Rocky St. James is a very quiet man.

He had been all of his life. He took after his father in that way, they both felt as though many people talked way too much, especially people who had the least amount to say.

He found small talk cheap, and oftentimes flat out refused to partake in it. Why would he speak with someone about the weather, or ask about how they were doing? Quite frankly, he didn't give a fuck what the weather was, or how anyone was doing.

He didn't care to let it show either. He didn't have to.

But even though Rocky was quiet, calm and had a distaste for speaking, he was still the Don. And unfortunately that meant he had to talk when necessary, even at galas that he didn't feel the need to attend, much less host.

The annual gala for the families was held at the Saint James mansion, as per usual, so it was an understatement to say Rocky was in a bad mood.

The only comfort was that he stood beside Duke, his right hand man, and someone he would call a friend. Duke usually filled him in on some bullshit he didn't care about, and tonight was no different.

"Everyone has been talking about the girl Mathew Cohen brought tonight. She's a fuckin' babe. Total ten. Best ass I've seen in a while." Duke chuckled as he said the words, and Lenard Hawthorn nodded his head, "I'll give you that. But her tits are a six, maybe seven out of ten. They sit nice, but they're a little too small for my taste. But man, the shit I'd do to that girl."He laughed, while making obscene thrusting gestures with his hips that made everyone chuckle.

As they both spoke to the group around us, I internally rolled my eyes. Duke was gayer than Andy from the office, and Lenard was five foot four and two hundred and fifty pounds. Safe to say neither men had any room to talk.

But, he did have to admit that the more he heard people talk about Mathew Cohen's date, the more curious he had become. And now he wanted to see the woman who had his men around him so fascinated.

He silently searched the crowd as he polished off his drink. After only a minute of looking, he knew he spotted her. Duke nudged him with an elbow, and nodded toward the girl with a smug grin, "That's her boss," He confirmed, "Fine little thing, yeah?" He asked, and Rocky didn't give any hint to an answer.

He briefly took in the young, blonde girl.

She was a tiny thing. Sitting all by herself at a table, dressed in a light pink dress that didn't quite touch the floor. Her gentle features were very feminine, with a soft upturned button nose and light blue colored eyes. She looked almost ethereal sitting there, and Rocky didn't want to look away.

Especially when an older man approached her. He had his hand reached out with a smirk, and Rocky's fist clenched around his glass. That  fucking prick is old enough to be her granddad. He didn't like this, he decided.

How was she all alone in here? It didn't make any sense. Didn't she come with male family to make sure she's safe, and taken care of?

The girls cheeks were tinged a light pink as she shook her head at the old man, obviously declining his advances. Rocky let out a relieved breath. Good girl.

But he didn't realize he'd been staring until she turned her head, and met his careful gaze. Her beautiful face furrowed, as she tilted her head in a silent question, but Rocky just looked away.

Tuning back into the conversation around him, he heard Duke speak up, "It was almost a quarter of a million that Lawson wanted to borrow, but Don basically hold him to go fuck himself." Duke and the group laughed as Lenard spoke next, "Of course he did. Lawson's an idiot. Don knew better than to let him borrow that much money."

And as much as he hated small talk, he hated men like Lenard Hawthorn even more. What kind of man would kiss an asshole raw if he thought it would get them further up in the ranks? Not a man Rocky respected at all.

The only thing Lenard was closer to, was on Rocky's last nerve.

After a few more minutes of listening to the men around him speak, he saw the young girl stand and leave the table.

He watched with a careful gaze as she made her way through the door that led toto the balcony. After a moment, Rocky excused himself, "I'm going to go smoke."

Duke nodded and he watched Lenard moved closer, "Oh, I'll go with you boss."

"No." Rocky told him, and the annoying man flashed him a disappointed smile, "Next time then."

Rocky didn't give a response as he opened the same door, and saw her standing over by the railing. She didn't acknowledge that someone else had walked out there, or maybe she was just didn't hear. He assumed it was the latter.

He studied her from behind for a moment. She was not the conventional type he was used to. He usually attracted a powerful, sturdy woman. Someone older, taller and more filled out. Someone who could handle him, and didn't need him to be gentle. It was all he knew, powerful women.

So he couldn't figure out he was so enthralled by this waif-like thing. She looked almost breakable, with her sweet, girlish stature and her long, light hair that reached to almost the small of her back.

He watched in silence as she tilted her head back to gaze at the sky, and when he walked up beside her, he felt her look over at him. But it was once he heard her soft voice, that he knew he was completely and utterly fucked. 

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