We made our way through the throngs of people, paid our respects to the mayor who was delighted to see two of the elite pedigree walking hand in hand together.

When we walked through the crowd, it was as if Prince William and Kate were walking through the room. People were delighted, excited and too damn happy to see Keylee and me together.

“Oh, Jett Colby, I knew that was you,” came the voice of Mrs. Steevers who was wearing the most god-awful headpiece I had ever seen. It was like she took a dead raccoon, turned it inside out and plopped it on her head.

“Mrs. Steevers, what a pleasure to see you. You look well.” I greeted her with two kisses on her cheeks. “You remember Miss Keylee Zinc, don’t you?” I asked while pulling Keylee forward.

“Of course I do. I just knew that you two would find each other one day. You’re just too perfect together.”

“I think so too,” Keylee added while wrapping both hands around my arm and pulling in tight.

“How long have you two been dating?”

“We—”

Keylee cut me off and said, “Just off and on for a little bit but just last night Jett pledged his commitment to me. It was so endearing.”

Mrs. Steevers clapped her hands in glee as I glared at Keylee for lying. Commitment? To her? The only commitment she would be getting from me was a kick to her lying ass.

“Do I hear wedding bells?”

A sickening cough floated through my throat from the mention of being married to Keylee. Hell no!

Keylee rubbed my back but still spoke to Mrs. Steevers, “Oh, I don’t think so yet but we’ll see. We’re happy enough, that’s for sure.”

“Excuse me, I need to get a drink,” I said while motioning to my throat.

“Oh please do, dear,” Mrs. Steevers said. “It was so good to see you two.”

“You too, Mrs. Steevers.” I gave her a hug goodbye and made a beeline for the bar. I needed a bourbon and I needed one now.

I heard Keylee trailing behind me, trying to catch up and I made it a point to take a deep breath before addressing her.

The bartender must have known I was coming because he had a glass of bourbon already ready for me. He gave me a wink and I tipped him a twenty.

Once I turned around, I was met with Keylee’s glare. “You can’t just leave me stranded like that,” she said as she popped a hand on her hip.

“I can when you’re shooting off blatant lies.” My anger took over and I was no longer able to control my temper. I was already on edge, I didn’t need Keylee telling the most gossiping hen in the crowd that we were planning on getting married.

“I was just trying to help…”

I leaned forward and whispered in her ear while looking out at the crowd, “If you want to help, be quiet, sip some water and stand by my side without opening that…” My words stopped as my eyes locked on a honey-haired goddess in a black dress that just walked into the party on Diego’s arm.

My heart stopped, completely and my stomach bottomed out from seeing Goldie on someone else’s arm. Forget that, for even seeing her at the event at all. What the fuck was Diego up to?

“I don’t have to take this from you,” Keylee said while poking my chest.

Reluctantly, I tore my gaze off Goldie and looked down at her. “You want to be a Jett Girl? Well, that means knowing your role and right now, your role is to be pleasing to the men’s eyes while keeping your mouth shut. You think you can handle that?”

Her mouth hung in shock from my directness. I didn’t have time to fuck around, to care about her feelings. I needed her to comply immediately.

“You have three seconds to decide,” I continued. “Three…two…”

“Okay,” she said in a panic. “Just, let me collect myself first. I wasn’t prepared for this. May I go to the bathroom?”

Goldie crossed the room with Diego, whispered something in his ear and headed for the bathroom, this was my chance to talk to Diego without Keylee’s damn ears dropping in on my conversation.

“Yes, but don’t doddle,” I commanded.

She nodded, gave me one last look with those damn pouty lips of hers and then took off for the bathroom.

Diego must have sensed my anger because as Goldie crossed the room, he made his way to the bar where I stood. After he ordered a drink, I grabbed him by the elbow, tightly, and swung him around.

With a smile across my face but a menace in my voice, I said, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Do you think it’s smart to be talking to me right now?”

“Don’t fuck around with me. What is she doing here?”

The bartender handed Diego his drink and he followed with a tip. Surveying the crowd, Diego stood by my side but never looked at me as he spoke in a light tone, “She made me. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Are you insane? You’re like three times as big as her. Of course you had a choice.”

“She really knows how to pinch a nipple, man.”

“For the love of Christ. Please don’t tell me that you brought her here because she pinched your nipple. I swear to God, Diego, I will take everything away from you that you worked so hard for.”

Shaking his head, Diego said, “Low blow, man. Maybe you need to just let her be. She will do whatever the hell she wants, it’s about time you realized that.”

“You could have stopped her. What if something happens to her tonight?”

“Nothing is going to happen to her. We’re in the middle of the most politically acclaimed event in New Orleans. No one will try anything tonight so stop shitting your pants and do what you’re supposed to do. Get the job done, man.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, trying not to show the distress I was in by having Goldie at the event tonight. With her here, there was no way I would be able to focus on the task at hand.

“Got to go, keep your distance man and for the love of God, don’t blow it.”

With that, Diego took off and started shaking hands of younger men who Diego grew to know while attending these events. There was a whole secret club of kinky men in the city and Diego knew each and every one of them. They were the only reason why Diego went to these events, so he could network and when he was ready for his club to open, he would have a decent membership.

The next hour flew by in a blur as I watched Diego escort Goldie around, something I should be doing. She made anyone who talked to her laugh and she put a bright smile on their faces. I couldn’t blame them, she had the same effect on me.

Through the night, I heard people whispering about the exotic new girl that was wrapped around the elusive club owner’s arm. Some people liked them, some people didn’t think they belonged but everyone thought she was charming. That she was a breath of fresh air and here I was, with Keylee Zinc acting like a dead fish hanging off my arm. I knew I told her to keep her mouth shut but she took the submissive thing way too seriously. She barely looked up at people and bowed her head most of the time. If anything, she was hurting my image.

Fuck!

The sway of Goldie’s hips mesmerized me as she walked across the room, which was why I didn’t see my dad step right in front of me until he cleared his throat.

“Who is this treat?” he said while looking at Keylee.

I hated this man, despised him. The fact that he could just walk up to me and act like there was nothing between us made me sick to my stomach.

“This is Keylee Zinc. Keylee—” I swallowed hard, “—this is my father, Leo Colby.”

Ever since she went to the bathroom, Keylee finally perked up from the mention of my father and her eyes lit with excitement. She held out her hand and my dad took it in his and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. It was sickening.

“Mr. Colby, what a delight to meet the man who had a part in making this delectable guy.” She leaned in and pressed her free hand against my chest.

As if a match snapped, my attitude did a one eighty and I got in the same mind frame as Keylee. Happy couple.