Temptation (Club X #1)(52)
Author: K.M. Scott

“Have you talked to her since Saturday?” Stefan asked.

I nodded, not wanting to tell them that she’d quit already. With each minute, I began to believe that it had been Olivia who’d been the source for Ciara Danson’s article.

“What did she say? How do you two plan to work together now that you’re not together? And by the way, I hope you see that even though I routinely hook up with my bartenders, they don’t talk to the press.”

I looked at Stefan and shook my head in disgust. “Your hook ups usually end up in lawsuits that cost us millions, Stefan, so don’t start with that shit. As for us working together, Olivia quit, but she can’t afford to leave so I don’t know where we stand.”

“She quit? Then she definitely is the one who spoke to that website. We need to decide what we’re going to do. I say we sue that rag.”

Kane sat back against the couch and looked like he was thinking things through. “I don’t think it was Olivia, but I agree with Stefan that we need to do something. You may have been successful in getting the cops and the politicians to become members of the club, but if they think their jobs are in jeopardy because of this website, we’ll be on our own. Without them, we can’t stay open. Even that fuck Shank won’t be around to help.”

Stefan spun the laptop around to face me and pointed at the screen. “Read this.”

My eyes scanned the words just beneath his fingertip. “Club X may appear like your average, run-of-the-mill nightclub, but the upstairs floors hide a dirty little secret. Set up like their own personal brothel, the fantasy rooms at the March brothers’ club are little more than a whorehouse for the owners.”

Those words did just what they were intended to do, and I pushed the laptop away. There was no denying it now. Olivia had sold us out to Ciara Danson after what had happened between us, and now the future of my club was in doubt. Fuck!

I stood and walked over to the window to hide the pain I knew was written all over my face. “I’ll call Ben Jessup in the morning and see what our options are. Until we find out, it’s business as usual. I’ll deal with Shank too, so don’t worry. We’re not shut down yet.”

“What about Olivia?” Kane asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

“What about her? She fucking betrayed me—betrayed us—so there’s nothing more about Olivia. Let me get some sleep, and I’ll let you know what Ben and Shank say after I speak to them.”

As Stefan headed out the door, I heard him say, “Women. Now you see why I only play, Cash. Take your little brother’s advice. Fuck ’em and forget ’em.”

How ironic that he, of all people, thought he should give me relationship advice. If I didn’t feel like I’d just been gutted, I would have taken a shot at his long deserving face.

Kane tapped me on the shoulder. “Cash, I think you got it wrong about Olivia.”

Turning to face him, I looked into his blue eyes so similar to mine and saw he was serious. “You heard what that story said. Tell me that doesn’t sound like Olivia, Kane.”

“My gut says you’re wrong. Don’t make any decisions about her just yet, okay? Let me check some things out first before you decide to end it for good.”

I chucked him on the shoulder and pretended like this all wasn’t tearing me up inside. “Check all you need to, but she and I are done.”

“Okay, Cash. I’ll see you tomorrow. Try to get some sleep.”

He left me standing there looking out at the gorgeous view that had been the reason I bought this place. Fresh off my breakup with Rachel, I’d been looking for somewhere I could have a good time, but what had clinched the sale was this view. All those women I brought here, and never once had I taken the time to just stand there to look out at the world with anyone until Olivia. I’d been so sure she was different from all of them.

How fucking wrong I’d been.

Chapter Nineteen

Olivia

I watched as the door closed and Cash walked out of my life, and all I could think of was how stupid I’d been. There are leagues, Olivia. Who did you think you were kidding thinking you could be with someone like Cassian March?

Whatever we’d had together had been all in my mind. He’d never cared. He was just another player who cared only about getting laid. I’d been such a fool!

Curling up on the couch, I couldn’t stop the tears from coming again. I’d missed Cash so much the past few days. Each night I’d lay in bed as my mind replayed memories of us, unable to stop myself from wishing he was right there next to me even as I told myself it all had been a lie. I thought I’d cried him out of my system, but just seeing him again tonight had brought all the sadness back like a tidal wave.

I missed him so much. Not having him next to me made my chest ache. But it didn’t matter. Whatever I’d thought we had was nothing but a lie. I had to accept that.

A knock on my front door shook me from my misery, and I opened it sure I couldn’t handle any more of Cash’s excuses. I wanted to lash out, and when I saw the person standing in my building’s hallway, that rage only intensified. There right in front of me stood Cash’s wife in all her model-perfect glory wearing a stunning white and black Calvin Klein sheath dress and sky high black Louboutin pumps with their trademark red soles.

“Go away. I’m not seeing him anymore, so he’s all yours. I hope you two enjoy your life together.”

“Let me in, please. I’d like to talk to you.”

I couldn’t believe my ears! She wanted to talk to me? “No. Go away. I have nothing to say to you other than I didn’t know he was married. I am sorry about that.”

“Olivia? That’s it, right? Olivia? Let me in. I want to explain.”

What on earth could she have to explain? Why would the wronged wife want to explain anything to me? I was the mistress, albeit an unwitting one. Wives didn’t explain things to mistresses. “I don’t think so, Rachel. Whatever’s going on, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

She stepped toward the door and placed her hand over mine. “Give me five minutes. I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

I looked down at her long fingers tipped with their perfectly manicured red nails and worried if I didn’t agree she might gouge my eyes out with those talons. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say, but if listening meant the end of this whole ugly mess, then I could spare five minutes. It wasn’t like I was going to be sleeping any time soon.