The CEO's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 31

　　What was Evelyn doing with that boy? Had she not bothered to read the new rules even now?

　　“Is everything okay, Roman?” Vivian asked.

　　He pulled his gaze away from the taxi to look at the woman hanging onto his arm. Her grip was so tight as if she was trying to fuse herself to his side.

　　“It’s fine,” he lied as he pulled his phone out of his pocket while he led Vivian to the front door of her parents’ house.

　　He sent Philip a quick text. Tonight was very important to him and he wouldn’t let Evelyn derail him. What had she even been doing here? Making sure he saw her dressed like that? Showing him that she didn’t give a shit about the rules?

　　She was still playing her stupid games.

　　But the look in her eyes when she had seen Vivian beside him... She was hurt. That didn’t sit right with him.

　　“My father will be so happy to see us together,” Vivian said as the doors were opened for them.

　　He had nothing to say to that as they walked through the expensively decorated hall and followed the butler. Vivian’s father had been trying to pawn her off to a rich husband for years. He was sure daddy dearest would be ecstatic.

　　Cartwright had made his money in oil and shipping but everyone knew he’d made many bad business decisions over the years. The biggest was aligning himself with Bains; the whole reason he was there tonight inflicting himself to this torture.

　　“Mr. Ashfield! I’m so glad you could join us,” Mr. Cartwright said as he came forward and shook his hand.

　　His wife was beside him and she looked like she had probably used all of their money to keep herself looking as young as her daughter. They could have been sisters instead of mother and daughter.

　　He kissed the woman’s cheeks in greeting and ignored the satisfied smile she threw at her daughter.

　　“Thank you for having me."

　　“Most of the guests are outside, make yourself at home. I hope we’ll be able to have a proper conversation once you’ve settled in,” Mrs. Cartwright smiled.

　　Not if he could help it. But he smiled and allowed Vivian to lead him away and show him off as if he was her trophy. He kept his eyes peeled as Vivian made small talk with the other guests.

　　But instead of staying on the task at hand, his mind strayed to Evelyn. She’d never dressed up for him like that. Okay, so the contract stated she had to be half-naked when he knocked on her door, but she’d looked... Surely it was a crime for anyone to walk out in the streets like that? That boy wasn’t man enough to protect her if she came into any trouble, which she surely would.

　　She was sex on legs, and she was out there with another man on her arm.

　　“Roman!”

　　He looked back down at the woman beside him.

　　“I asked what you’d like to drink.”

　　Vivian had somehow led him out to the bar outside, next to the large marquee that had been set up in the manicured garden. He’d wanted a clear head for tonight, so he had planned to stick to water but now he felt he needed something stronger.

　　“Double whiskey, please. On the rocks.”

　　Once the bartender gave him his glass, he downed it all before he turned around to look at the guests. He still couldn’t see the man he was looking for. Had he not arrived yet? Or he’d slipped away while he’d been distracted by thoughts of Evelyn in that dress?

　　Where the hell were they going, anyway? She was a walking temptation, and that Brendan kid would have his hands all over her any chance he got.

　　“I’ll have another one,” he told the bartender.

　　"Shall we go and mingle a little before dinner?" Vivian asked.

　　"You go ahead," he said as he picked up his next drink, and that was the moment he saw the man he'd been looking for.

　　Bains. The man who's made his fortune off Charles Ashfield's back. Or rather, off his mother's back, because she was the one who's done that work. And the woman herself was on his arm, smiling at the other guests as if she wasn't a whoring wench who'd cleaned his father out and abandoned her child.

　　"You know what. You're right, let's mingle," he said as he took Vivian's arm again and led her straight to his target.

　　The moment Bains saw him, the smile dropped from his lips. He didn't bother looking at the woman on his arm.

　　"Leaving so soon?" he asked as he intercepted them.

　　"Roman," Allan Bains nodded. "I didn't expect to see you here."

　　"I don't suppose you did."

　　Like the slithering snake he was, Bains had remained physically out of his grasp. It hadn't stopped him from making his moves against the bastard. Subtle ones that he could savour in private until the day he took everything Bains had stolen. With interest.

　　But judging by the way Bains had aged, that day had to come soon.

　　"We'll leave if it's a problem," Bains said.

　　"But you're a special guest this year. Why would you leave when you've just latched yourself onto another money tree?" He asked as he sipped his drink. "Go and celebrate, Allan. It could be your last win for a while."

　　His nanny always told him not to play with his food, but this was so much fun. The colour drained from Bain's face.

　　His phone vibrated, and just like that, his mind strayed to Evelyn again. He knew what that text was about.

　　Damn it.

　　"Is that a threat, Roman?"

　　He forced his mind back to the more important matter. It was that woman beside Allan who had spoken but he ignored her and kept his gaze on Bains.

　　But the moment was ruined now.

　　"Enjoy your evening," he said with a tight smile, and then led Vivian back to the bar.

　　Fuck.

　　Looking Bains in the eyes hadn't been as satisfying as he had hoped. He'd always imagined when he finally started his revenge there would be more tears, more quaking knees. Maybe even some begging.

　　But he was fucking distracted. The night had been ruined before he'd even walked in.

　　"What was that all about?" Vivian asked.

　　He'd forgotten she was there, still hanging on to his arm. As he got another drink, he looked over at the woman who had given birth to him and Bains having a quiet argument where he had left them. He could see the worry and stress he had caused them, but it wasn't enough. He was out for blood.

　　"Don't worry about it," he answered.

　　"Okay," she agreed easily. "Shall we go and dance?"

　　Dancing? He didn't dance. But as he looked down at the woman beside him he wondered if perhaps he should have listened to his father after all and stayed away. Vivian wasn't the one he wanted hanging onto him like this.

　　And just like that, the look in Evelyn's eyes returned to haunt him. She obviously hadn't been expecting Vivian there when she'd positioned herself right where he could see her. That hurt in her eyes had been real.

　　"We don't normally have such music but daddy was happy to accommodate me when I asked him if they could play my favourite music tonight," Vivian continued.

　　He looked at Vivian then at Bains and his wench of a wife. What the hell was he even doing here? His revenge would continue even if he didn't look Bains in the eyes again.

　　He had to leave.

　　He took his phone out to read the text that Philip and then booked a taxi.

　　"I have to leave, Vivian. Thank you for inviting me."

　　"But_"

　　"Goodnight, Vivian."

　　He didn't stop to speak to anyone else or say goodbye. The taxi was already waiting when he walked out of the house amid all the paparazzi flashes.

　　Such a wasted opportunity. Tonight should have left him feeling better than this. Instead, he was on his way to a fucking club to drag Evelyn back home.

　　What the hell was wrong with him?