Fox smirked. “Last minute surprise, huh?” I lifted a brow. Apparently, these guys had done their due diligence just like I had. However, before I could comment, the sound of high heels clacking on the cracked tile floor resonated throughout the derelict ballroom.
All heads turned, and Alexis Wyatt was being escorted into the room by one of the organization’s guards. She was a beauty with the whole blonde hair/blue-eyed combo, and she was dressed like she was attending a damn charity event. She looked beautiful, though, and Fox immediately walked over and took her from the guard. Without a word to any of us, he escorted Alexis to her seat.
Not a minute later,Jennifer Polk, another blonde hair/blue-eyed combo, was being escorted inside, and she was dressed similar to Alexis in a tasteful, alluring, purple dress and heels. Ross had followed suit and had walked over to grab his girl and escort her to her seat.
The next girl to walk in was Laney Spinner, and I was surprised that Rylee hadn’t walked in with her. While I wasn’t fond of Laney’s association with August, there was no denying Laney Spinner was also just as attractive as Alexis and Jennifer. Laney had light brown hair and light brown eyes that were a striking combination.
Augustput a halt to his ass kissing, or whatever he’d been doing on stage, then went and finished escorting Laney to her seat. As they walked past, I didn’t miss the smirk on August’s face, and I wondered if he knew something I didn’t. Like, maybe, he knew why Rylee wasn’t with Laney.
WhenKincaid Black walked in next, I really started to wonder what the fuck was going on. As Saxton walked over towards Kincaid, I still had questions on why he had chosen her. Kincaid wasn’t like these other girls. Where the other girls were beautiful, Kincaid was stunning with her black hair and black eyes. However, I suspected it was the air about her that made her as stunning as she was. There was no doubt about it; Kincaid Black commanded the air around her with determination. She was also dressed nicely.
As the girls took their seats and the guys lined up behind them, I was the only one who stood alone. While it might look as if I’d been played, I knew, deep down, I hadn’t been. IknewRylee was going to show, I just didn’t know why she was late.
Alexander’s voice echoed throughout the room. “Is there a problem, Mr. Lexington?”
My jaw clenched. “Not at all,” I replied.
I heard the click of his shiny shoeson the tile, telling me he’d stepped off the stage. “Perhaps the young lady has changed her mind,” he suggested as he came to stand next to me. It could be paranoia due to the fact that he was more familiar with August than he is with me, but I thought I could hear some underlining glee in his suggestion that Rylee might not be coming.
Before I could correct him, a black-haired/blue-eyed vision in black sneakers, dark jeans, a dark grey hoodie, and her hair pulled back in a ponytail entered the ballroom, her guard trying to keep up with her. My back straightened, and all I could think was that she looked fucking magnificent.
When her eyes met mine, her eyes widened and her steps faltered a bit, but she quickly regained her composure. Since everyone else was standing next to their partners, it wasn’t hard to deduce that I was the one who had summoned her. Rylee walked right up to me and Alexander, and her challenging stance was unmistakable.
Looking down atthis girl, there was no question on whether it was love at first collide or not. Looking down at her, it definitely was.
Alexander was the first to speak. “Did you enjoy making us wait on you, Ms. Madden?”
Rylee’s back snappedbefore looking over at Alexander. “I arrived with everyone else. However, I was the only one who actuallyreadthrough the NDA that your guards had us sign before entering,” she replied coolly, and if I wasn’t already obsessed with this girl, I was now. “If you’re disappointed that I didn’t put my blind trust in your NDA without reading it, well, that’s just too bad.”
Alexander bristled, and you could see he didn’t like being challenged. But then I didn’t imagine many people did challenge him. “It’s a standard NDA, Ms. Madden,” he clipped out.
Rylee cocked her head. “Saysyou.”
“And areyou satisfied with its generality now, Ms. Madden?” he asked with a bite in his voice.
Ryleearched a brow. “I’m in here, aren’t I?”
“Then, perhaps, we can get on with tonight’s festivities. If it pleases you, of course,” he returned snidely.
Rylee’s eyes flew towards my face. “I can hardly wait,” she retorted before heading over towards the others.
I wasabout to follow her when Alexander’s voice stopped me. “Are you sure you don’t want to put more thought into your selection, Mr. Lexington?”
I stared him in his blue eyes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Alexander.” I didn’t bother calling him Mr. George because he’d lost my respect the second that he’d been rude to Rylee.
I turned fromhim, then took my rightful place behind Rylee. As I stood, I turned and noticed every guy’s head was turned my way. I wasn’t sure if it was her outfit that had them wondering, or if it was the tense exchange between Rylee and Alexander that had them concerned, but they were definitely interested in Rylee Madden.
Alexander cleared his throat, and his partners, Jacob Townsend, Donovan Cooper, and Arlene Winslet, all stood in a show of support. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. I am Alexander George,” Alexander greeted. “As you already know, tonight is an important night regarding your futures.” I had to give it to him. I might not care for the man, but he had a strength in his voice that could command a room. It was no wonder why Rylee bothered him. He probably really wasn’t used to anyone questioning him. “You are about to become part of an organization, a family, if you will, that can do nothing but give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
Alexander stepped offthe stage and walked the length of the floor in front of the seated women. He made sure to look each one in the face, and he made sure he didn’t linger on one longer than the other as he continued to speak. “I’m not sure how much you’ve been told, or if you’ve been told anything at all. So, I am here to explain what we are about, and what your role will be within our organization.”
“Provided we agree to join, correct?” Rylee asked, further challenging him.
Alexander stopped in front of her chair and peered down on her. “Having doubts already, Ms. Madden?” Rylee’s chin went up, and you could feel the tension. If she did end up agreeing to all this, it would probably be just to spite Alexander.
Hell, this might go a lot easier than I had expected.
Chapter 8