Page 33 of Last First Date

I stared at him, feeling my blood boil. I had participated in my fair share of locker room talk, but he was vile. He was a fucking adult talking like a sixteen-year-old punk.

My patience snapped. I rose to my feet and glared down at him. The bar fell silent. "That's enough, Benjamin," I warned, my voice deep and threatening. He looked up at me, his face betraying a hint of apprehension.

"Hey now, Knox," he stammered a bit. "I was just joking around. No need to get all serious."

"No," I said sternly. "You don't get to joke about her like that."

Benjamin frowned now, clearly taken aback. "She must really be something," he said after a moment, the smirk returning to his face. "But I know you. You'll get tired of her eventually. And I'll be there to pick up your leftovers. With a body like that, I'm sure there will be plenty left over for me."

Alex stepped around the bar and snapped his fingers. Before I could knock the guy off the stool, two men stepped forward and grabbed Benjamin. They escorted him outside before going back to sit at their table like nothing had happened.

Alex walked back behind the bar. "Have another drink," he said. "On the house."

"Thanks," I muttered.

He delivered the draft beer and shook his head. "A clown like that isn't worth the bruised knuckles," he said, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Thanks."

"Do you work with him?"

"No. He's just some dude I knew a long time ago. He hired my company to do some grand opening for him."

"And Waverly? Is that your girlfriend?"

"No." I laughed. "She's my assistant. But she's a woman. She doesn't deserve to be treated like that."

"I agree," he said.

I finished my drink and called an Uber for my return home. So much for going out and unwinding. I was pissed.

"Thanks, Alex. I appreciate the drink."

"No problem." He waved from the other end of the bar.

I walked outside to wait for my ride. Out of the darkness, a figure emerged. The moment he stepped into the light, I knew my night was about to get worse.

"It must be nice to be you," he sneered. "You get away with murder because of your last name.”

"Go home, Benjamin. You're drunk, or you're just stupid. Just go."

He gave me another dirty look. "Do you think you're the king of Utah? King of the whole damn country. I'll have you know the only reason you're the CEO is because your mom only managed to have one kid. If there had been another heir, I'm guessing you wouldn't have gotten the position. You landed it by default."

"Whatever," I said and walked away.

He followed and grabbed my shoulder, jerking me back. "If that Waverly chick was smart, she'd get the hell away from you. You're going to sink that ship. Nepotism doesn't get you anywhere."

His breath stank of beer and desperation, an obnoxious combination. "You're just jealous because you're stuck, Benjamin, stuck in the mud of your own making," I said coldly.

His grip on my shoulder loosened, but he didn't remove his hand completely. "Jealous? Of what?" He laughed, but it was hollow, brittle. "Of your money? Your company? Your woman?"

I shook his hand off my shoulder and glared at him. "She's not my woman. She's a person. And yes, you are jealous. You'd do anything to have what I have."

He shoved me, catching me off guard. I stumbled back a few steps, barely catching my balance.

"Really?" I asked with a laugh. "You want to fuck with me?"

Benjamin lunged at me, but I sidestepped his charge. He stumbled past me but quickly recovered.