Bind Me - Page 86

Chapter 26

Conflict of Interest

Blake

Seth passes me the remote for the toy inside Madison when we get out of the car at the restaurant. I smirk. He needs to focus on the new client, but I can focus on Madison. While toys aren’t my thing, punishment is. And watching her hold back her orgasm will be enjoyable.

Though making her come in front of this particular client might not be the best idea. I’ll have to wait and read the room.

Stiner Enterprises. Our history with their family is tangled.

“What did you learn this morning about the client?” I ask Madison in a low voice as I lead her to the dining room we’ve reserved. The restaurant has white tablecloths draped over the tables, and the waitstaff is dressed in black slacks with white shirts and ties.

“Stiner Enterprises was the brainchild of William Hartfield and his wife Emily Stiner. It’s still a family-owned business. When they retired ten years ago, they left it in the hands of their eldest, Gloria Hartfield. Gloria and her daughter Elizabeth Hartfield are meeting with us today. They have multiple subsidiaries. Their headquarters are here in New York.” She turns her gaze to me. “Do you want their financial data, or perhaps the current number of employees in each division?”

I chuck her under her chin. She always impresses me with how quick her mind is. “That will do for now. What isn’t in the file is that Elizabeth and Seth dated in college. Long before we decided to be with the same girl. She’s only his baggage. However, Gloria hoped Elizabeth would snag Cooper.”

“Why?” Her eyes are confused. “Seth is amazing.”

“New money.” I make a low grunt because it doesn’t matter to me. Back then we didn’t have much, but Noah kept making it grow. “Cooper is from old money. It would have been a coup for Gloria to have the power that comes with the Graham name and fortune.”

Madison stops walking for a moment, but I give her a slight tug to keep moving. “But if she really loved Seth?—‍”

“Love wasn’t a factor in her decision.” I scoff. Most women interested in us rarely want love. Our power, our money, they crave it. “It was probably a move to get closer to Cooper. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Neither woman is very… romantic about alliances, especially when it comes to business. Besides, Coop was with Leighton and didn’t even look at another woman during that time.”

“Leighton?” Madison says softly.

I pull out a chair for Madison. “College girlfriend. Picked out by Mommy and Daddy Graham. Rich as Midas and way too full of herself. But Coop fell for her.”

She looks down at her lap and seems lost in thought. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything about Elizabeth or Leighton. Most women don’t like to hear about previous lovers. We try to make it a rule not to talk about our past partners.

But those two almost tore us apart, and I have no idea how Elizabeth will react to Madison, especially if Coop decides to act like her boyfriend. Fucker. I don’t want Madison caught off guard.

Before I can say anything, not that I know what to say, Seth walks in with Gloria and Elizabeth.

“You remember Blake Wagner.” Seth gestures to me.

“Pleasure to see you again.” I step forward and shake Gloria’s hand before turning and taking Elizabeth’s. She’s just as petite and pretty as she was in college. Her dark brown hair and huge brown eyes make her seem like a lost soul in need of rescue. That’s an illusion that getting to know her shatters.

“This is our assistant, Madison Harris.” Seth holds his hand out to Madison. Both women nod in her direction.

Gloria is in her fifties but still looks young. Her dark hair is pulled back in a bun, and her dark eyes don’t miss a thing. She’s taller than her daughter and holds herself like royalty.

“A pleasure to meet you.” Madison gives them a smile.

“We’re just waiting for Noah and Cooper to join us, but why don’t we all have a seat?” Seth gestures to the round table where Madison is already seated.

I sit next to her and Seth sits on my other side. Gloria sits on the opposite side of Seth, leaving a chair on either side of her. Elizabeth takes the seat between her mother and Seth. I was leery of taking this meeting.

Elizabeth was the reason Leighton tried to tear us apart. Or at least, part of the reason. Leighton was a spoiled, rich girl and didn’t understand why Cooper would choose to be friends with people like us.

“How have you been, Seth?” Gloria sits up straight in her chair.

“Busy with work. Building a company takes a lot of time, as you well know.” Seth gives her an acknowledging nod. Her parents may have started Stiner, but Gloria is the one with the vision who took it to the next level. She never took her late husband’s name and never remarried. As far as I can tell, she got what she wanted from him. A child to take over her company.

“Elizabeth has been taking on more responsibility at work lately.” Gloria unfolds the cloth napkin and lays it across her lap. “It seems like young people like yourselves don’t have time to find dates these days.”

“Mother,” Elizabeth whispers harshly before self-consciously smiling at Seth.