Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 33

Collins POV

I am shocked at Maddie's behavior; I just couldn't believe her attacking Cora like that. First, she accused Cora of coming after Mateo, and then me. She has never even hinted that she was interested in me, so I have no idea where Maddie got that. I have never seen her flirt with Mateo either. I could see it if she said: Christian, Nicolas, or Dalton, but truth be told, they all flirted with her, but she doesn't flirt back. She is incredibly professional, and I guess that was why she was so shocked that day I accused her of flirting at work that day. But Maddie had flirted and slept her way to where she is, so I guess that is why she accused Cora of it. Cora doesn't have to because she has talent and doesn't have to hang on to someone else's talent to get where she wants to be. When it came to Maddie flying over to her, I really thought that she was going to hit Cora, but when Cora remained calm and told her that if she hit her, she would hit her back, I have never heard Cora be so threatening ever before, and I believe that she would. Maddie then went even further with her accusations, and I don't blame Cora for leaving. I didn't even want to stay there anymore with Maddie there. I knew she was going to try to come by again, and she did. My mother was even more furious with her and told her if she didn't immediately leave our table, she would hire a bodyguard for herself, and the next time Maddie approached her, or me, it would be for the last time. My mother is always a nice person, but Maddie flipped a switch on her last night, and mom wasn't joking around with her anymore. I don't know why she felt like she had to threaten Maddie, but it looked like she was mad at me too. What did I do?"

Eden was watching the whole show outside, and then was thinking while we were looking at the menus, and after ordering it seemed like she was thinking about something to say to me, but Dalton asked her to go to the bar with him and get drinks for all of us. I saw them having a friendly conversation for a while and then they came back with the drinks. They were taking a while to get the drinks, so I went to go to the bar to help them carry the drinks when Nicolas stopped me and wanted to discuss some random thing that frankly could have waited. They came back to the table and were smiling and laughing and I was asking her what she wanted to say earlier, she just said that my ex-girlfriend was a real piece of work and should be avoided at all costs. I happen to agree, but you never know. We are broken up, but I can't predict the future. If I end up hard up, we could end up sleeping together for old times' sake. She is pretty decent in bed, or on my desk. But we will never be a couple again.

I kept seeing stink eyes from my mom and sister, and my dad only chimed in to say that Cora is a feisty one and he was proud of her for putting Maddie in her place. He hated that he came up when Maddie started in on Cora and that he didn't get to meet her. Michael agreed and said that he had tried to approach her a few times after the show, but couldn't get a chance to talk to her and that he hoped that he could get to sit with her tonight, but then Maddie's tirade ruined that for him, and then looked over at me like I single-handedly made the night be ruined. I saw him lean over to hear something Ava was telling him, and he said, "That is fine, I will be there" and then the discussion involving Cora ended.

I went by my mom and dad's house because I heard Michael tell them that he was going to come by to talk to Ava and mom after dinner. I dropped Eden off at her mom's house and headed to my parent's home.

I catch Michael alone in the kitchen and grab a bottle of water out of the fridge before I approach him. I sat down at one of the bar stools and got a sip of water before I said, "Are you planning on asking Cora out?" "I am, why? Do you have a problem with it?" Michael responded.

"If you are serious about her, I am OK with it, as long as she accepts your request for a date. But if you are just trying to sleep with her, do not ask her out. She is not your average girl, and I don't want you dating her to get in her pants, and then leave her high and dry. She is special and needs to be treated that way", I told Michael. I see the surprised look that he is giving me, and he laughs a little and says, "Seriously, you are giving me that talk. I am not promiscuous; I have only dated two girls previously. One in high school, and the other in college. I kept my head clear and focused on my classes and that was what cost me both of them. But I am clear of school, and I think Cora is a very attractive woman and smart. I have heard about her several times from Ava and mom, and you are not dating her, so, why would you have a problem if I did? I have heard nothing but good things from Nicolas and Dalton as well. Do you have a problem if I ask out Cora? I would like to date her and see where it goes."

"If she is okay with dating you, I am okay with it, but I had better never hear of you trying to force her to do anything, or you will be answering to me, understand Michael?' I said to him.

"I don't plan on hurting her in any way, Collin. You can calm down. I haven't even asked her out, and she hasn't said yes yet. So just throttle down there, bro, she may not even agree to go out with me", Michael says to me.

Mom comes into the kitchen in her PJs and grabs a bottle of water and sits on the barstool next to me. She looks at us one at a time, and says, "My handsome boys, please start making wise choices when it comes to dating. You two are not getting any younger and I would like to be able to play and run with my grandchildren, so please get to it, if it is not too much trouble". Mom then gets up and gives us a wink as she walks off. We look at each other and we both wear the same open-mouthed expression on each of our faces, we then both burst out laughing.

"I don't know where mom got that from, I am asking for a date, not her hand in marriage yet," Michael says to me.

"Making wise choices was probably for me, but I have beautiful women asking me out all the time these days. Why stop at one beautiful woman when I can keep a new woman on my arm for a little while, and then move on to the next one", I asked Michael, and he shrugged.

Ava had entered the kitchen when I made my comment and she stopped and said, "Are you serious? That is disgusting, and if a woman did it, you guys would call her a slut. Our world is so backward. Collin, for real you should be ashamed. You are the oldest and need to settle down. Your reputation is getting out there and have you given any thought to when you do find her and she is perfect for you? What will happen when she turns you down, based on your actions and reputation? Have you ever thought of that? Because I am scared for you, because that actually may be something that ends up happening to you, and then you will be left with a vain, vacuous, self-absorbed, mean-spirited, ugly on the inside, malicious as F, b***h. I hate to tell you this, but your greed, wanting to sleep with as many women as will let you, makes me sick. Other women feel the same way as I do about what you are doing. And when your little house of cards comes down, and believe me, brother, I will know when it does, because my vision is perfect while watching this all play out. When YOUR own actions are the reason that you lose something valuable that you had, and LOST because you wanted something else at the time, and were willing to think with your d**k, instead of your heart. I will be there, and I will probably be slapping you pretty hard because you will have then taken something precious away from me as well. For the love of all that is holy, think Collin. I heard what you said to Michael when you came here. You were jealous of him wanting to ask Cora out. If you want to ask her out, just do it, please. Decide and stick with it. Pick someone who will love you, take care of you, be a good mother to your children, care for your family and friends, and be a good person. You already know her. Why wouldn't you ask her out?" "Are you talking about Cora? She had no interest in me at all, plus I don't want to break the H.R. handbook on dating in the workplace", I told her.

"Um, does Collin know", Michael starts to speak, but Ava interrupts him.

"No, Michael, Collin here has decided that he doesn't want to break the rules of the handbook by asking CORA out," Ava says, and gives Michael a pointed look.

Ava turns away from me and walks to the door to leave and go back to her place and stops right before opening the door, with her hand on the handle. "I will remind you of this conversation when your love life goes right into the shitter big brother. I had hoped you would listen to mom, but I see you will continue with how you want to live. I hope when you finally find Shae, that she doesn't totally turn you down based solely on your current actions, because with how your life is always out there for everyone to see, don't be surprised when someone doesn't want to go on your little ride their bro, after everyone that you have been with." Ava says before turning the handle and leaving.