Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three
Kelley spent two hours on the conference call, securing the land he wanted to buy and put up another hotel. The deal was a lucrative one, for both sides, and they were basically just dotting the i’s and crossing their t’s. He had a spring in his step and he'd gotten the better end of the deal as he argued and bargained with Phillipe.
“Thank you, Phillipe, we’ll talk again once the plans have been accepted by the municipality,” Kelley said and ended the call.
He sat back down on his chair and winced slightly. Sylvie had really gone all out on his back. He didn’t regret it though. She had blown his mind, in more ways than one. She wasn’t petite like Milana and he hadn’t been afraid that he’d hurt her, well not as afraid. He could feel his dick hardening again just at the thought of getting naked with her again. She wasn't shy, had no reason to be and he liked how responsive she was. Sex was meant to be enjoyed and without meaning to he compared Sylvie to Milana. He rubbed his hands over his face and shook his head.
He should get Blaire to trace Milana’s whereabouts, talk about a financial settlement and get divorce proceedings underway. He hated to do it, he didn’t believe in divorce but there was no other way around it.
He and Milana were history and Sylvie could possibly play a big part in his future. He liked her, knew that she liked him too. She wasn’t one to beat around the bush, never looked down and she was a good person, all traits he appreciated in a woman.
He worked until noon, pushing Milana and their impending divorce to the back of his mind. He’d need to travel to Maisina when they broke ground and then again for the grand opening. The manager he’d employed, Tania Gathwell, would work with the designers and decorators. He knew the municipality would approve the plans for the hotel so meeting with Phillipe was just a matter of time.
Kelley always had the last say and he rarely differed from Carey’s designs and choices. Breaking ground would be a quick ceremony, planting a shovel in the ground and scooping the dirt up while photographers took pictures and would ask him endless questions.
The door to his study opened and he looked up. Mason and Lee strode in like the place belonged to them followed by Connor. Kelley placed his phone on his desk and darkened the screen. No reason for them to see the half typed message to Sylvie that was displayed there.
“What?” The smirks on their faces told him that they wanted details of his night.
“Please explain what eating patties with dirty balls has to do with anything,” Connor said as Mason and Lee burst out laughing.
“You two are fucking assholes,” Kelley said and smiled.
“She got him to smile,” Lee remarked.
“Yeah, we both know what that means,” Mason said grinning like an idiot.
“What?” Connor asked.
“Sylvie Carlisle is a woman we went to college with. Some idiot branded her ‘Fatty Patty’ and the name stuck. She wore glasses, wore her hair in a perm, donned baggy clothes and was very overweight,” Kelley said.
“What does that have to do with your balls?” Connor asked, clearly still confused.
Kelley laughed and looked at Connor. “Last night I took her to dinner.”
“You had a date?” Connor asked.
“With fatty Patty, man must be getting desperate,” Mason said and laughed again.
“Stop calling her that,” Kelley said. “She has a name.”
“Right, Sylvie,” Lee said.
Kelley’s phone beeped and he looked at Lee. “Lunch is here, can you pay the guy?”
“Why can’t you pay?”
“I don’t have my wallet,” Kelley said. “I forgot my jacket at Sylvie’s house.”
Lee huffed out a surprised laugh. “You spent the night?”
“Just shut up and go pay the guy,” Kelley said as Lee smirked at him.
“Oh, now I get the dirty balls part,” Connor said and this time Kelley laughed loudly with Mason as Lee left the study.
“You did wash them, right?”
Kelley laughed but didn’t answer him as Lee strode inside the study with the bags of take-out. He slapped the slip down on Kelley’s desk and started handing out food. They ate in relative silence and Connor placed their cartons back in the bags.
“Are you going to see her again?” Lee asked him.
“I don’t do one night stands,” Kelley said and noticed the looks Mason and Lee were giving him. “Anymore.”
“Is she big? Like big, big?” Connor asked as he measured her waist size in the air.
A knock on the door silenced them all and Kelley schooled his features. His stoic mask slipped into place as Connor, Mason and Lee sobered up from their laughing. “Come in.”
The door opened and Kelley stood up from behind his desk. Sylvie looked gorgeous in another wrap dress, red this time with heels to match, his jacket slung over her arm. “Hi,” she said.
“Hey.” Kelley rounded his desk and walked towards her. The door still blocked her view and the guys couldn’t see her either.
“You forgot your jacket,” she said softly.
“I had to ask Lee to pay for lunch,” he said with a smile.
“You still owe me for that,” Lee said loudly and Sylvie’s eyes widened just a fraction.
“You want a drink?” She nodded her head and Kelley took her hand, leading her deeper into the study.
“Sylvie, that’s Connor and you already know those two,” Kelley said.
“Hi,” Sylvie said in a clear voice, smiling at them. Kelley smirked as he watched his two closest friends, the shock in their eyes were priceless.
Mason’s mouth was open and Lee looked her up and down. Connor started laughing and stood up. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sylvie.” He shook her hand and offered her a seat on the couch.
Kelley looked at his friends and a smile formed on his lips. For once they had no comeback. For once they were stunned into silence and he loved every minute of it. Lee recovered first and shifted in his seat.
