A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(4)

“I’m serious.”

My sister, the queen of words, is quiet. “Okay,” she says, and I know she gets it. “I won’t fix you up anymore.”

“Good, I never asked you to in the first place.”

By the time we end the call, I’m restless. I get up from my chair and walk over to the bottle of Lagavulin on the counter. Pouring myself a double, I realize I can’t call Drew and ask him to come over to process all this. I swallow down the liquid thinking what a shit life I have.

My mind wanders to beautiful Cate. She’s just as alone as I am. Maybe … that thought dies a sudden death in my mind because she’s like my little sister, which makes me shudder, not to mention I doubt that’s what Drew had in mind when he asked me to watch over her.

With that weird idea cleansed from my mind, I head to the shower to wash away the reek of Karen. Passing through my bedroom, I make a quick decision to strip the sheets off the bed to get rid of every trace of her. The act will shock the shit out of my cleaning lady.

After my shower, I call Mark, a guy from work, to see if he’s up for hanging out. Maybe poker or heading to a bar will help me forget everything, including the f*cking C word, cancer.

When he doesn’t answer, I assume his ex is back, giving him grief. I flip on the TV and end up watching the Dark Knight for the millionth time. Only Drew’s there in the back of my head giving me shit about my choices. He wouldn’t have approved how I handled Karen. “Then you should be here to kick my ass,” I say to the empty room.

The next morning, I crawl out of bed before the crack of dawn to hustle into work. I make it there before the sun has made an appearance, and the office is hopping as I’m not the first one in. Gratefully I’m not the last, either. However, I haven’t beaten the old man, my father himself, which has been a goal of mine for some time.

Jeff, my co-worker, spots me as he steps out from the kitchen area. He slings an arm around my shoulders.

“The Money Man’s in the house,” he announces, getting people to look up from their work stations like I’m some kind of rock star. He leans into me conspiratorially as we pass the cubical pool of first-year recruits and more quietly, but not so much, says, “Ben, my man, it’s Friday. Don’t make plans for the night. We’re taking Mark out to get laid. His wife—”

“Soon to be ex-wife,” I counter. I don’t know why I bother. Mark doesn’t seem to want to let her go.

“Whatever, she’s stringing him along by the balls. We’re heading to Savanna’s after work. And you’re coming.”

Savanna’s is an upscale club in an up and coming trendy part of town. We stop at my small office, the one the old man grudgingly gave me when I decided to come back and work for him after a stint in New York. He’s still pissed I went to New York to work for a big firm out of college and not for him. So he’s forcing me to earn my place in his firm and not just using my name to snag a corner office. It doesn’t bother me. I love a challenge. And getting the old man not to be smug after I decided New York wasn’t for me is worth it.

Jeff steps back. “Your dad is in a mood. Watch out.”

I nod.

“Anyway, we’re taking a cab to the club after work, so don’t sneak out.” He points at me as he heads to his junior office a few doors down. “We’re counting on you.”

I don’t get two feet behind my desk before I hear my name by a familiar voice.

“Benjamin, late are you?”

Tongue in cheek, I know better than to answer.

“If you think you’re up to it, I’d like your risk analysis on the IPO we discussed yesterday.”

“I—”

Dad cuts me off. “Ten minutes, large conference room.”

He leaves me feeling very much like a chastised child. It’s a good thing I worked late yesterday evening, expecting him to put me on the spot. No doubt all the analysts have been rounded up to hear a report I hadn’t been asked to prepare. But I had anticipated it.

The meeting runs long and leaves me behind with all the other business of the day, but I nailed it. I deflected every question fired at me with a well-researched answer, giving my father no choice but to be mollified that I’d done the work.

Catching up the rest of the day, I’m busy and out of the emotional shitstorm in my head … which is why I put in at least sixty hours a week.

When Jeff drags me out of the office earlier than normal, I’m grateful for one thing. And that’s alcohol. I pay for a few rounds as the guys get Mark good and twisted. I’m halfway there myself, although my tolerance for the stuff has increased, and it’s taking more to get a buzz these days.

Downing a shot, I watch as Jeff ropes in a sexy blonde for Mark. A woman with dark hair and clear blue eyes is not too far behind and she winks at me. She has a gorgeous exotic mix of features that makes her a stunner. I buy her a drink or two before I allow her to lead me towards the private restrooms in the back.

She doesn’t waste time and works my zipper down as she drops to her knees. I take a fistful of her silky dark hair and wind it around my hand. She works a condom on my semi-hardened cock and I start to wonder if she’s a professional. I say nothing and let her work me up from half-mast. Only I’m not into it. She’s an attractive woman, but I can’t go there. I’ve had many nights like this and it’s getting old.