myself. It seemed like Brendan just didn’t give a shit about any of the details tonight as he passed everything directly to my team and I couldn’t have been happier; it was another tick against his name and social standing.

I loved the simplistic but elegant additional touches that the team had added as they shined out. It really showed the true architecture of the room, along with the grand pieces that the place was known for. The freshly polished, double colored wooden floor with the famous compass, illuminated with the large, crystal chandelier and then the soft pink, surrounded mood lighting that twinkled against the additional added crystal showpieces in the room; it was perfect. They hadn’t gone overboard at all. They had even ensured that the chairs and tables matched the floor shading with a silver runner on top of each of them; they contrasted beautifully against the wood to add a drop of color. It wasn’t flash; it was subtle. It was me. A taste of what I was about. It was the first portfolio piece I had done and I couldn’t even technically claim it; well, not yet anyhow. Just my luck.

I headed over to the bar that was situated across from the entrance, to give myself a perfect view of the full room surrounding me as Jace started to mix with people who he’d already sought out earlier. I knew that they would each be a perfect fit.

“Would you like a drink, sir?” the bartender asked me. I turned my body toward the voice and began to eye up the choices on offer. “I would suggest this myself.” He held up a fine vintage whiskey and I nodded, holding up two fingers as the guy got to work preparing my drink.

The moment I turned back around to take a quick look across the many faces present, my gaze froze at the man in the doorway with the woman at his side. Damn! Who was this guy that looked all hot and flustered? I couldn’t say I’d seen him before as I listened to the sound of my glass being slid across to me. I slid a crisp note out of my inside jacket pocket, not breaking my focus at all, and pushed it across the bar.

“Keep the change,” I muttered, completely lost in the man in the doorway, desperate for him to look at me. Was he with the woman to his right on a date? It sure looked like it, but he wasn’t uttering a dominant stance over her; he seemed more like a brother, a friend even, with the cheeky smiles they were sharing but not a simple touch between them was attempted.

I watched as the mysterious man gave his details at the door and then they made their way into the room. The woman at his side immediately began to mingle with people around her as he stood still and rigid, his gaze beginning to circle around the room until it caught mine. Shit! Those green eyes were like poison—intoxicating and calling to me like a toxin that had entered my bloodstream—deadly and vicious. I glanced down to his plump lips and his tongue swiped out and caressed them. Fuck!

I quickly downed the drink in my hand, appreciating the smooth liquid before the burn hit the back of my throat. I placed the glass down—not too gently—onto the bar behind me and it was lucky the glass didn’t shatter within my grasp. I turned away, maneuvering my way through the crowds toward the balcony, desperate to take five minutes to calm myself. I needed air and now. It felt like the walls were closing in around me and I was trapped. He was like no other man I’d seen before. My mouth was dry, my skin was sweating more than usual, and I could feel a fine layer of perspiration coating across my brow. I don’t know what it was but the man in that tight fitting penguin suit had my cock as hard as steel. He had me aching and ready to unload, unlike any of the other hookups I’d had been with before, all from one piercing look we’d shared. How was that possible?

“Sebastian, it’s nice to see you again,” a guy said to me, grabbing my attention. Fuck, someone rescue me now. Lord Harlun is the last person I need to get lost in a conversation with. I’d be stuck with him for the best part of an hour at least. “I’ve not seen you at one of these gatherings before.”

“I know but unfortunately, I’m a busy man.” I chuckled before spotting the woman that was with the mystery man heading this way, getting cornered by none other than Sarah Lovedelio. Shit! That woman’s a vulture. Who the hell let her in? “You know business and all, keeps us on our toes. I must go…” I said as I nodded my head over to my supposed friend in need. “I think she may need a hand.”

“Of course, dear boy. Go and make yourself known to her. I’m sure if you play your cards right…” he said, leaving it open.

I walked off, dipping my head in process to Lord Harlun before beelining straight towards the lady in the black dress. She looked stunning with her red hair perfectly styled and the fabric molded against her form. Sadly, she just wasn’t for me. The guy she was with on the other hand, was everything that I never knew I was looking for and if I could kill two birds with one stone and save her from the clutches of Sarah while I got myself an introduction, then that was a win for me.

“Sarah,” I announced the moment I appeared within earshot. “You found my lovely friend here. I hope she’s not chewing your ear off too much?” I winked as I passed her a glass of champagne off the tray as a servant bypassed us. “I’m sorry I took so long. You know what I get like when I’m talking shop.” I patted her hand as I noticed her mouth twitch before it turned upwards into a smile.

“Of course. Sarah just arrived and she was telling me all about how amazing this event is and the opportunities surrounding it.” She smiled sweetly.

“I do believe though that we need to finalize that paperwork.” I pointed with two fingers directly to Jace sitting in the corner who waved at us. I was glad he’d been paying attention to where I was. We had a tell that if we ever needed each other in a situation, we’d do a double-point with the other one waving back, recognizing the sign that we felt at unease or something around us did. It started in our childhood and it never ceased. I was glad about it at this moment. “After you, my lovely.” I placed my hand at the base of her back and guided her away from the situation, not turning back to look at Sarah who I knew would be fuming at the interruption. Fuck her.

The moment we were out of her view, the woman in black pulled me to the side.

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