Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(52)

"Shouldn't you be home with that beautiful wife and family of yours?" I said.

Max grinned, and I wondered why he got to be so lucky to marry a woman he clearly was over the moon for.

"Amelia is out with her girlfriends tonight, and my parents are in town, so they’re watching the kids. I figured it was a good night for me to come in and make sure everything was running smoothly."

"Does it ever not run smoothly for you?" Max always seemed so smooth. Not like fake floor wax type of smooth. But legitimate happy, friendly, generous, with all the good luck that goes with that.

He shrugged. "For the most part, business runs pretty well. But every now and then we get some assholes in here." He paused for a moment. "Really, Reed, are you okay? You seem more than your normal grumpy self. Like you have more weighing on your mind tonight."

I shook my head. "I'm good. Nothing a few bourbons and waters won't take care of."

“We still haven’t discussed that idea . . . but I see tonight isn’t the night.” Max stood and patted me on the back. "If you ever need anything, let me know.”

“Thanks, man.”

He ambled off, and I downed my second drink, ordering another. I wasn’t sure how long I sat at the bar or even how many drinks I had when I finally decided to call it a night. I knew I had enough that I couldn't drive home. My brain felt foggy and my body felt like it was moving through syrup. But even with all that, Analyn's betrayal still stung as acutely as the moment I realized she’d played me for a fool. There was no escaping it.

I pulled out my phone, and after several tries, I was able to order a rideshare to go home. I made my way out front to wait for the car.

A dark sedan pulled up and the window came down. "Reed Hampton?"

I guess it looked like the car that was supposed to be coming, so I climbed into the back seat. A metal object jammed into my side, and when I turned, I realized I was sitting next to Gino.

"What the fuck, Gino?"

Gino smiled, but it was one of those sinister looking ones. "I am concerned that you have the wrong impression about the offer we made to you."

There was nothing like a gun in your side to sober you up. "I told you my people and I were going to look at it."

"Surely, you see how much money we can make together. It is the best thing for you and your company to accept the offer.”

I stared at him, thinking I needed to be more afraid than I was. Mostly, I wondered if he was for real. It was like I was in a gangster movie.

“Here's the thing, Reed, there might be some room for negotiation, but there's no question that we’ll be partnering together. We plan to expand in this territory, and you need to get on board or you're going to find yourself with some enemies that you do not want."

I kept quiet. There was no way I could join a partnership with Gino or Paradise Limited. But with a gun pointed at me, I couldn't very well tell him that unless I was ready to die.

"Now that I believe I've made myself clear, you have until next week to either accept the offer or, should you have any items you wish to negotiate, to let us know about that. I warn you that the longer you draw this out, the less compromising we’re likely to be."

The door opened, and a hand reached in, grabbing my arm and yanking me out.

Gino leaned over so he could see me out of the open door. "Until next week." The door slammed shut, and the person who pulled me out climbed into the passenger seat. And then the driver drove them off.

“Mother fucker."

Another car pulled in front of me. The window came down. "Mr. Hampton?"

This time, I looked at the app and the driver to make sure this was the car I'd ordered. I climbed in, giving him my address.

During the whole ride home, I replayed Gino's encounter. I was well and truly fucked.

Not long ago, I wished for more excitement in my life. Something that made me feel. What was that old adage? Be careful what you wish for? I was feeling a lot right now. I was feeling like a fool at having been duped by Analyn. And I was pissed off that I was being squeezed by Gino.

I wondered if I could have a do-over. If I could go back in time, I’d go back to the night that Analyn walked into the Golden Oasis.

Only knowing what I know now, I would've pushed her away, just like I had with the big-bosomed blonde tonight.

That wouldn't solve my Gino problem, but at least I wouldn't be distracted. Had I been more focused, I might've been able to deal with Gino the first time he entered the office. He didn't strike me as the type who would simply walk away, but surely, if I hadn't been distracted by Analyn, I wouldn't be in the position I was in now. I’d have taken proactive action and gotten him the hell away from me and my company.

Jesus, I’d let two people fuck me over.





28





Analyn





I’d never really thought of myself as a brave person, but it had taken courage to leave my home in the Midwest and move to Las Vegas, even with my best friend here. I’d needed courage to go out by myself and walk up to a strange man the night that I met Reed.

But now I realized I was more of a coward. I wasn't brave enough to ask my supervisor, Clive, or anyone on my team why they’d said I’d been arrogant and not a team player. It wasn’t true.