Splendor(184)

He’d heard about Ian’s new amour from Charlotte, and it hadn’t taken him very long at all to put two and two together. Jason’s reaction upon discovering that the beautiful blonde Ian was apparently quite taken with was Tessa had been a combination of amusement, anger, and an overwhelming need for vengeance. He blamed both of them equally for the unsatisfactory situation he found himself in, and grew more determined with each passing day to make them pay dearly.

Last evening had been the first time he’d seen either of them since Ian had effectively banished him from the regional office. His fists had clenched in fury to see the way Ian kept the gorgeous blonde tucked firmly against his side, refusing to release her even for a moment. He was too old for her, of course, and Jason had told Charlotte rather scathingly that Ian must need a boost to his ego after turning forty earlier in the year.

Charlotte had frowned at him disapprovingly. “Why would you say that? Ian looks marvelous for his age, a lot fitter than men ten years younger. He could have most any woman he wanted. No, according to Aunt Joanna he really loves this girl. And she’s crazy about him, too.”

“Probably crazy about his money,” Jason had muttered darkly.

That was yet another gripe he had against Ian – how much money the bloke had. It just wasn’t fair that he and Charlotte weren’t even a fraction as rich as Ian or his brothers were. While there was no possible way that scatterbrained Charlotte could have ever held a position of any significance in the family business, there was no reason at all why Jason shouldn’t be at an equal level with her three cousins.

Charlotte, of course, had insisted on saying hello to her cousin and had dragged a reluctant Jason over to greet Ian and his well-kept bitch. Tessa admittedly looked every inch the pampered and spoiled girlfriend of a very wealthy man, even in the more casual island style dress she’d been wearing. It had seemed that being Ian’s bedmate agreed with her.

And there was very little doubt that she was earning her keep on a regular basis. She’d had that just-fucked look about her, gazing up at Ian with almost sickening sweetness, and the looks that passed between the pair of them were nothing less than smoldering. Oh, no, Ian was enjoying her thoroughly and often, definitely getting his money’s worth from that hot, ripe body. The satisfied look on the prick’s face as he held Tessa tightly against him made Jason long to shove a fist into his jaw.

Charlotte had been predictably oblivious to the thick tension in the air when both Ian and Tessa had barely acknowledged him. It had been left to Charlotte to do most of the talking, and Jason had almost cringed when she’d happily babbled on about the four of them getting together for dinner soon, or inquiring if Tessa would be joining the family later in the year in England for the holidays. Ian had smoothly changed the subject each time Charlotte hit on something awkward, and the ninny had naively never even sensed there was anything wrong.

Jason had drank steadily during the evening, his fury building each time he happened to glance over in the direction of Ian’s table. It made him sick to his stomach to see the way that blonde whore fawned over Ian, touching his arm and gazing at him in adoration, like he was the fucking king and everyone else here in the room his doting subjects.

‘Fuck the pair of them,’ Jason had thought darkly. ‘He was probably screwing her the whole time she worked there. That’s why he shipped you off to bloody Scotts Valley – because you dared to poach on his territory.’

He’d thought often of filing a complaint against Ian, or at least blowing the whistle on his amorous activities with one of his staff. But every time he’d considered the idea, Jason knew it was virtually useless. Tessa had very conveniently resigned recently, removing any obstacle to having a relationship with Ian. And since Ian reported directly to his father and uncle – both of whom had been fully apprised of the situation – there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d be disciplined for any of his past activities.

‘No,’ Jason had told himself firmly. ‘You’ll have to figure out a different way to get back at them. And they will pay for what they’ve done to you.’

***

Tessa had just pulled on a sheer green cotton cover-up over her emerald green bikini when a knock sounded on the door of the suite. She frowned, for the butler was usually off duty at this time of the afternoon, and Ian would have used his card key. As the knocking persisted, however, she heaved a little sigh and walked over to the front door.

It had been an especially hectic morning today, the last full day of the managers meeting, and Ian had insisted she take the afternoon off and go relax on the beach. Even Andrew had shooed her off, confirming that he and Shelby could easily handle the rest of the afternoon’s scheduled events. Still feeling more than a little guilty, Tessa had nonetheless returned to the suite and changed into her beachwear.