It was chaotically loud in the lobby, with all the hustle and bustle of a Vegas casino. The check-in desks had lines contained and organized by black velvet ropes, and the entrance to the hotel’s famed restaurants had the same. I strode through the chaos, trying not to let it get to me.
The hairs stood up on the back of my neck.
Benjamin could be anywhere in this crowd, and it would be impossible to spot him. He might be watching me right now.
I bit down on my tongue, shoving down the panic creating a tight band around my chest. If he was watching me, that meant the plan was working.
By the end of the day, we could have him.
But it still meant he was watching me. Probably gloating over the way he’d made my life hell and ruined something that should have been sacred. My skin itched at the thought.
Get it together, Talia.
I had to meet with Brooks, and I couldn’t look weak in front of him.
By some miracle, I kept my head held high and made it through the lobby and down a wide hallway to a quieter area. More velvet ropes flanked a doorway, a couple of burly security guards standing stalwartly with their hands in front of them. Here, there was no line.
I walked up to the door and a guard stepped in front of me. “Miss, this is the VIP lounge. If you’d like to visit, please get your name on the list for one of our weekend events.”
“I’m here for a meeting with Brooks O’Connor. He should be expecting me.”
The guard gestured to his coworker, who disappeared through the door. I glanced around as I waited, trying to see if I could spot Benjamin. There were fewer people down this hall and less places to hide, but I didn’t see him.
Maybe he hadn’t realized I was here yet?
More likely, he was waiting for the opportune moment to strike and didn’t want to get caught before then.
It didn’t matter. I was ready for him.
Probably.
“Come on in, Miss. He’s waiting for you.”
The original security guard stepped out of my path when his friend returned, and I offered them both smiles. The doorway yawned open in front of me, leading into a moodily lit lounge, and I followed the security guard to a curtained corner.
At a round table with a laptop open in front of him was a handsome man with curly brown hair. He looked up from thescreen when he saw us coming, giving me an assessing once over. “Thanks for showing her in, Jack. Make sure we aren’t disturbed.”
“Yes, Sir.” The guard left me in the private corner, and my throat grew tight.
Would Brooks O’Connor show his true colours immediately? Would he treat me with respect, only to turn around and stab me in the back later? Or was he actually as level-headed and clever as the rumours said, without any of the typical O’Connor cruelty?
“Nice to meet you,” I said. “Brooks O’Connor, I presume?”
“The one and only. I have to say, you’re not the Alfieri I was expecting.”
Had he been expecting Lavinia? She had set up the meeting and was the only one who was actively involved in the business. But how could he possibly know I wasn’t her? They couldn’t have met in person, could they?
“Come and sit. We have a lot to discuss.” He gestured to the seat opposite him.
It was a plush chair in some dark colour to match the moody vibe of the room. I sat on the very edge of it, prepared to flee if necessary.
He closed his laptop, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket. Brooks had the imposing aura of an alpha, but wore scent blockers to eliminate his scent.
“Who were you expecting?” I latched onto the first tangible thing I could.
“Lavinia.”
“How do you know I’m not her?”
