Control Me(50)
“Babe, I don’t think they have time to look at photos tonight—”
“Nonsense, Max,” Martha interrupted me. “I would love to see them, dear. Just make sure we get invited to the wedding!”
“Women!” Gary laughed and smiled at me. “Max, let’s leave the ladies to chat and we can catch up with the other board members while we’re waiting for dinner to be served.”
“Sure.” I was unusually nervous. I felt like there was someone or something that would fuck up the whole thing for me. For us.
“Max?”
“Yes, Gary?” I answered him.
“I must apologise for the delay with the announcement today, but I had a family emergency with my granddaughter; I promise we will make the announcement after dinner. Not long to wait now, son. Let’s go, I’m starving.”
***
JADA
After being introduced to every person in the room and making idle chitchat with them all, I was more than ready to call it a night. They all seemed to be more interested in my modelling career rather than my relationship with Max. Thank goodness for that, because at least I knew what to say and didn’t have to make up stories about my relationship with Max.
I could sense Max was uptight; he was drinking more than usual which was not a good sign, and he was extremely fidgety in his seat. The one good thing was that Max had forgotten all about looking at Tate Turner’s file; he was too preoccupied with the deal.
Max snuck a look at me every so often throughout the dinner. I smiled at him, continuing my conversation with the woman beside me. With the dinner service over, it was time for the formalities. This was it, the time that Gary Wells was going to announce who won the bid. Max drew in a deep breath as Gary, accompanied by his son Jason, stepped up to the podium.
The entire room became silent.
I moved in closer to Max’s chair, placing my hand on his muscular thigh under the table, and rubbed his leg soothingly. He interlocked his fingers through mine and squeezed. I felt a pang of guilt hoping I had done a good-enough job at convincing them that Max and I were the real deal.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you all for gracing us with your company here this evening,” Gary addressed the crowd. “As you are all aware, we have been consulting with several candidates to build a hotel here in Darwin that will hopefully increase our tourism in the Northern Territory. After much deliberation and decision-making last night and most of today, we have made our decision. Before we do announce our verdict, I would like to mention that we sincerely thank all our bidders, as they were all exceptional. However, there was one proposal that stood out from the rest.”
“On behalf of my son, Jason, and the Board of Directors at G.W. Holdings, we would like to announce that the company and family-orientated corporation we have chosen to build its hotel here in our magnificent capital city of Darwin is…”
“Shit,” Max gritted through his teeth. “It’s not us. We’ve lost the bid. Fuck.”
I swallowed the bile forming in my throat. At the mention of ‘family-orientated corporation’, it could swing either way. Gosh, this was more nerve-racking than my first catwalk runway in Paris. I tightened my hand on Max’s thigh and almost crushed his fingers with my other hand, still interlocked with his. Max sucked in a deep breath.
“…Max Brunetti, from the Brunetti Corporation. We welcome and look forward to The Brunetti Hotels, Spas and Resorts here in Darwin.”
Murmurs and cheers of congratulations echoed through the room. The gentlemen at our table were patting Max on the back and shaking his hand. Max’s eyes were fixated on mine, giving me a deep, penetrating stare.
“What is it, Max? What’s wrong?
“Nothing is wrong, babe. It’s all right. Thank you. This never would have happened if it wasn’t for you.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles.
The moment his lips touched my skin, I felt my heart quiver. I knew the feeling in my heart was real, that the infatuation I had for Max all those years ago was love.
I loved him.
***
MAX
Walking back to the hotel, I promised myself the next time I made love to Jada it would be slow and sensual. We barely had time to put the keycard in the door before we were both tearing at one another’s clothing. Small piles of our clothing, shirt, jacket, satin dress and silky lingerie, were scattered all over the hotel floor.
It was the fastest I had ever dispensed with my clothes and undressed a woman; I desperately wanted to take my time to enjoy her, to remove her dress slowly and her lingerie piece by piece and kiss every inch of bare skin I exposed. But it was different with Jada; she made me crave her to the point of madness. I had no control over my feelings and emotions where Jada was concerned. I loved it and hated it at the same time.