Chapter 25

I wonder if he thinks I may find Demagio attractive and am too convincing at what he asked me to do; he clearly is not a man who likes his play things to give anyone else the attention he demands anyway.

Wasn’t that why he asked me to come here though, because I am good at doing exactly this?

If he wasn’t being so weird I would be on seduction overkill and finding my comfy zone, but Alexi makes this whole thing completely unworkable. I don’t feel comfortable flirting with another man under his gaze, even if it is something I excel at. He is killing my mojo and how I normally operate is nothing like this.

I am all about sussing a person out first and using subtle wiles, body language and my smart mouth to reel them in and get them eating out of my hand. Enticing and leading a man by the nose gets you a lot further when he thinks there are hints of sexual possibility. Alexi, however, has pushed me in like a paid whore, all tits and smiles and flaunting my sex brazenly. Putting my victim's brain on nothing but fucking me mercilessly.

Once a man’s brain is fully engaged in that horny mess then you lose some of your ability to cajole and sweeten, and he’s like a dog with a bone that zones everything else out.

Amateur Alexi … I mean really?

It’s obvious Alexi is more apt at seducing women.

‘’We have plenty of room for a couple more and you two are more than welcome. I have some business you may be interested in.’’ Alexi finally gets with the program and smooth charmer is back in place as he gets over himself finally. I don’t know what that was, but Jesus, the man really knows how to make me antsy. It’s not like I want to bed this old chubby pervert. Demagio isn’t attractive by any standard and his beer gut makes him look ready to drop a child at any moment.

His daughter is glaring at him with a filthy look of hatred and tugging his arm as if to make it clear she doesn’t want to go with us, but he ignores her completely.

Alexi is distracted by more greetings and smiles aimed his way and I guess it is the first time I have really noticed that everyone here seems to know him. Looking around briefly I can see he is getting a lot of attention from various sets of eyes, nods, and subtle smiles. We are in the fold of the rich and the powerful and he appears to be some sort of celebrity among them. It’s a little weird to be the centre of attention in this way and it just adds to the pressure I feel to perform.

‘’Lead the way and bring a fresh bottle of champagne for my new charming lady friend,’’ Demagio commands, surprisingly dominant as he slides his arm in mine this time and I try not to react as Alexi’s whole manner stiffens in a millisecond, hostility churning up like a tornado. It’s pretty obvious he is very much a guy who doesn’t like people touching his things or being told what to do. Even if I am a human thing and have a mind of my own. I know he is all about appearances and I can only guess he sees this as a display of disrespect by Demagio, when surrounded by peers watching him.

I can feel the pissed mood coming off him in swathes even if his face gives nothing away. Demagio should be glad that Alexi wants something from him as it’s probably the only reason he has not handed him his arse yet. Without any more small talk, Alexi orders a new bottle to be served to his box by a passing waiter with a snappy tone and leads the way. Taking my hand possessively, he pulls me once again free of my new admirer, so we walk ahead and move further on with some speed.

It’s a power play to regain what is his and the other man falls behind in step with his young daughter, enough of a gap to let Alexi turn to me quietly. He smiles softly and seems completely unfazed despite all of that, lacing my fingers in his warm strong hand snugly, and I am distracted by how familiar he feels.

‘’Are you okay?’’ I nudge him warily, testing the waters and wondering what he would do to me if I ever truly pissed him off. He has mellowed almost instantly, now we are walking ahead of Demagio, and I am starting to really wonder at his change in moods. For a guy who barely tolerates me at work, he seems to be a tad overprotective now we are here. I don’t understand the mechanics of all this game playing and etiquette in his world, but I am guessing people are always watching for things like this; chinks in his armour. I don’t know how to read his face, but he gives off enough static to hint of changes in mood, and he has had about five since he introduced me to the other man.

‘’Completely fine; you’re setting him up perfectly.’’ That quick look and half smile that gives me absolutely nothing from what is going on in his head, and he seems completely normal once more.

Boy, are you confusing and very hard to read.

This is very new for me, and I am completely out of my depth with this one. I am not even going to try and dissect the psychology of it. He clearly thinks he knows what he is doing, and I honestly do not have the energy to figure Alexi out.