Page 22 of The Tempo of Truth
“It’s hard, but I have enough privilege and help from my family that I have it much easier than most moms and dads in the same situation.”I lifted my eyebrows and dropped the blunt reminder.“Besides, I’m not really a single parent.Lowe’s father is in the picture.”Even if his image might be a bit out of focus at the moment.
Oliver cleared his throat and reached for my arm to stop me from walking away.“About that…” His fingers squeezed my elbow, which made me frown.“I don’t want to be too forward, but given the chance, I’d like to get to know both you and your son better.I’m sure I’d set a better example for Lowe as he gets older than that boxer.”
I silently balked at this man’s arrogance.It was one thing to be certain he could win me over.It was an entirely different ball game to try to involve Lowe in whatever fantasy and schemes he was cooking in that perfectly coiffed head of his.
I pulled myself free and narrowed my eyes at him.“We’re business associates, Mr.Byrd.I think I’ve made myself very clear that I’m not interested in anything beyond that.It would be wise for you to recognize the very clear boundaries I’ve set between us.”I lifted my chin and warned, “Don’t ever touch me without permission again.If you do, the deal between Halliday Inc.and the Byrd family won’t be the only thing that ends up dead in the water.”
I felt Oliver’s eyes boring into my back as I walked to the bar.I found an open space between two very drunk entrepreneurs and was just about to order another drink when I overheard, “No way she leaves with the uptight asshole in the business suit.I’ll bet you a hundred bucks the other guy shows up, and she leaves with him.”
“You’ve got to be wasted.Why would she choose a broke nobody over a man with obvious class and ambition?”
The conversation was happening between a cute blonde girl holding a cocktail tray and the bartender.Their voices weren’t loud, but the subject filtered through all the business talk happening around me.I lifted my eyebrows in curiosity to see how the server defended her guess.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and told the bartender in a matter-of-fact tone, “Women will always choose the bad boy over the nice guy.The hottie athlete who can rock a pair of gray sweatpants and has all those sexy tattoos looks like he’s a damn good time—even if he won’t be around for a long time.Everything I’ve read about the Halliday heiress says she’s smart.She’s not going to pass up what the hot-as-fuck boxer offers while he’s around.”
The bartender rolled his eyes.“That’s how a normal woman might operate.Someone with Winnie Halliday’s status isn’t going to pick a performing clown over the ringmaster.Hell, she’s not even going to choose one of the circus performers; she’s going home with whoever owns the big top.I’m happy to take the bet and your money, Delilah.”
I giggled under my breath, enjoying the playful speculation and how on-point the cocktail server’s guess was.I would pick Ky over anyone else in a heartbeat, not only because he was hot and made my heart beat faster than a racehorse, but because he was the only one who brought out my true self.I wasn’t ashamed to be the very messy and completely unsophisticated version of Winnie Halliday around him.Ky was the only one who ever opened the door of the cage I was caught in.He reached through the golden wires and purposefully ruffled my feathers.Everyone else just stared at me from the outside and waited for me to do tricks or sit there and look pretty.
Tickled at the idea of helping a fellow improper young lady get one over on an arrogant man who thought he knew it all, I stepped away from the bar with my refilled drink in hand and waited until the cocktail server unloaded her tray.I intercepted her on her way to fill a new order and pulled her to an empty spot near the bar so I could whisper, “Raise the bet with your coworker.Get him to go as high as you can.I’ll make sure you win.I’ve had enough of overbearing men tonight, and your friend just pushed me over the edge.”
The pretty blonde giggled and stared at me with big eyes.“I’m so happy you’re back in the city.When I was younger, I followed all the news about you and your family.I thought you were a princess.All of my friends and I were so envious of your lifestyle.When I got older, I started to realize that being you might not be as easy as it seems.It’s still fun to live vicariously through you, though.I never imagined you’d be so nice and down-to-earth.Or that you would be such a girl’s girl.”
We both tittered, and warmth spread through my chest at her kind words.“I don’t get to have fun or be mischievous like this very often.As soon as I agreed to take over my family’s company, it was like everyone forgot I’m still in my twenties and like to have a good time.I’m not ready to be as stern and boring as those fossils on the board of directors.”I took out my phone, indicating I needed to make a call, and gestured for her to raise the bet.
I stepped into the lobby of the hotel that the expensive bar was attached to.I called Ky twice before he picked up.I heard the sounds of the gym in the background.I frowned as I realized he was working even though he was still injured.
“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”I couldn’t help nagging after he mumbled an unenthusiastic greeting.
“I’ve got hospital bills to pay.I can’t sit around on my ass and do nothing with that sort of debt hanging over my head.I know that’s not something you can understand.”He snapped the reply and coldly asked, “What do you want, Winnie?I don’t have plans to see Lowe until the weekend.”
I leaned my shoulder against the wall and felt my heart thump heavily in my chest.“If you come and pick me up from the bar I’m at and make a show of it, I’ll give you the money for the hospital bills.You won’t earn that much trying to box with a busted hand.”
I heard him snort.“Are you out of your mind?What sort of game are you playing?Is this a rich people thing I don’t understand?”
“It’s a girlhood thing you wouldn’t understand.Come on.I know you were never going to ask me to help you with the medical bills from the start.I was never going to offer any help.Now, there’s a situation where we can give each other a hand, and there isn’t an ounce of charity or pity involved.I’ll pay you for your time and effort, just like Lev.”
It was apparent that he wanted to turn me down, but the offer to clear the looming debt was too good to pass up.He’d eventually earn enough to pay it all off on his own, but that meant living on ramen and cheap pancake mix for months at a time.Or taking on a fight he was bound to lose since he was still injured.Ky was stubborn, not stupid.
“Give me twenty.”
He hung up without a goodbye.I caught the server’s eye and gave her a wink.I finished my martini with a flourish and walked back to the bar so I could witness the bartender’s defeat up close and personal.The blonde he’d called Delilah slipped me a cocktail napkin when he wasn’t looking that had “He went up to five hundred” hastily scribbled on it.For me, that amount was infinitesimal, but I knew it was enough to make the server’s life easier for a few days.I made a mental note to have my assistant arrange for a hefty tip for the entire staff to compensate them for playing along.It’d been a minute since I’d had so much fun, and they definitely livened up the dull-as-dirt party.
By the time I secured another drink, the noisy bar suddenly dropped into a heavy silence.
I turned my head and froze at the sight of Ky walking through the sea of suits and ties toward me.
I asked him for a show, and he provided just that.
His dark hair was slicked away from his face, showing off his flawless bone structure.
Gone was the old workout wear; in its place was a leather jacket and tight black jeans that were strategically torn in all the right places.He had on black boots and a studded belt.A silver chain hung from his pocket, and a diamond one that was probably fake looped around his neck.The only thing missing was a shirt of any kind.His bare chest was on display, and so were the various tattoo designs that dotted his skin.He looked every bit like he’d just stepped off the set of a music video or was on his way to a title fight in Vegas.This version of Ky was all flash and no substance.This was the Kyser Kent who dominated the European sports news for years, both during and after his career.He looked like a celebrity—one who didn’t belong anywhere in this room of affluent businesspeople.
I noticed almost every single woman in the bar was looking at him with a mixture of fascination and fear.The cocktail server was correct.A clever woman would always pick the guy who seemed attainable for only a few seconds over a man who was a sure thing.A stupid woman would, as well.
“Holy shit.I would’vepaidfive hundred dollars to see this.”I heard the server cackle as she taunted her coworker.
Ky threaded his way through the crowd to reach where I was leaning and watching him come toward me with a huge smile on my face.I was sure that if I could see my expression at that moment, my eyes would be sparkling with pure delight.When Ky stopped in front of me, he took the martini glass from my hand and slammed the remaining liquor back in one gulp.He poked an olive between my lips and asked with a lifted eyebrow, “Ready to go, rich girl?”
