Page 50 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)

Chapter Fifty

JAMES

“ W as this really a good idea to go for drinks before an important event?” I grumble to Theo, knowing full well what his reply will be.

“Erm, fuck yes. Dutch courage and all that for when you tell Phillips where to stick his arranged marriage idea,” he replies, sinking his third whiskey in two hours.

I eye him. “Theo, slow down.”

“Stop the lecture, Dad, I’m fine.” He rolls his eyes, signaling for another.

Theo decided that since we hadn’t met up in a few weeks, we needed some male bonding time before the gala. I reminded him we talk every day and I’ve seen him more than I have Caleb and Noah, but apparently that wasn’t the right response. My needy Viking insisted, so here we are.

“If we don’t get going soon, we’ll be late,” Caleb says, checking the time and downing his beer. “How are we getting there, anyway?”

“Danny’s picking us up. Should be outside any minute now,” I reply.

“Can’t think of anything worse,” Noah grumbles. “The things I do for you assholes.”

“Oh, my grumpy Noah,” Theo sing-songs. “You’d do anything for us?—”

“But he won’t do that,” Caleb sings, cutting Theo off.

I pinch the bridge of my nose in exasperation. “I used to think you fuckers were funny, now I’m seriously tempted to find new friends.”

Theo slaps me on my back. “I’d welcome you to try, but I get very territorial of my friends, so you’re stuck with me.”

“Why do I feel like you’re about one second away from peeing on me?” I raise an eyebrow at him, moving my body away from him slightly.

Theo laughs. “Don’t tempt me, my friend, don’t tempt me.”

Noah stands up. “And on that note, I’m going to find Danny. I don’t want any part of this weird little love fest” —he gestures between us— “you two have going on.”

“Hey, keep me out of this,” I exclaim as I stand up as well, buttoning the jacket of my suit. “It’s not my fault he got dropped on his head as a baby.”

Caleb slings an arm around my shoulders. “You know damn well you wouldn’t be able to live without the three of us.” He grins, his eyes crinkling in the corner and his blue eyes gleaming.

“I plead the fifth,” I declare. “Right, come on, we’ve got a charity ball to get to.”

Thankfully, Danny got us to the gala in record time.

I didn’t think we were going to make it after Theo insisted on having another drink before we left.

Breathing out a sigh of relief that my balls will stay intact for another day, Emma not having the excuse to remove them, I follow the guys into the conference room.

People stop and stare as we walk in, I mean, we kinda do look like a bunch of Mafia bosses in our all-black suits and tattoos on display.

I glance around the room, landing on a pair of green eyes that I know intimately.

My breath catches at the sight of her in a ruby red cocktail dress.

Her long legs entice me to wrap them around my head just to hear those breathy moans she makes.

She winks at me, and I wonder what mischief she’s up to now.

I smirk and shake my head at her antics.

This is what happens when you date a younger woman—more gray hairs.

The guys and I mingle for a while, Noah looking as bored as ever, Caleb making small talk with people he knows absolutely nothing about, while Theo and I network.

Everything we do is networking—meetings, lunches, galas.

Raven’s the only thing in my life that feels right, easy.

Everything else feels like I’m dragging my feet through the mud—necessary for the end goal, but exhausting.

“Please explain to me why I have to be here,” Noah grumbles. “I’m a high school teacher for fuck sake.”

“One of us suffers, we all suffer,” Caleb pipes up.

Noah rolls his eyes. “I need another drink,” he declares as he walks off. Knowing Noah, he’ll do a runner as soon as our backs are turned.

I glance around the room and lock eyes with the one person who can get fucked—Blake Adams. Anger boils in my veins as I slap Theo’s chest with the back of my hand. “Wanna tell me what the fuck that bitch is doing here?” I spit, ready to march over there and chew her out.

“Easy, bro,” Theo warns. “If anyone’s gonna make her life hell, it’s me.”

“Theo—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“I know what I’m doing, James,” he snaps. “I’m gonna make sure Blake wishes she’d never come back.”

His jaw is tense as I take him in, his hand clenching around his beer bottle, and his breathing heavier. I have to trust Theo knows what he’s doing, but I still worry, nonetheless.

“When did she come back?” I probe.

“Don’t know, don’t care.” He shrugs, but I can tell he’s lying. “She picked the wrong law firm to come work at, though.”

I don’t get any more out of him as Phillips and his companion stroll up to us. She’s hidden slightly behind him, so I can’t see her features.

“Gentlemen, how lovely to see you.”

His nasally voice grates on my nerves, but I plaster a fake smile on and hold my hand out.

“Phillips,” I greet, wrapping my hand around his. His handshake’s just as bad as him—limp, wet, and lacking.

“Can I introduce you to my daughter, Tara?” He pushes the woman closer to me, a smile on his face.

“We’ve met,” she purrs.

Wearing a white dress that clings to her body, her hair up in a—honestly, I don’t give a fuck what she looks like. Her presence is boring the shit out of me. Especially considering she’s already pissed me off with that little stunt in my office.

I take a step back, not wanting her near me. “Unfortunately,” I mumble .

“Did you get a chance to have a look at my proposal?” Phillips asks, puffing his chest out. I’m not sure why, because I’m about to tell him exactly what I think of it.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna work for me,” I reply, running a hand across my chin. “I’m not in the market for a new whore.”

Tina gasps and clutches her pearls while Phillips gapes at me before spluttering, “How dare?—”

I take a menacing step forward. “How dare I?” I growl, my tone low and dark.

“How dare you . Selling your own daughter off for a merger?” I scoff, and Phillips’ face pales.

“Or was she in on it as well, seeing as she doesn’t understand the word no?

” I clench and unclench my fists as my rant continues.

“People like you disgust me. Wanna do business like a real man? Contact my office on Monday. Until then, get the fuck out of my sight.” I gesture with my head to anywhere but near me.

Phillips’ face goes bright red in anger as Theo and Caleb snigger beside me.

“Toodle pip.” I grin and wiggle my fingers.

He storms off with his daughter in tow, and Caleb slaps my back. “Toodle pip? What are you? A British aristocrat?” he laughs.

“What? So you assholes can act like teenagers, but I can’t? Fucker deserved it,” I groan.

Theo chuckles. “I love you, man, but we need to work on your comebacks; they’re severely lacking.”

“Fuck off, the pair of you.”

“Never,” Theo says. “Come on, let’s get another drink.”