* * * *
“Holy shit,” Mercury heard Falco say through the earpiece Mercury was wearing. Despite standing in the corner looking more like a guest and buyer, Mercury was also assisting his brothers and their team of security with tonight’s special event at LaTargere. He had been monitoring the attendants, seeing who he knew and those he didn’t. He still wasn’t certain who occupied two of the private corner booths but whoever they were, they had power and money like Mulgoff Lenotz.
Mercury’s attention, like everyone else’s, was drawn toward the two wide doors as an announcer introduced what had to be the surprise of the evening. What he hadn’t expected was to see Rose, and holy shit, Falco was right. She looked incredible.
“Are we all supposed to be looking at her breasts or that blue diamond?” Slade added through his wrist mic. Mercury clenched his teeth as Corpias, Mulgoff’s guard, escorted her through the crowd as the announcer described the large blue diamond around her neck and a price tag of fifty million dollars.
As she got closer to where he was, he could see the men eating her up with their eyes and women looking both jealous and impressed.
Flo Sanders, a wealthy widow of the great Barnaby Sanders, worth five hundred million dollars in assets alone, smiled and nodded in appreciation of Rose. Mercury noticed Flo say something to her assistant and the assistant raised a hand up, indicating she was offering a bid on the item.
Man after man approached her. She remained smiling and when someone reached out to touch her or that diamond Corpias was there to block the move.
Rose looked incredible from head to toe. Her body was spectacular, and the way that teardrop diamond fell right between the deep cleavage of her breasts was definitely done on purpose. Mulgoff knew what he was doing to have a woman as classy and well-endowed as Rose model this diamond tonight. Why Mercury felt pissed off and antsy he didn’t want to face. As soon as she was close enough, those feelings intensified, especially as Slade moved in alongside her, giving her a wink, making her blush, but pissing off Corpias.
* * * *
Slade couldn’t resist. Rose looked fucking incredible, and he had these feelings consuming him as he watched her get checked out by every dick in the place. He gave her a wink. Her eyes widened and then she smiled as her cheeks turned pink.
“This is some gig you got yourself, sweetie. How does it feel to have every eye in the place on you?” he asked.
“We don’t need you. I’ve got her covered, and you’re blocking buyers’ views,” Corpias said to him.
“Rose and I are friends, and considering she looks a little shell shocked, I wanted to give her peace of mind and let her know that my brothers and I are here for her,” Slade said to Corpias, then he looked at Rose.
“You look amazing, sweetie. I’ll catch you later when you lose your sidekick and that gaudy diamond,” Slade said and slid into the crowd.
A glance over his shoulder and Slade saw Rose chuckle and smile but then stop as another man checked out the diamond and maybe, definitely, her rack.
“Why did you do that?” Falco asked Slade through the earpiece.
“Corpias is a dick. I wanted him to know that we know Rose and will protect her in case he’s thinking of making a move,” Slade said into his wrist mic.
“That’s a big fucking diamond,” Falco added.
“I didn’t notice it. Other things stood out. She’s incredible, and shaking like a leaf,” Slade told them.
“So you think she isn’t enjoying this public display of her body and that diamond?” Mercury asked.
“Hell no. I can see it in her eyes,” Rylan added to the conversation through the receivers they all shared.
“Really?” Slade asked Rylan.
“Dude, I’m zooming in on her here with the surveillance cameras. She’s shaking. I guess it could also be because her paintings are on display through the venue and people are bidding on them. Maybe she heard,” Rylan said.
“Bidding on her paintings? There are some here?” Mercury asked.
“Yup, she is seriously talented. Don’t know why she doesn’t do any gallery events,” Slade stated.
“Rylan, can you find out who is in the last corner private booth? I got the list of the others but this last one isn’t on there. Mulgoff said it was someone of great importance that wanted to remain anonymous and unseen,” Mercury said to him.