I simply hadn't known any better.
"Look, Eileen's engaged now. You never had a shot. You just can't compete with your little brother for her affection. That's a fact." She paused. "But it's not completely hopeless."
One of the women leaned in close. The reek of cheap perfume and alcohol spread through my nostrils.
"You let us girls break you in for one night, and we'll put in a good word. Get you a spot in Eileen's bed down the line. How's that sound?"
I tried to pull away.
Fingers clamped around my jaw. "Don't be shy. We'll keep it our little secret."
"Oh? Eileen?"
Someone spotted Eileen passing by.
"Eileen!" I stood up, but the women clung to me, holding me in place.
She'd heard everything. Every word.
"Eileen! Tell your friends to back off!"
A flicker of surprise crossed the women's faces. They glanced at one another.
But Eileen simply let one of them loop an arm around her waist.
Her expression didn't change. Not a flicker.
She turned and walked away.
"Ei—"
"Easy there, young master."
Two of them pressed me back down, one on each side. A glass was pushed to my lips.
"How do you still not get it? In Eileen's world, your brother ranks above us. We rank above the dog. And the dog ranks above you."
My face went cold.
"So be a good boy. Let us clean you up nice, and we'll talk to Eileen for you. Get you a spot at her side as her loyal little pet."
"That's right. Relax. We'll keep it between us."
The champagne flute tightened in my grip until my knuckles went white.
Crack.
The glass shattered in my grip.
They stared at the shards in my hand, momentarily stunned.
"Who exactly do you think you're humiliating?"
I'd spent years outpacing Marcus. Not just in degrees and credentials. In athletics, too.
The woman hit the floor hard.
"You ungrateful little—"
I turned to leave.
A bottle smashed against the back of my skull.
My vision swam. But years of disciplined training kept my legs under me. I gritted my teeth, seized the woman who'd blindsided me by the throat, and slammed her head into the table.
"You want to ruin me?" I looked down at her. "You're not even close."
Slap.
A palm cracked across my face without warning.
I stumbled two steps and caught myself on the back of a sofa.
Eileen stood there, brow furrowed.
"All I did was accept Marcus's proposal. What is wrong with you?"
My parents came rushing out at the commotion. Mom took one look at the women groaning in pain and shoved me hard.