Page 26 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

Broke Boys Don’t Deserve No Pussy.

Still Day Six.

“And then her crazy ass kicked me out of my own fucking house!” Tyler exploded. “Her name ain’t even on the lease!”

Lucci snorted. “And you actually left?”

“Of course, I left. Jay is so unreasonable when she’s like that.

I love her, but fuck, she stresses me out.

” Tyler let out a breath. “And when her, Carmen, and Izzy get together, it’s like I’m getting jumped.

I had to block all their asses. Even Mantis and Alyssa, just in case.

I’m sorry to say it, y’all, but the women we deal with are mean. ”

“Oh, I know,” Darwin groaned. “Izzy’s been going off for half an hour about how fucked up you are. I’m hiding out in the bathroom.”

“I ain’t heard nothing from Carmen,” I said, easing into a left turn. “But then again, I wouldn’t be shocked if she was still knocked out.”

Darwin laughed. “Are you the reason for that?”

“Of course he is,” Tyler jumped in.

Lucci gagged. “Nasty asses. TMI!”

“I agree,” I muttered, pulling into the parking lot. “My sex life is not on display here. We’re talking about finding little Orphan Annie a new home.”

“Haha. Fuck you, Clayton,” Tyler shot back.

“Where you staying, anyway?” Darwin asked.

Lucci cut in. “Please don’t tell me…”

“Nah, man. I’m not at Sofia’s.” Tyler paused. “I stayed at a hotel.”

Lucci exhaled. “Oh, well. That’s good.”

These idiots hadn’t known Tyler long enough to ask the right questions.

I raised a brow. “And where did Sofia stay?”

Silence .

“Exactly,” I said.

Darwin groaned. “You a dirty-ass dog.”

“I mean,” Tyler said, “if I’m getting accused, I might as well do it.”

“I can’t wait till Jayda kills your ass,” Lucci muttered. “Like I’m actually looking forward to it.”

“It wasn’t all that,” Tyler explained. “I just let her top me off a little. Nothing crazy.”

“Stop talking. I don’t wanna be a witness to this,” I shook my head and shifted the car into park. “I’m heading into the office, y’all. We’ll talk later, right?”

“Later, Tee. Love ya,” the guys echoed.

“Love y’all,” I murmured. “Later.”

Tyler and Jayda always had some shit going on. The last thing I heard from Ty about them was that she was sexting with her ex. Now this.

Maybe it was better that they separated.

It wasn’t healthy what they had, and now it was driving the friend group apart.

Tyler having to block all the girls was crazy, and sooner or later, we’d all have to have a group discussion on boundaries when it comes to our individual relationships, even though we were all friends.

I pushed all that to the back of my mind because I had my own relationship to focus on and I needed to work on making things right, starting with this.

I usually avoid the reception desk, but today I made a pit stop.

“ Buongiorno , Mr. Clayton.” Guila greeted me with that same bright smile she wore when I walked in. I didn’t return it.

“Morning,” I said, getting straight to it. “I need to talk to you.”

She tilted her head, still smiling. “Sure.”

“Carmen mentioned that an attitude was given to her. Care to explain?”

She rolled her eyes, not bothering to hide the shift in her mood. “Your girlfriend is rude.”

“Not intentionally. And she wasn’t, not when I first brought her in.” I narrowed my gaze. “Did something change since then?”

She squirmed in her seat. “No, sir.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

She held my stare, eyes searching for a crack I didn’t give her and hoping for emotion I didn’t wear.

“No problem,” she finally said. “I’m sorry.”

“Hm.” I gave her a second, just to let it sit. “Just… watch yourself.”

“ Ovviamente, capo. ”

I gave her a nod and walked away, jaw tight.

One problem down. A million more to go.

˙???˙

Spanish was surprisingly easy to learn when you already speak Italian.

They shared similar grammatical structures, but the pronunciation was fucking me up a little. I should be looking over the plans. Instead, I was going over Spanish books that I had my assistant bring up as soon as I got to the office.

What was it about Carmen Reyes that made me stop doing what I needed to do and focus on her?

Even something as simple as getting out of bed this morning was a challenge.

Carmen stirred as I eased out from under the sheets, her leg still tangled in mine, reluctant to let go even in sleep.

I brushed a kiss against her bare shoulder, let my hand rest on the curve of her hip a moment longer than necessary, then slid out of bed.

She murmured something soft and incoherent before settling back into the pillows.

That alone made me feel guilty enough to question my entire life decision, and turn into a full-on Dominican by lunch.

My phone rang on my desk, interrupting my Spanish lesson.

Dad.

Finally.

I groaned with annoyance and answered.

Theo: Did you get my message?

Dad : Yes, what’s the issue?

Theo: I’m gonna get rid of

this motherfucker, Vince.

Dad: What? Why?

Theo: He’s overstepping with Carmen.

I talked to him about it once,

and since I can’t put my hands on him,

this feels like the best step forward.

Dad: …You’re still seeing the law student?

Theo: Yes, I am.

Dad: And you’re gonna fire Vince

‘cause he’s overstepping with her.

Theo: Yes, I am. Where am I losing you?

Dad: Right around where you lost your damn mind.

I rolled my eyes.

Theo: My mind’s made up.

That motherfucker has got to go.

Dad: He’s the best with the clients,

and you wanna fire him over a woman.

What the fuck did he even do?

Theo: He wants her. I can tell.

Dad: Well, it’s the price of having

a woman like that, son.

You better get used to it.

Theo: Not in my fucking place of business.

Dad : Correction.

It’s my place of business until I retire,

which ain’t happening for another five years.

So you and him better play nice.

Theo: I’m getting rid of him.

You want him that bad?

Transfer him to Georgia.

Dad: I can’t. His contract is for Italy,

and it’s good for the next year.

We try to fire or transfer him,

and it’ll be an HR nightmare.

He’ll sue us.

Theo: Then I’ll make him quit.

Dad: Do you hear yourself?

Theo: What do you expect me to do?

Roll over and let him think

he can do whatever he wants?

Dad: I expect you to get your girl under control.

What type of household do you plan on

having if your woman’s allowing a man to overstep with her?

Especially a man you work with?

Theo: She isn’t allowing it.

But he’s fucking pushing anyway.

Dad: Well, cut the contact.

What do you think he’s gonna do—kidnap her?

Stop bringing her to the office.

At least until things cool down.

Vince is a simple man.

He sees cracks in your relationship,

so he’s testing them.

Theo: My relationship is flawless.

Dad: Yeah? Then show him that.

Take her to the investment ball.

Let her get all dressed up and show her off.

He’ll get the picture when he sees y’all together.

Theo: She’s not a fucking show horse.

Dad: So what’s the point of having

a beautiful girlfriend if you can’t show her off a little?

Trust me, she’ll love it. Women like that kinda thing.

No wonder he likes Vince. He sounds just like him.

Theo: I’d rather cut my own balls off

and deep fry them before I take

relationship advice from you.

What is this, marriage number three for you?

Dad: You ain’t gotta cut them off,

‘cause Carmen’s done it already, motherfucker.

I groaned in annoyance, and he laughed.

Dad: Tell her you want them extra crispy.

I hung up.

I slumped back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.

I think I’m starting to hate this place.

Wendell had some fucking nerve to tell me what to do with my relationship and my fucking investment ball. Especially when he lent no hand in developing either.

Back when I took over this company, we were just contractors—build what we’re told, hand over the keys, and move on to the next site.

We did good work. We were known for it. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that we were building value we didn’t get to keep, while someone else always walked away with the upside.

So I changed the model.

We stopped waiting for projects to land in our inbox and started creating our own.

We bought the land. We designed buildings from scratch.

We partnered with architects, navigated zoning, and secured permits before the blueprints even hit a desk.

When we first started this new venture, we backed it ourselves.

And when our projects started popping up, so did the money.

Now we don’t chase deals. They come to us.

We’ve got investors calling before the permits are even approved, offering to fund full builds just to get in early.

What started as a construction company turned into a development group with an investment arm that moves faster than some banks.

These days, the problem isn’t funding the projects—it’s narrowing down which ones we say yes to.

We choose what gets built—and who profits from it.

The investment ball?

Again, my idea, and that started out of necessity. We had too many people asking to sit at the table, so we built the damn table ourselves. One night. One room. All our upcoming projects on display.

The investors show up dressed to impress, checks ready. Some deals close before the dessert hits the table.

I’d love to have Carmen by my side; however, she hated the last party I took her to, so maybe she’d prefer to sit this one out.

Everything felt tight. My chest. My jaw. My leash. I had a meeting in fifteen minutes, I hadn’t looked at the plans, and my phone was buzzing again.

I glanced at the screen.

Sweetness ?? : I still smell like you.

Attached: a photo.

God.

She was stretched out across the bed in one of my shirts—barely buttoned, no panties. Hair a mess. Nipples hard. Her thighs parted just enough to send blood rushing straight to my dick.

I stood, locked the office door, and adjusted myself.

Buzz.

Another one.

This time, she was in the mirror, one leg popped to show the bite marks I left, along with other things.