Page 24 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Max

Listen to Numb

by Marshmello & Khalid

I groaned and rubbed my head, staring at my laptop and the endless open screen tabs.

Most days, I felt as if I knew exactly what I was doing, but securing the giant bank loan was proving more difficult than I thought.

On cue, my phone rang, and I ignored the pit in my stomach, forcing myself to answer.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Max. I got a call from Ben at the bank. What mess did you get yourself into now?”

I ground my teeth and swore I wouldn’t rise to the bait. In order to get what I wanted, there’d be an extreme amount of humiliation to deal with. I was used to the exchange since I’ve been doing it from youth. I’d learned the rules and when I tried to change them, the punishment was swift.

Dad was nothing like Adam’s father. Had never laid a hand on me.

Gave me pretty much whatever I asked for if I pushed hard and made a decent argument.

I’d grown up privileged and I knew it. But the price was a slow erosion of my confidence of my identity.

I only knew myself from labels and if I strayed to do something on my own, Dad swept in to tell me exactly how I was wrong.

Mom was a nonentity—sweet, calm, and completely clueless about anything going on in my life that may be stressful.

Opening up the gym had been my own idea. I’d tried to get the loans without dropping names or getting Dad involved. I wanted this for myself.

“No mess, “I said calmly. “I’ve decided to open up a gym with Coop and we were securing funding. I had no idea Ben would call you.”

Dad made a muttering noise. “You’re kidding, right? Gyms go out of business every day in Manhattan. Did you find a location?”

“Not yet. We’re waiting for the right fit.”

“Max, it’s nice you’re trying to have a little ambition other than bartending and taking off your clothes for money. But you should’ve called. I’m not letting you tap into your trust.”

“I’m a model, not a stripper. And I’m not trying to use my trust. I have plenty of savings, and Coop and I are splitting the loan.”

A laugh spilled into the air, gritty and mocking at the same time. “Sure, you and Coop can secure a loan with no assets or previous experience. Good looks can only go so far.”

I kept silent and let him rant.

“Max, you’re twenty-five and never held down a real job. You’re no business owner. If you gave me a head’s up, I could’ve had Ben create a low interest loan with my name on the lease. I have no problem being the owner and letting you two experiment and learn.”

My heart pounded and I tried to ignore my sweaty palms. Dad had left me alone for a while, taking no interest in my jobs, but this was something he’d a piece of. Another reason I tried so hard not to involve him. “Thanks for the offer, but Coop and I are ready to take this on without help.”

Silence fell. It was the scary kind, full of intent. “Then why did Ben let me know you’re begging for money all over town? Are you trying to embarrass me? Do you know what it looks like that you didn’t even come to your own father?”

“It looks like I’m independent,” I said. “Exactly what you want.”

His voice softened. “Max, don’t be silly. You’re my son. I don’t want to see you fail.”

“I don’t intend to.”

“Unfortunately, you already did. No bank will give you a loan. It’s either me or no one. Ben already refused, and no one will take a bad deal. You choose.”

I closed my eyes as dread reared. I’d hoped a gym wouldn’t interest my father.

Hoped it would seem like another throwaway job that would keep him at a distance, mocking me from afar.

I hated that I wanted this so badly on my own terms. There was too much ammunition in Dad’s hands he could use, and I was trapped.

A golden prison. A privileged white boy who got anything he wanted, as long as he followed his father’s wishes. How pathetic.

“I need it in my name, Dad. It’s the only way I’ll move forward.”

It was the only compromise I’d give. Half of me wondered if it would be best if Dad walked away and the whole project blew up. At least, I wouldn’t be tied to him. I’d be free to cut the strings.

“Understood. I can do that for you. If it’s important to feel like it’s yours.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “It is.”

“Then consider it done. Ben will draw up the papers and you will get your gym. I have a business consult who’ll call you to set up a meeting. Give you a crash course on the things you need to know when your name’s on a company.”

I refused to feel like a failure. Yes, he’d hold the money over me, but Dad was enough removed not to get involved in the daily business. Those parts would belong to me and Coop. I could make it work. It took me a while to form words, but Dad had already lost patience.

“What do you say when your old man bails you out?”

“Thanks, Dad. Appreciate you.”

His tone eased along with his laugh. “No problem. Always glad to help.”

He hung up and I sat, staring at the screen.

I should’ve known he’d find out. He was a powerhouse in Greenwich, Connecticut with connections far and wide.

Someone made the call and tipped him off.

It would’ve been too much to allow me to move forward in case I failed.

My father gave me permission to run free in Manhattan and play, as long as I didn’t make waves for the family.

I could fuck who I wanted, party hard where I wanted, work in any place I wanted, but I couldn’t try to be something more without him dictating who, where, how, and why.

It had seemed like an awesome trade a year ago.

Now? It was like I had invisible chains weighing me down.

I thought of Gabby who had her own app, and Adam who was making music in LA.

Now, Elle and Noah were collaborating and scoring these high-level appearances.

They’d be next to pop. Daisy would graduate from nursing school and work her way up at the hospital.

It was another reason Landon and I had worked well together. I knew she had big ambitions, but we were in sync, happy to enjoy ourselves exactly where we landed. Until she took off with Adam to follow his dreams.

I waited for the stab of pain, but instead my memory flashed back to Gabby and the way she’d made me come in the gym bathroom.

My body shuddered at the memory. I’d never had a woman dominate me. Oh, sure, they’d climbed on top and rode me hard, pinned my hands at the side, or played with tying me up. But it was silly sex games that never meant much. Just another fun way to get off.

With Gabby, a switch had flipped inside of me, and I was still trying to figure it out.

The way her voice dropped, practically purring her demands, shot shivers down my spine.

Her steely green-eyed gaze hypnotized as she ordered me around and made me want to obey.

I kept telling myself it was morbid curiosity and a way to keep her in my control so I could eventually fuck her. But I knew I was a liar.

I liked it.

Fuck. I loved it.

Blowing out a breath, I began to pace. What was it about Gabby?

I figured she just wanted to mess with my head for what I did to Landon.

Then I decided she simply wanted sex because she was curious or bored.

Now? There seemed to be a deeper purpose.

Her hot, strong hands gripping my dick had gotten me off faster than the first time I had sex.

The way she whispered commands in my ear, confident I’d obey, made me want to do anything she told me.

When she told me to clean up and stalked out of the bathroom, I’d felt turned-on, not humiliated.

I hadn’t even fucked her, and I was already obsessed with the next time we’d see each other.

Maybe it was just a novelty? Gabby was complicated and kept me guessing. I probably needed the challenge and was mistaking emotion for sex.

But…

I liked our conversations. I liked watching her.

The way her eyes lit up to emerald when she spoke about her business.

Her throaty laugh and her long strides as she walked, hips swaying as she owned all those curves too many women wanted to diet away.

Her pillow soft lips when she kissed me.

The freckles sprinkled over her nose. The way her gaze narrowed when I spoke, as if she was trying really hard to not only hear my words but understand me.

Landon had never looked that intense when I spoke. No woman had.

Unless it was just a trick and I was the asshole falling for a master of the game.

Grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, I pushed Gabby out of my mind and focused on work.

I’d see her at Red tonight and we were all going to Noah and Elle’s debut on Friday.

I’d catch her vibe and see where all of this was heading.

In the end, I was in control of what happened between us and what I wanted.

At least, that what I convinced myself.

I had no idea it was another lie.