Page 25

Chapter 10
Daniel
I was relieved to see Freddy walk out the door of the bar. He had gotten the hint, as if the look on my face didn’t scream “get the fuck out of here.” I loved the guy, but he could be a total idiot sometimes. I mean, did he really offer to be Addison’s woman doctor? I didn’t want him or anyone else exploring the places I had yet to. The places I hoped to.
I watched as her pillowy pink lips wrapped around the rim of her martini glass, and then my eyes trailed down and grazed across the top of her strapless dress. I couldn’t help myself.
Addison cleared her throat, bringing my attention back up to her face. There was a sharpness to the look she gave me. Could she really blame me? She had herself on a delicious display.
“Sorry, what were you saying?” I asked with a sheepish grin.
“I was saying, I’m sorry about this morning’s paper. You seemed upset.”
I leaned back in my seat and looked down into my drink.
“It’s just this life. I guess I asked for it, but sometimes I think everything gets so misconstrued.”
“Like the three women in one night? Let me guess, you were just playing board games up there…”
She had looked me up. I smiled at the thought.
“You’ve done your research…” I took a sip of my drink.
“I had to know who I was getting into business with,” she said, but I could tell from the flush of her cheeks that wasn’t the only reason she had searched my name on the internet.
I set my glass down on the bar top and looked at her. I figured I might as well be honest with her.
“Look, I won’t lie to you. I have a reputation. Some of it is lies. Most of it is true. But I am proud of the company I’ve built. I wish my work could be a headline, rather than the woman I’m seeing.”
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “That must be frustrating,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“Very. The whole thing with Kiera was bogus. I had to spend the day with her because of some stupid charity auction where I was up for bid.”
Addison shook her head and let out a laugh through her nose.
“What?” I asked.
“Rich people problems.”
I laughed. It did sound ridiculous.
“How much did you go for?” she asked, raising a brow.
“You don’t want to know,” I groaned.
“Tell me.” She nudged me playfully with her shoulder.
She was flirting with me. I’d play along.
“No way.”
She turned in her seat so she was fully facing me.
“Tell me,” she demanded, leaning in close.
“Fiiiine,” I said, before leaning in. “Two hundred thousand dollars.”
“Shut the fuck up,” she blurted out loudly. Some patrons at the bar looked up curiously. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand in embarrassment.