speak.
She nods and swallows hard.
“Yes, um, I was just wondering…,” she stutters, furling her eyebrows as if she was mad at herself. “What exactly is it that you do?”
“I’m a stockbroker,” I give my well practiced reply. “I research the financial market and help others to get the best return on their money. Like I have.”
“How did you get there?” she asks, gazing up at me like a curious child.
An unpleasant question, one that I am prepared for but still hope that not many people pose it.
The truth?
I made a lot of money killing for the mob, for years, and instead of blowing my income away on drugs and women, like many others in my profession have, I was smart about it. I saved as much as I could and educated myself. It’s easy to gain the information necessary to succeed in the stock market—you just have to know how to use it accordingly.
Killing and saving up allowed me to start out with a big amount of seed money.
Of course, that is not a story I am willing to share.
“Careful investment with little starter cash,” I lie. “It took some time, but if you play the market well and don’t lose your head over hasty decisions, it can be done.”
“Mhm,” she says, dreamingly looking down at her empty glass.
She is starting to falter. It is barely visible, but her stance has lost a lot of its stability, and I can tell that she is struggling not to let it show.
I glance over to her friend. The black haired girl is no longer paying attention to us, but is deeply immersed in a conversation with another guy who is towering over her, possessively shielding her from others in their immediate proximity.
I know she will be informed about whatever will happen tonight. Yet another reason for me to be careful.
“I think you could need some fresh air,” I suggest.
She raises her head, her cheeks blushing even more than before.
“Care to take a step outside?” I ask—and she doesn’t hesitate one second before she nods.
CHAPTER TEN
Nike
My head is spinning. It’s the alcohol for sure, but also the fact that this man is actually showing interest in me. This incredibly handsome, wealthy man!
He is so out of my league! How can he not see it?
When I stumble back to Amanda and her boss to let her know that he just asked to step outside with me, she casts me the broadest grin I have ever seen on her face.
“You go girl!” She cheers, luckily in a whisper that no one but me hears. “Go with him! I knew all you needed was a little nudge in the right direction!”
I hesitate and throw a quick look back over my shoulder. He is watching me from afar, his face unreadable.
“We’re just getting some fresh air,” I say, turning back to Amanda. Even I don’t believe that and I cannot blame her and boss for exchanging a suggestive look.
“Text me, if you’re not coming home,” she says, winking at me. “Just so I don’t have to worry.”
“Yes, Mom,” I joke, sticking my tongue out to her, before I turn around and make my way back to him.
Joe Mars.
He is standing where I left him, tall, dark, with his legs slightly apart, hands in his suit pants’ pockets and his broad shoulders pulled back. A faint smirk appears on his face when I get back to him. He places his hand on my lower back and gently pushes me toward the exit of the venue.
When we reach the elevator, he pushes the button for going up instead of down. I look up at him in surprise.
“I thought we’re stepping outside?” I ask, hugging my little clutch as if I was trying to protect myself from him.
He winks at me. “We are. I just prefer the view from up there.”
“Is there a terrace on the roof?” I want to know.
“I don’t know,” he replies, shrugging. “We will have to find out for ourselves. I just have a thing for rooftops.”
I flinch at his words, trying to fight the colder shudder that takes a hold of me.
Of course, he notices.
“You don’t?” he probes.
I shake my head. “Not in
She nods and swallows hard.
“Yes, um, I was just wondering…,” she stutters, furling her eyebrows as if she was mad at herself. “What exactly is it that you do?”
“I’m a stockbroker,” I give my well practiced reply. “I research the financial market and help others to get the best return on their money. Like I have.”
“How did you get there?” she asks, gazing up at me like a curious child.
An unpleasant question, one that I am prepared for but still hope that not many people pose it.
The truth?
I made a lot of money killing for the mob, for years, and instead of blowing my income away on drugs and women, like many others in my profession have, I was smart about it. I saved as much as I could and educated myself. It’s easy to gain the information necessary to succeed in the stock market—you just have to know how to use it accordingly.
Killing and saving up allowed me to start out with a big amount of seed money.
Of course, that is not a story I am willing to share.
“Careful investment with little starter cash,” I lie. “It took some time, but if you play the market well and don’t lose your head over hasty decisions, it can be done.”
“Mhm,” she says, dreamingly looking down at her empty glass.
She is starting to falter. It is barely visible, but her stance has lost a lot of its stability, and I can tell that she is struggling not to let it show.
I glance over to her friend. The black haired girl is no longer paying attention to us, but is deeply immersed in a conversation with another guy who is towering over her, possessively shielding her from others in their immediate proximity.
I know she will be informed about whatever will happen tonight. Yet another reason for me to be careful.
“I think you could need some fresh air,” I suggest.
She raises her head, her cheeks blushing even more than before.
“Care to take a step outside?” I ask—and she doesn’t hesitate one second before she nods.
CHAPTER TEN
Nike
My head is spinning. It’s the alcohol for sure, but also the fact that this man is actually showing interest in me. This incredibly handsome, wealthy man!
He is so out of my league! How can he not see it?
When I stumble back to Amanda and her boss to let her know that he just asked to step outside with me, she casts me the broadest grin I have ever seen on her face.
“You go girl!” She cheers, luckily in a whisper that no one but me hears. “Go with him! I knew all you needed was a little nudge in the right direction!”
I hesitate and throw a quick look back over my shoulder. He is watching me from afar, his face unreadable.
“We’re just getting some fresh air,” I say, turning back to Amanda. Even I don’t believe that and I cannot blame her and boss for exchanging a suggestive look.
“Text me, if you’re not coming home,” she says, winking at me. “Just so I don’t have to worry.”
“Yes, Mom,” I joke, sticking my tongue out to her, before I turn around and make my way back to him.
Joe Mars.
He is standing where I left him, tall, dark, with his legs slightly apart, hands in his suit pants’ pockets and his broad shoulders pulled back. A faint smirk appears on his face when I get back to him. He places his hand on my lower back and gently pushes me toward the exit of the venue.
When we reach the elevator, he pushes the button for going up instead of down. I look up at him in surprise.
“I thought we’re stepping outside?” I ask, hugging my little clutch as if I was trying to protect myself from him.
He winks at me. “We are. I just prefer the view from up there.”
“Is there a terrace on the roof?” I want to know.
“I don’t know,” he replies, shrugging. “We will have to find out for ourselves. I just have a thing for rooftops.”
I flinch at his words, trying to fight the colder shudder that takes a hold of me.
Of course, he notices.
“You don’t?” he probes.
I shake my head. “Not in
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