A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(51)

When the weekend of the event arrives, I’m nothing but a bag of nerves. The girls are helping out, but won’t be staying the night. They’ll leave after the golf and spa outings are over.

We start things off with the lunch for all the clients and their significant others, and then it will be off to golf or the spa. None of the men chose the spa, only the women—shocker.

When Nick and I arrive, we head directly to where the lunch will be held to make sure all is in order. Not long after, Martin and Julia arrive. I introduce Nick to Julia, and go over the menu and some of the other items on the agenda.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ben enter the room, followed by two women. I pretend not to notice and grab the attention of one of the staff. Heading to the back of the room, I make sure the water stations are filled and do my best to look occupied. Both women are gorgeous, but one sort of favors him, so I’m wondering if it’s his sister. The other one hangs close to him and he has his arm around her. She leans into him and they appear to be extremely friendly with each other. I feel the green monster inside of me show his pointy teeth. If this keeps up, I’ll want to tear that bitch’s hair out before the day is over.

Why can’t I be beautiful like that?

“Hey, everything okay?”

I jump as Nick moves beside me.

“Fine, why?” I snap.

He inspects me for a few seconds, then shrugs. “No reason. Everything is on schedule. Guests are arriving.”

“Good.” I walk away from him and head to the bathroom. I wish this day was over and it hasn’t even begun yet. Forcing myself to leave my little sanctuary, I resume my stance at the back of the room, trying to appear happy.

Nick comes up to me and says, “I think everyone is here. I’ve got the headcount at one twenty-five.”

“Great. Thanks.”

I move in the direction of Martin to let him know. When he sees me, I give him the thumbs up to start and turn to return to my back-of-the-room position when I collide with a brick wall of a chest.

“Sam. Sorry.”

I’d recognize his scent anywhere.

“Mmm. Right.” My tone is off the charts sarcastic. I move to sidestep him and he moves in the same direction. We do this two-step again.

“Annnd we’re dancing.”

“Hardly. I usually enjoy my dances,” I say and I walk away. I’m not sure if he moves or not. I only know I need to get hell away from Ben. Besides, he has a girl waiting for him somewhere. I wonder if it’s that lawyer, Karen, his fiancée or whatever she is. This isn’t the place for me to worry about that now, but it’s difficult with the way he’s practically flaunting her in front of me.

By the time I stand in the place I’ve claimed, Martin is speaking to the group. He gives a nice talk about the caliber of business the firm does, the name they’ve built for themselves and how they’ve always done things above board. As usual, I start to daydream because financial matters just aren’t my thing. I begin to link the patterns in the carpet together and create new designs in my head when a voice jars me out of my mental vacation.

“I can see you’re bursting with excitement to hear Dad’s little talk.” Ben holds a glass of ice water in his hand as he stares at me smirking. His tanned biceps bulge and I have a flashback of his arms holding my thighs as he pounded into me when I sat on his desk. “This stuff really does put you to sleep,” I hear him say.

Keep your shit together, girl. Do not let him see he rattles you.

Since he’s the client here, I decide to put on my nice act. “Sorry. You know how awful I am with this stuff.”

“You should consider letting us handle your portfolio.”

I cock my head and really take a good look at him. He is every bit the sincere guy as he stands before me.

“I’m sorry. That was inappropriate. You’ll think I’m trying to strong arm you since you’re handling the event here.” Remorse tinges his words.

I didn’t think that at all, but now that he said it, I can see why he did. And I am utterly mystified by his behavior. He’s being nice. But he came with another woman. What the hell is his deal here?

Composing myself, I say, “That’s not what I was thinking. My thoughts went down an entirely different road.”

An arched brow tells me he has no clue to what I’m referring.

Leaning closer I say, “I think it’s best f*ck buddies don’t mix business with pleasure. But, oh, yeah. Given what’s going on here and after the last time, I guess we’re not really buddies anymore, are we?”

His confused expression intensifies. “I’m not sure …”

“Sam, lunch is being brought in.”

“Thank you, Nick.”

I look at Ben and say, “Excuse me, duty calls.” He’s left standing there watching me. His eyes burn holes into the back of the sleeveless shirt I’m wearing. Instead of heating me up, they send shivers racing up and down my arms, legs, and spine, and my skin erupts in millions of goosebumps.

Once the lunch buffet is running smoothly, Nick and I leave to check on the spa. We make sure everything is set and head to the golf course.

Nick and I, along with Lauren, Berkeley, Britt, and Carrie will be delivering ice-cold beverages on the course to the golfers. The girls should be here any minute.