9. Suits and Wings

CENRIC

She was like an angel and curled like a ball as she slept. She looked like she couldn’t even hurt a fly, but I knew she had a fire deep inside her, and I couldn’t wait to see that come out. I knew she was a strong woman, just like her mother.

As much as I’d love to ogle her, and it was creepy watching someone sleep, I had a business meeting to attend to.

In less than thirty minutes, I arrived at Rios Resort with Beck. I knew where to find my soon-to-be business partner if things went smoothly.

“I’ll be fine. Go and find some bar and get a drink.”

Beck grunted, “You know I’m on the clock, C.”

“This is different, brother. And I can take care of myself.”

He glared at me before he nodded. “Call me—”

“Get the hell out of my sight, and for God’s sake, Beck, loosen up. We’re at the resort.”

I found Jett Grayson drinking Pina Colada with his wife for thirty-five years. I met them at a charity I attended.

Belle saw me first, lifting her sunglasses on top of her head. “What the hell is a newlywed doing here?”

I kissed Belle on the cheek, and she giggled. “Happy anniversary. I wish you both another thirty-five years together.”

“You can’t just kiss my wife and wish for us, and that’s it. I will let you buy thirty percent of my life’s work.”

He shook the hand I offered. “I don’t promise, Jett. And I won’t be here with you on my honeymoon and leave my wife in bed if I don’t see huge potential in your Brewery and Distillery.”

“Damn right, you’re fool enough. When your brother called me, you’d be here to see me, I thought, you don’t give a crap of the woman you just shared your vows to.”

“That’s not true.”

“Lovely ceremony, honey. I’m happy for you,” said Belle, patting my back. “I’ll leave you two alone.” She rose from her seat. “And sweetheart, don’t give this man a hard time. A beautiful wife is waiting for him on that island.”

“Thanks, Belle.” I straightened my seat and placed my bag on the table. I also ordered the same drinks they were drinking. “Sorry to ruin your anniversary, but I wouldn’t be here if this deal doesn’t mean anything to me.”

He studied me from head to toe. “You’ve got billions. Why in the hell are you interested in my business?”

I got that a lot. “I won’t talk shit anymore, Jett. And I won’t sell shit either. This is something personal to me. My parents loved your products. It’s what we had every weekend during barbecues and family gatherings. When I was on tours, my brothers always thought of having breweries and bars on our own. I just lost two of them. I and the other two are still having nightmares from our last tour.” I paused. It was still fresh, and reopening an old wound was not my best suit. That was why I didn’t even see a shrink. I felt like I couldn’t trust any of them. “Well, it didn’t happen.”

“Why the daughter of Hanslo Greer? I heard some shit about that man.”

My jaw clenched. Of course, Hanslo had a rep, and with every day passed by, their secrets started to leak out from their chase. That was why I had to push through the wedding before my plan fell apart.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I played safe. I should, for the sake of my wife.

“I can’t work with someone I don’t trust. As I said earlier, this is my life’s work. I can’t let you taint the clean reputation of my company with your blood money.”

I was on my feet before I even realized it. I knew this would happen sooner or later, but my plan was still in action. I took a deep breath, even if my blood was boiling inside.

“Look, my money is clean. You can check my assets. And as my respect for you, I came to you. I also would do anything to protect and respect my wife. They may have the same blood in their veins, but my wife has nothing to do with whatever shits going on behind their business. But if you will trust me, even if a little about your company, you will know soon enough that the truth shall prevail. And my wife, why I marry her, it’s because she’s the one for me.”

“Sit down.” He gestured to the chair.

“I’ll make sure you won’t regret it.” I offered the contract on the table and placed a pen on top.

“I hope so, son. You know I admire you, and so as my wife. So, don’t make me regret this.” He didn’t even read the contract. He just scribbled his signature then we were official business partners.

“As I said before, I won’t change a thing. Unless you wanted my ideas, but I think what you’ve started is already great.” I held my hand out, and he shook it. “It means a lot to me, Jett.”

“To our future endeavor together.” I sipped my Pina Colada, even if this was the least of my favorite.

***

I couldn’t wait to share the good news with my wife, but she was not in the Villa. I found Devin on the terrace in his pink cocktail.

“Where’s my wife?”

He gestured to the beach. “She let me drink this shit. Can you believe that? I’m a neat whiskey kind of guy.”

“There’s always the first time, Devin. Is she done with the spa?”

“Yeah. She seemed to have fun. Just like they said, she’s flying high since she’s out of that shithole. It’s not my right to say this, but I hope you won’t clip her wings. She has a life ahead of her, and she has a lot of dreams. I don’t have to ask. I can see it in her eyes.”

My eyes narrowed into hostile slits as I watched him saying those things to me as if I didn’t already know. “And you just noticed it right now? If I’m a jealous man, I might think you have a thing for my wife?”

He looked taken aback. His skin blanched. “No, no, no. You got it wrong, Mr. Wollf.”

“Really? Tell me, Devin. Did her brother ask you to spy on her?”

“Jasper Greer is an asshole. That son of bitch deserves to be locked up for hitting his sister. I know I should have minded my own business, but I watched how he treated Sadie—Mrs. Wollf every day, and it was hard to stomach. I would have resigned a long time ago if I didn’t care about your wife. But you know, I didn’t finish college. There’s no more job left for someone like me.” The tone of his voice changed. He must have genuinely cared about Sadie. “My father was just like her’s. That guy was a total jackass. He also used to beat my sister and me. Then Jasper found me in an underground fight club. I’m thankful for taking me in, but he disgusted me for how badly he treated that poor woman.” He pursed his lips into a thin line. 

Realization and guilt cut through me like a knife. 

I should have done something. Sadie must be so terrified alone. 

As he mentioned what Sadie had been through at the hands of her own family, I had to look away. Regret swept through me like a strong gust of winter wind, freezing my entire body until I shivered.

Silent stretched between us, and I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do.

“Sir, I should check on her. She’s been in the water for long.”

“I’ll do it.” I grabbed the robe draped on the armchair. “Take a break. Go with them. I got it from here.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Once he was gone, I didn’t realize I was shaking. My hands trembled as I looked down at the fabric in my hand. I was beyond pissed off, and I would make sure they would pay for what they did to Sadie.

I walked down to the beach, and she was just emerging from the water in her yellow two-piece suit, displaying her long and shapely legs. She just took my breath away. I could now see the abs she was proud of. And damn, she was fucking hot. Drop-dead gorgeous. Those words wouldn’t even serve.

“Hey, handsome in a suit.” Her smile alone was breathtaking. Everything about her.

Fuck.

I clamped my mouth shut and offered her the robe. As much as I wanted to gawk at her, I was already busted and looked like an idiot for having a hard-on in front of my wife.

“Damn that abs.” 

She laughed as she slipped her hands into the sleeves. Before I could grasp it, I had already wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her into a hug. What had just happened? Damn it, Sadie.

“You okay?” she even asked.

“Never been better.”