Wishing Well(77)

Taking a seat in one of the leather chairs facing my desk, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and relaxed. “How is the monster these days?”

Feathers ruffled by the comment, I couldn’t blame him for his use of the term. Three months ago, I’d used the description myself to describe Maurice.

“He’s improving, actually. In fact,” I glanced at the clock on my computer to see I was supposed to meet Maurice and Penelope in the basement in forty-five minutes, “I’m going to have to keep this visit short. I’m taking Maurice for an activity in a little while. How have you been?”

“Better than you. While you’re busy babysitting a grown child, I’ve been having the time of my life. Making money. Fucking women. Attending party after party with grownups. And everybody has been asking about you, wondering where you’ve been.”

Clicking to exit my email program, I relaxed back in my seat and lifted my feet to rest them on the surface of my desk. “I wouldn’t call it babysitting, and I’m glad people have missed me, even if I can’t say the same about them.”

“Has one particular woman been keeping you busy?”

Brows pulling together, his statement confused me until the past came back to me and the reason for his presence clicked in place. “You’re here because of the bet.”

Inclining his head, he grinned. “Today is the last day of the three month time period. I’ve come to see how well you’ve trained her. I look forward to my taste. Especially after the bruise she left on my cheek the first time we met.”

Damn. Losing the profits from the hotel for a full year would sting, but it wouldn’t bankrupt me. And being a man of my word, there was no way I was getting out from the wager I’d made. “Looks like I owe you a ton of money, Barron. I didn’t complete the bet.”

A curious expression flickered across his face. “Are you telling me that a homeless teenager bested Vincent Mercier at his own game?” Shaking his head in disbelief, he laughed. “You’re losing your touch. I would have had that girl eating from my hand after not giving her a choice.”

My fingers drummed on my desk. “It’s not that she bested me, it’s just that her usefulness ended up being in a different place in my life. It seems Maurice fell in love with her.”

His eyes widened. “Tell me you’re fucking kidding? You’re giving up millions so that your pest of a brother can be in love? What the hell is going on with you, Vincent? That bitch deserved to get put in her place.”

Pausing, he stared at me, thoughts racing in his head. “Unless tossing her to Maurice was your way of training her? Being used by that psycho son of a bitch can’t be too enjoyable.”

My anger crested as my patience wore thin. It was one thing to disparage Maurice once, but to continue doing it was beyond what I considered tolerable. “Be careful, Barron. You’re beginning to anger me. Regardless of his issues, he is still my brother.”

“Maybe I’m angry, Vincent. You dragged me into this and even accepted that little bitch struck me. But I allowed it with the understanding I would get to strike her back. You can’t possibly be telling me that I have to simply settle for her disrespect. If I’d known you’d backpedal, I would have done something about it a few weeks ago when I saw her.”

My eyebrow cocked. “A few weeks ago? Were you at the hotel and didn’t tell me?”

Stretching his legs out in front of his body, he tapped a finger against his knee. “No. I went to the cafe to grab some coffee and walked in as she was walking out. When I touched her, she threatened to rake her fingernails down my face. I left it alone, but only because I thought I’d have the opportunity to show her what happens when a girl like her says something so nasty to a man like me.”

Seeing the anger in his expression, I had no doubt that Barron was looking forward to teaching Penelope a lesson. Thankfully, she was under lock and key at the moment, down in the basement where Barron couldn’t reach her. I would be sure to warn her of his intent, be sure to tell her to keep an eye out for him on the streets.

“Isn’t the money you’ll receive for winning the bet enough to more than make up for any insult? We’re talking millions, Barron.”

“I already have millions,” he reminded me. “But what I don’t have is tolerance for petty little bitches who think they can treat me as if they’re somehow better.”

Worry crept down my spine at the menace in his voice. “Penelope is off limits to you, Barron. She’s a woman who’s dragging Maurice out of his shell and also my employee. You’ll be smart to leave her alone.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a pointed request from a friend and business acquaintance to leave this one alone. Penelope may have started as a game, but in the effect she has on my brother, she has become a very important person in my life. And as such, she has my protection. It was a slap, Barron. That’s all. I’m sure a man of your stature can look past it.”

He barked out a laugh. “So, you’ve gone soft? I should have known.” Rising from his seat, he straightened the creases from his pants and rebuttoned his jacket. “I’ll expect the money I’ve made off this hotel on the first day of every month.”

Nodding my head, I stood and extended my hand to shake his. “And you will receive it. I’m a man of my word.”