by Hazel Kelly
“Five minutes with Tom’s wife could be a total game changer for me. She always compliments what I’m wearing, and she knows all the right people.”
“Okay.”
Her eyebrows jumped up her face. “Really?”
“Sure. It’s obviously important to you.”
She threw her arms around me again. “Thank you so much. I owe you so big.”
No shit.
T W E N T Y F I V E
- Lily -
My high lasted for days, as if hearing Sebastian say he still loved me was all I needed to snap out of the trance I’d been in for years.
I even started applying for jobs, jobs with unsightly uniforms and lousy benefits. Jobs for normal people. Normal, loved people.
Admittedly, I had my doubts about whether his words could be true after what I’d put him through. But I never let my doubts fester for too long because I knew I needed the strength that his love—however ill-informed it was—had given me.
Yes, deep down, I still felt that the sins of my past made me undeserving of his affection, but I had hope again for the first time in years, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to cling to it.
It was a bit of a blow when I found out the call center where I used to work didn’t have any vacancies, since I was in a hurry to become the woman I saw reflected in Sebastian’s eyes, but I was determined not to lose heart.
After all, I was smart, driven, and now I was also loved…by the one person who didn’t owe me a second chance, no less.
Besides, why couldn’t I transform my life? I’d done it before. I wasn’t born to be an escort. The tricks of that trade didn’t come easily to me. They had to be learned. So who was to say I couldn’t learn new tricks…like learning how to live off a menial paycheck again. Hell, I’d done it once, and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now was my chance.
I wanted to love Sebastian back, wanted to tell him I loved him back. But I couldn’t do that in good conscience until I could say it from a place I was proud of, a place where I could feel good about hearing it back.
I pushed the door open with my hip and laid my textbooks on the table in the entryway. When I rounded the corner, Vivian was curled up on the couch in the same place she’d been all week across from a half-eaten box of Rainbow Chip cookies and a glass of milk.
“Hey.” I studied the red rims around her eyes. “How are you?”
“Better,” she said unconvincingly. “How was your day?”
“Good. I got an A on the paper I wrote about Attachment Theory.”
“Nice.”
“And I dropped my résumé off at two more places.”
“I started looking today, too,” she said. “Online.”
My chest loosened with my smile. “That’s great, Viv.”
“I forgot how unglamorous regular jobs were.”
“I’m prepared to trade glamour for safety at this point.”
She nodded. “I know it’s the right thing to do. I was going to age out eventually anyway, but—”
“What?”
“Everything I looked at requires basic computer skills.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Which is at least a few levels above what I have.” She leaned forward, grabbed two cookies, and handed me one.
I eyed the top, planning out which colored chip would be my first victim. “I can teach you whatever you need to know.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I mean, my skills are only basic, too, but I can give you a crash course.”
Her eyes smiled.
“And there are tons of inexpensive tutorials online. I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows of a good one.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
She picked at the chipping polish on her thumbnails. “I actually have another favor to ask you?”
“Shoot,” I said between bites.
“I have a job on Friday.”
“No.”
“Please, Lily. Hear me out.”
I shook my head. “I’m done, Viv. How can you even pretend you’re not after what happened to you last—?”
“Lily, please.”
Her voice was so much meeker than I was used to. I sighed. “I’m listening.”
“I agreed to it months ago.”
“Agreed to what?”
“To accompany Captain Rolex to a work party.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“There’ll be no sex involved. It’s a totally public event. The guy just likes people to think he’s a lothario.”
I squeezed the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes.
“All you have to do is giggle when he whispers in your ear and playfully push his chest a few times if you want a tip.”
“What do you mean all I have to do?”
“He’s never so much as grabbed my ass. I swear the guy is a total class act.”
“Good for him.”
“Will you do it?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Please, Lily. I can’t yet. I’m still too—”
I froze, terrified she was going to say sore.
“Freaked out.”
“So cancel.”
“The job will cover three month’s rent. It’s enough to keep us both afloat while we look for another place.”
“Three months for—”
“Both of us,” she said. “Totally covered.” Her eyes pleaded with me. “If I wasn’t absolutely positive it would be a good experience, I wouldn’t ask.”
My whole body drooped.
“Last job,” she said. “Then we can both officially retire safe in the knowledge that our bills are covered until we can secure gainful employment.”
I let my head fall against the back of the couch.
“Will you do it?” she asked. “I know I have no right to ask anything of you right now, but—”
I lifted my head and turned to face her. “I’ll do it on one condition.”
“What?”
“You have to go to the police and file a report about what happened at The Winchester.”
She swallowed.
“And you have to give them your clothes so they can test for DNA.”
“I can’t do that, Lily.”
“Yes you can. You have to.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t have to tell them about the money.”
“They won’t listen. As soon as they realize that I put myself in that situation, they’ll treat me like a prostitute.”
“It doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that the sex those men had with you wasn’t consensual.”
Her eyes started to water.
“Every day you don’t report it you leave other women at risk.”
She pressed her lips together.
“And you and I have enough on our consciences without that.”
“But—”
“For all we know, those guys are already in the system. There’s a chance your underwear would be enough to send them to prison.”
She held her forehead.
“I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with Friday.”
“That’s my offer,” I said. “Take it or leave it.”
T W E N T Y S I X
- Sebastian -
I checked my watch, and when I looked up, Tiffany was taking a pill in the kitchen in a red, white, and blue sequined mini-dress.
“You have a headache or something?”
“No,” she said. “I just forgot to take this earlier. It’s supposed to help with my recovery.”
“What? But you’re doing so great.”
“I know, and I’m pretty sure the pills are helping so I’m not about to mess with my doctor’s orders.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, and she handed me the bottle.
“They’re supposed to keep me from getting depressed while my body regains its homeostasis.”
I scanned the label, hoping that her willingness to show me the meds meant I had nothing to worry about.
“Since coke messes with your dopamine so bad.”
“Right.”
“It’s legit,” she said, taking the bottle back. “I promise.”
“As long as you’re not swapping one drug for another, I’m cool with it.”
“Doctor’s orders,” she said, following me towards the door. “Like I said.”
“You look great, by the way.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
I stepped into the hall and locked the door behind us.
“I’m looking forward to tonight,” she said, pulling a business card out of her purse when we got in the elevator. “Check it out.”
“You made business cards?” I tilted it, admiring the shiny gold lettering. “Tiffany Kincaide, Fashion Blogger and Stylist.”
“What do you think?”
“I think you should give one to every woman at the party.”
“That’s the idea,” she said. “I just hope it works. Now that I have an appetite again, I fear my modeling days are numbered.”
“Can I keep this?” I asked, lifting the card as the elevator dinged on the ground floor.
“Of course. Even better, give it away, and I’ll give you two next time.”
“Challenge accepted.”
“That’s our Uber,” she said, pointing at a car down the street when we exited the building.
I checked my phone on the way to the party, delighted to find that Lily had answered my Happy Fourth text and signed it with two kisses—one big and one little, like she used to as a teenager.
“This isn’t where the party was last year,” Tiffany said as we pulled up to The Abbott Hotel.
“Yes it is,” I said, hoping bringing her along wasn’t a mistake.
She released a sheepish smile before scooting out curbside. “Well, thanks again for letting me come. Feels like my coming out clean party.”
“Let’s keep that between us,” I said, cocking my elbow and escorting her up the stairs.
“Yes, let’s,” she said, smiling at the doorman as he let us in.
We followed the noise to the main banquet hall, which was festively decorated like only The Abbott could pull off. Huge displays of red, white, and blue flowers graced every table, and the ceiling was covered entirely in red, white, and blue streamers that formed an enormous flag overhead.
“You’re going to be the star of the show in that dress,” I said to Tiffany as we feasted our eyes on the decadent surroundings.
“I don’t know,” she said, pointing across the room at a girl in a white leotard and top hat who was heavily decorated with red and blue feathers that matched the berries in the flutes of champagne she was handing out. “There’s some tough-ass competition here.”
I smiled, looking forward to the night for the first time all week.
But a moment later, my goodwill evaporated, and the more I blinked at the scene across the room, the more convinced I became that I was the one who needed some fucking dopamine pills.
“Are you okay?” Tiffany asked, trying to hand me a glass of champagne. “Sebastian.”
My mouth went dry as I watched Hugh Dresden whisper in Lily’s ear, and my stomach knotted itself as she laughed and swatted his chest playfully.
“Sebastian.”
I took the champagne and turned my back on the scene.
“What’s going on?”
My blood was boiling in my temples. What the fuck was she doing here? With him? Dressed to the nines like that? I looked over my shoulder, still half convinced I’d imagined the whole thing, but sure enough, Lily was standing there in a white strapless dress that stretched to the floor, looking the height of innocence and sophistication. I drained half my champagne.
“Your face is starting to match the decorations,” Tiffany said.
I assumed she meant I’d gone red because my whole head felt ready to burst off my shoulders. “Sorry,” I said, pulling my phone out of my pocket. “Do you see that woman across the room?”
“Which one?”
“In the white dress. Talking to Hugh.” I dialed her number and hit call.
“Yeah.”
“Watch her for a second and tell me what she does.”
“She’s laughing at something Hugh just said.”
I clenched my jaw.
“Now she’s checking her purse…taking her phone out.”
I heard the phone go to voicemail before Tiffany even had a chance to say she hadn’t answered it.
“Do you know her or something?”
“I fucking thought I did.”
“You want to tell me what’s going on?” she asked.
“I wish I knew.”
She dropped her eyes to my glass. “Do you want another drink?”
I looked down at the blueberries in the bottom of my glass before tossing them to the back of my throat. “Yeah.”
“Okay,” she said, linking her arm in mine and escorting me to the bar.
I ordered a whiskey and tossed a few singles in the fishbowl on the bar. “Isn’t that the woman you were saying you wanted to talk to tonight?” I asked, pointing at Sanderson’s wife.
Tiffany took a deep breath and nodded.
I reached in my wallet and pulled out a few crisp bills. “Here. Go blow this on some raffle tickets and strike up a conversation with her.”
“There’s five hundred bucks here, Sebastian.”
“I know.”
“But—”
“Trust me. The best way to get this woman’s attention is to let her think you’re already a massive success and that she’s at risk of being late to the party.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, glancing back towards Lily as she folded the bills into her purse.
“Absolutely,” I lied. “In fact, the only thing that would make me feel better is if I knew Sanderson’s wife had one of your cards in her wallet.”
“Okay.” She pressed her red lips together. “Wish me luck.”
“You got this.”
She took a step back, offered me a grateful smile, and strutted towards the raffle table like a woman on a mission.
“Your whiskey, sir,” the bartender said, sliding my short glass across the table.
I let the nutty tones warm my tongue and burn their way down my chest, wondering if I had any right to be as upset as I was. After all, at no point had Lily told me she wasn’t seeing anyone else. At no point had she said she loved me back. In fact, at no point had she promised me anything at all.
So what right did I have to feel so duped, so betrayed, so foolish?
And yet, I did have a right.
Because I’d been honest with her from the start on the assumption that I could expect the same.
But once again, love had made a fool out of me.
And this time around, I was all out of patience.
I wanted answers.
And I wanted them now.
T W E N T Y S E V E N
- Lily -
When I saw him coming, my body tightened all over and my lungs shriveled like deflated balloons.
“Hugh,” he said. “Great to see you.”
I could barely keep the fake smile on my face.
“Sebastian.” Hugh shook his hand and a friendly expression lifted his wrinkles. “It’s been too long.”
Sebastian looked at me.
“Lily,” I said, my throat closing up as I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed with confusion for a moment before he took my hand and squeezed it too hard.
Fuck.
“How did a gorgeous woman like you have the misfortune of taking up with this dinosaur?” he asked, finally letting go of my hand.
Hugh put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “Lily and I have been friends a lon
g time,” he said. “She owns a property in Malibu down the beach from my winter home.”
“Wow,” Sebastian said. “Isn’t that something?”
Hugh smiled at me. “We met at bridge club and one thing led to another.”
Sebastian stretched the fingers on his free hand and clenched them again. “No shit.”
“Not a day goes by when I don’t pinch myself,” Hugh said, stepping back to admire me. “But who wouldn’t?”
I prayed the ground would swallow me up.
Sebastian pointed behind him. “I don’t know if you had a chance to catch up with Phillip yet?”
Hugh furrowed his brow.
“But I think he was hoping to get your advice on an opportunity he’s considering in Central America.”
Hugh puffed out his chest. “I would be the guy to talk to about foreign investment.”
“That’s exactly what I said.” Sebastian looked over his shoulder. “You might be able to catch him at the bar there if you’re quick. I know he can’t stay long so—”
Hugh stuck his finger in Sebastian’s face. “You’re not just looking to move in on my girl, are you?”
Sebastian laughed too hard. “I know better than to enter into battles I can’t win.”
Hugh touched my shoulder. “Lily, would you excuse me for a few minutes? I can’t resist an opportunity to insert my opinion, especially when I’m sure it will be appreciated.”
“Of course,” I said. “Take your time. I’ll be right here.”
He smiled and patted Sebastian’s back on the way by. “Great chat, Rodriguez. Let’s do it again soon.”
I watched him walk away, afraid to meet the eyes that were boring into me.
“Too hot in Malibu for you this time of year?” Sebastian asked, a thread of irritation in his voice.
“What are you doing here?”
“This is my company’s annual Fourth of July party. What are you doing here?”
I sighed. “Hugh needed a date.”
“Exactly how many of Hugh’s needs are you meeting?”
I glared at him.
“Sorry, is that an unfair question? I’ve heard bridge clubs can be a slippery slope.”
“It’s not like that.”
“What is it like then, Lily, because I’m really fucking struggling here?”
“None of that stuff is true, okay? It’s just a cover story.”