Page 80 of Cocky Prince
My head notches back in surprise. “I thought you didn’t like him?”
She sits in her chair. “Of course I like Adam. I’ve always liked him. I just thought he was a bit of a shit to his past girlfriends. But he’s not like that with you. The boy is in love. Like,deeplove, Hayden.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t understand. He’s not in love with me; he’s keeping things from me—lying through omission.” I flap my hand at the door. “He’s involved. With them. The Bliss suites. Blackwell and the Blue Stars. He knows all about what they’re doing, and he won’t tell me anything.”
“Shit.” Her palms flatten on her desk. “What exactly did he say?”
“That he can’t talk about it. He wanted me to give him time.”
She blinks repeatedly. “Really? How much time?”
I stare at her. “What does it matter? He’s involved.”
She drums her fingers and stares off. “Maybe, or maybe he has a good reason for wanting you to give him time. I can detect a bad guy a mile away, and Adam isn’t one of them.”
I wince and screw my eyes closed. Mira grew up around vice and corruption. It’s a testament to her strength that she didn’t take the same path and die of a drug overdose like her mother. “I can’t ignore what he’s doing. If he’s involved with them, it’s not good.”
She walks around her desk and sits on the armrest of the spindly metal guest chair I’m in, nearly tipping us over in the process. She rubs my shoulders. “Do you trust him?”
I shake my head—my level of confusion has reached epic proportions. “My heart trusts him. But my head… What reason is there to lie to your girlfriend?”
Mira stands and paces off to the side. “I don’t know. I’d kill Tyler if he lied to me about something important.”
“Exactly. Lying is a deal breaker, and Adam admitted he’s bad at relationships.” I rest my head on her desk. “I’ll be okay. I just need time to get over what we had.”
“Sure,” comes her wry response. “You look like someone who’s going to get over it real soon.”
I roll my eyes at her sarcasm, but she can’t see it because my head is still on the table. I take a deep breath and wipe the tears and mascara gunk from under my eyes. “I’d better get back to work.”
Mira hands me a tissue. “Just consider it—giving him a chance. We’ve been trying for months to figure out whether or not there’s still something going on. Adam knows as much as anyone about the attacks. He knows Blue has had trouble. And he’s been a good friend to Jaeger. I can’t see him supporting something like this.”
I smile bitterly. “And yet he must be. Why else would he not tell me about the suites?”
* * *
Adam
Hayden won’t takemy calls, and I’m about to lose my shit. I’m trying to protect her. But obviously I can’t tell her that. She about bit my head off when I mentioned stepping in for her with Blackwell. I’m worried what she’d do if I told her I was keeping Bliss from her so that she wouldn’t be linked to it. She has this notion it’s her duty to protect the employees after the casino hurt her friends. I know it’s more complicated than that—she was scarred by what happened in high school and wants to stand up for others after no one stood up for her. But I can’t let her become a mark for Blackwell. Not when I’m uncertain about what he’s capable of.
Paul and William walk into my office and close the door. “Ten days until the big reveal. How many are registered at the hotel?”
I stretch my neck. The last thing I want to deal with right now is Paul. He’s been up my ass over every fucking detail related to the Bliss debut, even though I’ve laid it out for him ten times. “As I mentioned an hour ago, we have fifty prospective members registered for the weekend, and twenty of our nearly forty members will also be in town for the event. Eve is putting together a letter and gift basket for each of the rooms. Anything else?”
“And the DJ—”
“Confirmed,” I say. “His assistant sent me his flight itinerary, which I forwarded to Eve, whose assistant will personally attend his arrival. The caterer is secured; the menu set. And if you want to know about the auction and burlesque show, you’ll need to talk to William.”
Paul shoves his hand in his pocket. “I’m sensing animosity.”
“You sense wrong.” He sensesright,but it’s best if Paul doesn’t know everything I’m thinking at the moment.
William glances between Paul and me, an uneasy grin sliding on his face. He was always more interested in pleasing everyone. “Well now, I can tell you that the auction and our beautiful dancers are all lined up. The ladies arrive Friday for the Saturday show. Beginning at six a.m. Saturday, a crew will come in to remake the club for the evening. I’m working with security to close off the area while the equipment is brought in.”
“Looks like we’re all set,” I say. “If you’ll excuse me.” I stand to leave. I hadn’t planned on leaving my office, but it’s claustrophobic in here. I have the sudden need to get out.
Paul jingles the coins in his pocket. “I suppose we’re nearly ready. Blackwell expects everyone to attend the midnight party after the show and to sell the Bliss experience. Plan on being there the entire night. I’ll send you a list of things to tout as you mingle with potential members.”
I nod, though I have no intention of reviewing his list. “Are we finished?” Not waiting for their answer, I raise my hand for them to exit first.
