~Chase~
I believed I was walking on the right path. Sofia might have thought I left her again this morning, but I made up for it with shower sex. We argued about Rafa and Georgia, but it’s nothing unusual. Then she agreed to be my date for Ruel Torres’ fifty-eighth birthday.
She looked breathtaking in a yellow summer dress with little daylily prints. The thin straps hanging from her shoulder, the neckline dipping low enough to showcase her cleavage, teasing the fuck out of me. A little belt with ribbon secured the dress around her tiny waists, and the skirt reached her ankle; a long slit split the skirt over her right leg. She had minimal makeup on, her gray hair fell in big curly waves over her shoulder.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off her or my hands. Throughout the drive, I kept planting kisses on her knuckles each chance I got and stole kisses at each red light stop. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. The moment we entered Ruel’s lake house, hungry eyes kept finding their way to ogle the woman in my arms. My possessiveness kicked in. If I could glue her to my side, I would.
Sofia had always held her own in every gathering we attended. She knew when to smile or laugh and when to inject her opinion and comments. She just doesn’t talk about her jewelry, her vacations, or what kind of signature bags and shoes she owns. She gives insight about business, shares her experiences in PR, and brags about my achievements.
Our night was going well, and I had so much in store for us. A yacht was waiting for us in the docks, and I planned to spend my night squeezing every orgasm she could give me.
However, Ruel introducing Nikos Avlonitis to me was only the beginning of this night’s tailspin. I didn’t know Ruel was in business with him as well. I was fine with it, and in the business world, keeping your competitors in check is vital to healthy competition. Coming face to face with the man who stole a business deal right under my nose was the least of my concern. It was the woman hanging from his arms that took me by surprise.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Montiero,” Nikos extended his hand for a shake, green eyes sliding to Sofia.
For the sake of being professional, I accepted his hand, leveling my voice. “The pleasure is mine,” I said, releasing his hand and drawing Sofia closer, leaving no space between our bodies. Sofia gasped, gazing up at me, frowning. She could tell something was bothering me, so she placed a hand over my chest, smiling at me. “This is my fiancee, Sofia.” If I could, I would tuck Sofia in my pocket. Nikos’ eyes on my fiancee rubbed me the wrong way. There was a brewing scheme under his dark green eyes, I could tell.
Sofia extends her hand to Nikos. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Avlonitis.”
“It’s a pleasure, Agapiménos, and please, call me Nikos.” Nikos lifted it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. [sweetheart]
Sofia tensed and tugged her hand from his hold.
Nikos chuckled slowly. I growled under my breath. Sofia laced our hands together and squeezed mine.
“This is Samantha,” Nikos introduced Sammy, using her full name.
“Lovely to meet you,” Sofia smiled sweetly at Sammy, offering her hand for a shake. I needed to have a word with Sofia about who the fuck Samantha was. I don’t need her finding out that she was the same girl from our engagement party.
Sammy was good at concealing her feelings when she was drunk or high. Obviously, she was fucking sober. She kept avoiding eye contact with me. Her smile faltered, accepting Sofia’s offered hand. “Likewise, Sofia.”
The bartender slid five wine glasses on the bar counter behind Ruel. Ruel then hands them out to us one by one. “I’m so glad you could come and celebrate this day with me. You both became a huge part of my business.”
I couldn’t keep up with what Rule was saying. He was in business with Nikos? Why am I hearing about this only now? I need to have Joe investigate Nikos Avlonitis thoroughly. And what the fuck is Sammy doing here?
“Nikos here bought my other property in Miami, Chase,” Ruel informed me gleefully.
“Which one?”
“Solaris,” Ruel chuckled, and my molars ground.
Originally, we offered to buy Solaris Condominium since it was on the beach side. But Ruel said he had no intention of selling that property since it’s his pride. He offered us Oriens, which was far from the location and qualities Solaris had.
Anger simmered in my gut. First, Nikos snagged Carrey’s place, and now Ruel fucking gave him Solaris? This was no fucking coincidence. Nikos is trying to fuck me up, and it’s fucking working.
“Nikos offered me a deal I couldn’t decline,” Ruel said. “With the sales I got from Oriens and Solaris, I’m looking forward to an early retirement.”
Nikos chuckled. “Don’t speak such nonsense, o filos mou. You’re too young to retire. You’re only fifty-eight and have much to contribute to this industry.” [my friend]
Ruel shook his head. “Maybe. But I’ve long dreamt of enjoying the fruits of my hard work. I might go on a fishing trip; you two are welcome to come and keep me company.”
“Come to Preveza.” Nikos slapped a hand on Ruel’s shoulder. “I know a good spot to catch Mahi-mahi.”
Excitement sparkled in Ruel’s eyes. “I will take you up on that, Nikos.”
“Is that your hometown?” I cut in.
Ruel answered before Nikos could offer a reply. “Nikos was hailed the number one businessman in Greece for two consecutive years, Chase. And now he’s expanding Avlonitis Holdings in the US. I’m so proud that my Solaris will be part of his history once he dominates the US real estate industry.”
“Enough with the flattery, Ruel,” Nikos chuckled, brushing off Ruel’s words, but I could read through his facade. The way he looked at me, something about it, felt familiar, but I couldn’t point out what. I concluded that we hadn’t crossed paths before, and I’m sticking by it.
“It’s nice to have someone like you in the industry,” I said. “I hope we can work together in the future. I’m sure I could learn a lot from you.”
“That’s actually the reason I wanted to introduce the two of you. Your tandem will do great! And you’re both starting to penetrate the US real estate market. Partnering up on a project will be good for your companies,” Ruel said, clasping a hand on my shoulder and Nikos as though he were linking the two of us. I’m starting to doubt if I judged Ruel wrongly. I thought he was a man of pride and honor. But accepting Nikos’ money made me think otherwise.
“Babe, I need to use the ladies’ room,” Sammy spoke to Nikos quietly.
Nikos pinned Sammy with a pointed glare, his jaw clenching. It was so subtle I wouldn’t catch it if I wasn’t watching the two of them closely. On my side, Ruel asked Sofia about our wedding, when and where we’ll be holding it. Sofia said she’ll send him an invitation with the details.
Fuck if I’ll let that happen. Coming here was a fucking mistake; I can feel it in my bones. Nikos and Sammy are up to something. The only question was, are they using each other or working together? Call it paranoia, but I think Ruel is in on Nikos’ schemes to outwit me, and I still have yet to find out why.
Sammy bit her lower lip, glancing in my direction. It had only been a month since I last saw her, but the decline in her physical features was palpable. Her collarbones were showing in her chain-strapped mini-dress. Her cheeks were hollow, and dark bags skirted her brown eyes. She was skinnier than before, and her fingers shook as she ran them up Nikos’ blue button-up shirt. She stood on her tippy toes and planted a kiss on Nikos’ cheeks. Nikos then looped an arm around Sammy’s waist, pulling her closer and kissing her on the mouth. I looked away. Sammy’s cheeks burned bright red when Nikos kissed her thoroughly, rather inappropriately, for an audience. Sammy cleared her throat when Nikos released her, turning her back on us without another glance, and headed inside the massive lake house.
“You’re one lucky bastard,” Ruel commented when Sammy was out of earshot. “She’s new, huh?”
Nikos shrugged. “It’s not my fault they fall on my feet, Ruel,” he said without a fucking care in the world.
Who was I to judge him when I’d have my string of meaningless fucks before Sofia? But this was Sammy. Nothing about that woman could be taken at face value. She’s a scheming bitch.
“So, you two are getting married?” Nikos turned to me. Sofia hopped on one of the barstools and ordered Malibu Sunset from the bartender.
“Yeah.” I took Sofia’s hand and stood beside her. Her legs showed on the slit of her skirt when she crossed them, shielding her from Nikos’ eyes. “So why the US? This is far from home,” I commented, trying to conceal my interest.
“Not really. I’m originally from the US, Pinehills, to be exact.”
My brows arched. “Yeah?”
Nikos hummed a yes. His eyes wandered on the group of women on the other side of the pool. He winked at one of them, their giggles drifting in our direction.
“Where in Pinehills?” I pressed. This wasn’t on his file. How the fuck did we miss this? All I remember was that he was in the system until he got adopted. His family got killed in a fire.
“Oakwood Creek,” Nikos answered, leaning an elbow on the counter, still eye fucking the girls across the pool, particularly the blond chick in a red dress. She’d been darting an interested glance at Nikos even when Sammy was still with him.
“There was a time when Oakwood Creek had been home to the best race tracks in the entire state,” I commented.
“Tell me about it,” he said, facing me, done flirting with the chick in a red dress. “Too bad they closed down most of the tracks. It’s the first place I checked out when I landed.” For the first time since we shook hands, there were genuine feelings in his voice; though it was salty, it was still real.
“Most?” My brows tilted up.
After Loco’s death, every race track in Oakwood had been shut down. Nikos spoke as if they were operational again.
“Not legally, no.” He tilted his head to the side. “You didn’t know?”
“No,” I shook my head, mind reeling with what this would entail. Nothing good will come out of those illegally operated tracks.
Nikos squeezed my shoulder, his eyes trained on the lady in red who detached herself from the company of her friends, heading inside the lake house. “Excuse me.”
Is he gonna fuck another chick while he’s with Sammy? What the fuck is up with this guy? I don’t give a shit about Sammy, not one fucking bit. She’s dead to me when I cut ties with her, but something about this doesn’t feel right.
“Are you okay?” Sofia’s gentle touch pulled me from the train of thoughts I’d boarded since seeing Sammy and Nikos.
“Yeah,” I faced her, settling a hand over her exposed thigh. “You enjoying the party?”
She glanced at the people filtering into Ruel’s property. Then turned to me, placing her hands on my shoulder, sailing up until she was holding my neck, her thumb skimming my jaw. “I’d rather spend this night alone with you, babe.”
A promise of a sleepless night fogged her blue eyes. Just like that, clouded thoughts of Sammy and Nikos evaporated into thin air.
“Thirty minutes,” I leaned in, whispering in her ears. “And we are out of here. I’ve got other plans for you tonight, baby.”
She shivered, goosebumps rose on the back of her neck, and she clenched her thighs. “I knew you had plans when you let Rafa stay with Elise.”
I smiled, losing myself in her expressive blue eyes. “This is me still making it up to you.”
Biting her lip, Sofia met my hooded gaze. “Keep doing what you’re doing, Mr. Montiero. You’re on the right path.” I chuckled heartily. Sofia hopped from her seat. “I’ll have to use the ladies’ room.”
“I’ll come with you.” I placed a hand on her lower back.
“Chase, I can find my way,” she protested, only making me throw an arm over her shoulder.
“Not a chance, Sofia.”
I might know almost all of Ruel’s guests, but I don’t trust any of them. Sofia knew not to argue. We found an empty bathroom on the second floor, passing a few rooms along the way. These people don’t even tone down on the fucking going on in each room. I would never open my home to strangers like this. Ruel didn’t even lock the rooms.
While Sofia was inside the bathroom, I stayed in the hallway. It was mostly empty, and the pale yellow glow poured from the overhead lights. Moans and fucking sailed through along with the jazz music filtering from the speaker.
I checked my phone, reading Rafa’s update. They were already home, and Elise was getting ready for bed.
I lifted my gaze from my phone when I heard the off sound of a woman’s shriek. Listening closely, I heard it again, as though someone was going beyond controlling things in the bedroom.
I walked forward, careful with my steps.
“Stop!” a woman’s muffled scream became clearer.
“You asked for this, slut! Eye fucking another man!?” a slap echoed, followed by a trashing sound. “In fucking front of me?!”
“Please, Nik…” the woman sobbed, choking and gasping. “Hel..”
The fine line between pain and pleasure was so fucking delicate, and that sound was far from foreplay. I kicked the door open. It might intrude on their personal time, but I had to be sure that someone was not forcing himself on a woman inside this room. My conscience would never let me rest if this turned out to be an abuse.
The sight that bombarded me made my brows furrow until I recognized who the people inside the room were.
Nikos was kneeling on the bed, pinning Sammy down with one hand around her throat; his other hand was raised mid-air, about to slap the bleeding woman beneath him.
“What the fuck?”