Page 57 of Unwritten Rules

Brent

“How many girls do youthink you could fit on your motorcycle, anyway?” The bleach blonde one twirled a strand of hair around her finger, giving mefuck meeyes the entire time.

“Just one,” I replied, leaning back and stretching my arms out behind the two who sat on either side of me. There was always a crowd of three or more girls cozying up and competing for me to dick them down. I was a conquest to them just like they were to me.

Some of them wanted to fuck the campus playboy.

Others wanted to ‘save’ me or ‘fix’ me.

Far too many of the latter.

College was supposed to be a few years of good times and learning the ropes of the company before taking on whatever the Dictator planned for my future. I was supposed to be the shining star in his international conglomerate, overseeing operations and managing subsidiaries. Instead, I was a tatted-up biker who just so happened to be okayish at baseball.

I wanted a chance to prove to him I could be more than a punch happy grandson with mommy issues. That chance rarely came when I ended up set up for failure on botched intel jobs and sent out to eliminate threats to the family business.

Did we run a fucking mafia or what?

Remember, as thepotentialfuture head of Chamberlain Industries, you’re not just inheriting wealth—you’re inheriting a legacy of innovation and leadership that impacts millions of lives around the world.

Potential. Which meant he didn’t see me as worthy.

“So, the car then? How big is your bed?”

I grazed my eyes over the group of girls, wondering who I’d choose,ifI had to. “Sorry, girls. Only one...or two at a time.”

The bravest of them made a show of being touchy. My arms, legs, and damn near my dick right on campus. I shifted to give my dick some room; my pants were tight.

For a split second, I thought I caught sight of soft blonde hair making its way across the courtyard. In that second, I swore I saw her.Blondie.The way her hair swayed in the wind had me thinking back to when I had her so close, but she felt so far away. The thought of Garrett having his grubby little hands over her more than I did...

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to not think about it. It wasn’t her walking across campus, and I didn’t know if that made this situation better or worse. I imagined her seeing me and stomping up to me and calling me a player, spouting off about my reputation again.

“Brent?” One of the girls leaned in closer, her perfume noxious. “You okay, baby?”

“All good.” I forced a grin. My usual smirk that had every girl I could ask for eating out of my hand. That one was still touching me, even. With everything I could want, why the hell did a pang of...whatever that feeling was hit me so hard? “Just thinking about our next baseball game win.”

Ever since I first laid eyes on her, Blondie had been messing with my head. She was different. She didn’t give a shit about appearances, getting what she wanted with no remorse, or anything that would interrupt how optimistic she was. I tried to tell myself that I didn’t care, but it only pissed me off more.

The girls chattered about the baseball game before my phone buzzed in my pocket. While I was happy for a chance to get away from the groupies, I was not happy about the name on the screen, or the amount of time left to answer it before consequences would be doled out.

He hadimpeccabletiming for an old man. I stood up and brushed off the clingiest one. “Gotta run, ladies.”

I felt their eyes all over me while I walked away to answer the phone. “Yes, sir?”

“Your driver is waiting.”Click.

“Yep. Love you too,” I muttered into the abyss he’d never hear me from.

––––––––

“Sit down.”

His office was something out of a 1920’s mafioso playbook. Antique dark furniture. The decor. And, of course, the cigars. The air told me that it wasn’t just another stern talk he was going to dish out to me. A couple of lawyer types stood around, adding to his aesthetic and intimidation factor.

I did as his cold and commanding voice said and plopped my ass in the chair across from him. Whatever was happening, his expression wasn’t good.

“A matter of importance,” he started, seating himself behind his large desk, “is why I brought you here. There is something to be aware of. Something dangerous that could impact everything and your future. I caught wind of...certain situations involving some of the wealthiest families. There is a federal investigation underway and multiple hands in the pot. The news is already leaking, and I expect it to blow up at any minute. When it does, things will getveryugly.”

I glanced around the room, at the men standing around, and eventually landed back onto my grandfather. My eyebrows pinched together in confusion because that was most definitely the vaguest thing he has ever told me. “What does this have to do with me?”

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