Read Brock: A Bad Boy Romance for Free Online Page B

Together, we’ll figure something out.”
    Up to her elbows in pasta? Lizzie always did like to cook. “Thank you,” Gemma said tearfully, and she meant it. All of her model friends had ditched her as soon as the scandal broke. When Gemma refused to talk about it, they put as much distance between them and her as possible. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to have a friend.
    She was resilient. She reminded herself of that over and over again as she grabbed her coat. She’d make it through, even if she did it with a friend by her side.
     
    *                            *                            *
     
    Charlie Connor lounged on his couch and stared at the ceiling. He had three hours before he was supposed to make an appearance at his birthday bash across town, but he was still wearing only his silk boxers.
    His thirty-fifth birthday party was the talk of the city. More than five hundred people were invited, and when Charlie glanced over the list, he realized that he didn’t really know even half of them. Those that he was closest to weren’t even on the list. Instead it was all about the A-list. Actors, politicians, models, and singers could celebrate his life with him, but his best friend wasn’t allowed in. Shawn Silva was hardly A-list. He was just an employee at Connor Industries. Apparently twenty years of friendship didn’t land a man an invitation.
    The party was supposed to be spectacular. The Victoria secret models would be there. They were flying in the greatest mixologists from all over the world to come up with brand new cocktails, and some well-known blonde singer was supposed to debut her newest song.
    There was also a talk of a floating pool. And Charlie didn’t give a damn about it. He had far more on his mind on his thirty-fifth birthday than attending yet another public function. He didn’t want to see the press. He didn’t want to schmooze investors. He just wanted to turn on the television and lose him in mindless dribble for the night.
    Most would say that he’d accomplished quite a bit at the age of thirty-five. Connor Industries was thriving. It was one of the biggest corporations in the country, and he had his hand in countless pies. But Connor Industries had been his father’s brainchild. It had been great when Charlie inherited it. He’d made it better, but for Charlie, that just didn’t seem to be enough.
    Something was missing. He’d been feeling it for a while now. But he just couldn’t figure out what it was.
    Instead of reaching for the remote, he grabbed his phone instead. Shawn picked up on the first ring. “Happy birthday old man.”
    “Old man? You turn thirty-five next month,” Charlie grumbled.
    “Yup. And that still makes you older than me. Why aren’t you drunk by now? It’s three in the afternoon. Last weekend you said that if you remember anything from your party, you weren’t celebrating correctly.”
    “What happens if I just skip the party? You can come over here, and we’ll order pizza and play on the Xbox all night.”
    Shawn chuckled. “That sounds awesome, but I’m fairly certain your PR representative would have me assassinated if you skipped your party to be with me. And I have plans to live to see my thirty-fifth birthday. Besides, I’m in New York right now.”
    “Why are you in New York?” Charlie frowned.
    “Jesus Charlie, you are in a mood. I’m here for the investors meeting. Remember?”
    “Ah, shit. That’s right.” Charlie closed his eyes and sighed. So much for hanging out with Shawn all night. “How’s that going?”
    “It’s how you think it’s going. A bunch of white men with white hair trying to outdo each other with numbers and figures. I’m ready for a drink, and I haven’t even had lunch.”
    “Guess I should get ready for my party,” Charlie grumbled.
    “Dude, you are one of the richest men in the city. Barring that, you are a fucking adult. It’s your