“Look, my dad’s made it clear that your family is good to have as friends, but the old man is set in his ways. I don’t make any promises, but I’d be happy to actually discuss how we can benefit each other later and make sure it’s a good fit.”
I nod once and he heads in.
An hour after I started shaking hands, I’m getting a cramp in my fingers, another in my cheeks, and I’m losing my patience with people kissing my ass. Lief comes over and hands me a drink. “Sir.” He nods.
“What good staff you have.” A man says.
I arch an eyebrow.
The man back peddles. “I just mean that it’s hard to get good help these days. To get people who actually want to work. Especially the younger generation.”
“I’ve found that paying more than the bare minimum and treating everyone with respect ... treating them like people instead of robots ensures that I never have that problem,” I say simply and walk away with Lief. “Where are they?”
“They came in quietly. Sitting with my parents right now.”
I lift my head and see Valerie with her hair up holding Hunter’s hand. He has on a black blazer, a dark red shirt, and black slacks. He looks like the devil himself.
I walk over and rub my hands over Valerie’s arms. “Baby doll. You didn’t come say hello. I’m hurt.”
“You were talking to important people,” She says sincerely. “I didn’t want to mess anything up for you and your father was right there.”
“Mr. Volkov doesn’t like you, dear?” Josefine asks.
Valerie opens her mouth, closes it, then rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t like when a woman shares her opinion and it’s even worse if she’s right.”
Josefine laughs and so does Roger. Lief lights up in response. I kiss the top of Valerie’s head. “Can I borrow you for just a moment?”
Hunter releases her and jumps back into his story – something from college. Lief walks on Valerie’s other side. I take in the royal blue dress she has on. The corset top was made for her and the way the fabric drapes over her legs without hiding them is divine.
“You look like a goddess.”
“You three are only allowed to say that in the bedroom.” She kisses my cheek. “How badly do you need some vodka right now?”
“What I need is you. You recharge my batteries like no one else.” I pull her closer to me.
She pets my chest. “Chase, you’re all sweet and amazing today.”
“And in charge.”
She licks her bottom lip. “It’s sexy as hell, baby boy. Only sweet and warm with me.”
“That’s right,” I assure her, then I see the guy from her school – Andre – scrutinizing Valerie’s back. “Because I’m not feeling particularly nice at the moment.”
“No?” She takes in my expression and her hand tightens into a fist. “I have a knife on me. Is it your dad? I won’t cut him or anything, but I can really go to town on his brain. I’ll have him thinking in all kinds of circles and-”
“Disarm her,” I order Lief.
“But!”
Lief strokes down Valerie’s legs and I watch her eyes widen and her face flush. He finally draws the knife out and hides it up his sleeve. He nips her earlobe. “We get to do the protecting tonight.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Tell me about that asshole from school.”
“Andre?”
“Has he been bothering you?”