Cockloft Page 8

  “Well, if it isn’t Princess CeCe,” he greets with a charming smile, opening his arms for me.

  I don’t hesitate walking into his embrace. “It’s good to see you, Graham. Thank you for meeting with me.”

  He steps back, his hands gripping my bare shoulders. “Of course. I was delighted when you called. It’s been way too long.”

  “It most certainly has.”

  His eyes drift over me. “You look as radiant as ever.”

  “So do you.”

  It’s the way of the social circle. It doesn’t matter how old one gets, there’s always Botox and plastic surgery to remain youthful. Graham is no exception to that rule. His salt and pepper hair works with his fake tan and bleached white teeth.

  There’s something in the way he gazes back at me, something that’s never been there before, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. It doesn’t help the nerves I’m already trying to fight off.

  Thankfully, his mouth pulls back into the familiar smile I’ve always known.

  “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

  I nod, both excitement and hope surging in my heart.

  He moves to close his office door while I walk over to take a seat at the front of his desk. He doesn’t end up joining me. Instead, he moves for the leather sofa. “Join me over here, dear. We’ll be more comfortable and you’ll have plenty of space to lay everything out for me,” he says, tapping the coffee table in front of him.

  I find the suggestion odd but oblige him. Once I take a seat, he does too, sitting much closer than necessary. My earlier apprehension returns with a vengeance.

  Am I going crazy or is he giving off some weird vibes today?

  Clearing my throat, I shove the internal thought aside and lift my portfolio onto the table, pulling out my business plan.

  The tension I felt moments ago fades as I present my proposal to him. He listens intently and even seems impressed with the plan I lay out. Which is something he confirms when I finish showing him the first year’s return on his investment.

  “You’ve really outdone yourself, young lady.”

  I straighten, beaming with pride. “You think so?”

  “Absolutely. Your father would be so proud of you, CeCe.”

  The compliment has my heart pinching in my chest and a lump forming in my throat. “Thanks.”

  “How are you dealing with everything?” he asks, softening his voice.

  “As good as I can, I guess.” I shrug but the pain in my heart contradicts the easiness I try to portray. “I miss him every day and wish he could be around to see all I have accomplished.”

  “He sees your successes, darling.” His hand finds its way on my bare knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  The lingering caress of his fingers yanks me out of my sadness. My eyes lift to his, that uneasy feeling burrowing deep in my gut as he peers back at me. I don’t know what has gotten into him but I decide it’s time to end this meeting and quickly.

  Casually, I shift my knee out from under his hand and start gathering up all my papers. “So, what do you think? Will the bank back me?” I ask, avoiding his gaze that I feel burning into the side of my face.

  “I think you might have something really solid here but we should discuss all of your options. I have another meeting soon but how about we pick this back up tonight, over a drink perhaps?”

  Every muscle in my body tenses, dread sinking into the pit of my stomach. Pulling myself together, I turn to him, finally making eye contact. “I don’t understand what else there is to go over. I’ve given you all the details you need.”

  “There are still things I’d like to discuss.”

  “Okay. Well, why don’t we discuss them now?”

  The smile he flashes me sends those alarm bells banging around inside my anxious heart. “CeCe, you’re a beautiful, bright woman. I’m sure you see where I’m going with this.”

  “I’m not so sure I do,” I croak, refusing to believe this is actually happening right now.

  He scoots closer to me, his hand sweeping my hair off my shoulder. “You want something…I want something…”

  The graze of his fingers on my shoulder sends me to my feet. “Don’t touch me!” I snap. “What the hell are you thinking? You’re my father’s best friend!”

  He’s not the least bit put off by my anger. If anything, he’s amused by it. “You’re not a little girl anymore, CeCe. There’s nothing wrong with us engaging in a little fun.”

  My teeth grind, disgust crawling up my throat. “What you’re doing is illegal. What would the bank think of their respected president offering up a loan in exchange for sex?”

  That wipes the smugness off his face. His eyes narrow as he stands. I grip the portfolio to my chest, my heart racing, feet retreating as he advances on me.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  My chin lifts, refusing to show fear, but my shaking body gives me away. “It’s not a threat. It’s the truth.”

  “Do you think anyone will believe you over me?” The back of my legs hit his desk and I realize I’m cornered, his body crowding me. “You breathe a word of this to anyone and I will ruin you. You can kiss that entire boutique good-bye. I have the means to do it. You know I do.”

  I stare back at him, having no idea who I’m looking at. This isn’t the man who laughed with my father. Or who came to all my birthday parties and bounced me on his knee… The image trails off and has bile inching up my burning throat.

  “Now you have a choice here,” he says. “You can meet me tonight and the loan will be yours. Or, you leave here now without a word and I’ll let you keep what you already have. What’s it going to be?”

  My heart plummets at the thought of losing everything I’ve worked so hard for but not enough to sacrifice my self-respect.

  “Go to hell.” Lifting my knee, I nail him between the legs, hard enough that he doubles over. I tear out of his office, ignoring the look of concern on the receptionist’s face.

  Betrayal races through me on the ride home, my mind scrambling as I wonder how I could have been so wrong about him. Graham Davis is no different than the men who are responsible for my father’s death. My entire life feels like a lie and I’m beginning to wonder if I ever really knew anyone.

  By the time I stagger into my empty apartment, I’m a total mess. The first thing I do is take a hot shower, wanting to wash the filth from my body. Then I crawl into bed, my arms wrapped around myself as I cry into my pillow, feeling lost and alone.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Gabe

  I press the button for the twelfth floor; determination pushing me to find out what the hell is going on. I sent CeCe a text earlier today asking how the meeting went but I didn’t receive a reply. So I went by the boutique to bring her flowers only to find out from Jill that she called her to take her shift and she sounded upset.

  That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands. So now I’m here, probably overstepping, but I don’t give a shit. I need to know she’s okay and I’m not leaving until I see for myself that she is.

  Walking off the elevator, I come up to her door and knock. The dog lets out his signature bark, confirming she’s here. I’m pretty sure she takes that damn Chihuahua with her everywhere.

  Silence.

  I knock again. “CeCe, it’s me. Open up.”

  “It’s really not a great time right now, Gabe.” Her voice is practically unrecognizable, soft and sad, not at all the usual flare I’m used to hearing from her.

  “Sorry, Blondie, but I’m not leaving until I see you.”

  Several moments pass before I hear her defeated breath and the sound of her lock unlatching. The door opens and the sight that I’m met with has my chest constricting painfully. Gone is the blonde sassy girl I’ve come to know and in its place is a devastated one.

  She’s dressed in a pair of sleep shorts and tank top with a sweater folded over her chest. Her hair is damp, as if she took a shower not long ago. Tears st
ain her porcelain cheeks, the tip of her perfectly shaped nose red from crying.

  I get the urge to pull her into my arms but remain where I am, respectfully giving her space. “I take it the meeting didn’t go well?” I ask, my own voice sounding rough.

  She shakes her head, her mouth tight as she tries to stifle her emotion, but she doesn’t succeed. The saddest sob I’ve ever heard from someone falls past her lips.

  I’m about to reach for her but I don’t need to because she moves first. She falls against my chest, her body trembling with despair. My arms come around her, hating to see her so wrecked.

  “I feel like I don’t know anyone anymore,” she cries.

  I find the admission odd, but before I can think too much about it, the sound of a door opening penetrates the moment. I look left and find the two boys from last night peeking out into the hall, watching the crying girl in my arms.

  Holding her close, I usher us into her apartment and kick the door closed behind me. Her head remains buried in my chest, sobs racking her body as I place the bouquet of flowers on the small bench beside us.

  “He was my father’s best friend. How could he do this to me?”

  My hand coasts up and down her trembling back. “Don’t take it personally, Blondie. We’ll find another bank, one that will know a good investment when they see it.”

  A laugh escapes her but there’s nothing funny sounding about it. “My business proposal was not the problem today.” I’m about to ask what the problem was but she speaks again. “God, Gabe. He put his hands on me.”

  I tense at the information, unsure if I just heard her right. Grabbing her shoulders, I force her back a step. “CeCe, what are we talking about here? What the fuck happened?”

  Her breath hitches as she tries to compose herself. “He offered me the loan in exchange for sex.”

  A dark rage blooms inside of me with unspeakable force, mingling with the shock surging through my blood.

  “He was my father’s best friend,” she cries. “I’ve known him my whole life and he came onto me like I was some whore who just walked into his office.”

  “Have you told anyone? Did you fucking report him?”

  She shakes her head. “I can’t. He told me he’d ruin me; that he’d take everything I have. He’ll do it, Gabe. I know he will. I can’t lose my business. It’s all I have.” Another sob tears apart her chest, gutting me from the inside out.

  Shoving my anger aside for the moment, I pull her back into my arms. “That won’t happen, I promise.”

  She lifts her head from my chest, peering up at me with devastating eyes.

  Even a crying mess, she’s beautiful. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your messages. I just needed time to think.”

  I wipe the tears from her face, wishing I could erase her pain as easily. “You don’t need to apologize. Just like I’m not going to apologize for coming here and checking on you. I’m glad I did.”

  “Me too,” she admits quietly. “Are you going to stay?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  “Yes,” she whispers without hesitation. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.” There’s so much loneliness bleeding in those last few words that I find myself bending down to sweep her into my arms.

  The sudden act catches her off guard but only for a moment. She rests her head on my shoulder as I carry her into her room. There I find the TV on, its glow lighting the dark room. Pillows are stacked against her headboard and crumpled tissues litter the bed.

  “Welcome to my pity party,” she jokes, trying to lighten the mood, but there’s nothing funny about any of this.

  Stepping forward, I lay her across the bed then crawl in next to her. The moment I reach for her, she curls into me, resting her head on my chest. Her shampoo invades my senses, the warmth of her body a welcome distraction to the fury claiming me.

  Minutes pass, nothing but the sound of her cries filling the air while I rub her back. I decide it’s best to say nothing for the time being, not wanting to make her feel worse.

  Eventually, her tears begin to subside and she ends up being the one to break the silence. “I can’t help but wonder if he would have done what he did if my father were still alive.”

  “I don’t know, Blondie. It’s obvious he’s a bastard, so it probably would have only been a matter of time.”

  There are a few beats of silence before she speaks again. “He used my father’s death against me,” she says, a hint of anger mixing with the tears in her voice. “Used it to get closer to me…to touch me.”

  Blood pumps ruthlessly in my veins, merging with the deep-seated anger burning inside of me. I try to breathe through the emotions, continuing to rub her back in an effort to comfort her.

  “I felt so dirty when I walked out of there,” she whispers. The defeat in her voice shreds the calmness I’ve been trying so desperately to hold onto.

  I roll her over, the top half of my body bracing above her. “You have nothing to feel dirty about, CeCe! This is on him, not you. He’s the fucking pervert. You didn’t do anything wrong. Do you hear me?”

  She gazes up at me, despair shining in her eyes. “I miss my dad.” The admission falls from her on a sob, ripping my heart in half.

  I drop down on top of her, making sure to bear my own weight. “Tell me what to do, Bella,” I whisper, feeling fucking helpless. “Tell me how to make this better for you.”

  I’ll do anything to make her not hurt like this.

  “Just hold me.”

  It’s the easiest thing she could have asked. Not only do I do exactly that, I kiss away every single one of her tears that fall, silently promising vengeance to the man who caused them.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Gabe

  The following morning, I quietly step out of CeCe’s apartment, planning to be back before she wakes up. As much as I want to stay in bed with her, I need to deal with this now. The rage consuming me isn’t going to go away until I do and that bastard needs to pay.

  Laughter greets my ears as I make my way down the hallway. Around the corner, I find the two boys from the other night sitting on the floor together, laughing over something on their phones.

  Perfect timing.

  “Hey.”

  They jump at my greeting, obviously not hearing my approach. Both of their heads crane back to look at me, their eyes wide and nervous.

  “Hey,” the one with brown hair greets back, uncertainty edging his voice.

  I drop down on one knee, looking them in the eye. “You know the girl in apartment 1204?”

  They nod.

  “She’s hot, right?”

  They look at one another, surprised by the remark, before turning back to me with a hint of a smile.

  “Yeah, man. She’s super hot,” the other one says.

  “Well, she’s also mine,” I say, a possession I’ve never felt hardening my voice. “And I don’t like it when people look at what’s mine. I get even more pissed off if they upset her.”

  Their smiles are quickly stolen by fear.

  “If I find out you little fuckers try peeking at her again, I will break both of your legs. Understand?”

  They nod, their movements jerky.

  “Good. I’m glad we had this talk.” Clapping them both on their shoulders, I push to my feet and walk onto the elevator, facing them once again. “See you around.” The door closes, sealing off the warning that they best not forget.

  Two down, one to go.

  I pick up Johnny on my way just in case I need reinforcement. I texted him when I first woke up and told him I needed him to come take care of some business with me. He didn’t ask questions.

  He sits waiting on the front steps of his house with Leah, her arms wrapped around his neck. They share a kiss before he stands and walks toward my truck. I lower the passenger window and greet Leah with a wave.

  She returns the gesture. “Don’t be long. It’s his only day off for a week and I want to spend it with him.”

 
; “I’ll bring him back soon,” I promise.

  “Good. See you later.” She walks back into the house the same time Johnny climbs into my truck, an almost giddy excitement lighting up his face.

  “What’s with you?” I ask, pulling away.

  “Dude, I just had the best morning sex of my life. I mean, we took down the fucking house.”

  “Congratulations on fucking your girlfriend,” I say dryly, not understanding what the big deal is.

  “My fiancée,” he corrects me.

  My head whips to the side, finding that cheesy ass grin of his even bigger. “What?”

  “I asked Leah to marry me and she said yes.”

  “Holy shit. Congratulations, man.”

  “Thanks. I’ve decided I’m going to ask her again tomorrow morning and see if I get the same results.”

  My chuckle fills the truck, his news easing some of the rage that’s been coiling inside of me.

  “You gonna be my best man?” he asks.

  The question doesn’t surprise me considering we’re best friends, but I’m still honored by it. “Hell yeah.”

  “Cool. I plan on asking Travis to be a groomsman so you two better get your shit together and get over this little spat.”

  I grunt. “There is no spat. Once he gets over his little fit about not fucking my girl, everything can go back to normal.”

  “Your girl?” he asks, lifting a brow.

  I nod.

  I decided after our date that she was someone I planned to see a lot more of and after last night that feeling only intensified. I don’t know exactly where I stand with her but I do know I have every intention of seeing where this goes, and I’ll be damned to let anyone else take that from me.

  “Then I agree. He needs to get over it.”

  Damn straight he does. Knowing him, he’s probably already moved on. He’s just being a stubborn bastard to prove a point.

  “So where are we going anyway?” he asks.

  I’m saved from giving him an answer when we pull up at the bank.