Page 16 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)
“That is so rich, coming from you. Follow the rules? Neal Alexander wants me to follow the rules. I like that one. I wonder what our college buddies would think about that. You were right up there with every stunt we pulled and I don’t recall you telling any of us to follow anything but the fun and the hell-raising. ”
“Maybe I’ve seen the results of those choices.”
“Have you now?”
No mistaking the challenge in those words. “How about I buy your time with her? Double what you’re paying Claudia.”
Those green eyes sparked with interest. “Wow, you must really think she’s something. Double?” When Neal nodded, the man leaned back against the booth cushion. “That’s a lot of money but...I don’t think so. You see, something tells me this woman’s worth it.”
Damn him . “You’re a fool to think she’ll jeopardize her position with Claudia.”
“Everyone has a price, and I’ll find out what hers is.
I’ve never been one who waits for the right moment…
For the woman to dump the guy… It’s never mattered.
If I want something, I take it.” A smile inched across his tanned face.
“Georgianna liked that about me, said it made her feel wanted, desired…too bad you couldn’t do that, Alexander.
If you’d been able to, she might not have slept with me, but she probably would have. ”
“Get out.”
“You want me to leave? I thought the least you’d do is counter your offer a few times, ply me with more scotch, try to convince me why I should do the right thing by you…by everyone…” A sigh, another sip of scotch. “This was much too easy.”
“I tried to be decent about this, but I should have known there’s nothing decent about you. I’m done with this conversation.” Neal tossed back the rest of his drink, slammed it on the table.
“Nice theatrics, but I don’t have to leave this place because last I heard, you’re not the owner.”
That’s where you’re wrong . Oh, how Neal wanted to say those words, grab the guy by his shirt collar, and drag him out of the restaurant.
But he couldn’t because that would reveal too much.
So, he’d wait, and he’d plan, and he’d make Simon Bainbridge regret his words.
“Okay, stay. I’ll leave.” He tossed a fifty-dollar bill on the table, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the front door.
Neal took a long walk, tried to replay what had happened, but all he could think about was how much he wanted to pummel the guy.
He tried to avoid physical altercations, but he’d known his share of black eyes and bruised noses, usually from a ticked-off boyfriend, a club bouncer, or some other ill-considered situation.
When he reached the two-mile stretch, he started back to the restaurant.
That asshole didn’t care about Rachel; he cared about sleeping with her and he cared about beating Neal.
Maybe that last one had become the man’s main goal.
Why had Neal gone and done something stupid like offering to pay double for the guy’s time with Rachel?
He’d always been a play-it-close-to-the-vest kind of guy, and this move put him in a vulnerable position.
But when Simon started talking about what he was going to do with Rachel, and how he didn’t care what rules he broke?
What if some guy said that about Meredith?
Wouldn’t Neal want someone to defend her against a jerk like that?
Neal dragged a hand through his hair, muttered several curses and headed back to the restaurant in search of Dominic. He was the key to fixing this mess.
When he entered Matilda’s, the table where he and Simon sat had been wiped clean and set for the next customers.
He’d like to ban that jerk from the restaurant but of course, Dominic would remind him that wasn’t the best move from a business perspective and if they started kicking out every person they didn’t necessarily like, the place would be empty.
Fine, he got it, but it didn’t mean he had to like it or make it easy for the jerk.
And it definitely didn’t mean the next time Bainbridge made a reservation that he’d get a decent seat or a short wait time.
Nope, it definitely didn’t mean that. Neal headed to the back of the restaurant and the office he shared with Dominic, eased into a chair. “Well, this is a mess.”
Dominic glanced up from the printout he’d been studying, frowned. “What’s wrong? Simon get to you?”
“I just found out that asshole met Rachel through Claudia’s.”
His friend sat back in his chair, sighed. “I see.”
“I want you to call Claudia and tell her not to renew his contract with her. Nothing.” When Dominic came to him two years ago asking if he’d like to invest in an “escort companion” service, he’d been intrigued.
Sure, what guy didn’t enjoy attending functions with a person who served as protection in the shape of a beautiful woman?
Apparently, Claudia’s brother had been an unsuspecting victim of a woman who’d ripped him off and made his life worse than miserable.
“You know she’ll do whatever you want, but…”
Neal didn’t wait for what followed the “but”. “See if she’s already written up the contract extension. If she hasn’t yet, tell her not to do it. I’ll cover her losses.”
“I’ll ask, but she might not be comfortable with the request. And before you comment about investing in the company, I want you to think about how successful she’s been and why.
” A stern look followed by “Discretion and keeping her word. If you ask her to start poking around in her client’s business, manipulating, and sharing details?
She’ll be ruined. We can’t do that to her. ”
“Of course not.” He hadn’t thought of the ramifications of such a request. “Okay, how about tell her I’ll book a month with Rachel? Simon only booked a week, so I want to get scheduled ASAP after that.”
“I can do that.” His friend hesitated a few seconds before asking “Is there a chance Rachel’s interested in this guy and would be willing to forfeit the sixty-day, no personal relationship clause?”
What? “No, of course not.” She had to know she was worth so much more than Simon Bainbridge’s puny schtick. “Besides, something tells me she can’t afford to do it.”
A nod, a quiet “If you say so.”
“I do. Just call Claudia and set it up, okay?”
The raised brow said Dominic questioned the rationale behind this move, and of course his best friend had to comment. “And you say you’re doing this for your sister? Because you don’t want to disappoint her?”
“I’m doing it for Meredith, but I’m also doing it because someone’s got to show this guy he doesn’t own the world and everyone in it.”
“Okay then. Are you going to tell Rachel or will you be a secret admirer?”
Neal ignored the humor laced in those words. The man could be such a pain in the ass. “I’ll tell her when it’s time to tell her. For now, all Claudia needs to know is that after Simon’s contract ends, I’m signing on, and for the next thirty days Rachel Reese is otherwise engaged.”