Page 167 of Damaged Mogul
“Thank you, Antonio,” Larkin says.
How he remembers all of his employees’ names, blows my mind. Staff comes and goes in the hospitality business, but Larkin does an impressive job at keeping track.
With a little head bow, Antonio scurries away, empty Perrier bottle in hand.
“Since I don’t drink during the day, this will have to do,” Larkin says, lifting his glass.
Rhys and I follow his lead.
“Blanche Hyman is determined to use her daughter’shymenlike a lottery ticket,” Larkin says. “Here’s to shutting up the twat.”
I didn’t see that coming.
Thank God I didn’t take a sip of my drink or else Larkin would be wearing it.
I roar in laughter.
Rhys joins me.
We’re making a spectacle of ourselves, while Larkin remains cool as a cucumber, not even cracking a smile.
“I’ll drink to that,” I say when I regain my composure.
The three of us clink glasses before taking a long swig of our drinks.
“Now that the monkey is off your back, I hope I’ll see you tonight,” Larkin says.
I frown.
“The theme party,” Larkin says.
“We didn’t even bother asking if you were attending,” Rhys says. “You’ve been avoiding those parties for a long time.”
I nod.
“That’s because he didn’t have a good reason to show up. Now, he does.” Larkin’s eyes hold mine. “That was quite the Tarzan performance at Rhys’s birthday party. Your Jane is still in town?—”
“You were there?”
“I walked in as you were soldiering towards your victim,” Larkin says.
My brows arch. “I didn’t see you.”
“You only had eyes for one person,” Larkin says.
“He was so much under her spell, he didn’t bother with me even though it was my birthday.” Rhys takes a jab at me.
“Hence, the lunch invitation.” I point to his plate. “And I apologized. Multiple times.”
Rhys play-punches me. “I’m giving you a hard time.”
I shake my head.
“Going back to what I was saying, Miss Schuyler would be the perfect date for our Angels and Demons party at Dark Compulsion tonight.” Larkin holds my gaze.
I cock a brow.
“I wasn’t planning on asking you,” Rhys says, “but now that Larkin tabled the matter, you should bring Lily.”
