“Are you ever going to talk about what happened?” Kace pressed.

The incessant best friend of mine wouldn’t drop the subject of what happened at the club and why Goldie left. I knew he knew exactly why Goldie left, because I heard him talking to her near her bedroom with Lyla, but classic Kace wouldn’t let it drop there.

“It’s over; why bring up the past?” I asked, while adjusting the cuffs of my shirt.

“Because you’re not the same person. When I’m in one of my self-induced exiles, you make me talk about it.”

“That’s because I’m afraid you’re going to do something stupid, like commit suicide,” I smirked at him.

“I wouldn’t make it that easy on you. Come on, man, just fucking tell me. I hate all this whiney bullshit you’ve been putting the whole house through.”

“Whiney? Last time I checked, I don’t whine.”

“Well, you sure as hell aren’t a shining beacon caressing us with angel kisses and cuddling clouds.”

I eyed Kace up and down. “Lose your balls somewhere on this ride?”

“Sometimes, I think I did,” Kace said, while looking out the window.

“Lyla giving you a run for your money?” I asked, grateful for the subject change.

Kace rubbed his forehead in frustration. “She’s infuriating. She doesn’t ever listen. It’s like directions go in one ear and out the other, and the worst part about it is she’s influencing the other Jett Girls. When did we lose control?”

I shook my head and laughed. I knew the answer to that, the minute Goldie walked in the house. She shifted the atmosphere of the entire club. The girls always held the cards, but she turned into the fucking dealer.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Kace wiped his mouth with his hand. “I told you Goldie was a bad choice,” he smirked.

“You were right when you said she wasn’t Jett Girl material; she is so much more than that. She’s a complex twist of sunshine and rain, a bright spot on a dull day, a compact ball of fucking sass and defiance.”

“But, you can’t help but love her,” Kace pressed.

Looking out the window, I nodded my head. He was right, I couldn’t help but love her and every little defiant and caring bone in her body. I was so fucking in over my head when it came to Goldie that I didn’t know how to handle the feelings running through me.

I wanted to protect her, dominate her, care for her, and love her, but I had no clue how to do those things, because for the first time in my life, instead of me being the dominant, Goldie was. She owned every last inch of me, and right about now, I would do anything she said to be with her. Fucking anything.

“Tell me you have a plan.”

“Plan for what?”

We pulled up to our destination and I fixed my jacket, making sure everything was in place. The driver walked around to our side of the car to open the door.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” Kace said. “Do you have a plan to win Goldie back?”

The door to the car opened, and I was greeted with an onslaught of press. Before stepping out of the car, I turned to Kace and said, “I always have a plan.”

Adjusting my tie, I stepped out of the car with Kace following me close behind as I weaved my way through the press, who found it necessary to shove microphones in my face every chance they got.

When George called me this morning about a press conference for Lot 17, I was more than accommodating because I wanted everyone to know about my plans for the space. What I wasn’t looking forward to were the questions involving my father and Rex Titan.

After the police invaded Masquerade, they were granted access to the inner workings of their business, their books, and everything involved with their bank accounts. Some city elites were brought down, and their reputations were tarnished, but what I wasn’t expecting was for Rex and my dad to have a lot more hidden in their closets than I thought.

When I sent Zane into Masquerade, I knew we were going to expose the prostitution ring Rex and my dad were running, but I never expected for them to be exposed for embezzlement and a grand Ponzi scheme that didn’t only affect some of the people of New Orleans, but also citizens around the country.

The findings were complete news to me, but when I thought about it, it all made sense. My dad wasn’t good at managing his money, which is why he was so desperate to obtain Lot 17; it was going to set up a lucrative business for him, using the people’s money and the business model of the Lafayette Club, but with a perverted and highly illegal twist.

Investigations were still underway, but for right now, my dad and Rex were facing charges for prostitution, embezzlement, and fraudulent investments. Pretty much, they were sitting pretty on some prison time. I was looking forward to the day they would pay their much-deserved dues.

George met me in the back of the room where the press conference was being held. We shook hands, and I could tell by the small smirk on his face that he was a very happy man.

“George, you’re looking well,” I greeted him.

“Mr. Colby, good to see you on such a joyous occasion.” He glanced over and saw Kace and stuck out his hand. “Mr. Haywood, a pleasure.”

“Hi, George. Good to see you. I can’t believe you’re still hanging around with this guy,” Kace said, while gripping my shoulder.

“I could say the same about you,” he smirked.

“He pays me. Have to milk the cow as much as I can.”

“Milk the cow?” I asked, while raising my eyebrow.

Kace just shrugged, making George chuckle to himself.

“It’s good to see a friendship likes yours stay intact. I’ve seen so many friendships dissolve throughout the years.”

“I’m too invested by now to let go,” Kace responded, being more playful than usual.

“Don’t let him fool you,” I cut in. “The man is obsessed with me.”

George threw his head back and laughed. “Never a moment with Jett Colby when he isn’t full of himself.”

“Why, George, was that a dig at my personality?” I acted offended.

He patted my cheek and said, “Never, my boy, only affection.”

“Mr. Colby, are you ready?” someone asked, who was helping run the press conference.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head and walked toward the lights of the stage.

The room was full of press with cameras, microphones, voice recorders, and columnists with poised pens, just waiting to take notes and ask questions. They looked like hungry vultures, and I was about to feed them the meal of the century.

George informed me before the conference that I was supposed to address the press with my own statement, and then take questions afterwards. It would be pretty simple, and thankfully I was seasoned when it came to handling the press, so if they started to become too invasive, I would be cutting the press conference short. There was only so much I divulged, and right now, I knew my personal life was up for attack, since my father was looking at such serious charges.

The room fell silent as I approached the podium. Lights shone down on me, blocking out most of the faces in the crowd, making it easier to recite the speech I’d spent the morning memorizing.

“Good afternoon. Thank you all for taking time out of your day to be here with me. As you all know, Lot 17 is a prime location in this great city of New Orleans. I’ve been very zealous at making it known that this property has been of great interest to me. Last week, I was awarded the property through a bidding process and can now tell you how ecstatic I am about acquiring the property. I am known in this city for my real estate investments and business prowess, but I’m afraid I have been quiet when it comes to my philanthropic work. I’ve done this because I don’t believe in gloating about my charity work. I am in a position where I can spread my wealth, and I believe doing so in silence is a proper way to conduct business, but there are times when you need to talk about such charity work to bring the community together, to make the citizens of New Orleans a cohesive force. That being said, I’m here to announce my plans for Lot 17.”