The onlookers go about the party like it didn’t happen even if they’re gossiping, but the party has lightened a little. It’s after midnight as I make my way toward the stairs to the room where I left my future wife. “Don’t bother me unless this place is on fire, understood?” I tell Oleg.
“Yes, sir.” I want to get my woman alone and take her back to my condo where I plan to start our family all weekend long. I open the door and snarl. She’s gone.
Immediately, I dash to the computer screens and check the monitors just outside the room at the time I left.
It takes some fast scrolling to see her creeping out of the room as the chaos continues. Since everyone was focused on the fight and separation, she went unnoticed. I flipped to the entrance cameras and realized it took her a long time to get out the exit with the dozen other guests that also called it a night. I can’t miss the eyes that followed her as she waited for the elevator. Each and every one of those assholes will no longer be invited to one of my events again. I won’t tolerate anyone coveting what’s mine.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Hey, I just spotted your interest outside. Did you change your mind or something?”
“No. Keep her there.”
“She just hopped into a cab.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“Don’t worry. We know where she lives, remember?”
“I’m worried about her making it there.”
“I’ll follow them.” His reassurance of looking after her settles me.
“Good. I’m cleaning up here and then I’ll be picking up my errant woman in the morning.”
“You have lost it, Landon.”
“Maybe, but I’m not losing her. Don’t lose her.”
“I’m not. I already started following the second she hopped in the cab.”
“I knew I could count on you.”
“You owe me one.”
“Add it to my tab. I have a feeling I’m going to need your assistance a lot more now than ever.”
I end the call and survey the party from the windows. The guests are slowly letting the night come to an end. The party ends in twenty minutes, so it won’t be long before my people will have this place cleared. I sit back down after pouring myself another drink.
A knock at the door intrudes on my thoughts, adding to the aggravation building inside of me.
“Mr. Black,” the knocker says without waiting for acknowledgement.
“What is it, Mrs. Penny?” I snarl.
“I just need you to go over these before I go for the night,” she says through the door. I stand and open it, taking the wine and champagne forms for what was consumed this evening.
“Is this all?”
“Yes, actually. Several guests left early after meeting up with their targets for the night so we saved a lot, especially since David Darden wasn’t here like last year, drinking like a fish. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my husband is waiting for me in the lobby.”
“I’ll walk you down.”
“Thank you.” It’s the least I can do. She throws fantastic parties and handles problems like earlier with a sense of grace and elegance.
I walk her to the elevators that conveniently open for us with a press of the button. “Besides, I have a special event I’m going to need planned. I don’t have the details, but it will be sooner rather than later.”
“If you don’t mind me asking…does it have to do with the young lady that was here earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Of course I will help.”
“You don’t have any of the details yet.”
“For you? Anything.”
“Hello—that’s not something I should be fucking hearing,” Detective Penny says, pulling his wife to him for a deep kiss in a wasted display of ownership. Until Lara, I thought I was dead inside, the years of neglect, abuse, lies, haunted memories, and fear leaving me impotent.
She pulls her upper body back just slightly to slap his chest. “Oh, honey. You’re silly. Mr. Black wants me to plan another event for him. Although I’m assuming everything is hush-hush?” she says, turning to me on that last bit.
I shrug and nod. “Yes. I kind of have to convince the bride-to-be.”
“It shouldn’t be too hard,” he mutters, still sore about what he overheard and misinterpreted. The only thing Mrs. Penny likes about me is the money she gets paid to do these events.
“I think I have real trouble on my hands.”
“Yeah, considering she gave you the slip tonight.”
“Are you serious? You’re a billionaire, and she ran?”
“Yeah. Well, like I said, she’s trouble, but I’m not one to back down from a good fight, and this is one I can’t afford to lose.”
“Good luck,” Mrs. Penny says. “I’m beat. Take me home, Detective.” He scoops her up in his arms, cradling her and stealing another kiss before they leave the hotel lobby.
My phone buzzes again. “What happened?”
“Everything is good. She’s inside her dorm.”