Nightclub Surprise

by Michelle Love

  Maceo, freed, jerked away from Seth and then pulled a bloodied Ori away from him too. Seth’s limbs were jerking, spasming. Death throes. Ori had slammed the bolt through Seth’s eye into his brain. It was over.

  Maceo wrapped his arms around her as the adrenaline left them both, and they held each other as the police arrived to help them. “You and me, bella,” Maceo whispered to her as she was loaded into the ambulance, “You and me forever now.”

  And Ori smiled just once before she passed out.

  Two years later …

  Shiloh hoisted Lily onto her hip, ignoring the toddler’s whining, and went out into the garden. Benoit, tanned and smiling from a week in Monte Carlo, came to kiss her and relieve her of their child. Lily giggled as her father threw her into the air and caught her.

  “Tell me all kids are like that,” said a heavily pregnant Kate as she moved her chair out of the Argentinian sun. Shiloh laughed.

  “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what the little horror was really like.” She sat down with her friends and looked at her watch. “I hope Ori and Maceo won’t be too long; lunch is nearly ready.”

  Lisander rolled his eyes. “You know what they’re like; probably stopped to have sex along the way. Even now, they’re rolling around in a field of pampas grass.”

  They all laughed. “Good grief, what a pair of kids. About time they had themselves some kids.” Kate nodded sagely, but a grinning Shiloh poked her.

  “You just want everyone to suffer along with you. I don’t blame you, I was the same.”

  “She was; she almost broke my hand in the delivery room.” Benoit put his arm around his fiancée, who poked her tongue out at him.

  “Mr. Duarte, I think your guests are here.” The maid smiled at him, and Lisander thanked her.

  Ori and Maceo joined them, smiling, happy, holding hands. The friends greeted them. Then Kate, ever watchful, started to laugh.

  “What is it?” Ori looked confused. “Do I have something in my teeth?”

  Kate shook her head and reached to pluck something out of Ori’s hair. She held it up. “No, sweetheart. You just have some pampas grass in your hair …”

  The End.

  Thank you for reading “The Midnight Club”.

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  The Intern Installment

  A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

  Damon James is a thirty-year old CEO of the top Architecture firm in Boston, Elkus Manfredi Architects. He is obsessive with detail, rigid with his schedule, and a hard boss to have for his staff, as well as a tough man to have an interest in.

  He is also a Dom, and very casual with his dating life, if you could call it that at all.

  Damon is six foot two and muscular, due to his workout every morning after he jogs for five miles. He keeps himself in the best shape that he can be in, though he is already gorgeous, with dark brown, spiked hair that is never out of place and crystal blue eyes that are capable of expressing what he is feeling most of the time, much to his dismay. They can turn cold or burn hot, depending on the situation he is in and the emotions that he is feeling. Normally, he is in control of such things, and it is an intimidating factor about his looks and his personality.

  He is a hard worker, even being head of the company, and he keeps it successful and top rated in the nation. He is worth billions of dollars, in part due to his father passing away when he was ten and the trust fund that was started for him at the time by his mother. She’s remarried to the owner of the company, who decided to give Damon the reins once he retired to travel with his new wife at the age of sixty. That is where the rest of the money comes from, but he is Kenneth Matthews only child and heir, once he passes away, along with Damon’s mother.

  Part One

  Damon

  I ran one of the most successful architecture companies in the world, well-known to everyone in the business. I was involved in every aspect of the daily activities, though one of my least favorite parts was interviewing for interns every year.

  It was something that came along with the company. and it was a great learning tool for the students, so I kept the policy. I just typically left it to my managers, who were more hands-on with the teams, to decide who to hire out of all of the faces that we saw.

  I started caring more, however, the moment that Elisa walked in the door. She was everything that I didn’t look for in a woman: sweetness, innocence, and inexperience. She was guarded and intelligent, and I fought to keep her out of my company, against the wishes of everyone else at that interview.

  Elisa

  I was excited about the interview to intern at Elkus Manfredi Architecture, since it carved out a perfect future for me. I excelled at school and was recommended for the position, a condition that wasn’t easy to fulfill. I dressed the part, made the perfect resume outlining my experience, and went into the building with my head high.

  Then I saw the most gorgeous man that I’d ever seen in my life. He first caught my attention in the elevator and then in the room where I was to be interviewed.

  I knew that, regardless of whether I got the position or not, I’d never forget the way that he had made me feel. I’d never forget the way he heated me up and shook me to my very core.

  Could I handle working with him? Could I ignore the intensity between us with my future in mind?

  Damon

  It was dark and cold outside as I left my building for my morning run, nodding as the doorman told me to be careful. I loved fall in Boston and preferred it to the crowds that jogged in the summer, getting in my way and throwing off my day. I started to jog at an even pace and headed towards the crosswalk to go over to the Boston Common Park as I looked around at the empty streets, apart from cabs and early morning commuters. This was when I liked the city—when I could focus.

  It was still dark outside, and I took deep breaths of the chilled air and started through the trail that made its way through the center of the park. Everything was in shades of fall now; the leaves, yellow, orange and red as they drifted down to the ground in the early morning. It made it worthwhile to avoid this place later in the day, when everyone would gather with their cameras of various kinds and go on about the foliage.

  Yes, it was pretty enough, and I appreciated fall. I just didn’t see the need to keep talking about it. I wanted quiet and peace. I wanted to think about my day and prepare my mind for the hour-long workout that I’d be doing after this five-mile run. It was a ritual of mine, followed by a long, thorough shower before I dressed for work.

  I was the CEO of one of the most successful architecture companies in the world, Elkus Manfredi. The company was established fifty years ago, and had several locations in some of the bigger American cities and even in a few other countries. I could work wherever I chose to, though I preferred to stay in Boston. I knew the city and could find my way here without a lot of fuss, though I traveled when needed for the company. It was a welcome break from my day-to-day routine, and I enjoyed seeing what was happening in the company, feeling great pride over the growth I’d seen in the last six years.

  Home was home, though.

  I ran past the pond, where the ground was covered with leaves and the wind blew around me. I was dressed in my new jogging clothes, light enough to run in, but warm enough to keep me comfortable. I jogged steadily as I let my mind move ahead to what my day entailed.

  Every fall, we hired interns from some of the top schools in the area, depending on our current needs. This year, we would hire two to help with the teams that planned our buildings, some of which were world famous. Working with interns wasn’t something that I dealt with personally, apart from being involved in the panel interview. I wanted to make sure that they were a good fit for the company, given that most of them were close to graduating, and we did consider hiring them after graduation. I just didn’t have any part of the training and, therefore, took on a lot of responsibilities myself.

  I learned about hard work from my father. He ran a
construction company, until he passed away from a heart attack when I was eleven years old. In the summers, I went into work with him, learning everything that I could. Being from a family of wealth didn’t make me lazy, and I wanted to be the one running a successful company.

  My father had nothing to do with my current job, though he’d set aside a generous trust fund for me before his death, as well as seeing that Mom was well taken care of. Apparently, at eleven, I could not take over his company, so his brother did and ruined it within three years. I always vowed to be better than that.

  My job had belonged to my stepfather of five years before he decided to travel with Mom at the ripe old age of fifty-three. Mom was five years younger than he was, and they were in great health to go all over the world on their adventures.

  I ran by the statue and toward the other side of town as I thought back to those first days. Some men were capable of taking over the company, men that had a lot of years invested as well as the talent. Kenneth saw me for what I was: sharp, intelligent, with a mind for business, and offered me the position of CEO. Some people resented me there, even hated me. I heard the whispers when I walked around, but I didn’t care. This company improved after I had started running things. I had five managers that I got on well with and could share ideas with, knowing that it stayed between us.

  Those were the men who were joining me in the panel interview in just a few hours. The interns would be working under them, making their opinion valuable, even though I wanted to be involved in any of the final decisions. They understood that, and the process generally went smoothly, giving us a handful of new employees over the years.

  I had changed a few things within the company after I had taken over, considering the internships. However, Kenneth explained the value of the program to me. It made the company look exemplary to the public, as well as offered some brilliant students who worked hard a chance for a good future, or even just experience. I’d agreed, kept it, and muddled through the interviews every time they came around. Some of the kids were still dumb as rocks, and I wondered how the fuck they did so well in school.

  After I had graduated from Phillips Academy with honors, I had tooled around a little with college. I had a degree in Business as well as a minor in Accounting, because it made sense from a business perspective. I didn’t have to struggle with finances or even worry about scholarships, living in one of the nicest apartment complexes in town as I made my way through the three years it took me to get my BA.

  I turned the corner once I hit the main street and headed towards the gym in my building. It suited my needs without all of the bright lights and crowds that some of the others offered. I just wanted to do my routine and get upstairs to get myself ready for work.

  I wasn’t oblivious to the looks that I got from women in the building. I was just aware that many of them weren’t what I was looking for. I was darker than most, craving control in the bedroom, and some of the younger women these days were far too feisty for my tastes. I looked for submissive women who would give in to my every need, quiet and quick to follow my orders.

  I did abdomen exercises today, since it was Wednesday. I made it hurt and stayed stoic through the pain as I listened to my guilty pleasure of old eighties rap. I ran late by five minutes and cursed the elevator as I rushed into my penthouse. I showered, quickly working through my products faster than I preferred, before spiking my dark hair to perfection and ensuring that I looked like the boss that I was in my crisp Armani suit.

  I met my car on the curb, a brand-new Bentley, driven by a trusted man, Mark Collins. I’d known him for years, and we had an understanding. He drove while I relaxed, caught up on work business, and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee.

  It was my moment of peace in a busy day, and I cherished that drive as well as the one that took me home every time I left the building.

  Elisa

  I stood in the tiny bathroom and stared at my wavy hair with despair in my eyes. I didn’t have time to straighten it and make it to Elkus Manfredi for my interview, so I reached for one of my ponytail holders and secured the strawberry blonde locks into a classic low bun, instead of leaving it down. I made sure that it was smooth on the sides before I added some black mascara to my bright green eyes and brushed a little powder over my pale skin to even it out and hopefully keep it from looking like an oil slick later in the day. I finished off with some deep plum stain on my lips, then dressed in the black pencil skirt and blazer combo with a white silk shirt underneath that my best friend Lorna had insisted that I buy when she came for a visit. It was a button up, short sleeved shirt that didn’t show too much cleavage, but also didn’t make me look like a nun.

  I knew the truth, though. I practically was a nun. with all of the focus that I put into my schooling. I worked my ass off for the scholarship that provided me with a free ride to MIT and a little money to afford my living expenses. Mama worked two jobs just to support herself, and I’d never ask her for anything. As it was, I was working hard on my future, so that I could someday take care of her. She was fifty-five now and should be living somewhere better than one of the more run-down apartment complexes in Boston. It was my turn to pay her back for doing her best as a single mother after my father left us when I was five. Her mother helped for a time, but she was gone when I was thirteen, making Mom work long hours while she left me at home.

  I was a good girl who didn’t complain, working on my homework and studying endlessly. I didn’t have more than a couple of close friends, but I stayed home when they went out, given our financial situation. I was thrilled when I found a tutoring job that would help to provide money to the household and worked long hours doing that after school. It was busy and chaotic, but it was my life.

  It wasn’t much better at this time, living with five other girls in a four-bedroom apartment. It saved money, though, so I could eat real food every now and then, and the dorms were too expensive for me. I didn’t love sharing a room, but Melody was quiet, like me, and it was bearable.

  I looked at the clock by my bed as I slipped my feet into my black heels and felt the nerves inside of my stomach twist painfully. I knew that I qualified for this internship and, with my teacher’s assistance, I’d prove that today. I was good at school, and it felt like that was the only thing that I was good at sometimes. That would get me into this company, where I could build a future and try to get hired on. Even if I weren't studying architecture at MIT, I’d know that Elkus had a remarkable reputation in the business world. They were responsible for some of the most beautiful structures in the world and very generous to their employees. I could find myself a clean place to live, as well as one for my mother, and even see if she could be added to my benefits. I did my research once it was brought to my attention that I was one of the students recommended to Elkus, quickly realizing that it would be pathetic and stupid not to go to this interview.

  I left the apartment with my thrift store purse and tossed my keys inside as I looked for the Uber car I’d asked for a few minutes ago. It was too far to walk, even if I wasn’t in heels, and I’d have to cut back on something to afford rides if I got this job, at least when I wasn’t in school. I could walk from there.

  I saw a little yellow Focus sitting at the curb with a pretty redheaded girl looking around. “Elisa?” She asked through her passenger window, and I nodded as I slid into the back. “Where are you going?” She glanced at a screen, then gave me another look before pulling away from the curb. “Job interview?”

  “It’s for an internship. I’m not graduating for another year,” I responded with a soft smile as she merged into traffic with a sharp twist of the wheel. I swallowed and held onto the back door as I prayed for a safe trip, knowing my dislike of cabs and other public transportation. It was a jerky ride as the girl sang along to the radio and took the turns seemingly without using brakes. My eyes remained wide and my stomach shifted uncomfortably.

  “Good luck!” She told me, as she stopped in front of the massive buil
ding and grinned at me. I thanked her and got out, regretting the five-dollar tip that I’d given her on the app. That was insane. I looked up at the glass that seemed to reflect all of the light back out into the street for all to see, all the while looking flawless. I walked forward and looked into a panel near the door, making sure that I still looked presentable as I pressed my full lips together.

  Entering the massive lobby, I looked for the desk to let them know that I’d arrived. The cold blonde woman, who looked almost fake, directed me to the bank of elevators and instructed me to take one to the tenth floor. From there, the receptionist would direct me where to go. I thanked her and felt her eyes looking me up and down as I walked away, aware that it wasn’t in a good way. I shook it off, pressed the button, and waited with a group of similarly dressed people that split up as the three doors opened simultaneously.

  I ended up with two guys and two girls who nervously discussed the interview. I remained quiet as I glanced at them and tried to decide if they were dressed better than I was and if they went to a better school. We all appeared to be the same age, and I looked away as one of the guys moved his eyes towards me. “Are you here for an interview as well?”

  “The interview? Yes, I am.” I smiled as I responded, and he nodded as he looked me over. It was uncomfortable, and I was relieved when the elevator stopped on the fifth floor, opening to reveal a gorgeous man who walked in and stood by me as we waited to go. The guy ogling me turned forward as I shuddered and wrapped my arms in front of my chest. I knew that I had a decent figure I should be proud of, but I didn’t want others appreciating it. I glanced at the man beside me to see that he had a scowl on his face, and I wondered if he’d done something to the student looking at me.