Page 28 of Ruse
I had to stop her, and I did, sending her to her room then proceeding to leave. Again, I didn’t think she’d listen, but she did, though it may have been more out of anger than obedience. On the other hand, I couldn’t stand being in the same house with her looking like that after what had just happened between us and doing nothing about it. I had to control my urge to take her right there and then in the middle of the foyer, or slam her back against the wall, or better yet bend her over the railing of the staircase, hitch her dress up and over her perky ass, and thrust myself so deep into her, you’d hear her screams along the shore.
But I sure as fuck couldn’t do any of that, and I wasn’t about to rub one off when I could just leave and get the real thing elsewhere. Though I couldn’t. Not without feeling sick to my stomach at the thought of someone else’s lips on my cock when I only wanted hers.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
Sure, I was a little surprised when I saw her name pop up on my feed, alerting me she had joined my live video earlier today. I may have specifically set up an alert to track if she ever visited my profile or watched any of my stories, but it was just to keep tabs on her and ensure my plan was working. However, when her name appeared, I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. Phoenix was getting curious, and brave, and it made my dick twitch just thinking about it.
Though as soon as she signed off, no doubt realizing what she’d done, I knew I couldn’t just let this opportunity slip away from me. I needed to let her know I’d caught her.
That’s when I texted her, sending her a photo of me straight out of the shower, my skin still dripping with water droplets, and a towel wrapped low around my waist. I knew I looked good, and it’s not that I’m being cocky. I’ve worked hard to be in the shape I am. Hours spent weekly at the gym, watching what I eat and staying away from junk food, not to mention watching the amount of alcohol I consume.
Though she never responded. Not even a snide or smart-ass remark. Not even awhat the fuck are you doing?Nothing. I thought I’d won that round. She was caught red-handed, and I swore I’d throw it in her face later, but that wasn’t the case.
She was ready, and that confused the fuck out of me.
The sly twinkle in her eye when she watched me walk in through the front door told me it was her plan all along for me to catch her wearing that alluring outfit that wrapped perfectly around every inch of her. This little game must have been her form ofpaybackafter the photo I’d sent, and I had to admit she one upped me. I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. I couldn’t hide the hunger I felt, the need to have her under me, to hear the sweet little sounds she makes when she comes.
Our moment was cut short when my mother and Austin showed up at the perfect time. If they hadn't, who knows how far Phoenix would have let our little game go. Cause I sure as hell know I wouldn’t have stopped it. She was panting, practically coming from just the feel of the candy rubbing against her nipples. Makes me wonder what she was watching on the laptop lying in front of her, and if she’d be willing to make our own. Or if she had been thinking about it just as much as I had.
I wasn’t prepared to take what I needed tonight. After our argument earlier, I knew she’d be pissed, so I left, giving her some time to cool off, not to mention show her I am, in fact, the one calling the shots around here. I drove around for a bit, stopping at the liquor store in town for a pack of cigs and a forty. It was that or going out to the club I’m sure she was headed to and finding a chick who’d take care of what I needed done. Though the thought of it being anyone but Phoenix was insulting. I had to come back to her.
It wasn’t until after we were nearly caught by Austin and my mother, that I once again left needing to be as far away from her, and what I almost let happen, as possible. I drove out to the Palisades, to the house of an old friend I needed to pay a visit to. It had been weeks since the last time we spoke, and I required an update on what I’d hired him to do. The clock was ticking, because the more time I spent at the Bancroft Mansion, the harder my execution of this plan was going to get.
Pulling into the long, winding road toward Amalfi Drive, I arrive at a large, brown brick Spanish style villa owned by none other than Brent Radcliff, an infamous private investigator I hired to dig up any and everything about Austin Bancroft. The good, the bad, the filthy. I wanted it all. I knew the head of the Bancroft household was dirty. Hell, he’d cheated on his wife of twenty years, for at least eight of those years. Not to mention I doubt he stayed faithful to my mother, his mistress, the whole time, nor that she was his first.
As the CEO of Bancroft Industries, an architectural firm specializing in the construction of luxury prime real estate around the Southern California coastline, Bancroft was easily a multi-billionaire. And everyone knew with more money came more power, but also more secrets. These secrets would be my insurance.
Thanks to my father, who I rarely spoke to and saw even less, I had three years to go until I could see a cent of my trust. The little money I had as an allowance was nothing compared to what I needed to be on my own, and there was no way I was living with Bancroft for three years. I needed to find a way to get my money and go. That’s where Brent came in. He would get me all I needed to blackmail Austin, and get the hell out of this town, and away from Phoenix, before I did something I would regret.
Parking the Aston in the circular pebbled driveway, I walk up to the front door, and am met by Brent’s butler, Armen, a look-a-like Alfred to Brent’s Bruce Wayne. “Mr. Carter, welcome. It’s late. We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”
He’s right, it’s well after three a.m. but I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Besides, Brent’s like a vampire up at all odd hours. It’s all part of the job. “Cut the bullshit Armen. I know Brent doesn’t sleep. I’m here now and it’s urgent. So quit stalling and let me in.”
The old man’s nose wrinkles in annoyance, but he does as he’s told. He knows his place, but better yet, he knows who my father is, which means I’m dangerous if ignored. Mathieu Carter is a ruthless entrepreneur, and a cutthroat billionaire you don’t want to have as an enemy. As owner and acting CEO of Car-Tec, a technological conglomerate specializing in everything from electronics, impenetrable security systems, and military grade equipment, my father is a powerful magnate.
That’s my legacy, and Brent Radcliff knows it.
Armen leads me into the expansive mansion which is nothing compared to what you see on the outside. Terracotta colored blank walls, sparse wicker furniture, and with absolutely no signs of anyone living in it, you’d think this house was just put on the market. Brent lives alone of course, and you can tell. The only place in the entire house that is occupied, is the twelve-car garage in the basement, housing the luxury automobiles he collects.
Armen clears his throat loudly as we step into Brent’s study. “Mr. Radcliff, pardon the interruption.”
“I told you I’d call you if I found anything, Maverick,” Brent calls out from the throne-like burgundy chair behind his deep mahogany wood desk. Everything in this room looks exactly opposite of the entire house. Dark, gothic, and fit for a man who lives a secret life after hours.
To the rest of the world, Brent Radcliff is a business tycoon and one of the head investors in Car-Tec, but he’s really my father’s clean up guy. His personal PI and, if I’m being honest, my father wouldn’t be who he is today without Brent digging up dirt and scandalous affairs on all his business rivals.
“Yeah, well, it's been two weeks and nothing, Brent. I told you over the phone this was urgent. I don’t have time to be sitting around waiting for your call.”
The fucker laughs, “What’s changed? Last we spoke, you seemed to have all the time in the world to bring Bancroft to his knees.” That was the case, but the problem now is I need to do it before his daughter brings me to mine. Of course, I don’t give that insignificant piece of information to him.
“It doesn’t matter. The point is, I need you to come up with something of value to me. I’m tired of the fucking run around. You don’t sleep, you work all hours of the day, I don’t believe Austin is meticulous enough to keep everything hidden so well.”
“You’re right, I work at all hours of the day. Secrets never sleep, and those who commit them, don’t either. It’s when the sun goes down, and the lights come off, that the players come out to play.”
“Quit it with the bullshit Brent, do you have anything of use to me, or should I take my business elsewhere. Let me remind you, that wouldn’t be good for business.”
His smile doesn’t fade, instead it grows wider, almost proud that I’ve threatened to fire him for not delivering. “You’re in luck, my dear boy. I was going to call you in just a few hours, but since you drove all the way out here to see me, I guess there’s no time like the present.”
I walk over to the velvet chair sitting across from his desk. “This better be worth the money I’m paying you, Brent,” I mutter, leaning over his desk and meeting his gaze.
