Page 11 of A Billionaire Gentleman

“I didn’t know that’s where the nickname came from,” Aurelia said.

I wondered if she knew more about our family’s history than I did, or if this was all new to her too.

“Does Davin still live here?”

My eyes still on Aurelia, I answered the question. “Yes, he’s actually the CFO at the company now that Dad’s CEO and Grandad retired.”

“I’m surprised Jude retired. I used to think he’d be running that place until he was a hundred.”

“You’re not far off,” I said dryly. “And he’s still involved. The two of us will be doing some traveling soon.”

“I don’t need to ask about Damon. Aurelia’s a huge fan.”

Color flooded her face. “Dad,” she protested softly.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie. He’s a talented young man.”

My brother’s music career was a safe topic as there really wasn’t much there that could surprise me. I kept our conversation there until we arrived at the house, and then I was able to relinquish the conversation to Dad.

I barely hid my relief as I stepped back to walk with Aurelia. Ronall looked a little stiff at first, but as soon as Dad had smiled, whatever it was on Ronall’s mind seemed to disappear, and the two immediately started filling each other in on the last two-and-a-half decades.

Dinner went pretty much the same way, with those two dominating most of the conversation. Occasionally, they’d ask Aurelia or me a question, but for the most part, they left us to eat in peace. It wasn’t until we were heading for the sitting room that Dad pulled me aside. I assumed it was to ask about how things had gone today, but he surprised me.

“You should take Aurelia out.”

Thinking I had to have misheard him, I asked him to repeat himself, but he said the same five words again, so I tried a different question. “Like on a date?”

“Why not?” Dad asked. “She’s a nice girl, and I’m sure she’d like a chance to see the city without her father taking her around. Help her get acclimated. Get to know her. Maybe the two of you will hit it off.”

I wasn’t sure if my dad was trying to play matchmaker…or if it’d be more accurate to refer to it as pimping me out. Not that I’d ever say something like that to him. We didn’t talk about sex in our family, and we certainly didn’t joke about anything sex related.

Ever.

Grandad had given Davin ‘the talk.’ Davin had talked to Damon. I’d gotten most of my knowledge from listening to the two of them growing up.

“You’re back home for good now,” Dad continued. “It won’t hurt you to start looking to settle down.”

Okay, so it was serious matchmaking. Dad was trying his hand at an arranged marriage. I stifled a sigh. I wasn’t some playboy, dating a different woman every night. I didn’t see why I was the one he was coming to with this.

Aurelia glanced up from her plate, her eyes meeting mine for a few seconds before turning back to the food she was pushing around on her plate.

Yes, I had to admit, I knew why I was the one he’d come to. Aurelia was definitelynotthe sort of woman who’d fit with either of my brothers. She’d be safe with me.

It seemed like Dad had finally found something he trusted me to do more than anyone else. I wasn’t going to screw this up.

Seven

Sofi

It was getting easier,like Pasha had said it would. Nearly a full week of rehearsals for two hours a day after the club closed, then home for a few hours of sleep before getting up to do whatever needed to be done, and then back to the club for a full shift.

We got bonuses for practice hours, but it wasn’t even close to minimum wage. And it would last until I was confident that I knew every step, which meant the longer it took me, the more the others would resent me for making them come in during their time off.

I hadn’t talked to anyone about their lives outside of the club, but some of the others had pictures of children in their sections, so I assumed at least a few were also mothers, and I felt awful that I was taking away their time with their children. I’d worked extra hard, and Sanders had declared today would be our last practice.

So, yes, easier.

Except it was really only the dancing itself that was easier. The rest of it was still hard. Being up on that stage, knowing that men were watching us, not because they were impressed with the athletic ability it took to do what we did, but because they wanted our bodies. They wanted to see as much as we would give them, file it away to get off to later.

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