Chapter 5

Matt Wolffe.

He was called the Wolf of the business world. He tore his competitors apart, bought people out of business, and outbid his rivals for artworks by renowned artists, and business inventions. There was no stopping him as he rose to the high ranks of business like his father before him. He quenched the rumors that doubted his ability to step into Zach Wolffe's shoes and before the age of 26 his name was called with respect. Many times he appeared in the top 10 successful businessmen in top magazines and social columns. As much as he was known for his unrivaled achievements in the business world, he was also popular among the ladies of high society. Among them, he was known as the Wolf of hearts. He captured the hearts of many and left them broken after short flings. What made him popular among the ladies was his ability to treat his women with utmost respect and affection. He made them feel special and when he became bored of them he let them go with much to compensate their breakup. And he loved that they understood when to let go. They never got attached and he never wanted any attachment with them. Mentioned 3 times as one of the most handsome men in the Love and Times magazine he once mentioned that his best trait was his ability to manage his social life and his business efficiently and if ladies found that attractive then who was he to say no. Since the media could not keep his face off of gossip columns, his face appeared in them almost every year, especially when he appeared with a new woman in his life. And he made sure to give his best smile to the paparazzi.

But Matt was not smiling today. His dark brows hung low over cold blue eyes that promised wrath. He walked up to Ricky and Luis’s club. A line of club-goers stood outside the door in the cold waiting for a chance to be let inside. He passed the line and approached the 6’5 bouncer at the entrance. The man started to block the entrance until he recognized Matt and he stepped aside for him to enter.

The club was lit with red and blue lights, the lights were not bright enough to reveal his face and he liked it like that. He wasn’t here for pleasure tonight. The party-goers sat around tables arranged to accommodate 5 people, some stood by the bar drinking and talking. The music was loud and a couple of people were dancing on the dancefloor. A girl serving drinks on a small silver tray approached him.

“What can I get you, honey?”

“Is Ricky here?” he demanded.

The girl took in his expensive clothing. He looked out of place with his white shirt, dark blue suit and heavy coat that fell to his feet. She cocked her head to the side and indicated a table at the far end of the room.

“Come. I’ll call him over.”

He went with her and sat by the wall. He didn’t bother to remove his coat since he wasn’t staying for too long. The party-goers were invisible to him as he was invisible to them.

“Matthew.”

He resisted a groan at the sound of his full name being called.

“Ricky.”

The short, middle-aged man with a balding sport in the middle of his head and a large scar across his nose approached the table and sat opposite him.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“I had to come by myself since you wouldn’t give Jamie any useful information,” Matt said in a hard voice.

Ricky looked behind, leaned in and lowered his voice. “That is because I do not have anything useful to tell him. I already told you to put your mind at ease. I will get you what you need.”

“I need it as fast as possible. If the deals are closed before I make an offer to buy I will make you pay for it. And I will hunt you down and won’t stop until you do.”

Ricky visibly swallowed. He knew how serious Matt was. The man never made empty threats. But the assignment Matt had given him was a difficult one. In the past, it had been easy to get information on Matthew’s rivals but this one rival lived a very secretive and private life.

“I have my girls working on it. I put Cheryl in charge of it and you know Cheryl never fails.”

Matt had to agree with that. The beautiful tall blonde was an expert at uncovering even the most carefully guarded secrets. Even he was wary of her abilities.

“I will give you an extension of two weeks. Send expenses through my secretary and if there’s anything else needed to complete this assignment let me know.”

“Of course.” Ricky rubbed his thick hands together and smiled. “Now how about a drink eh? It’s on the house.”

“I don’t want a damn drink. I wasn’t planning to visit until Jamie called to tell him he hadn’t received anything useful from you. Ricky, I trust you, don’t disappoint me.”

“I have never disappointed you before,” Ricky said. He caught the eye of one of the serving girls and waved her over, gave her orders for drinks for both him and Matt and turned to face Matt again. “You should have something before you go. Consider it a pre-victory celebration.”

Matt sat back in the chair and folded his arms. He wanted very much to go home and relax with a bottle of wine. Maybe call Penny and tell her to come over but he didn’t want to turn down Ricky’s offer, if he did the man would think he didn’t trust him and would become wary of him.

As the serving girl arrived with two glasses and a bottle of whiskey a loud cry rent the air.

“Copycats!”

The club burst into hoots, applause and cheers. He looked up to see a group of 5 people climb the stage.

“You employ live bands now?”

Ricky shook his head. “No, these ones sing for fun.”

Copycats. He never heard of them before. What kind of name was Copycats?

“Hello everybody!”

Matt sat up to see a redhead with the sheerest gown ever standing in front of the mic with her hands raised as the crowd cheered. The rest of the band was setting up the instruments.

“We have something different for you tonight. We are going to put you in the mood, you know what I mean?” she wagged her brows and the crowd cheered louder. The clubbers sitting were getting up from their seats one after the other to join those already on the dancefloor.

“Are they good?” he asked.

“Very good,” Ricky said with pride. “You should hear their lead singer.”

Matt narrowed his eyes at the redhead in doubt. She looked more like she was scanning the crowd for a potential bed partner than she was eager to sing. But he believed Ricky and leaned back in his seat to listen.

“Hold your man, hold your woman because you guys are about to witness the best musical foreplay ever!”

As the crowd cheered the instrumental part of the band started to play the beginning of a song that sounded vaguely familiar to him. Just then his phone vibrated in the pocket of his coat. Frowning he pulled it out and saw the caller ID of his secretary. He started to pick the call when the first lyrics of the song rang clear in the room.

There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea.

You became the light on the dark side of me.

Love remained a drug that’s the high and not the pill.

His eyes wide at the sultry, throaty voice, he looked up. And he saw her.