Page 15
An hour in the back room and two purple drinks later, Charley was finally able to relax. Kind of. The idea of being in an exclusive section of the X-Lounge was almost too much to take. She spent the first fifteen minutes inspecting the room and everyone in it. I don’t belong here.
Charley, Keely, and her friend, Penny, were sitting at the end of the bar.
Aside from a quick introduction to Penny, she hadn’t spoken much.
Keely carried the conversation, talking about her connection to Penny through Dahlia.
A few other names were mentioned, but Charley didn’t know them.
Following the stories was a little hard, but she tried.
Charley felt something brush up against her arm, and she shifted closer to Keely and glanced over to her right. There was a man dressed in a gray suit and blue shirt. He was probably her age, maybe a bit older. Handsome, though very generic.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Why did everyone keep asking her that? Maybe because the truth was written all over her face.
She wasn’t exactly counting down the minutes ’til they left, but if Keely wanted to leave, Charley would be halfway out the door.
That’s not happening. Keely was totally in her element and loving every minute of it.
Charley offered a shaky smile. “Yes. And you?”
He glanced down her body, pausing on her legs. “My night just got better. I’m Alex.”
She flattened her lips, forcing a smile. “Hi. I’m Charley.”
“What are you drinking, Charley?”
She wrapped her hand around the glass, racking her brain to remember the name, “Oh um, I don’t…”
A man twice her size wedged himself between her and Alex. He was massive with arms bigger than her thighs. A small shove or bump would’ve had her landing on her ass. Ironically, even in the small space, he never touched Charley. Alex on the other hand was not so lucky.
“Hey, man, what the…”
The huge guy next to her turned his head. “Problem?”
Alex stood, straightening his jacket. He was silent, staring at the ogre beside her.
“I was just talking with…”
“Find someone else to talk to.” His tone was threatening.
Charley gasped, watching the showdown between the two men.
It lasted only a few seconds before Alex grabbed his glass from the bar and walked off.
She sat silently and exchanged a look with Keely.
Her friend looked just as uncomfortable as Charley felt.
Penny, on the other hand, didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
She shifted her gaze between the man and Charley with a small smile playing on her lips.
Charley inched a little closer to Keely in hopes of creating some more space.
The last thing she wanted was accidentally bumping this man and have him turn on her.
He leaned over, rested his elbows on the bar with his hands clasped.
He stared straight ahead, never saying a word or even acknowledging her.
Strange. A minute of awkward silence later, he straightened and left.
“What the fuck was that?” Keely laughed and whipped her head around, watching the man walk away.
Penny clucked her tongue and lifted her glass. “He’s security.”
“What?” Keely turned in her seat. “But that guy Alex wasn’t bothering us.”
Penny arched her brow. “Oh, that wasn’t for us . Looks like Charley’s got some protection though.”
“What? Why?” Keely was just as surprised as Charley. There could only be one sensible reason.
“Oh, it’s probably because I work for Elle.”
Penny smirked. “That could be it. Or maybe someone doesn’t like another man getting too close to you.”
Keely gasped and swiveled in her stool. “Do you think Nash told him not to let other guys talk to you?”
“No!” Charley blurted.
The idea was absurd. Why would Nash care? Right?
Keely grabbed her arm. “You should make out with Nash. Or even better, sleep with him. And then you can blame it on alcohol. Back me on this, Penny.”
Penny scoffed. “I’m not backing you on anything. Slow down on the drinks and stop giving her bad advice.” She shook her head and winked at Charley.
Thank you, Penny.
“Whatever, let’s dance.” Keely slipped off her seat, not bothering to wait for her or Penny. Not that it mattered. Both women remained seated.
“You don’t dance either?” Charley asked.
“I do with and for my man. Only.” Penny sipped her drink and pointed to Keely’s abandoned seat.
Charley slid her glass down the bar and sat on the open stool.
“So, how do you know Keely?” Penny asked.
“We met a few years ago at the local community college. We shared a class.”
Penny seemed surprised. “Keely actually show up?”
Charley tried to keep a straight face, but when Penny raised her brows in challenge, she burst out laughing. “Not often. But when she did, class was a lot more fun. I offered to share my notes, and we’ve been friends ever since.”
“What were you studying?”
“Nursing.”
Penny’s brows shot up. “You’re a nurse?”
Charley’s smile faltered, and she muttered. “It didn’t work out.”
She had so many plans that had all taken a backseat in favor of taking care of her brother. Charley had no regrets. But every once in a while she thought of how different things would’ve looked if life worked out for all of them.
****
Well done.
Nash had been watching the monitors since he’d left Charley in The Lounge.
He’d found other reasons for focusing on the surveillance cameras, but it was mainly for her.
Ridge, Caine, and Cyrus were more than able to identify any issues that arose, but Nash had a vested interest in one in particular.
Nash had been careful not to react when the man sat beside her at the bar.
It was a busy night and seating was limited.
However, when he turned and spoke to her, Nash was seconds from calling down to security.
He didn’t have to. They followed his initial orders, and one of his men put an end to that conversation.
Scaring Charley in the process. It made him wonder what trauma she’d gone through to put her so on edge in almost every situation.
“She’s practically sitting on her friend’s lap.” Ridge snickered.
Nash kept his gaze locked on Charley. His security had done their job, and Nash appreciated the man’s care in the detail of not touching Charley. That would’ve been unacceptable.
“I think it’s safe to say security has got it under control.” Cyrus tapped the screen.
“I want eyes on her.”
Cyrus slowly turned with a smile playing on his lips. “All three of them or just Charley?”
Nash narrowed his gaze at the insinuation.
Cyrus had been spot on calling Nash out for his flub.
However, Nash wouldn’t confirm or deny. He’d give him nothing.
This small infatuation with Charley was not up for discussion.
He needed to remove himself from this situation.
He had plenty of things to do in his office.
One pressing matter actually included Charley.
He needed to find a backup contact if his original didn’t pan out.
“Alright.” Cyrus tapped the screen pulling up the room camera.
He hit some buttons, and the camera zoomed in on Charley.
Keely had left, and it seemed Charley had moved seats, sitting next to Penny.
“How long are we babysitting?” The tease in Cyrus’s tone didn’t go unnoticed, and Ridge softly chuckled. Nash ignored them both.
“For as long as they’re here.” Nash straightened and pulled the phone from his pocket.
“Who are we spying on?” The female voice was familiar but foreign within Oz’s security.
He turned, and in the doorway was the last person he’d expected to see.
Expected or hoped? It had been quite some time since Noelle had been moved from Oz’s command to Trey’s to work as Dahlia’s security.
At the time of her appointment, Nash was opposed to the idea, though he’d kept his concerns to himself.
It turned out, he’d been wrong. Noelle had found her place working under Trey and essentially Rogue.
She’d probably never move up, but she was in the higher ranks with them.
Noelle peered around at the men. None of them paid her any attention. For his part, Nash lowered his chin in greeting then addressed his men.
“Eyes on her until she leaves, and let me know before she does.”
“Yes, sir,” Ridge said.
Nash slipped past Noelle and started down the hallway. She hadn’t been invited, but he heard the clicking of her heels. When he rounded the bend, she called out.
“You’re going to make me chase you?”
Nash stopped at the door to his office. He sighed as she got closer.
The corner of her mouth curled. “Hi.”
“What can I do for you, Noelle?”
Her eyes darkened. “I have some unexpected time off. I was thinking we could grab a drink and catch up. You know, for old times’ sake.”
They had history. A lapse in his judgement a few years ago.
He’d been under the impression they were both filling a physical need with no strings attached.
It didn’t work out that way. A month-long sex-based affair had Noelle wanting more.
Nash never committed to anyone, and as with all his women, he’d been upfront with Noelle.
When he’d ended things, she’d gotten extremely cold with him.
Nash understood. She’d obviously caught feelings, and he hadn’t.
He’d continued to look out for her as he’d always done.
A protector. When Noelle was moved to Dahlia’s security, she seemed to soften a little bit. Nash attributed the change to Dahlia.
Noelle had made a grave error years ago, and by all accounts, she should’ve been dealt with accordingly.
It was Nash who’d stepped in on her behalf.
It was before they’d become intimate, and he’d had no loyalty or ties to her.
But her mistake spoke more about the depth of her compassion than her ability to work in the Underground.
It was for that reason alone he’d asked Oz to spare her.
But she would never be part of Oz’s, Rogue’s, or Trey’s top line security crews.
Those positions required a hard, ruthless core.
And Noelle had proven she didn’t have one.
“What do you say?”
“No.”
Her smile faltered. “Just a few nights, nothing more. I know how you operate.”
Nash folded his arms and narrowed his gaze. Noelle seemed to have forgotten, but he hadn’t. Their short affair had ended well over three years ago. Nash wondered why she seemed to have had a change of heart. But not enough to inquire about it.
“No.”
“Can I at least get a drink?” She glanced over to the door.
Nash had a fully-stocked bar in his office, which Noelle knew.
Nash grabbed the handle of his door. “Yes, you can. You remember where all the bars are in the club. Take your pick.”
Whatever angle or game Noelle was playing, he wasn’t taking the bait. She didn’t have anything he wanted. His interest lay solely in one woman.
“Goodnight, Noelle.” He opened the door, walked into his office, and heard a hushed “fuck.” Noelle was definitely working an angle, which she’d now deemed unsuccessful. He hadn’t bothered closing his door, which had been an obvious mistake on his end. Noelle rushed inside. Fuck!
Nash sighed and slowly turned, glaring at the woman near the door. Noelle held up her hands and stalked forward.
“Just give me a minute, Nash. Please.” Her demeanor had shifted to one of submission. That was the polar opposite of Noelle unless she was giving in to his needs in the bedroom. With Noelle, it came off disingenuous. She was playing a part.
Nash rounded his desk and pointed to the seat across from him. He rolled his neck, settled in his chair, and clasped his hands over his stomach.
“Has Trey mentioned anything about me?”
He furrowed his brows. “In regards to?”
“Working as Dahlia’s security.”
Nash had questioned it once or twice when she’d been put in the position, but that was a while ago. Trey had said she settled in, and Dahlia was comfortable with her presence. It had worked out.
“No.”
Her confidence deflated. “So, nothing about me possibly coming back to work under Oz?”
Nothing could’ve shocked him more coming from Noelle. During her time working under Oz, she’d been assigned menial tasks, minor security when they needed the numbers, and she’d spent most of her time working in the club. Nash had no idea where this was coming from.
“I was under the impression you enjoyed working for Trey.”
“I do.” She paused, clearing her throat.
“There’s three of us basically babysitting Dahlia.
She’s either at home, the club, or with Trey.
Oh, and let’s not forget when she gets together with her friends .
” Noelle’s lips twisted in obvious disgust. “Watching a bunch of grown women get drunk is not my idea of fun.”
This was a prime example why she wasn’t suited to work under Oz.
Nash hardened his gaze. “It’s not intended to be fun for you. It’s your job.”
Noelle scoffed. “I can’t believe Trey allows her to remain friends with East.”
Nash raised his brows, wondering what Trey would think of this speech. More importantly, how Dahlia would take her last statement. This meeting was over. He’d heard enough.
“I suggest you appreciate the position you have with Dahlia, because it’s the only job you get in security with the Underground.”
She inched to the edge of her seat. “Can’t you talk to Oz?”
And there it is. It was all clear now. She’s had an ulterior motive with her earlier advances. A weaker man might’ve fallen for it.
“Oz doesn’t trust you, and with good reason. After this little display” —He waved his hand between them— “Neither do I. You get moved up for the value you bring to the organization, not who you spread your legs for.”
She snorted and abruptly stood. “Yeah, you fucking proved that three years ago, didn’t you?”
It seemed this ulterior motive had been in play for years. Interesting.
“Did you really believe sharing my bed would elevate your position?”
A flash of pink flooded over her cheeks. This was an eye opener. Apparently, that was exactly what she’d thought. Nash wasn’t offended. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to manipulate him for their own gain.
Nash chuckled and gestured to the door. “You can leave now.”
Noelle stood and walked out without another word.
Nash had a feeling this wasn’t quite over yet.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15 (Reading here)
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53