Page 197

“Don’t start. Just remember you get your inability to deal with women from me.”

“Excuse me…”

“It’s a family curse, kid.” Papers flutter to the floor as my father kicks his feet up on the desk. “Your grandfather, God rest him, went through three wives and as many long-term mistresses. Not including the ones who turned into wives.”

I’ve heard this story before. Think I’ll close my eyes and take a nap.

“So don’t fret too much if you find yourself unable to keep a woman around. These days you don’t even have to marry one. Fuck it, who cares about bloodlines. I’m not attached to ours. Adopt a kid to make sure we have an heir. You can hire a nanny to take care of it. Make sure she’s hot, though. You’ll probably be fucking her.”

I open my eyes and glare at him.

He points at me. “I never fucked your nanny.”

“Only my ex-girlfriends.”

“I’ve explained that to you how many times now?”

“Please don’t marry her.” I don’t need my stepmother to be a woman who went down on me in public and then heard me call her the wrong name while I was fucking her. Nope.

Not to mention, a woman almost ten years younger than me. Although that would be expected around here, knowing both of my parents.

“Carolyn isn’t going to give me money,” my father continues. “And neither are any of our other investors. I’ve already talked to Silas. He’s stretched thin with his other projects and donations. Caught him at the wrong time of year.”

He’s looking at me. I don’t like his look.

“You need to ask Kathleen.”

I sit up with a start. “Excuse me?”

“Kathleen Allen has a ton of money. I know she already gave us a few mil for The Ace back when we started, but ask her if she can come up with more.”

“Why don’t you ask her?”

We both know why.

“Fine.” I hold up a hand as if that’s enough to make my father shut up. “I’ll talk to her. Don’t expect anything. I’m not in her best graces.” Don’t ask me what’s going on with Katie. She’s as cryptic as a puzzle to me. Are we still dating? Are we still having sex? I have no clue.

Somehow, I doubt she’s going to give me any money. She’ll barely give me her love at this point, even though she’s overflowing with that too. All the more reason for me to get to the bottom of this bullshit and find out what the fuck she wants!

I’m never dating a Domme again. Kathleen Allen, you’re it.

Chapter 71

Kathleen

The doorman says a hot young blonde is traipsing around the lobby of my building, practically demanding that she be sent up. You see, at the moment, I’m not allowing anyone up without buzzing first. And buzzing means going through the doorman.

Even Eve. Even my own father. Even Annie. I don’t want any surprises. I need to know that my home is an actual haven and that I don’t have to worry about the likes of Ira Mathison coming up to my door to “talk” when I’m not ready. Right now, it’s all I can take working with her, smiling at her, chatting on the phone, and making eyes at her from across the room.

So Stephanie May is finding it difficult to get up into my apartment where she can harass and demand money out of me.

“I don’t want to talk to her,” I tell the doorman over the phone. “Please tell Miss May that I know what she’s here for and it will be taken care of in due course.”

“Yes, ma’am. I will send her on her way. She may leave a message, however.”

“That’s fine.” I’m under no obligation to listen to her message. Not like she has anything good to say, anyway.

I’m left in peace for a few more minutes. I make some tea, pet the cat, and look at my calendar, wondering what I’m going to be doing two weeks from now when my contract with the Mathisons ends until it’s time to get back to work on that museum.