Indecent Proposal (Book 5 of the Forbidden Series)

6

“I hope you enjoyed your night off.” Larry snarled as Vi set up the bar to open. “Covering your shift last night was a pain.”

“I’m sorry.” She apologized. “Something came up.” She didn’t feel like making it public knowledge that she had spent the night with Ronny.

“It better have been bloody important. Let’s not let it happen again.”

“I will try.” She promised, watching him take his papers and wander off to speak with some of the other staff.

Vi continued to connect the taps up to the various kegs and liquors while Jan polished and buffed the bar top until it shined. She smiled as she got closer her voice low. “You did not come home last night,” Jan said knowingly.

“I’m aware of that,” Vi said proceeding to the next tap.

“Care to dish on the details?” Jan pried hopefully.

“No, I do not.” Vi grinned.

“Oh, come on.” Jan pouted. “Did he like the dress?” Vi blushed she had never been one to kiss and tell. “He did, didn’t he? So, what was it like?” Jan asked leaning on the bar eagerly awaiting the story she hoped would follow.

Vi had to admit she was bursting at the seams to tell someone. Vi leaned forward and lowered her voice so not to be overheard. “His house is incredible, high ceilings and hardwood floors with refurbished antiques. He has a music room with instruments everything from rock to the symphony, and he can play them all. He has a wall with gold and platinum records and a spa in the basement. Oh, and he cooks divinely.”

“So, you two must have hit it off well since you stayed.”

Vi grinned. “We did. He is very charming, a good listener and an excellent conversationalist. I tell you I should have started dating older men a long time ago.” She giggled.

“And what about the bedroom?” Jan asked.

Vi smirked and tossed a rag at her friend. “None of your business.”

“Better than Darcy?” Jan asked

“Blew him out of the water.” She grinned getting back to work as Larry shot them both a nasty look. He opened the doors and their evening began. It wasn’t long before the club was filled to capacity and she and Jan were swamped at the bar.

She was so busy Vi had not noticed the perky young blonde that came up to the bar. Her large breast practically burst from her tiny red dress. “So, this is where you ended up.” She said in a breathy voice drawing Vi’s attention. Vi almost dropped the bottle of vodka she held in her hand when she looked up to see Sissy May, the woman who stole her husband smiling back at her. “Hey, Darcy baby look who it is?” She called to the man at her side. He turned around and laughed.

Vi found herself staring into her husband’s dark, cruel eyes. With his evil little grin. He was well dressed in his expensive slacks and white shirt. His dark hair slicked back. He looked greasy and slimy like Hitler’s personal adviser. How she hated the man. “Serving drinks. Aren’t you coming up in the world?” He mocked. “Form drinking to serving.”

“I’m not a drunk you lying bastard. You made that up.” She yelled slamming the bottle on the bar. “You’re a liar.” She shrieked reaching across the bar and grabbing his shirt.

“Security!” Jan yelled.

Larry came running to pull Vi off the customer as she slapped Darcy hard across the face her nails scratching his cheek. “Have you lost your mind?” Larry yelled. “What are you doing attacking a customer?” He growled shoving her toward Jan as security surrounded them. “I am so sorry Sir I assure you she will be severely dealt with. Please allow-” He paused as one of the waitresses whispered in his ear and he looked up to the VIP section with worry on his face. “Oh dear… it would appear this scuffle has drawn the attention of our owner and he would like to handle the matter himself. Please if you will follow me, I will take you up to the VIP section.” He turned his angry gaze on Vi. “You come too. You are in trouble.”

Vi looked up to see Ronny walk away from the rail and disappear into the VIP section. Fear festered in her belly; she had just caused a terrible stir in his establishment by attacking a customer. She was sure he must be furious. Vi followed Larry and Darcy up to the VIP section of the club worried about what awaited her.

They reached the VIP lounge to find Ronny seated comfortably in an armchair dressed in an expensive designer suit. He had not been alone either. To his left on the couch sat two older men with greying hair and suits. They must have been going over business with all the papers and briefcases on the table in front of them. The scuffle had disrupted their meeting.

“I’m sorry Sir, you shouldn’t have to disturb your meeting I can deal with this incident myself.” Larry offered.

“What on earth is going on?” Ronny demanded calmly his hands folded in front of him. He portrayed a flawless air of power and menace even Vi was shaken.

“Your crazy bartender assaulted me,” Darcy growled. “She is out of her mind.”

“And we promise she will be dealt with,” Larry assured him.

Ronny turned his eyes to Vi. “Do you have an explanation for this?” He asked waiting to hear her side of the matter.

She needed him to understand. Vi had lost her temper, but Darcy had ruined her life and seeing him again mocking her had provoked her. “Well, it’s just that… I mean…” She sighed, there was no good explanation, she should live up to what she had done. “I’m sorry Sir. This man is my ex-husband, and I lost my temper.”

Ronny’s gaze turned to Darcy his expression still indifferent. “Is that true?”

“Yeah, and she is crazy. I’ve been assaulted in your establishment by your employee. I’ll have you know I’m a lawyer, and if this matter is not dealt with satisfactory, you will be hearing from me again.” Darcy threatened. Vi felt terrible. Could he sue Ronny because of what she had done?

The corner of Ronny’s mouth turned up in a sly grin, and he gestured for Vi to come to his side. “Miss. Anderson, will you please sign here?” He asked pointing to a document on the table. Vi looked down at the paperwork that lay on the table. It was a motion for divorce and child custody. She looked at the two men on the couch and realized they were lawyers. She flipped to the back of the document and signed placing the pen on the table. “You do not worry me in the least boy, and should not make threats you cannot possibly follow through on. From where I sit this was a lover’s tiff and had nothing to do with my establishment, and therefore I am not liable for anything. Try to threaten me again, and I will nail you to a wall.” Ronny promised calmly. “On a related note, I would like to introduce you to my fine legal team, Mr. Rimes and Mr. Lenard.”

Mr. Lenard took a notary stamp from his briefcase and stamped the document Vi had just signed. He then picked it up and walked over to Darcy. “Mr. Darcy Anderson?”

“Yes?”

“You have just been served.” Mr. Lenard passed the document to Darcy and returned to pick up his briefcase. He and his colleague shook hands with Ronny. “We will be in touch.” He said as they left the VIP lounge.

Darcy looked over the document reading it over with shock. “What is this?”

“A custody order. Miss. Anderson wants custody of your four children. Pending a judge’s discussion, she is demanding access, which is her right. Fifty percent access time without custodial interference.”

“You can’t do this,” Darcy growled.

“Yes, I can.” Ronny smiled. “I have a very good lawyer. I have a team of very good lawyers. If need be, I could hire an entire law firm of very good lawyers.” Ronny leaned forward and offered Darcy a dashing smile. “In fact, I could buy your law firm and fire you if I wanted to play dirty. I could blackball you from every other respectable firm. Or report your recent perjury to the ethics committee and have you disbarred. I could ruin you in a heartbeat and not lose a wink of sleep.” Ronny sat back relaxing calmly in his seat. “But I’m not a heartless cad, so what do you say we wipe the slate clean and play this one out fairly?”

“You’re funding her?” Darcy asked curiously eyeing Vi.

“I am,” Ronny admitted. “So, don’t think about dragging it out in court to try and make her run out of money because believe me when I say you will bankrupt yourself long before you put a dent in my petty cash drawer.”

“Why would you do this?” Darcy demanded still glaring at Vi.

“I’m a charitable man.”

“No,” he said shaking his head, “it’s something else, no stranger does this. No boss does this either.” He said pointing at Vi. “You w***e. You’re spreading your legs for a legal defence.” He accused.

Vi jumped as Ronny shot out of his seat. His hand closed around Darcy’s throat as he bent him back over the rail. Darcy gasped clutching at Ronny’s muscular arm as he held him back over the rail. Darcy begged for the security team to help him, but none came. Larry and his security guards hung back unsure what to do. They did not wish to intervene out of fear of losing their jobs.

“You need a lesson in manners son,” Ronny growled and then tossed Darcy to the floor sending him rolling as he hit the ground. Ronny stalked toward him, and Darcy scurried to his feet and quickly backed down the stairs. “Get out of my club and don’t ever come back.” Ronny then nodded to the security. “Escort Mr. Anderson and his guest from the premises.”

Vi watched as the security guards took Darcy away. She couldn’t help but smile at his misfortune. It was probably not how he had expected to spend his night when he decided to attend the trendy nightclub. His composed demeanour returned as Ronny addressed her. “I apologize for his crude behaviour. So unbecoming of a gentleman.”

“He was never in danger of being mistaken for a gentleman,” Vi said diverting her gaze from Larry’s judging eyes. Darcy had revealed their relationship and Ronny’s defence of her had only confirmed it. By the end of the night, she was sure people with the night off would have heard of her affair with the boss. Her reputation was in shambles. From this moment on no one would see her as any better than any of the other gold digging tarts cruising the club for a wealthy husband.

Ronny looked at Larry. “Bring us some wine.” He ordered.

Larry nodded and left. Vi found herself alone with Ronny. “Am I fired?” She asked, curious how she was to be dealt with for her outrageous behaviour.

“No, but I cannot have you attacking my customers. It’s not good for business. You must be reprimanded. I cannot be showing you special treatment, not for something such as this.”

“I know what I did was disgraceful and I should have kept a cooler head, but that man, the things he has done, the lies he has told…”

“As a man I understand.” He assured her. “As your boss, I have to punish you.”

“I understand.” She assured him. At least she was not fired, things could have been much worse she supposed.

Ronny sighed as he thought about what to do. “You’re suspended for two weeks starting now. We will find someone else to cover your shifts.” Suspended, her heart sank, what was she to do? She needed the money to pay bills and buy food. She needed every shift she had, and now she couldn’t work for two weeks. She groaned inwardly wishing she had not allowed Darcy to get the better of her. “I’m sorry.” He said coming to take her in his arms.

“I understand, you have a business to run. I should have held my temper.” Vi said trying to offer him a smile she did not feel.

“Look on the bright side we now have time to spend together.” He said. “Did you get a chance to read the agreement before you signed it?” He asked gesturing for her to take a seat.

“A little.” She said sitting by his side on the small couch and picking up the copy that had been left for her. “It states that he must allow me access to the children at specified times and that I’m perusing custody.” She recapped what she had read earlier.

“There is also a police enforcement clause, that states if he interferes in any way with your access rights you may take the children from him with the assistance of the NYPD, and he will be held in contempt.” He explained bringing a smile to her face. Ronny had forced Darcy into a corner and tied both hands behind his back. “Of course, this is only an interim order until they have the chance to investigate his bogus claims against you and have them thrown out. After that, they will be aggressively perusing full custody. They are very good attorneys, and for their fees they better be, I’m confident in a few months you and your children will be residing under the same roof once more. Your ex won't know what hit him.”

Vi didn’t know what to say. Until this moment she had no hope. She had seen no way out of her dark dilemma. Darcy had held all the cards. Since meeting Ronny, the odds had shifted in her favour. She owed it all to this wonderful man. Vi placed the order on the table and wrapped her arms around his shoulders hugging him tightly. There were no words to express her gratitude for his assistance.

“There is no way I can repay you for what you’re doing.” She said kissing his cheek. “This means the world to me, thank you.”

“I am happy to help.” He smiled back at her. “What good is all my money if I cannot help those who need it from time to time?”

“You are a good man Ronny.”

“I am a selfish man.” He admitted as a waitress brought them two glasses of wine. “After all it’s not like I’m not getting anything out of the deal.” He said suggestively. “I do get rewarded in the end.” Vi blushed as she thought of how he kissed her, how his hands caressed her body. How with a single look from those bedroom eyes he could make her melt like warm butter. She could already feel herself softening beneath his heated gaze. When he looked at her, he could make her feel like they were the only two people in the room even though there were hundreds of others around them. “Why do you blush?” He asked softly never taking his eyes from her.

“I’m not used to such attention,” Vi confessed. “Darcy never looked at me the way you are. He never touched me the way do.” She looked down at her hands fidgeting in her lap. “He has never done a lot of what we did last night.”

She heard him laugh and she couldn’t help but smile. “Perhaps I should give him some pointers.” He mocked.

“I don’t think it would help.” She teased. Vi loved his smile; it was so warm and friendly. He had a certain boyish charm about him at times. Ronny was a man that took life with ease.

“Tomorrow night the art gallery is opening a new exhibit.” She had heard. It had been all over the news and the papers for the last two weeks. Some big-name artist had come to town on tour to display his works and opening night was to be a big event. A huge party for New York’s elite. One could attend by invitation only.

“I heard, you have to have an invitation to attend.”

“I so happen to have an invitation.” He informed her. “I would like you to come with me.”

She could not contain her smile. Attend a huge swanky party with New York’s upper crust. How could she say no? “Oh, but I don’t own a dress that would be suitable for that sort of party.” And she doubted very much that she could borrow one from Jan.

“Not a problem. We will have to go shopping tomorrow and buy you a dress.” Ronny shrugged and took a sip of his wine. “I know a wonderful boutique with some beautiful gowns.”

Strangely enough, that did not surprise Vi in the least. She imagined he spent a lot outfitting his mistresses and probably knew many lovely shops in all his favourite cities. What did surprise her was just how much that fact seemed to bother her. Ronny was an incredible man. Handsome, charming, and charismatic he was a catch at any age. She found herself wondering just how many lovers he had in his lifetime.

Vi was about to ask him when Larry appeared drawing his attention. “Sir, I hate to disturb you, but I thought you would like to know that the Mayor’s son has arrived. His friend informs me it is the boy’s twenty-first birthday.”

Ronny smiled knowingly. “He is looking for a wild party, is he?” Larry offered him a smile and nodded. Ronny placed his glass on the table and rose to his feet. “Excuse me sweet, but I am afraid I must go play host. I will be back shortly.” He promised and followed Larry from the lounge.