Page 118 of Bourbon Deceit
“You too, Mrs. Steevers.” I gave her a hug goodbye and made a beeline for the bar. I needed a bourbon and I needed one now.
I heard Keylee trailing behind me, trying to catch up, and I made it a point to take a deep breath before addressing her.
The bartender must have known I was coming, because he had a glass of bourbon already ready for me. He gave me a wink and I tipped him a twenty.
Once I turned around, I was met with Keylee’s glare. “You can’t just leave me stranded like that,” she said as she popped a hand on her hip.
“I can when you’re shooting off blatant lies.” My anger took over and I was no longer able to control my temper. I was already on edge, I didn’t need Keylee telling the most gossiping hen in the crowd that we were planning on getting married.
“I was just trying to help.”
I leaned forward and whispered in her ear while looking out at the crowd, “If you want to help, be quiet, sip some water, and stand by my side without opening that—” My words stopped as my eyes locked on a honey-haired goddess in a black dress who had just walked into the party on Diego’s arm.
My heart stopped completely, and my stomach bottomed out at the sight of Goldie on someone else’s arm. Forget that, at the sight of Goldie at the ball, period. What the fuck was Diego up to?
“I don’t have to take this from you,” Keylee said while poking my chest.
Reluctantly, I tore my gaze off Goldie and looked down at her. “You want to be a Jett Girl? Well, that means knowing your role and right now, your role is to be pleasing to the men’s eyes while keeping your mouth shut. You think you can handle that?”
Her mouth hung in shock from my directness. I didn’t have time to fuck around, to care about her feelings. I needed her to comply immediately.
“You have three seconds to decide,” I continued. “Three . . . two . . .”
“Okay,” she said in a panic. “Just, let me collect myself first. I wasn’t prepared for this. May I go to the bathroom?”
Goldie crossed the room with Diego, whispered something in his ear, and headed for the bathroom. This was my chance to talk to Diego without Keylee’s damn ears dropping in on my conversation.
“Yes, but don’t dawdle,” I commanded.
She nodded, gave me one last look with those damn pouty lips of hers, and took off for the bathroom.
Diego must have sensed my anger because as Goldie crossed the room, he made his way to the bar where I stood. After he ordered a drink, I grabbed him by the elbow, tightly, and swung him around.
With a smile across my face but a menacing tone in my voice, I said, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Do you think it’s smart to be talking to me right now?”
“Don’t fuck around with me. What is she doing here?”
The bartender handed Diego his drink and he followed with a tip. Surveying the crowd, Diego stood by my side but never looked at me as he spoke in a light tone, “She made me. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Are you insane? You’re like three times as big as her. Of course you had a choice.”
“She really knows how to pinch a nipple, man.”
“For the love of Christ. Please don’t tell me you brought her here because she pinched your nipple. I swear to God, Diego, I will take everything you’ve worked so hard for away from you.”
Shaking his head, Diego said, “Low blow, man. Maybe you need to just let her be. She will do whatever the hell she wants, it’s about time you realized that.”
“You could have stopped her. What if something happens to her tonight?”
“Nothing is going to happen to her. We’re in the middle of the most important political event in New Orleans. No one will try anything tonight, so stop shitting your pants and do what you’re supposed to do. Get the job done, man.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, trying not to show how distressed I was over Goldie being at the event. With her here, there was no way I would be able to focus on the task at hand.
“Got to go, keep your distance man and for the love of God, don’t blow it.”
With that, Diego took off and started shaking the hands of some of the younger men he’d come to know by attending these events. There was a whole secret club of kinky men in the city and Diego knew each and every one of them. They were the only reason Diego went to these events: so he could network, that way when he was ready to open his club, he would have a decent membership.
