Billionaire Stepbrother: Autumn(7)

He nods and lets me disentangle myself from his embrace. “You better!” he shouts over the music.

Phoebe takes my arms and pulls me to the side of the bar where it’s a little quieter.

“Are you sure?” I demand. I look around, searching the club for Lex through the dancing, bobbing heads.

Her eyes are wide, startled. “Yup, it’s definitely him. They’ve cornered off an exclusive VIP area on the other side just for him and his, erm… sluts,” she spits. Phoebe watches me, and waits to see my reaction.

“I thought it best to tell you, before, you know, you saw or bumped into him. What do you want to do? We can go if you want,” she says.

My immediate reaction is to hunt him down and demand answers, but I resist the temptation; I really do not want to make a scene that could negatively affect both our lives.

“No, we’re staying. We came to have fun, and that’s what we’re going to do, whether we like it or not!”

“Ha! Awesome,” Phoebe replies.

“We’ll just keep out of his way, that’s the best thing,” I say trying to keep my shit together.

Phoebe glances at me, knowingly. “We need shots!”





Chapter Seven



Lex will not spoil my night; I’m trying so hard to keep him out of my thoughts, so I keep Jake and his hot kiss at the forefront of my mind. I walk towards the bar, ready to make up for lost time. Lex lost the chance to influence me when he abandoned me.

Making our way through a minefield of drunk, happy people, Phoebe and I gradually regain our territory at the bar.

There’s a slowly filling void where Jake used to be. I turn my head, hoping to see him nearby.

He’s probably ditched me, I think. But then I spot him a few feet away, and I smile, hoping he sees me.

Two strong arms wrap around Jake’s chest. My smile fades as I realise what’s happening. Two gorilla–like men, clad in black suits and sporting ear–pieces and thick bushy beards are dragging Jake away. Throwing him out of the club.

I squeeze through non–existent gaps to get closer, to find out what’s going on.

Over the roar of the music, Jake yells to the bouncers, “What have I done? What’s going on?”

I follow as best I can; damn these fucking heels, as I nearly roll my ankle.

He’s getting farther away, and no one else is paying any attention, grinding obliviously to the music. And it seems like each clubber’s only goal is to prevent me from getting to him. It’s as if I’m caught in a violent torrent, trying to swim upstream.

“Jake!” I hear my voice calling out. It’s useless; as I stand on tiptoe to get higher, I can no longer see him.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, I feel like someone is watching me, piercing me. I can’t understand why, in a sea full of people, I feel put on the spot… singled out. But I can’t deny the sparks that surge over my skin; the prickle at my neck.

I spin around, and at once I see who it is.

Our eyes meet from across the room.

Lex.

His face is ablaze with mischief.

I lose the ability to breathe as hatred, lust and fear fill my empty lungs.

He winks at me.

Bastard.

Lex breaks eye contact before I can, dismissing me… releasing me from my trance. He places his focus back onto the woman lounging upon his lap. His hand strokes her long blonde hair, and I want to hurl.

Fucking bastard.

With fury I realise he must have seen me kissing Jake. And instead of facing me, he’d slipped his hand into his deep pockets and used his wealth to get Jake thrown out. All to spite me.

I force my way through the crowd towards Lex, with Phoebe trailing behind me.

The VIP area is in a secluded corner, on a small platform, filled with thick, plushy sofas and half–naked women draping themselves over the fabrics.

Before I can make it up the two steps with the full intention of charging at Lex, a solid mass of flesh blocks my way.

The guard holds his meaty hand up, and with several bulging skin rolls at the base of his neck, he looks over to Lex to catch his eye.

With an almost imperceptible shake of Lex’s head, I am denied entry.

“You fucking coward!” I scream, my face turning red… Hot tears stream down my face.

I try to push past the sentinel, but in one quick swoop, my feet leave the floor and I am thrown over his shoulder like a sopping wet towel. My fists pound against the man carrying me away, but I keep my gaze focused on the VIP area as I watch Phoebe get close to Lex now that the human barrier is no longer present.

I go still, stop my useless battering, and watch in amazement as Phoebe pulls back an open faced hand and swings it across Lex’s surprised face. Her mouth moves, and inaudible words fly out and meet their target, like darts against a board. Lex glares at her, humiliated, and she quickly turns on her heel and follows me and my captor out of the club, leaving a stunned Lex behind, cradling his cheek.