Big Ben (See No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,4

changed.”

I forced my gaze to meet his.? “Arsehole,” I said with equal parts of disdain and irreverence. “Still a prick, I see.”

Cassandra raised her champagne glass to her mouth, but I could see the corners of her lips twitching as she bit back a laugh.?It wasn’t like I was lying. Everyone knew he was a dick. Just because his family owned a diamond empire, he thought his shit didn’t stink.?Well, that was going to change.

He rolled his eyes then drained his glass of champagne. “You really are predictable, Covington.”

I whisper-shouted loudly enough for the nearby groups to overhear.? “Ladies, you know that him being a dick does not equate to him having a big dick, right??I know that’s confusing.”

In my ear, East cursed. “Can you get closer, mate??You’re too far away.”

One of the redheads in the group gave me an appraising look from top to bottom.?Her gaze slid over me as if calculating exactly how much I was worth by what I was wearing.?Tom Ford shoes, the slick Armani tuxedo, the classic Tag Heuer, even the Hermes tie all rang up the cash machine in her head.?When her gaze met mine, I winked at her. “Care to jump ship, love?”

I inched closer to Van Linsted as I sidled up to her. I thought I might still be too far away,?but East’s voice reassured me.? “That’s it, right there.?Don’t move.?Closer if you can, it’s a little slow to download.”

I leaned in to whisper, “I’m Ben. You can call me Big Ben if you prefer.” She chuckled at that, and I nudged even closer to her.

Van Linsted scowled. “What do you want, Covington?”

“I wanted to say hello.?It’s been a while.?Obviously, things are moving in the right direction for you.”

From my peripheral vision, I saw security inching their way through the crowd, trying to be discreet as they sliced through the people like a Damascus steel knife.?I was running out of time.

I was going to have to agitate him. East’s frustration was clear as he growled, “Mate, closer.?Something is wrong.”

Bugger.

I needed Van Linsted to initiate prolonged contact. And there was only one way I could think of to do that. “How is it hiding under Mummy’s skirts, Bram? Your family did always bail you out of problems.?Rumor has it she’s going to skip you for inheritance. Is that true?” I turned my attention to the crowd.? “Ladies, did you know that Bram here doesn’t control his purse strings? Mummy does.?Those diamonds you see draped around her neck are solely controlled by her.?You’re better off trying your luck with Miles, his younger brother. Bram here has no say in Van Linsted holdings.” It was true.

Marcus Van Linsted, Bram’s father, might have been the head of the mines on paper, but marrying April had been the infusion of cash, all told in the billions, that the business needed.

All eyes were on me.?I spread my arms. “I, on the other hand, am a self-made billionaire with a B.” I mock-stumbled forward.? “So that should help in your decision making.”

In my ear, East chuckled and egged me on. “That’s it. It’s working. Also, you’re a right git. Thank God you’re not on the side of evil.”

I was going to have to physically climb the fucker if the download didn’t go any faster.

The other women in the group didn’t even bother casting Van Linsted a goodbye glance as they stalked over to me.?The tallest one with the dark auburn hair grinned.? “My name is Fiona.”

“Ah, like the princess.?I’m Ben.?You can call me Big Ben, though.?I don’t falsely advertise.?Bram here, well, he’s known for having a little prick.?And, you know, generally being a prick.?Just his Mummy’s errand boy.”

I knew Van Linsted. He didn’t get his hands dirty.?He didn’t know how to fight.?Not like I did.?I could afford to take a few calculated risks. But security was close.

In my ear, Bridge growled.? “You’re going to have to get right up next to him.?We still have at least a minute and a half left.”

I needed to push him.?I stepped closer still.?If I could get him to attempt to run at me, that might help.

“How does it feel, Bram? When everybody in your life chooses someone other than you, including your mother?”

The muscle in his jaw ticked.

Come on, you fuck.?Get in my face.?I needed it to be showy.?I needed him to think he had the upper hand.

He did step to me then, a sneer twisting his lips, turning him into a Disney villain in stark contrast to his perfectly ordinary features.?His voice