Page 11 of Wretched Choices

I turn my attention to Dante. “Dante, ask around. We need to know who our loyal men are and those who are not. And I mean those who are loyal to me, not the family,” I say and stand. I need to get out of this room, somewhere I will not smell citrus and vanilla and crave her.

Before I leave, I say to all of the men, “We need to know what we are dealing with, and fast.”

Two weeks have passed since the event I held, and we couldn’t find any information on the man in that video or who is behind the whole situation.

However, Dante found that some men have expressed how they feel about what they are calling the ‘modern mafia’ and everything that is changing these days. They don’t understand the new foundation I’m building. One where men and women have a choice; one we never had.

One where you take the oath if that is your wish, where women are not forced into marriage with men they despise, and where young boys are not forced into dealing, stealing, and killing.

Before he breathed his last breath, I promised my father that I would do everything the opposite way to him just to spite him. I promised him I would ruin everything he built.

The door of my office opens, distracting me from thinking any further about my hatred toward my father.

My sales director, Ashley Porter, enters. She has been working for me since I bought and rebranded the hotel. The plan was to turn this business into a hotel chain, and Ashley worked magic.

We also have a personal agreement, one that makes things simple for both of us. She doesn’t want a relationship or children to keep her from doing what she loves. Her career and excelling in her field are the most important things to her. I don’t want to worry about a clingy woman every time I need a release. She knows exactly who I am, and if she opens her mouth and crosses me, she will end up six feet under.

The clicking of her cream heels on my marble floor makes me smirk. This is what I need. A distraction from everything that has happened lately. And Ashley is the girl for that. I watch her walk to me in what she calls her power suit. Black knee-length skirt, which I know has a split in the back, showcasing her perfectly shaped ass and long legs. Her blond hair falls in waves that reach her shoulders. Her blue eyes glint with mischief. Sheis here to please me and knows I will do the same for her. I lean into the back of my chair, leaving a small space between me and my desk, enough for her to slip in and stand between my legs.

“We have a meeting tonight. Adkinson wants us and the representatives of two other companies to meet. He wants to meet in person with everyone to see how passionate they are about going after what they want. Afterward, he will decide which business to invest in.” She puts her iPad down, inspecting my face before adding, “You know, you could just make him give you the deal by sending Dante.”

I shake my head. “No. This is a legitimate business, one I worked hard to build, and it needs to stay that way.” She only nods; she knows better than to disagree with me.

She picks up her iPad. “The meeting is at the Luxor Lounge, and a plus one is required.” I narrow my eyes. The Luxor Lounge is a gentleman’s club.

“When did that start?” I ask.

“When he became the new owner. He wants to practice toxic masculinity and misogyny.”

“Did he say that?”

She rolls her eyes, shrugging. “Not exactly. He said women need to go back to staying at home and serving men, and he wants to make that the norm in the club. If you don’t bring someone to serve you, the club will provide you with someone.”

I narrow my eyes, not sure I understood right. “What do you mean?”

“The Luxor Lounge has added this as a new service. They offer you a woman who will stand there and feed you and generally be there for anything you request. Or you bring your own woman who will serve you.”

“Well, I’d better bring you with me. You know exactly how I like to be served.”

Smirking, she sinks to her knees between my legs. “That I do.” And she does wonders, making me forget, if only for the time being, about all the things occupying my mind.

five

Isabella

Two weeks passed, and I couldn’t connect the Lotus Group with a company in Italy called La Bella, like I saw on the invoice in Salvatore Catalano’s office. Everything I saw was useless.

But my gut tells me there is more than a respected CEO behind him. He fits the profile. He had a henchman with him, and I just know what J. Foster went through isn’t just from some bogus story. When I called his agent and requested to talk to him, the answer was ‘Mr. Foster is writing a new book and is unavailable for the foreseeable future,’ leaving me with nothing but my gut.

So, I did what maybe I shouldn’t have. I took the senator’s wife's story. I bribed Lisa with tickets to Disneyland for herfamily and gave her an easier story that wouldn’t keep her at work, researching for hours.

I needed this front to investigate the Lotus Hotel, but if I had better judgment, I wouldn’t have. I would have run far away from what was occupying my mind.

Salvatore Catalano.

Salvatore Catalano hasn’t left my mind for the past few weeks, and no matter how I want to forget his touch, his hands on my body, his penetrating gaze on mine… nothing helps.

He touched me like he knew the effect he had on my body. Like he had the right to touch me.

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