Page 21 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

CHAPTER NINE

When I arrive at the bar, it is crowded with people trying to maneuver drinks over and around the bodies of others.

I decide the best way to get served is to wiggle my way up and slide in between two girls.

Pressing my body against them would be better than two men.

I don't doubt Aurei will come after me if it takes me too long.

As I wedge my way in, the girl on the left says to me. "Hey, aren't you the bitch with Aurei?"

"Yes." I can't tell from her tone if she is hostile or only asking.

Hmm, This might not have been the best move.

"Don, hit me with two shots of tequila." She looks at me. "What's your name?"

"Siri."

"Siri here is with Aurei." She points at me.

Don nods. "One for Candy. One for Siri. Coming up." He pours them and shoves them our way without looking at us.

Not wanting to be rude, I accept. "Thanks."

She licks the back of her hand and dashes it with salt, then holds it out to salt me. "Siri's a cool name. I'm Candy."

"Nice to meet you, Candy." I lick mine. She pours, then we lick together, clink our glasses, throw the tequila back and bite a lime slice provided in a saucer.

I think of Mac and smile. I'm glad she didn't ask to do body shots.

"Gotta love a girl who stands up to ole Ruthless and leaves her speechless."

The girl on the right looks at me. "You have pretty blonde hair."

"Thanks.

"You're the girl that danced on the table, aren't you?"

I laugh. "I'm not the only one who danced on a table."

"No, but you're the only one that danced Britney on the table."

"Yes, that was me."

"That was incredible, bitch! It was like watching Britney live, you know?" She says to Don, the bartender. "Did you see her?"

He shakes his head. "No, but I heard it run up and down the bar here."

"I'm Scarlett ."

"Siri."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

Don asks. "What can I get for you, Siri?"

"I'll take four bottles of water, please."

He looks stunned at me.

"Can I order water? Is that a problem?"

"Yes, you can. No problem. Coming right up."

I reach into my back pocket and pull out my credit card. I slide it to him. "Put their drinks on here too."

Scarlet thanks me. "That's awfully sweet of you."

Candy does too. "You're alright. Are you from around here?"

"I grew up around here, but I left after high school."

Don slides my four bottles of water along with my credit card back to me. "I thought Jess and Gaby were pulling one over on me when they said you were here."

I smile. "Yeah, I'm here … with Aurei."

"Aurei? … figures. Enjoy the rest of the evening with us. Let us know if you need anything."

"Thanks. I will."

Turning with the bottles of water in my arms, I find there is a crew of about ten girls standing right behind me, crowding the bar. "Excuse me," I say, trying to wedge between them. Several girls move back, allowing me to slide through. Then no one moves, and I find myself surrounded.

"So, you're the girl here with Aurei?"

I take a deep breath. I'm going to have words with him when I get back to the table. He should have warned me about the extra attention coming here with him was going to bring.

"Have you danced with him yet?"

"Pardon me?"

"Have you danced with him yet?"

"Is she the contender?"

"I danced 'Wild, Wild Love' earlier with him."

"She's the contender."

"That doesn't count." One of the girls behind me says.

"Are you here with Aurei or not?" The girl directly in front of me asks.

"Yes, I am here with Aurei."

"Damn it. It's true! She is here with him."

"Darn it! Look at her. She's already won."

"Well?" The girl directly in front asks. "Have you?"

"Have I what?"

"Have you won?"

"Won what? If you want to know if I've touched Mr. Untouchable, the answer is yes."

She turns around and announces loudly. "Spread the word, y'all. Aurei is off the market."

"Gawd-dammit! I need a drink after hearing that."

"I tell you what. I'll buy you all drinks." I turn back to the bar, and magically the crowd parts for me.

Free drinks always make everyone happy.

When I tell Don, he grins. "You got it!"

"Thanks. You're all right." Several girls tell me as I pass them.

The path through the crew is clear, and I maneuver through the tables back to the dance floor.

Then I dance my way back through the dancers.

When I get close, I can see our table between couples gyrating to Lady Gaga's "Edge Of Glory," and what I see makes me angry.

Stopping shy of coming in full view, I watch through the green eyes of jealousy.

The bitch, Ruth, is sitting on the table right in front of Aurei.

I can see she is talking, and her body language says it's seductive by the way she swings her hair.

She's flirting, but I'm too far away to read her lips.

He must be saying something back to her because she wags her finger at him then points to herself.

If she touches him, I'm going to open a big can of whoop-ass on her, and she'll find out what the name ruthless bitch really means.

She continues to talk, and he listens. Occasionally, I see his head move or shake.

They are having a conversation. The table is cleared, so Gaby has been back. Both Steve and Paul have returned. Their faces look uncomfortable that Ruth is there, and she has the same crew of girls hanging out on the dance floor.

I remember her words from the line tonight. 'Or maybe more, like old times.'

I stiffen. They could have had a thing together. Shit!

I feel my heart fall to my gut. Is she one of his secrets? She obviously still has feelings for him. 'Like old times.'

A vision of Aurei fucking her comes into focus, and I suddenly feel sick to my stomach.

Then I remember what he told me. He hasn't fucked anyone here in years.

Then, that means when he fucked her, he was young.

A vision of a young 16-year-old Aurei with raging hormones comes into view. My stomach pain eases.

Well, you had your shot, Ruthless, and you lost him. If you are waiting on him to return, you'll die a bitter old maid. He's my man now.

I take a step toward the table to defend him when I see her place her foot over his legs.

She starts to scoot her butt off the table to straddle him when a couple pauses in front of me, dancing and grinding.

A vision of her straddling his lap flashes across my mind, and a red rage burns in my eyes.

The grinding couple moves, and I see Aurei sitting straight in the chair with his arm out, blocking her.

She laughs at him as she tries to swat his hand away and sit in his lap.

He stands up abruptly, pushing the chair back hard. So do Steve and Paul.

What the fuck is happening?

She reaches out to touch him again. Steve and Paul both take a step around the table. Aurei snatches the chair out of the way, out of her reach.

Fuck! He's angry.

I shudder, knowing this could get really bad, really quick, but he backs away from her. Steve and Paul stop, watching him retreat. He spins around and walks straight at me.

Fuck! He is looking for me! I twirl around and dance my retreat to the edge of the dance floor by the bar. I don't want him to know I saw that.

I spot him weaving in and out of the dancers. "The Edge of Glory" ends, and the gyrating stops, making it easier for Aurei to maneuver to me.

He is frowning.

As soon as he sees me, I give him a big smile, roll my eyes and blow a pretend strand of hair out of my face.

He visibly relaxes and laughs at my dramatics.

All jealously and rage leave me. I can see from his smiling face that he is mine.

No need to worry about the bitch leftovers.

They are left and over. We have Forever.

When he arrives, I tell him. "Aurelius, you're my hero! Here."

The dance floor goes dark as "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX starts to play.

Strobe lights! Nice!

I thrust my tits at Aurei for him to take the bottles.

The crowd shouts "Boom Clap" and sings with the song.

I start to giggle because Aurei is grinning wickedly at me as he squeezes my tits behind the water bottles.

I watch his beautiful face change expressions as the strobe light highlights his halo, his bright, emerald green eyes, and his straight white teeth.

When the song ends, and the low lights are back on, he actually takes the water from me.

While we walk back together laughing, "Far Away" by Nickelback plays.

When the table comes in view, what I see makes me angry all over again. A bad taste comes into my mouth. Ruth is still sitting there, watching the dance floor, waiting for Aurei to return, no doubt. Steve and Paul are sitting silently, watching for Aurei too.

When Aurei spots her, he swears. "Damn!" He doesn't slow down. He advances on her while I stop on the edge of the dance floor, trying to decide how I will handle this.

Will I be able to make her leave without a fight? Or will we have a catfight right now?

Ruth has eyes only for him. "Aurei, I requested this song for you. It's fitting, don't you think?"

He stops shy of the chair she has her feet on. "Ruth, for the last damn time, nothing happened between us. Nothing. You've been lying to those girls so long you are starting to believe it too." He turns to say something to me, only to find I'm not there; I stopped short.

My stomach slides down to my tummy as I look at his frowning face. He is disappointed I'm not with him, and his look puts my feet in action.

Strutting up, I pull the chair her feet are resting on and place it in front of him, blocking him from the table. Then I take two bottles of water from his arms and turn to face her. Her feet dangle as I step up to stand directly in front of her and stare her cold, blue eyes down again.

I am unafraid, Bitch! Get used to it.

I lean around her, brushing her body as I hand Steve and Paul the two bottles of water.

Ruth slides off the table to avoid contact with me.