Page 170 of Embriagado

“Oh, sir, so sorry for calling.”

I quickly turned to look at the bouncer.

“Oh no, there isn’t any trouble, but there’s a man here claiming to be your assistant.”

The bouncer’s eyes moved to me. “What’s your name again?”

“Rivas. Santiago Rivas.”

“He says his name is Santiago Rivas.”

Watching him, I was ready for the fucker to eat his words when he finally nodded and hung up.

“So? Everything’s clear?”

“Yes.” The bouncer smiled at me widely. “Just as expected, Ariyan does not know who you are, so if you’ll please—” He whooshed his hand. “—step aside.”

My eyes widened, my brows creasing, while it felt like someone had punched me in the chest.

“What?”

But before I could say anything else, the bouncer went back to the line while the security blocked my path to him.

“What’s going on, Santi?” Nacio asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Unsure of it myself, I fisted my hands, thinking about how Ariyan had just told this nobody he didn’t know me. What the actual fuck? First, he sent me to voicemail, then denied my existence? Was this man for real? Just yesterday, I had him sitting on my face, and suddenly, I was a nobody⁠—

“Santi!”

My brother’s voice snapped me back, and I looked around before focusing on him.

I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Go? Go where? Aren’t we getting in?”

“Home.”

I began walking down the stairs leading to the hotel’s driveway, and he followed me.

“What do you mean by home? I told you I gotta find Tess!”

I shook my head ’cause ain’t no way I cared for the bitch.

A sick McLaren W1 pulled up before us, and I stopped before it could run me over, Nacio bumping into me as I did. Its doors opened, and a man climbed out of the passenger seat. Tall and dressed in a top-tier suit, the dude looked like a freaking movie star—clearly the type to be invited to parties like this.

Motherfucker.

Life really loved proving to me how shitty I had it sometimes. There I was, being kicked out with my tail between my legs, when a guy like this fucker waltzed in here with all his money⁠—

“Isn’t this my lucky day?”

For a moment, I didn’t realize he was speaking to me, and neither did my brother, as we stared at the man for a good whole minute without saying a word.

“You talking to me?” I frowned, slightly struck by the depth of his blue eyes.

“Aren’t you a funny one?” He flashed me a big, white smile that showed off his longer canines. “Of course I’m talking to you.”

Confused, my frown deepened. “Do I know you?”