Off Limits Attraction (The Heirs of Hansol #3) - Jayci Lee Page 0,20
in her persona, but a powerful, vibrant woman that shouldn’t be hidden.
Enough feeling sorry for yourself. This version of her might have some aspects of her true self, but she had to acknowledge that Princess Jihae also held parts of her. Her drive to succeed and her search for perfection had never been feigned.
Her friend stepped out of the bathroom looking beyond gorgeous in her black sleeveless dress. “Let’s go party, babe.”
With a resolute nod, Jihae straightened her spine and let a wicked smile spread across her face. “I’m ready.”
* * *
Colin buried his head in work all day, but it didn’t do much to distract him from thoughts of Jihae. Immobilized by his conflicting dread and excitement about the partnership with Rotelle Entertainment, he barely finished half of the tasks he’d set out to get done.
He pulled his hand down his face then eyed his leftover dinner with a grimace. The turkey club and fries had long gone soggy, which was just as well since he didn’t have much of an appetite. He couldn’t figure out why he was so twisted up.
His door cracked open and Kimberly peeked into the office. “Staying much longer?”
“No, I’ll probably follow you out in a few,” he said, rubbing his temples. “You’re here late.”
“I was finishing up my research and presentation for tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Selecting the right director is an essential part of our project.”
“Would it be unprofessional to say ‘Duh’?” She smiled cheekily at him. “Of course it is, and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you. So go rest up. I want you sharp tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
And just as he promised, Colin logged off his computer and closed shop for the night. It was already past ten, but he needed a drink to wind down, so he decided to head over to Pendulum.
The pressure in his chest eased a bit as he drove his car onto the road. He was letting his emotions get the best of him, and that wasn’t like him when it came to business. He hadn’t made millions by his midtwenties by being wishy-washy. He laughed wryly at the cocky observation. His confidence hadn’t hurt, either.
But now he questioned what was up and what was down. Was Jihae a spoiled villainess or was she a brilliant businesswoman with the allure of an angel? Who the hell knew? He certainly didn’t. No. No, that wasn’t true. Colin stubbornly tipped the scale toward villainess and quelled his doubts. He had to keep his crap together if he was going to get anywhere in his investigation.
By the time he parked his car at Pendulum, he’d almost convinced himself of Jihae’s culpability. All the evidence, albeit circumstantial, pointed to her involvement in the Hansol espionage. Her arrival right at the onset of the suspicious activities, and the targeted attack on Garrett and his marriage, implied that she had been seeking revenge against his cousin. With long, impatient strides, he walked into the club and headed straight for the bar. He planned to down a double cognac then take another into his office to enjoy more leisurely.
“Hey, Tim,” he said, waving down the bartender. “How’s your evening going?”
“Like a pretty typical weeknight. It’s just busy enough for it to be fun, but not enough to make me sweat.”
“Then you won’t mind if I trouble you for a drink.”
“Not a problem. Double cognac?” Tim asked.
“You know me so well,” Colin said with a grin.
Something about the music made him turn his head toward the stage and his suspicion was confirmed. Tucker was mixing the songs. He got the complete picture when he spotted the regularly scheduled DJ nursing a beer at the bar.
“Hey, Dan. Did Tucker beg you to sit out for a bit?”
“He’s this huge, intimidating dude, right? But he does a damn good puppy-dog look.” Dan shrugged sheepishly. “I can’t say no when he pulls that on me. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s the manager.”
“You did good. He misses being up there, and it helps him let loose a little. Managing this place isn’t an easy job.”
“Yeah. I totally get that.” The DJ sipped his drink as his eyes drifted to the stage. He whistled under his breath, shaking his head. “Those two women have been dancing like crazy for the last hour or so, and they’re distracting as hell. In a way, I was relieved to let Tucker take over, so I could stare at them properly. They look like goddesses but dance like unoiled automatons.”