Billionaire Blaze, page 31
Everyone around me began clapping, so I did the same and smiled. It sounded like our team had won if nothing else. I didn’t know what to do and froze as everyone shifted and Sarai finally left my side to go back to Richard.
Although Lukas seemed to want me at his side at first, after the last hour or so, I wasn’t sure what he wanted. I had drunk enough, and the toy inside me had worked my body up into a pent-up ball of desire. No matter how confused I was by Lukas, I was very much hoping he would screw me soon. Or tell me I had done enough for him and let me take the balls out.
As I walked toward him, he finally gave me his attention, but again, he didn’t seem to want me at his side. He turned to the closest person and started talking to them about the game.
I swallowed as I stopped right in the middle of the room. What was his problem all of a sudden? Was this part of his game? Trying to get me frustrated, pent-up, practically begging for him to take me home and fuck me? Because if so, it wasn’t working.
All I felt from his behavior was rejected, hurt, and confused. This wasn’t the way I wanted to be treated when he knew I was nervous and scared of what people would think of me. After standing there a few seconds, I made myself look busy by taking my almost empty glass back to the small bar and ordering another drink.
I didn’t even care if I had to pay for the overpriced alcohol at this point. If I was going to be left to my own devices and treated like this, I was at least going to try and enjoy everything else.
It wasn’t long before some of the people left, saying goodbye and heading back to whatever business they would be conducting this week. As the group diminished, I found myself back beside Sarai, Richard beckoning to Lukas.
“Are you able to get us some time with the team?” Richard asked, probably the only one who would dare make such a blatant request to Lukas.
There was no way I was weighing into this conversation, but I couldn’t deny I wanted to see Daniel. He was someone Lukas seemed also to want to take care of or at least be there for.
“Oh, I’m sure at least one of them will want to see me and have me say hi to some of the team again.” Lukas smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
As soon as he answered the question, he looked around, scanning the room. I followed his gaze, but whoever he was looking for, he didn’t see.
“All right, why don’t I head downstairs? I’ll see who’s available. They usually have to do a few press moments, but they’ll already be getting changed, eager to escape from all the journalists. I’ll be back with whoever is happy to talk.” Lukas walked away without looking my way.
I exhaled, relaxing as soon as he was gone. I still felt out of place and wasn’t sure what was going on in his head, but maybe he was trying to be a good host. This was about business, and it had been partially his and partially Sarai’s idea, from what I could understand. For all I knew, this could be the way they needed to do business.
Every time I pitched for a project or tried to generate leads, I was nervous. It was possible Lukas was anxious himself. But he still wasn’t keeping his promise to me.
On top of that, I was starting to ache. The constant pressure of keeping the toys inside me made me tired, and as much as I hadn’t stopped sipping the champagne or even drinking it faster, I wasn’t getting drunk. I was too on edge, and my body was processing the alcohol quickly.
Not sure what else to do, I sat down out of the way and waited. Right now, I didn’t care if anyone talked to me or followed. I was dog-tired and feeling it.
The rest of the room mingled, and for a moment, I actually enjoyed people-watching. It was clear that I didn’t entirely belong in these circles. I didn’t talk business the way the rest of them did, and no matter how I was dressed, it was only Sarai, Richard, and Lukas who had been kind to me.
Peter and James were both on the prowl, and I got the impression they were after sex and little else. They had enough money they could pull. Both of them had left, and a trail of women followed them. Finally, I felt safe, even if I didn’t want to be here any longer.
I was curious about Daniel, though. He sounded much more down-to-earth and normal, but he also appeared to be the most famous and highest-earning quarterback there was right now. Lukas had mentioned him several times and spoke highly of him, and I’d met him only briefly the night of the ill-fated dinner at Lorenzo’s. That made me inclined to like him, even if I wasn’t happy with Lukas right now.
While I stayed in my seat and had a moment to myself, every cause of my emotional frustrations finally gone from the room, and the toy inside me no longer rattling around, I could calm down and not feel like I had to cling to the alcoholic drink in my hand. I still sipped on the glass and mentally told myself it would be the last one today.
Finally, the door into the box opened again and Lukas came back. He caught my gaze for the briefest moment before he held the door open for all the people who followed. At least ten men came in, but I lost track as they spread out into the room. Several walked straight up to me to shake hands.
I was forced to stand to be polite, but I shook all their hands and told them my name as each of them told me theirs. I thought it was sweet of them to introduce themselves.
“You’re here with Lukas, aren’t you?” one of them asked. “We’d heard there was a sweet British girl coming to watch us, but no one told us how stunning you’d be.”
I blushed, not sure how I felt about being complimented, while in the same breath, someone acknowledged I was in a relationship with Lukas.
“Lukas wanted to show me the game and said you were the best. I’m sorry I haven’t watched any sooner.”
“Yay, we’ve converted her. Daniel!” the same guy called over his shoulder at one of the most muscular men I’d ever seen. His arms and chest bulged, and his dark hair was slicked back with water. He turned as soon as he heard his name, and I realized who it was. We’d met briefly at the dinner. “Come and meet Lukas’ girl.”
The quarterback politely excused himself from the conversation he had only just started with Sarai and Richard, and I caught the grin on Sarai’s face as she sipped her own drink. It made me feel a little bolder that they were all so thrilled to talk to me, even if it was mostly because I was British and seemed exotic to them.
I shook Daniel’s hand as well. “How are you doing, my dear? I can’t believe I’ve only had the one moment in your presence since you arrived in Chicago. Especially when you’re the wonderful woman who helped me out a few months ago via Lukas.”
“I certainly tried to do so. Have you managed to work out the situation to our satisfaction?” I smiled, grateful that he remembered me and already thought well of me. It was a relief to be praised so readily when all I had done was give my opinion.
His grin broadened in answer to my question. “Very much. So far, it is turning out exactly as I hoped it would. You’ve got talent, and Lukas continues to speak highly of you.”
I flushed again and immediately the other guys ribbed him and jostled. “Aw, look, you’ve made the reserved British lady blush. Can we get you a drink, ma’am?”
“I’ve had plenty, but thank you. I imagine all of you are pretty thirsty, though.” I smiled and waited to see if any of them would go and get some drinks, but it seemed someone at the bar had already anticipated their needs, and a waiter came over with a tray of various drinks.
While the game was done, it appeared the social aspect of this day wasn’t.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Lukas
As several of the players crowded around Kit and fussed over her British accent and appearance, I tried to ignore it. It was already clear she was going to enjoy the attention, and I didn’t want to stop her. She was in her element, it seemed. Even Daniel had gone to chat to her.
I hung back with some of the coaches and Richard, who was interested in talking strategy more than talking about or to the players. After everything the guy had done for the project, he deserved to get some star treatment and pick the brains of the men who decided how the team played and why.
On any other day, I would have been fascinated by the conversation myself, but today, my head and heart just weren’t in it. I glanced over at Kit several times.
Eventually, I found myself standing alone with Daniel. He gave me a big hug.
“Good to see you, Lukas. You look good, and your girl seems like a sweetheart.”
“Maybe too much so,” I replied, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. Daniel lifted an eyebrow and looked between us.
“Something happen?” he asked, keeping his voice down.
“Yeah. She’s flirted with every man here who might be able to offer her a career opportunity.” I let my stress out with the words, feeling some of the tension leave me as I finally told someone what was bothering me. I felt wrong for doing it where others might hear, and even saying it at all, but Daniel had been the one to persuade me to try a relationship with Kit.
Again he studied her for a moment, both of us watching her while she talked to the other players.
“She looks comfortable, but she’s not sober. Doesn’t seem to be encouraging any of them to talk to her. She listens more than she talks. Admittedly, most men like that.”
Daniel’s appraisal of her was about as unbiased as it could get. However, it didn’t confirm or deny what I suspected.
“Want me to keep an eye on her and ask the boys what they think later once we’ve all gone our separate ways?” Daniel studied me now, and I knew he was concerned. I was often guarded about how I felt, and one of the first things I had said to him was how unhappy I was with the relationship.
“Sure,” I replied, looking down and away. I didn’t like how it made me feel to ask a friend to spy on her, but I also didn’t know what to trust anymore.
It was easy to suspect someone of inappropriate conduct, but I felt guilty for how I had treated her since she had come back into the box. She had sought my comfort, squeezing my hand as I’d told her she could while wearing my toy and letting me know she was uncomfortable.
There was a chance I had read far too much into her conversation with Peter. I hadn’t heard much of her side of the conversation, and part of me wanted to believe he had been hitting on her unprovoked. She looked hot and she had come to my side to seek calm right after.
If I was wrong, and I’d pushed her away, I was being a monster to her. But if that was how she felt about this situation, I couldn’t tell now. She was smiling, laughing, and drinking with the team.
“How’s business?” I asked Daniel, tearing my gaze off her and choosing to focus on him for a while. I couldn’t face these thoughts. Not right now.
“Good. You’ve made sure of that. You always do. I don’t know what I would do without you in my life sometimes.” Daniel was still looking at me, but as I asked him more questions about everything in his life, he relaxed and we talked about all the other matters between us.
Finally, Sarai came over to us. “Lukas, you have monopolized one of the most famous players of our time for long enough. Let us all talk to him, please.”
I nodded, as Daniel chuckled and shook her hand. “Sarai?”
“Yes. I’ve been working with your friend here for the last few months. He’s a good man.”
“The best. And if we agree on that, I’m sure we’ll get along well, too.”
“Well, I have to reserve the title of best for my wonderful husband, but can we agree that he comes a close second in my life?” She let out a small chuckle, and Daniel joined in before confirming her request.
“That’s more than fair. I wouldn’t want Lukas to be my husband, either. Business partner forever, but he can be dark and brooding when it comes to love.”
Again, they both laughed, and I let out a snort.
“Oh, I think he’s brightened up a little lately.” Sarai winked before looking at Kit. “A certain young woman in our presence seems to have brought out the best in him. At least until today.”
“You know, I’m standing right here,” I responded before Sarai or Daniel could say anything more. A stab of discomfort stole my breath as I realized I was mirroring Kit’s reaction almost word for word. Suddenly, my forced joke didn’t feel so funny anymore. Was I that insensitive to her emotions? If I was rattled, how would someone as shy and anxious as her feel when people “joked” around her this way?
“Sorry.” Daniel looked sheepish, but Sarai only winked. The two of them launched into their own conversation about the project and possible future jobs. It was all information I had heard before, so I bowed out of the small circle and tried to look for someone else who might talk to me and not bring Kit up.
I wanted to be done with today and get back to my hotel room. To my annoyance, the player beside Kit noticed I was standing by myself and waved me over to the group.
Although I wanted to decline the invitation, I knew it would be rude and would actively snub Kit and the people she was with. I forced myself to walk over to them and smile. They opened up beside her, which at least allowed me to look at all of them and not her.
To my surprise, she took my hand and gave it another few squeezes. Was she truly not okay?
I glanced down at her, close enough to smell the shampoo in her hair and the perfume Sarai had suggested she try. It was a combination I had grown familiar with, and it stirred a lust in me I couldn’t deny. Not only had Kit taken my hand for her comfort, but she had shown everyone here she was mine. It didn’t make sense.
I could only assume this was for my benefit. I’d often heard of women being more affectionate to their partners when they were fooling about behind their backs or considering doing so. It made the men complacent and meant they were blindsided. I wasn’t going to be one of those people. Not even slightly.
If Kit was playing me for a fool and trying to set up her next job, she was going to be surprised. More than a few women had wanted to be in a relationship with me only for my money and who I could introduce them to. I wasn’t going to do that for her. If this was all it was to her, our relationship would end with this trip.
Still, I held her hand for a while. I couldn’t be completely sure, and I didn’t want to make her feel terrible if there was a chance I got it wildly wrong. The longer I held her hand, however, the more I tensed.
This relationship was in big trouble. It was only a matter of when it would fully hit the rocks.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
Kit
I tried not to panic as Lukas pulled away from me for a second time. He had held my hand a little longer, but still walked away before I was ready.
The whole situation had gotten to me and I didn’t know what to do. For a while the conversation around me continued, a blur of chatter I wasn’t sure I cared about, let alone could process or understand. Lukas went back to Sarai and Richard and seemed to encourage them to leave.
I didn’t exactly mind, given how well the day was going, but I didn’t want to be rude, and I wasn’t sure how welcome I would be to leave the party. Still, I didn’t want to stay here, and for tonight, at least, there was only one place I knew I could go.
The hotel.
With Lukas.
Something that would normally have filled me with comfort did not today. I didn’t know what to expect, and I felt like I’d been reeling for the last few hours. It was like Lukas was a total stranger, and nothing I did or said seemed to change it.
Considering how he was treating me, what he’d asked of me, and how much nicer the players were to me, I also wasn’t sure I wanted to rescue it.
I had spent the last few weeks with an entirely different man from the one before me now. Except I had seen glimpses of this man at Juno’s wedding. He had been warm one moment, then cold and ignoring me the next. Was this just who he was?
Had I discovered this was yet another man like the people in my past? Willing to be charming when he wanted something and an asshole when he didn’t? So many of the people in my life had been similarly two-faced. I didn’t need any more of it.
Not wanting to make further conversation, I found myself somewhere to sit. The players were lounging around and talking to the other guests, so it was harder to find a place, but I perched toward the end of a row where a player was paying a lot of attention to one of the women.
Before I could begin to process what I wanted to do next, Daniel sat beside me in the only spare seat nearby.
“You seem tired.” He gently took the empty glass I was holding and put it on an empty tray nearby.
“It’s been a long day,” I replied. “But I really did enjoy watching you play.”
“Thank you. Everyone says that to the winning team. It is a good thing and a curse at times.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve actually never watched a game before. It was better than I thought it would be.” I smiled, feeling more genuine than I had in hours. He had opened up and it was clear he was being truthful. “Lukas has opened my eyes to many things.”
“In a good way too, I hope?” He looked me full in the face and I got the feeling that he was studying my answer for truth. It was possible he cared enough about his friend to want to look out for him the way Lukas looked out for Daniel.
“He’s…mercurial. But I like one side of him very much. He is caring and sweet, and I feel safe with him. There’s a lot to be said for those things.”
“And the other side of him?” Daniel asked.
“The other side of him…is someone I don’t understand at all.” I looked down, feeling tears threaten to fall. Daniel didn’t deny that there were two sides to this man, and that was all the confirmation I needed. He was two people, and he was not kind in one of those forms.
“Lukas has been through a lot, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you have as well. But I wouldn’t want to see his heart broken. Not again.”
I nodded, knowing I was being warned. After taking a deep breath, I made sure I held his gaze. “I have no desire to break anyone’s heart. Only to survive and to one day hopefully love and be loved in return. Isn’t that what most people want?”
