Chapter Six - Something is off.

Orson

My Saturday is being spent in the company of a few friends, having a good time. We were at our favourite, exclusive, and pricey bar. They cater to the rich and famous. The place’s exclusivity is what attracts me to it. Label me as rude, but I choose to avoid interactions with those of the lower class.

“How is business?” Sebastian, my closest and oldest friend, asks.

“It's mostly good. My parents are threatening to cut me out of the new business deal they are working on. They want my brother to replace me since he has a wife to take care of, too, and they will be starting a family soon.” I groan.

“What relevance does that have?”

“I couldn’t agree more. It is my parents’ way of manipulating me into settling down. It is pathetic. They are convinced that if I don’t grow up and settle down, then I will waste everything I have worked hard for and ruin my family’s reputation since I am the only one of my siblings not in a serious relationship.”

I’ve never quite fit in with my family. I’ve never been able to measure up to my perfect younger sister and older brother. My parents disapprove of my refusal to follow instructions and meet their expectations. I’ve always despised their obsession with perfection in everything and everyone.

“So, what are you going to do?” My other friend, Christian, adds.

“I don’t know. I will see how things go over the next couple of weeks. I have to be cautious of Ryan; he would gladly take everything from me without hesitation.”

Ryan and I used to get along. We have a three-year age difference. We had a close bond in our teenage years, but circumstances caused a shift in our relationship. My girlfriend, who was also my first love, cheated on me with him. I retaliated by doing the same to him. He hated me for it. Even though he was at fault, he managed to shift the blame onto me entirely. However, I believe it is even more than that. He despises me for having the courage to defy my parents, especially my father. I am certain that he feels jealous of both me and my life. He got married at twenty-three, something I am sure he has regretted since. My sister-in-law, Cassidy, is a bitch. They are made for one another. I would lose everything if Ryan and Cassidy had their way. It is how much my brother despises me these days. I don’t give a shit. He’s a son-of-a-bitch who’s both arrogant and weak.

“You’ll figure it out, as you always do. You have more balls and brains than him.” Sebastian chuckles.

Raising my glass, I chuckle, “Here’s to that.”

We cheers and finish our drinks. I summon the staff and order another round of scotch and shots, too. I plan on getting drunk. Since there’s no work tomorrow, I can drink as much as I want.

Sebastian groans, his eyes falling onto another table, “Damn, who is she? Never seen her here before.”

We look to see who he’s referring to. No, surely not? Everly! This time, she’s with a different guy. Someone of a similar age to her. How the fuck did she get in here too? Is there a man for her each night of the week? She criticizes me for screwing around, but it appears she is a hypocrite.

“This is her first time being here. She’s the kind of woman neither of us could ever forget.” Christian agrees.

She looks incredibly sexy. Her hair is long and straight, her lips are painted a bright red, and she’s wearing a tight, short, little black dress. Whoever the guy is, she shamelessly flirts with him.

“She doesn’t belong in a place like this.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“She’s my assistant, and her name is Everly. She doesn’t earn enough or is known enough to be here.”

I pay my staff fairly, but not enough for her to come to a place like this.

“Is it a rich boyfriend, perhaps?” Christian asks.

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. She was at the hotel a few nights ago, and I happened to see her with someone else. An older billionaire. Does anyone know the identity of the guy she’s with?”

“I believe he is connected to the Holland family.” Sebastian answers.

The Holland family is just as rich as mine. How does she attract so many wealthy men? Something seems off.

As I tap my fingers on the table, I utter, “Hmm, what is her game?

“Gold digger or a call girl?” Christian suggests.

“Call girl? I don’t believe so.”

She better not be, or I will fire her ass. The information about my assistant being a call girl is the last thing I want to be revealed.

Sebastian shrugs. “Maybe she just has a thing for rich guys. She is gorgeous enough; it wouldn’t take her much to grab these guys’ attention.”

“I don’t know, but I need to find out. I refuse to employ a call girl.”

“Why not? You’ve paid for those services.” Christian reminds.

True, I have a few times, but it is different. If someone finds out her true identity, it could harm my business or give my family another reason to take it from me.

“Yes, but it would fuck everything up. I won’t jump to conclusions until I find out more.”

Asking her is pointless since she won’t disclose anything. She’s already given me a warning to steer clear of her personal life. While I drink, I watch them. He moves closer and kisses her. They seem more intimate than she did with Jonah. Does Jonah know about her affair? Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t say anything. He must be thrilled to have such a stunning person by his side.

Their kiss grows intense. Why is there a need to display affection so publicly? My face contorts in displeasure. Despite knowing I should look away, I can’t stop staring. I don’t want her to see me here. She can’t know until I find out more information.

“Jealous?” Christian chuckles.

His choice of words causes me to whirl around and confront him, exclaiming, “What? Jealous? No. I hate her, and she hates me. It’s not jealousy, just curiosity about her motives.”

Smirking, he challenges, “Are you really sure about that? You can’t resist beautiful women like her.”

“Positive! She is a pain in my fucking ass.” I protest.

I grab one of the shots and drink it. I must be careful to avoid being seen by her here. It’s a good idea to relocate soon to reduce the risk. I’ll keep quiet until I uncover the truth. While she may not be a call girl, there is something strange about this whole situation.