the come oozed out of her body, white globs dripping down her thighs.
Now I had to fuck her again.
I’d only been asleep for a few hours when my alarm went off.
London was dead asleep and didn’t even stir at the sound ringing from my nightstand. I turned it off then got into the shower to start my day. I’d worked while I was in New York, but I still had a lot of catching up to do. I shaved the scruff off my face and put on a crisp suit before I headed out the door.
Ariel knew London was there with me. That woman knew everything about the business, and since my personal life involved the business, she knew about that too. I rubbed the back of my head and sighed as I took the stairs to the main floor. My office faced the courtyard, and she would undoubtedly be there waiting for me.
And she was.
With arms crossed over her chest, slender glasses on her face, and an attitude that reached every corner of the room, Ariel projected her anger directly into my skin. Without saying a single word, she told me off.
Which was pretty impressive, if you asked me.
“Morning.” I walked past her and sat behind my desk, refusing to absorb her ferocity. She was waiting for me to make the first statement. That was how she always played this game. I opened my folder and looked through my checklist of things I needed to complete. “I have a meeting with Pias in fifteen minutes. You can sit in if you want. Afterward, I’m gonna stop by the distillery in Edinburgh. Are you coming or do you have other matters to attend to?”
All she did was stare—coldly.
I met her gaze and waited for a response. When I didn’t get one, I moved on. “I’m going to take that as a yes, then.” I opened my laptop and ignored her altogether.
“Goddammit, Crewe.” She slammed her fist down on my desk, making everything shake.
“Here we go…” I shut my laptop and leaned back in my chair, getting comfortable for the long conversation ahead.
Her hand moved to her hip, where her gold bracelet hung on her petite wrist. “I’ve already made my feelings perfectly clear, and I don’t want to repeat myself—”
“Then don’t.” I respected Ariel’s opinion, but she needed to back off. This was my life—I was gonna fuck whomever I wanted.
Her eyes widened immediately. “We lost four men because of her.”
“She told Joseph not to come, but he did anyway.”
“And you believe her?” she asked incredulously. “The woman who staged a coup behind your back?”
“She didn’t stage a coup—”
“She fucked your brains out until you trusted her—”
“Don’t. Fucking. Interrupt. Me.” I rose to my full height, provoked and angry. There was nothing I hated more than disrespect. While Ariel was vital to my success, she worked for me—not the other way around. The scotch was mine. The royalty was mine. She was just a partner—an employee. “I’m aware of all the ramifications surrounding London. I’m aware she lied to me. I’m aware of everything she’s done.” I worked my jaw to control my anger, feeling the need to spit fire at her. “But I want to be with her. She loves me, and I love her. She has no other motive to be with me other than love, so I trust her. She won’t interfere with our business. And she would never be disloyal to me ever again.” I watched Ariel’s face darken in more anger as she held her tongue. “That’s how it’s going to be, Ariel. You may as well accept it.”
“I don’t accept it, Crewe. How can I do business with someone who thinks with their dick and not their brain?”
My hands gripped the edge of the desk. I was much gentler on her than I was on other employees because she was a woman, but if she wanted to play rough, we would play rough. “Then maybe you should leave.”
“I think I will.”
I continued to wear my poker face, but the statement was like a punch to the gut. She and I were a perfect team. She was just as ruthless, determined, and ambitious as I was. I’d never met a more intelligent businessperson in my life.
“I could’ve dealt with that little whore being your wife, even if she ruined my chances of capitalizing on our business. But after what she did, I can’t tolerate it. I can’t work in the garden every day when there’s