“I can tell. He’s protective of you. He told me it didn’t matter how much money I had in the bank. If I made you sad after all the hell you’ve been through recently, he’d make me pay.”
She threw her head back laughing, “did he now? Considering he’s so thin you could probably put his entire body in your one pantleg, I think you’ll survive.”
“I’d rather not take my chances. I think I’ll keep you happy.”
“I would appreciate it very much.” She noted the car was slowing down. “I’m a bit nervous,” she confided. “I haven’t been dancing since I was in my early twenties and usually only with the girls. Once I started being serious with Merl, he would make comments about how it would reflect on him to be seen in bars, so we never went. Is there going to be a lot of the drug thing you mentioned?”
“No. None.” He winked at her. “Joaquim knows I don’t like it so our booth will be clean. Alcohol only. Can you dance?”
“My mother reminded me today how Merlin made us learn the Viennese Waltz.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“No. You have to be very rigid and after the dance at our wedding he was annoyed I messed up the steps. I never wanted to do it again.”
“Well, I cannot do any kind of formal dance, but I like to think I have natural rhythm.”
“I’ll give you that,” she grinned at him earning a loud laugh at her teasing.
He hooked his arm around her neck and drew her close and kissed her mouth softly, “Liesl, just when I think I couldn’t like you more, you throw out another little comment making me wonder where you’ve been all my life. I’m glad you came to find me a week ago. This has been the most fun I’ve had.”
“Me too, Isaias. I enjoy being with you a lot.”
The car came to a halt, and he frowned suddenly. “It is highly probable there will be paparazzi here. My security team will keep them at bay outside and we’ll go straight to our VIP room once we meet up with my cousin. Try to ignore them. They tend to try to rattle my cage by asking me stupid questions.”
“Okay,” she blinked her nerves feeling even more strained. “Does this happen frequently?”
“Yes. It will get easier to ignore them with time. I didn’t mention it earlier because I want you to relax but they caught wind of us leaving the restaurant and there were a couple coming up behind us. Do not fret. I’ve got you but just keep your head down.”
“It’s funny. I never had to go through this with Merlin.”
“Because he’s boring as dirt,” he laughed, “I am far more interesting and far wealthier. I do not enjoy the press. I have a PR team who manages most of my publicity and a legal team who handles any violations. Today I demolished a house, and my press agent livestreamed it and made a big deal about a beautification project since there is a daycare and a school walking distance to the house we leveled. I don’t usually tear things down. Since there was some publicity this morning the sharks want to feed. Do not be alarmed if they’re a bit more voracious.” He whispered in her ear as the door was pulled open by the driver, “I promise to be far more ravenous later than they ever will be.”
She was having the time of her life. Joaquim was the modern-day version of a scoundrel. If she lived in Victorian times, she was certain simply being acquainted with him would have made all the socialites gasp. She would have been the talk of the ton. She had never laughed so hard with the way these two men cracked each other up. They were clearly closer than brothers who constantly made each other punchlines in jokes but then they laughed at themselves with equal measure. For two very wealthy men, there was not a pretentious bone in either of their bodies.
Right now, as she was perched on Isaias’s lap, giggling as she sipped a fruity drink, Joaquim was retelling the story of how his mother caught him with two women. His details were far more hilarious than the abbreviated version of what Isaias had told her.
“Liesl, she dug her rosary out of her purse, fell to her knees in prayer and tried to get the girls to pray with her.”
She chortled delightedly at his words. He was the opposite of Isaias in terms of appearance. She had expected them to look alike but he was blonde, blue eyed, with thin lips and a nose which was long and proud. Where they were similar was in the way they carried themselves. Proud men with erect postures and a way of looking around the room, taking it all in with one movement and easily discounting anyone not of value with a simple glance. All eyes were on the handsome duo and Liesl felt proud to be on Isaias’ arm.
“Your poor mother.”
“Poor me. She interrupted ten minutes too soon.” He gave her a meaningful glance.
“On that note,” Isaias chuckled and put his glass on the table and pushed Liesl to a standing position. “I want to dance with you again.”
She knew he enjoyed dancing with her. He’d had her on her feet most of the night. She kissed his cheek. “Let me go to the bathroom first.”
He grinned and reminded her of when she’d crashed his date, “is this where you go text your friends about how hot I am?”
“Nope. My phone is dead.” She mocked him.
Two of the girls hanging over Joaquim immediately jumped up to walk with her offering to keep her company. They chatted about nothing in particular as she did her business. They were washing their hands when four other women walked in and beelined for Liesl.
A willowy blonde with a dress so tight she could barely walk stood with her arms folded over her chest glaring at her.
“Can I help you?” Liesl reapplied her lipstick in the mirror not fully facing her.
“Yes, you can go crawl under whatever rock you came from.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve been coming to all of Joaquim’s club openings for years. I’ve put the time in, and some newcomer isn’t going stroll in here and take from me what I’ve worked so hard to get.”
“Which is?”
“Isaias.”
She giggled. She couldn’t help herself. “Really? You’ve worked hard to get him?” Liesl considered all she’d done was walk up and offer him a bribe.
“I have put in the time. I know him better than he knows himself. I watch him and I follow him on all his social media. I know when he’s going to be here in the city and I -“
“Oh, let me cut you off right there,” she raised her hand in the air. “Are you saying you stalk him?”
“No!” the woman’s friends appeared stunned Liesl was talking back to her. “Do you know who I am?”
“No. Do you know who I am?” Liesl asked with a snort.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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