Love In The Mix (Love Series #3) - Lucy Darling Page 0,1

out to the front door where she can be more efficient. She sits up straighter immediately as her nose flares with anger. She masks it quickly.

“If you need anything—”

“I don’t.” I cut her off, turning my gaze again to my computer, dismissing her. I don’t fuck people that work for me. Hell, I don’t even have time to fuck my own hand anymore.

Since I opened my first club all I do is work. Some people think that I spend my nights partying. Of course I was always seen in pictures inside clubs with giant parties going on behind me. It is my job. I’m not saying that I’ve never partied but that life isn’t for me anymore.

My business is too important to me and I’ve worked too hard to allow that lifestyle to get its hooks in me. I am ready for the next phase of my life; I’m just not sure what that is, which lately has been leaving me uneasy.

I finally have what I’ve always wanted and still there is this empty feeling that remains inside of me. Each day it grows worse. I should probably see a doctor or some shit. I rub the center of my chest, trying to get the hollow feeling to go away. It does nothing to fill the void.

I try to think about what has changed in the past month that could be giving me this feeling. It can’t be that my brother fell madly in love, got married and has already knocked up his wife Amelia. His whole life has changed for the better. No, this feeling came after. I am happy for him but it isn't something I ever wanted for myself.

I lose myself in work trying to pass the time. As I go over the numbers, it still always shocks me how far I've come in such a short time. Ethan is my brother but he was more often a father figure to me. I wanted to prove myself to him. I’ve done it. This afternoon I could see how proud he was when we signed off on all the paperwork. Making the empire that I’ve built mine.

I glance at the clock and see that it’s finally four in the morning. I flip off my screen. Friday night is done. It went smoothly. I had no idea how important a good staff is. Having managers at each club that I can trust to run things without me hovering over their every move is vital to my business. I still need more staff, but I’ll get there eventually.

I stand from my chair, stretching. I still don’t feel tired. I should probably find something to eat. I grab my suit jacket off the back of the chair before heading downstairs to the now empty club. Only a few employees linger around cleaning and restocking.

“How’d it go?” I ask Gio, who is sitting at the bar counting out money.

“I swear we make more and more every night.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” I slap him on the shoulder.

“I’m out for the night.”

“You know you don’t have to come here every night,” he tells me, looking up from the stacks of money and credit card receipts.

“My office,” I remind him. I have seven clubs. Each has an office but I made myself a nice big one here at Vine. It has the space and is my biggest, most profitable club to date.

“Just saying, boss man. You don’t have to stick around if you don’t want to. Not like you come down and hang with us anymore.”

“I come down and pitch in if you need hands.” I am still the first to roll up my sleeves and make drinks if need be. There is no task here that I wouldn’t do.

“I’m talking about not working. You used to come down and hang.” Ah. He’s right; I used to hang down here with the high spenders. If I was in the bar hanging out with people, though, I knew my picture would end up in the gossip magazines. I am a King, after all. They always want to know what my brother and I are up to.

“Publicity. As you can see, we don’t need that anymore. The clubs speak for themselves now.” I reach into my pocket, pulling out my keys. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I head out the front door, rubbing my tired eyes. If I am lucky sleep will come to me tonight. I stop when the cold spring air hits my face. The