Page 4 of A Monster's Obsession

“He’ll get over it,” it was my father’s turn to shrug his shoulders at me. He was right though, Lennox was a lot of things, but a grudge holder wasn’t one of them. He would find a way to make the best of his situation. It was one of the many things that I admired about my brother.

Hopefully, I could take a page from his book and make the best out of finally finding the woman who ran away from me and make her mine… for good this time.

***

It had been a few days since the wedding and I had decided not to go back to the states as planned. I would eventually be moving, but I wasn’t scheduled to do that yet. I had to go back to the states to make sure everything was in order. Moving a multimillion-dollar company was a taxing experience, especially when several parts of the company were illegal.

We’d made plenty of contacts on Founder’s to be able to do all the things we needed to get settled. First, we found a new building to house the real-estate portion of our organization, which was the easy part. And now I was going to be meeting with Oran Hale.

Oran Hale was the head of the Hale family business after his interfering father finally stepped down. I’d much rather deal with Oran than his snake of a father any day. Our fathers had butted heads from the time they’d been introduced, and it put a stall on our moving to Founder’s for years.

However, now that we are co-owners at BHM, it is much easier to navigate the Founder’s hierarchy. From a very young age, I was taught the inner workings of how my family was expected to be run. I knew that I had to uphold a certain façade to the outside world to keep our organization running. Unfortunately, part of the façade was rubbing elbows with people I’d rather step on than talk to, but you do what you have to do. So, tonight I would have to keep the company of the elite of Founder’s high society at a prestigious gallery opening. All the while, keeping an eye on my obsession.

I’ve come to terms with how it is going to be between us, and hopefully, she wouldn’t fight me too much. There hadn’t been a spark of anything concerning a woman since she left me over two years ago. I had to convince myself that one night stands with faceless women would be all that I would ever have left. But once I saw Sasha again, it all changed. Just like that, in a blink of an eye, my infatuation was back with a vengeance.

When I arrived at the two-story art gallery, my eyes took in the building’s glorious architecture. The sign read Premier Illusions, and I was thoroughly impressed. When Darby had given me an update on just what my Sasha had been doing these past few years, I found some very interesting things about her that I’d never known before.

I knew that Sasha was an artist. When we were together and not in bed, we shared our mutual love for art. However, I never knew that she wanted to own an art gallery. Although the building wasn’t hers, she was renting out the property and turned it into a hot new gallery that everyone on Founder’s was talking about.

The art gallery was made of stone and brick that looked like it was plucked out of the French Quarter in New Orleans and placed in downtown Founder’s. From the outside, the exterior windows were surrounded by arches trimmed in black iron with matching metal railings for balconies. Each entrance to the building also donned the same rot iron trim and stunning archways. As a trained Architect turned real-estate mogul, I had an acute eye for daring designs.

However, when I entered the building, I was blown away by the inside. The gallery’s open floor plan was to be expected, but the space’s execution was unique. The black iron accents ran throughout the ceiling holding the track lighting that helped to spotlight the artwork. Even the way the concrete flooring was stained made it seem like part of the art: Sasha, the goddess with the fiery brown eyes that held me captive had exquisite taste. And even though she left me to accomplish her dreams, seeing this place made me proud of her.

I strolled around the gallery looking at the art my pride growing with each step. Everyone who was anyone was at the opening tonight. I had the feeling that these people would go to the opening of a soup can if they thought they could be in the press. And I’m not taking anything away from Sasha or her magnificent show, but I knew when I was in the midst of a bunch of ruthless people.

I told myself that I would stick to my business and not confront Sasha tonight; however, when she slid across my vision, I had to physically turn away to keep myself from approaching her. The draw I had to this woman was astronomical. It should’ve bothered me more considering what she put me through, but I can admit that it didn’t.

I watched Sasha talk to the curator of the gallery, Bambi Laurence-Vásquez. I had done my research on everyone surrounding Sasha this time because I’d be damned if she disappeared on me again, and to my surprise, Ms. Bambi had a lot of secrets. But she wasn’t a threat to Sasha’s wellbeing, so I would let her be. The two women talked animatedly with a customer, and it made me want to get closer to hear what they were saying. I couldn’t, though, because I didn’t want to be seen just yet.

Sasha was gesticulating wildly as the diamond headband she wore twinkled with each nod of her head. Her signature afro was large and glorious like a soft cloud surrounding her gorgeous face. She wore a simple white tailored suit jacket and white satin cropped pants to match. The jacket laid neatly against her dark chocolate skin, displaying her beautiful cleavage. I bit my lip thinking about all the nasty things I used to do to her petite little body. Things that I would do again.

I groaned and shifted the bulge in my pants discreetly as I watched her from across the room. I could tell she was in her element. Her face lit up with excitement every time she talked to someone about a painting. Her dimples were on full display, and it had me wishing that her smile was just for me.

I continued to move around the space when I spotted someone familiar. I smirked to myself. I knew as soon as he found out Bambi was here, he’d show up.

“If I weren’t so good at tracking people, I would’ve missed your big ass entirely.” I tease Markos. But we both knew if he didn’t want to be seen, then he wouldn’t.

“I heard you coming. Remember, I’m the brother with the eyes behind his back.” Markos replies, not turning to face me. I shake my head. I knew the fucker heard me, his abilities are unparalleled, and he’s not someone that I would ever fuck with. I’m more than happy that we’re on the same side.

I notice that he’s staring at the same two people that I was. But I know who he’s staring at. However, I still had to make it known who Sasha was to me… just in case.

“Stop staring at my girl. She’s mine, and no one can have her.” I stated with a smirk.

Markos rolls his eyes, “I’m not looking at Sasha, I know that you want her, I can see it in your eyes and the way that you watch her like you’re about to devour her. Trust me, as beautiful as she is, I’m not looking. I don’t do that.”

“Who wouldn’t want her?” I snort. Sasha is beyond fucking beautiful, and although I know she won’t admit it right now, she’s mine.

Chapter 3

SASHA

The gallery’s opening was going extremely well, and I was so glad that I had my old friend Bambi by my side. She had been a godsend helping me get ready for the opening. We met when I was in junior high, and she was in high school, and she was the volunteer teacher of my afterschool art class. Bambi was one of the first people to encourage me to pursue my art. It’s strange how things all come full circle because now Bambi is once again helping me with my art.

I was nervous when we first opened up the doors for the first time, but I think Bambi was worse than me. I’m glad that I didn’t tell her that I snuck one of her pieces into the show, or she’d probably pass out. When I was picking out the art that I wanted to display, I saw the perfect piece that would fit right in. Bambi would’ve never given me her permission, so I took it upon myself to include it in the exhibit. I didn’t put a price on her magnificent piece, but if she wanted to sell it, she could. I had several offers already.

“Bambi?” The woman jumped a mile high with her doe eyes wide. Her name was very fitting. However, her level of anxiousness had me concerned. “Are you okay?”

“Uh… ye-yes I’m fine. Did you need something?” She looked around nervously, and it made me do the same.