The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 164: Reed

Meanwhile Arthur Reed was enjoying the cool air, while hiding in a tropical island.

Today, he sat across from a woman who looked completely out of place in the heat. She was dressed in a sharp, charcoal-gray suit, her eyes fixed on her laptop screen. She didn’t look up once, her fingers flying across the keys, then nodding occasionally to what Arthur was saying.

A young woman in a bright, tropical outfit approached their table, balancing a wooden tray with two chilled coconuts and a few appetizers.

​The girl carefully set the coconuts on the table. As she turned to leave, Arthur reached out and patted her backside with a slow, possessive confidence.

​The girl gasped, her face flushing a deep red, and she hurried away toward the bar without looking back.

​The businesswoman didn’t stop typing. She simply sighed and shook her head, a brief look of disapproval crossing her face before she disappeared back into her work.

Arthur just leaned back, a smug smile playing on his lips as he watched the girl go, looking like a man who was used to taking whatever he wanted.

The woman finished the meeting and shut her laptop. She gave him a quick nod and walked away without saying a word.

Arthur turned towards the bar. He could see the young girl who served them earlier. A slow, dark smile spread across his face.

​He pushed his chair back and stood up. Then he began walking toward her. He looked less like of a customer and more like a predator, who was ready for a little bit of fun.

The young girl saw him coming and her eyes grew wide. She tried to look busy with some glasses, but her hands were shaking.

​Arthur reached the bar and leaned against it. He didn’t say anything at first. He simply watched her.

​"You’re new here, aren’t you?" he asked smoothly.

​The girl nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. It’s my first week."

​Arthur reached out and touched a strand of her hair. The girl flinched, but she didn’t move away.

​"Don’t be nervous," he said with a laugh. "I like new things. New things are easier to break in."

​He pulled a thick stack of cash from his pocket and tossed it onto the bar. The girl stared at the money. It was more than she made in a year.

​"I have a private villa at the end of the beach," Arthur whispered, leaning closer. "I need someone to bring me more juice. Do you think you can handle that?"

​The girl looked at the money, then at his cold eyes. She knew what he was really asking. Before she could answer, Arthur’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

​He frowned and pulled it out. When he saw the name on the screen, his smile disappeared. It was Adrian.

He stepped back from the bar, leaving the money still sitting there. He turned away from the girl and walked toward a quiet corner of the deck.

​"This better be important, Adrian," Arthur snapped into the phone. "I was in the middle of something important."

​"Julian knows," Adrian’s voice came through, sounding panicked. "He’s looking at the your files right now. There was a traitor in our midst. He escaped before we could get him, but we are looking for him. You know what this means don’t you? We have to move faster with our plans."

​Arthur looked back at the girl, then out at the ocean. "Relax," he said calmly. "He is only barking. He can’t find me."

"You arrogant bastard," Adrian snapped. "You always do this. You underestimate him. Have you forgotten he traced you all the way to Kenya the last time?"

​"Yea yea. Look, Julian is smart, I agree. But he is distracted right now. He cares too much about that... that girl. That has become his weakness."

​"Or his strength," Adrian hissed. "You’re not taking this seriously, are you? If he connects us, I’ll lose everything!"

​Arthur let out a short, dry laugh. "Then make sure he doesn’t."

"How the fuck do you expect me to do that? Are you even listening to me?"

"You have Zara in the house, don’t you? Tell her to stop being useless and do her job."

​He hung up the phone before Adrian could argue. He then turned his turned back around and saw the young girl still staring at the money on the bar.

​He walked back to her and leaned in close.

​"That money is yours," he said quietly. "All you have to do is come visit me tonight in my home."

​The girl reached out and touched the cash. She was terrified, but she was also poor. She took the money and tucked it into her apron.

​"Good girl," Arthur said with a huge smile.

....

Eleanor and Lyvana were laughing about a story from Julian’s childhood when Julian walked in.

He went straight to Lyvana, leaned down, and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Lyvana blinked in surprise as his hand rested against the side of her neck. A soft blush spread across her cheeks when he finally pulled away.

Eleanor cleared her throat loudly.

Julian glanced toward his mother like he had only just remembered she was there. Then he walked over and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Good to see you, Mother."

Eleanor smiled, though she shook her head at her son’s behavior.

Ethan entered, reached over to the silver tray on the marble table and picked up a small, flaky almond pastry.

He tossed it into his mouth, leaning back against the arm of Eleanor’s chair.

​"Jessi’s outdone herself again," he muttered, reaching for another snack.

"Hello auntie."

​Eleanor smiled, picking up her tea. "Your wedding is in two days, I hope you’re not planning to eat your way through the entire ceremony, Ethan. You still need to fit into that suit."

​Ethan laughed, his mouth half-full. "Auntie, Jessi’s cooking is a hazard to my waistline, but I’ll manage. Besides, a little extra weight just makes me look more ’established,’ right?"

​Eleanor shook her head playfully. "It makes you look like a groom who can’t stop snacking."

"You’d better still fit into that suit, cousin. I told the tailor you’re a size 40, not 44."

Ethan groaned, half the pastry falling out of his mouth. "Traitor."

The others laughed.

"Where is Emily?" Eleanor asked. "I haven’t seen her since last week."

​"She’s finishing up some last-minute details with the event planner," Ethan said.

Lyvana checked her phone. Her smile faded when she saw the messages from Bertha.

​"What is it, my love?" Julian asked. He noticed the change in her face immediately.

​"It’s Catalina," Lyvana said, her voice turning serious. "She’s at Aurora... and she’s trying to order our top designs."

Eleanor set her teacup down, her face turning serious. "Catalina? What is she up to now?"

​"I didn’t even know she was in town," Julian said. He pulled out his own phone and began typing. "I’ll have security review the tapes immediately. We need to make sure she hasn’t left anything behind. I don’t trust her."

"I think she’s just looking for a way to get under your skin."

"I agree with Ethan," Eleanor added. "Best you don’t get worked up over her."

Just then Andrew entered, holding a glass of juice. His eyes were fixed on Lyvana.

​"It looks like I’m being left out of the party,"