Chapter 9
Julius
I stood there dumbfounded as she drove away from my parent's home. Did she really just throw a three thousand dollar bracelet at me?
Stella Harris had to be one of the most difficult women I had ever met.
But it just made her even more intriguing.
From the second I laid my eyes on her at the restaurant that night, I wanted her. Even when she was covered in gnocchi Sorrento. Then just my luck that I found out later she was the girl my parents were trying to set me up with.
She was smart, beautiful, and independent. But wanted nothing to do with me. And now she's made it clear for the third time that she hated me.
I looked down at the diamond bracelet in my hands. I knew I was wrong for last night, but it wasn't like I slept with that girl!
Women.
I groan in irritation before placing the bracelet in my pocket and walking back toward the house.
"Oh Julius, she's such a sweetheart! Convince her to come on the trip okay?" My mother says as I enter the kitchen.
I nod, "I'll try mom. I'm not sure she'll be up for it though."
My mother frowns, "Then buy her some more jewelry or something." She recommends.
I chuckle lightly, the diamond bracelet still sitting in my pocket. "I'll try," I assure her again. I give her a kiss on the cheek, "I'm heading back to my place."
She nods, "Okay drive safe sweetie. Your father is in his office."
I nod at her before heading up the grand staircase to speak with my father. Knocking on the large wooden doors, I await a response. "Come in." He calls out.
I open the door and enter his large home office. "I'm heading out."
He smiles at me from behind his work desk, "Harris's daughter is one fine piece of work isn't she?"
I chuckle at my father, "You have no idea."
He raises his brows, "So things are going well? I don't see why you don't just get married right away."
"What's the rush father? Wasn't the engagement quick enough?"
He sighs, "I suppose."
"Well I'm going now, I have work to do."
He nods as I say goodbye and leave his office. I didn't understand why my father was so focused on me getting married. I knew I wasn't in the same boat with Stella completely. If my father wanted to merge companies, he wouldn't need me to do it.
He simply just thought I needed to settle down. My parents were arranged to be married and swore it was the best thing ever. I assume he just wanted the best for me, but I wasn't entirely sure.
I get into my white Porsche and head back toward Manhattan, where my penthouse apartment was located. It was nearing early afternoon and I knew I had a stack of papers on my desk to go through before Monday morning arrived.
I arrive at the apartment building in under thirty minutes, greeting the doorman and entering the elevator. As the elevator began to close a small voice could be heard from the hall, "Hold the elevator please!"
I place my hand in between the closing doors, stopping it for whoever had asked. A petite woman enters the elevator, wearing a short dress and jean jacket. She was attractive with curly brown hair and pouty lips. She smiles as she presses the button for level four, "Thank you for holding it."
I smirk as I analyze her appearance, "Anything for a beautiful woman."
She blushes before looking up at me, "Oh wait I know you. You're Julius Ashford right?" She asks.
I nod, "In the flesh."
"Congratulations on your engagement!" She says happily. I frown briefly before smiling lightly at her, "Thank you." I reply.
The doors open as we reach the floor and the woman steps out before turning to me, "She is one lucky woman." She says with a wink as the door closes.
I frown to myself as the elevator continues to go up. Stella was cock blocking without even being here. Truthfully I didn't have any interest in sleeping with other women, at least for now. My prime target at the moment was Stella, and sleeping with anyone else would also throw off our plans. Women liked to talk and I couldn't let it be known that I was already cheating on my fiancé.
I enter my apartment building and head straight upstairs to my home office. Sunday afternoons usually consisted of me doing work to get ready for the week. Friday nights are when I like to go out and party.
I'd had many scandals in the past. The media loved getting compromising photos of me. Whether it's me stumbling out of a club with a woman or allegations of cheating on a significant other I didn't have. They covered it all.
Especially when I was younger, being a rich teen heir was a hassle. Sure I got everything I wanted, but I was made to look so bad simply because I was doing teenage things. I've been accused of doing drugs, excessive partying, and assaulting an officer. Some of these things I didn't do, but the media made it look like I did.
Before I could reach 18, my father decided he had had enough of my scandals and shipped me off to boarding school. After that and college, I came back slightly reformed, but not completely.
In college, I learned a lot, especially about women. At least the physical parts of them. I tried my best to solely focus on my studies. But like I've said before, I can't be tamed.
Women were something that I just couldn't have one of. They were like french fries, imagine being offered a cup of fries. Would you only eat one? No, you'd eat as many as you can.
And that's where my adult scandals started. I became an infamous player, known for sleeping with several women. I had 'dated' actresses, models, even a couple of my fathers secretaries.
But for the first time I have to pause, and let this plan work. In order to do that, I couldn't sleep with any other woman, besides Stella but I doubt she would. It was going to be hard, but not impossible.
I hope.
My phone rings as I'm sitting at my desk reviewing files. "Ashford." I respond as I pick up the ringing phone.
"Julius, my man! Eric has a lounge booked at Vixens for tonight. There'll be a lot of hot women for sure."
I chuckle at my excited friend, "You know I just got engaged Johnny."
He groans, "Yeah out of the blue without warning. Come out tonight and celebrate! It'll be your last night of freedom."
I think for a moment, he had a point. I sigh, "Why did you pick Vixens? It's all the way in Jersey."
Johnny scoffs, "Says the man who flew to Montreal for a good time. You in or out?" He asks.
I chuckle, "I'm in. I'll see you at 10 pm." I hang up the phone with a smirk, I guess I'm going out tonight.
-
You would think it's strange that we're partying on a Sunday night. But truthfully, you can party any day of the week.
Vixens was packed, to no surprise. It was a very popular nightclub and its owner was a business partner of mine, Josiah Wells. He was infamous for doing some rather shady things, but he was good in business.
We were in a private lounge area, where we could watch the club-goers from afar.
"Look at the beauty on the left," Johnny says to me, pointing out a girl in the corner. She was Asian, with long black hair and a tall slim frame. Her short purple dress clung to her small figure beautifully as she sat beside some other girls. She looked shy as if she didn't want to be here at all. "My goal by the end of the night is to be between those legs." He says as he drinks from his glass.
"I swear you always go for the girls who look lost." My good friend Gabriel chuckles as he picks up his glass.
"That's because they need someone to guide them in the right direction. That direction is my bed." Johnny says with a chuckle.
Gabriel and I laugh as well, "The one in the pink dress catches my eye, next to the bar. She looks interesting." He says with a smirk.
"She looks like the crazy type." I comment as I observe her as well.
He nods, "Exactly."
"Pick your poison and let's get started." Johnny urges from next to me. I shake my head at him, "Engaged remember? I'm just here to drink."
Gabriel chuckles, "Never thought I'd see you settle down."
"I still can't believe it." Johnny says as he shakes his head. He stands up from his seat, "I'm going to make a move on the lost girl. Gabriel go get your crazy chick." He turns to me, "And you can stay there Mr. Whipped."
I laugh as they walk away, drinking from the glass in front of me. As I pick it up I realize it's empty and sigh, before standing up to head to the private bar.
"Whiskey on the rocks." I tell the bartender as I approach the bar. A woman sat at the end of the bar. She was sipping what seemed to be a classic cocktail. Her skin was dark, her eyes watching me as she drank from her glass.
I smirk at her as I wait and she winks in return. "Here you are." The bartender says as he places a drink in front of me. I thank him before grabbing it and strolling over to the young woman. She reminded me of Stella, her long dark hair cascading down her back. In fact, they could be sisters if you stood them side by side.
"What's a beautiful woman like you doing at a bar alone?" I ask as I take a seat next on the barstool next to her. She smirks, still facing forward in her seat."Waiting for a handsome man like you to buy me a drink."
I chuckle before ushering the bartender toward me, "Her tab is on me." I tell him.
"How about we forget the tab? And go somewhere else?" She suggests seductively, her eyes holding a mischievous gaze. I look her over one more time, debating if I should risk it all.
One last time.
I take the woman's hand and lead her toward the back exit, where the security there let us through to the parking lot. She followed me to my car and we drive off to a nearby motel, as hotels would be too crowded.
Long story short, we made it to a room and her lips were immediately on mine. I held her by her waist before hooking my arms under her legs, throwing them around my waist.
As I lay her down onto the bed, I feel something heavy slide out of my pocket and onto the bed. I ignore it, thinking it's probably my phone as the girl begins unbuttoning my shirt. I hungrily kiss her neck as my hands explore her body.
"Ow!" She exclaims, sitting up from her position on the bed. I quirk my brow as she reaches behind her, revealing a shiny diamond bracelet. "I wonder what unlucky lady left this." She chuckles.
My eyes widen as she observes it, Stella's bracelet. I pull myself away from her, slight guilt occurring. "I have to go." I said, buttoning my shirt back up.
She sits up, the bracelet still in her hand, "Where are you going? What's wrong?"
"I'm making a mistake," I said as I take the bracelet. I sigh when I realize I can't leave her here alone. "I'll call you an Uber."
She shakes her head, "An Uber? I didn't even get some yet! You're supposed to call me an Uber after."
"You're not getting anything, I've changed my mind." I say nonchalantly as I order an Uber back to the club.
She pouts, "What? Are you married or something?" I don't respond and she scoffs, "Couldn't go through with cheating on wifey huh? What drove you out tonight? A big fight?"
I continue my silence and she smacks her lips, "Men like you disgust me. Even if you didn't go through with it. Marriage is supposed to be about trust and love." She continues lecturing me and I groan internally as I wait for the Uber to arrive. Gosh, she was annoying.
My phone dings and I look down at it. "Your ride is here." I said, interrupting her rant.
She gets up and grabs her purse, "Finally. Can't stand being in the room with a cheater!" She says, emphasizing her last word as she walks toward the door.
I watch from the doorway, making sure she got to the right car safely. As the Uber drove away I shut the motel door and took a seat on the bed, the bracelet still in my hand.
I looked at it, remembering how just earlier today Stella threw it at me. She was so upset, and I didn't want to make things worse by sleeping with a random woman.
I won't mess this up.
—————
Let's hope not Julius.
How do you guys feel about Julius's character? 🤭
-AuggiePooh_