Chapter 4: Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

I was literally the mule, breaking my back for her and her father with their fifty per cent share of my family’s company, and taking away my choice of who to spend my life with, invading my space! Just because of that bloody Edward…! I took a deep breath to calm myself, breathing hard. It’s been close to six years now and I still get riled up by the recollection.

I recalled pointedly facing the old gizzard to tell him right there and then that Mary Antoinette was free to fuck anyone she likes, because I do not intend to be a saint myself, but I would definitely not be burying my dick in her gut. I immediately regretted my outburst for about a moment when I saw Mary Antoinette blanch, directing a dismayed gaze at me, then her father had the bright idea to threaten me some more and then lunge at me and that was the end of my remorse. 

If my mother had not been present, I would have done something I would definitely regret. Back then, I was really raw with the card life had dealt me. I was angry with everyone and hated my life. But with time I learned to bury it deep inside me and all my proclamations became law I could not go back on, mostly for my pride, and because threats are like challenges to me -– challenges I take pretty seriously. 

Mary Antoinette was just one of the casualties. I know now she had taken my advice and found herself a lover. Someone she sees every other day in some private establishment outside of Charlestown, I never really cared who it was, but I have had her followed just in case. 

Since her father has the bullet to sink my ship, I figured it wouldn't be so bad to be prepared as well. But then Mary Antoinette has been weird lately, calling to check on me and acting like a wife? I wonder what she and her father are up to now. 

Shaking off the gloomy thoughts, I dressed casually like Jacob requested, wearing a cream raglan sleeve shirt over denim. I picked a leather jacket just in case and left my suite with the determination to have a good time.

Paul drove me to a private helipad, and I had no choice then but to dismiss my driver. I was taken by Jacob's helicopter over notable high-rise buildings in Manhattan to a peculiar one on 35th Street, landing on the rooftop of a swanky new club. 

Before I exited the copter, I could see Jacob waiting at the side of the roof with a few faces I knew from college. I chuckled, preparing myself for a wild night. 

They all started to cheer and make quite a raucous as I emerged as if we were frats boys all over again, and for about a minute I was shaking hands and getting jerked into a hug with hard pats on the back. Jacob handed a glass cup of what I suspected was champagne to me and raised his for a toast.

“...to reuniting with friends,” he said, and we all echoed the words, clicking our glass cups. I chuckled and shook my head.

“What?” Jacob said, beaming with smiles.

“I’m impressed you were able to make me come. Thanks for inviting me, and congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, man.”

“I’m still hoping you will agree to stay after the church service,” he said. I laughed. 

“I think we should keep the hazard to a minimum. I’m still a little apprehensive that the pulpit would combust when I enter the church,” I said and all the men laughed.

“Come on, you are not that bad,” one of the guys said. 

“But pretty close,” I countered, smiling, feeling a bit lighter than I felt an hour before.

Jacob ushered us all back down a flight of stairs and into a dimly lit club room with loud music and quite a number of ladies dressed like seductresses. Cocktail waitresses carrying different delicacies of hors d'oeuvre and bubbling drinks marched about wearing little to nothing. 

Jacob took me to some other guys I met through him back in school and I could see a few of them were already tipsy. A table with a buffet was in the right corner of the room. White and gray-colored futuristic pod chairs were nicely arranged at the center of the room with a buttoned, black leather chaise chair. 

The ceiling decoration was something out of space, and I could see tinted glass demarcation with shadowed figures of ladies evidently giving private dances at the left corner of the room. There are snooker tables, golf courses, bowling pens, and even a Karaoke stand nicely stationed to make the room seem like some fun zone. It was literally the Disneyland version for grown-ups.   

“I think you have outdone yourself here,” I said. 

“...with no cameras, phones, or any such device. We are here to have fun, it’s a judgment-free zone. So, please, grandpa, relax!” Jacob replied. I roared with laughter. A friend called Jacob’s attention and I moved to the buffet table to serve myself some blini with crème fraiche and caviar, then found one of the pod chairs in the corner of the room to settle in, watching everyone have fun. As if on cue a cocktail waitress always appears to refill my cup each time I emptied it. And in no time I was feeling a little more relaxed. 

Jacob came with some of our friends to chat with me about old times but it was hardly a place for such. We kept getting interrupted, and one or two of us had to attend to some other stuff or some prior arrangements. I didn’t really mind being left alone, but as the host, and with all the trouble he went through to get me to come, I supposed Jacob thought it necessary to get me occupied somehow. 

He may have noticed my eyes drifting to the strippers giving lap dances to three of our friends, he leaned slightly to my side and said, “You know… you could always pick one of the strippers too for… let’s say a more private dancing experience. They have quite luxurious rooms tucked in that corner for that, it’s on the house. Oh, except for those ladies,” he said pointing at three girls standing by the entrance to the lobby he said to have private rooms, and added, “they are simply dancers. No touching policy,'' he said, chuckling. 

“Every girl has a price,” I said absentmindedly, sounding gruff, watching the girls he mentioned, and silently sizing them up. Two were backing us and judging from their back view, they were quite lookers. They wore fancy black leather bodysuits with knee-high boots and matching leather masks. 

I smiled when Jacob roared, nudging me on the shoulder. The two girls backing us moved aside a little, creating a space in between them and exposing the profile of the third girl. I slowly sat up, and my heart lunged hard in the wall of my chest. The smile on my face wiped off instantly as my breath quickened. 

‘No way!’ I thought to myself.