by Parker, Ali
I lifted my chin proudly. “As a matter of fact, I scored something better.”
“My man.” Sabian grinned, lifting his hand for a high five.
“Erm. That’s not what I meant. I, uh, scored a job.”
The three of them stared at me blankly.
Then Sabian burst into a fit of laughter so fierce, he was clutching his ribs and slapping his knee. The two women descended into giggles, and I sat staring coldly at the three of them, wishing I’d kept my good news to myself.
“You guys are jerks,” I mumbled.
Ellie dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her thumbs as she tried to rein in her laughter. She was having a hard go of it because every time she tried to talk, she had to stop to catch her breath. Finally, she recovered, took a few deep breaths, and met my eye. “Tell us about this job.”
So, I told them.
I told them about the guy who got in Genevieve’s face and how she’d handled it, and how I was there to save the day when he tried to get a little too hands on. I told them about the fight and the city workers and the tour and the cab ride. I told them about the shelters and her plans to open her own, and her interest in me working for her as security detail.
Sabian looked at Ellie and Jamie before turning his attention to me. “Security detail? What the fuck kind of experience do you have in security detail?”
I bristled under his skepticism. “I don’t need experience. I’m a natural.”
“A natural egomaniac,” Jamie mumbled under her breath.
I ignored her. “Listen. I showed that guy what was up, and she liked what she saw, okay? Things could have gotten very dicey if I wasn’t there, and she knows it. So what if I don’t have experience? Are you really telling me that if the girl of your dreams offered you a chance like this, to be at her beck and call at all times, that you’d seriously pass it up?”
Sabian shrugged. “I suppose not. I’d do anything for Angela.”
“Exactly,” I said, leaning back and folding my arms. “So, you three can just piss off and put your negative attitudes away. I’m stoked about this.”
“But you lied,” Ellie said.
“What?”
She sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck. “You lied to her. Did you not mention at all in there that you’re a Lost Breed?”
I frowned. “It didn’t seem like necessary information at the time.”
Sabian slapped his knee again. “Ha! Job my ass. As soon as she finds out who you are, she’s going to withdraw her offer so fucking fast, you—”
I scowled. “Shut up. No she won’t.”
“Won’t withdraw her proposal?” Ellie asked, looking at me the same way she looked at her kids when they did something wrong. “Or find out you’re a Lost Breed?”
I shrugged. “Both?”
Jamie groaned in exasperation beside me. “Bad idea, Liam.”
“Why?”
“Because,” she said, her tone all matter of fact. “She’s a lady.”
“Come again?” I asked.
Sabian knuckled my shoulder. “This is gonna bite you in the ass, pipsqueak. Mark my words. Chicks like this don’t want to hitch their wagons to guys like us.”
“I’m not asking her to hitch her wagon to anything.”
Sabian gave me a sly look. “But you want her to, right?”
“Well, I mean, if it happened, I wouldn’t have any complaints about it.”
“It won’t happen,” Sabian and Ellie both said at once.
They bumped fists proudly afterward, and then Ellie took over. “At some point or another, she’s going to see through you. Or you’re going to get yourself in over your head as her security detail. I mean, we all know you’re a good fighter. But so is Sabian. And if he’s saying this is a bad idea? Well, then it’s probably a bad idea.”
Sabian nodded his agreement. “If she’s as posh as you make her sound, she won’t want her reputation tied up with you anyway.”
My heart sank. This was bullshit. Absolute bullshit.
Fuck it.
I wasn’t throwing this away just because my friends were seeing warning signs. I’d taken bigger risks than this before. What was the worst that could happen?
She finds out who I am, fires me, and I never see her again?
It was worth it.
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” I said. “I’m going for this.”
Sabian scratched the back of his head. “All right. But if this blows up in your face, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
He shrugged and flashed me a smile. “Then you can tell me to eat my fucking words, pipsqueak.”
I grinned. “Sounds fair.”
“Just don’t bail on me again, okay?” Jamie piped up beside me. “I had to eat my sandwich by myself. And you know how I feel about sitting in places alone. It sucks. So awkward.”
I turned to her. “It won’t happen again. I promise. I’m sorry, Jamie. But really. You’re the best wing woman ever, giving me the go ahead.”
She tilted her head back to polish off the last few mouthfuls of her soda. “You bet your ass I am.”
Chapter 8
Genevieve
I poured the stagnant water out of the glass vase and set it aside to trim the ends of the bouquet of fresh white roses I liked to keep in the middle of my kitchen island. The rich floral scent filled my nose, and I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes as I ran the water and reveled in the moment of solitude standing at my kitchen sink.
My home was nothing short of extravagant.
It was an open concept, a non-negotiable for me, with a white theme. The walls were white, the floors were the softest shade of gray laminate that looked like wood but was a hell of a lot more durable, and all my countertops were sparkly white. Each room gave way to the next from the entrance, to the kitchen, to the dining room, to the formal sitting room, to the glassed-in outdoor area off the back sliding door where Marley was presently sipping a mimosa.
I’d be out to join her soon, once I finished my flowers. Originally, I’d come into the kitchen to pour myself a drink but had gotten distracted when I noticed a couple of wilting petals.
Ever since I moved out of Uncle Tom’s house, I’d been obsessed with having fresh flowers in several rooms of my house. I absolutely had to have them in the kitchen and the bedroom, and if they popped up anywhere else, that was a bonus. I liked the feel they brought to a room and the fresh scent of nature. I liked their delicate beauty and would always choose flowers as decor over anything else.
My women’s shelter would have fresh flowers, too.
Undoubtedly.
“What on earth is taking you so long in here?” Marley called as she padded through my living room and then through the dining room to join me in the kitchen. “I thought you were pouring us more mimosas. And mine is gone. Slacker.”
I filled the vase with fresh water, dropped the flowers back in, and arranged them just so before putting them back in their silver mirrored tray upon the kitchen island. “Sorry. I got caught up.”
“Pruning?”
“Yes. Pruning.”
Marley giggled and opened my fridge door to help herself to the freshly squeezed orange juice and an already-opened bottle of champagne. Real Champagne. From Champagne, France. She poured me a glass as well and pushed it into my hands. “Drink.”
I sipped the mimosa and relished the bubbly and citrus flavors before licking fresh pulp from my lips. “Thanks.”
“Come on. Let’s sit. If you don’t come join me, that charcuterie plate is going to be completely gone and in my belly and we don’t need that. You know this body of mine can hardly handle dairy anymore.”
“You remind me on a daily basis.”
“Well, it’s bullshit, and I need a sympathizer,” Marley said over her shoulder as I followed her out to my solarium. When we arrived, we plopped down into my lounge chairs with plush cream cushions and set our drinks down on the tabl
e between them.
“It could be worse. It could be chocolate.”
Marley gasped. “You are so right. Or wine. I don’t know what I’d do.”
“You’d complain a lot more.”
Marley swatted at me, and we both giggled. “Shut up. Now. Tell me how the tours of the shelters went on Tuesday. I feel like I haven’t talked to you in ages.”
“It’s been a week, hasn’t it?”
Marley nodded. “I’ve been working on a new logo for the business. I should have brought it for you to see so I could get your opinion. My design team likes it, but I don’t know. I don’t think it has the right vibe I’m going for. Too cutesy. You know?”
I didn’t know because I hadn’t seen it yet, but I nodded anyway. “Show me next time. Or email me.”
Marley nodded and drummed her fingers on the side of her glass. “I will. Remind me.”
Marley and I had been close ever since we were little girls. We used to play with the dollhouse my mother got me for my sixth birthday every day after school, to the point where Marley became more like a sister to me than a friend. She slept over on weekends, came on vacations with us, and partook in all family events.
And then my parents were killed in a car wreck, and everything changed.
Sort of.
She was still always there. But instead of playing with the dollhouse at the mansion, we played in Uncle Tom’s backyard until our knees were skinned and our shoulders were sunburnt. Uncle Tom learned how important sunblock was for kids the first summer he had me.
Without her, I never would have made it through losing my parents. So when I got access to my inheritance of fourteen billion dollars on my twenty-first birthday, I gave some of it to her. She refused the initial amount I tried to give her, which was three billion. She said that kind of money scared her. So we whittled it down to a comfortable million dollars to make her life easier.
Now she was using that money to keep herself afloat, have a nice place to live, and start her dream of owning her own clothing retail store downtown. She had a clear-cut vision like I did for my shelter, and with the funds she had from me, she wasn’t going to quit until it was exactly what she wanted.
And then I’d give her more money. She just didn’t know that yet.
Marley leaned sideways in her chair. “So? The tour?”
“Right,” I said, shifting in my lounger so I could face her directly. I took a sip of my mimosa before I started. “It went pretty well. I only got to see two of the three, which was a bit of a bummer. But it gave me a clear idea of what is missing and what works well. Which, if I’m being honest, isn’t much. I met some pretty awesome people though. People I might want on my team when the time comes.”
“Is that ethical? Poaching employees from other shelters?”
“I don’t know. It’s still something I need to think about. Staff makes it or breaks it, and I want my people to be as accommodating as my facility.”
Marley nodded in understanding. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
The only reason I always figured things out was because I had two champions in my corner. Marley and Uncle Tom were my saving graces. “We’ll see. There was some drama, too.”
“Oooh,” Marley drew her knees up and set her drink down. “Drama? Bitch, don’t tease me like that. What happened?”
Hiding my smile was impossible. So I grinned like a fool the whole time I told her about Annie’s jackass of a partner coming to drag her out of there, and how I’d stood up to him to defend Tracey.
Marley blinked at me. “What the fuck, Genie? He could have hurt you!”
“But he didn’t. Because I had a knight in shining armor looking out for me.”
“I beg your pardon? When did this become a Disney story?”
“His name is Liam.”
Marley narrowed her eyes. “Wait. What’s happening here? Who’s Liam?”
“The guy who swooped in and saved me from being assaulted by the asshole. Keep up, Marley.”
“Okay. Explain this again. I’m confused.”
I told her all about the exchange again and how Liam had come in, fists blazing like the hero of an epic adventure and saved me.
“He’s dreamy, Marley. Like, really dreamy.”
“I thought you were swearing off men?”
“I said he was dreamy. Not that I wanted to take him home. Jesus.”
Marley rolled her eyes at me. “Sorry. But whenever you get like this, that means you’re about to fall for some pompous asshole, all because he has a nice face.”
“Liam definitely has a nice face.” I giggled.
“You’re smitten,” she gasped, pointing an accusing finger at me.
I didn’t deny it. Instead, I sipped my mimosa and looked everywhere but at Marley as she sat bolt upright in her chair.
“I offered him a job,” I said.
Marley clapped a hand to her forehead. “This keeps taking turns I’m not prepared for. A job?”
“Yep. As my security detail.”
“Huh?”
Her bewilderment was a little fun. I couldn’t lie. I liked stringing her along like this and holding her in suspension. She secretly loved it, too. Marley was a sucker for gossip and drama, and we both knew it. Might as well let her enjoy it as long as possible.
“You heard me. A job as my personal security detail. He spent the rest of the afternoon with us on Tuesday as a ‘working interview’. His idea, not mine. And when all was said and done, I told him I’d contact him when I needed him. So basically, when the shelter opens. He pushed for more and asked if I was sure I didn’t have work for him now. So I suggested an on-call position.”
“How does that work?” Marley’s eyes were wide with excitement.
“Well, it’s pretty simple. You see, I call him. He comes. Just like that.” I snapped my fingers and then sipped my mimosa, feeling like the extravagant diva I was pretending to be.
“I want one.”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“I’m serious. I want one.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” I said.
“I don’t care how it works. Call him.”
“What? No!”
“Why not? Let’s test this whole on-call thing and see how badly he actually wants this gig.”
I stared blankly at my best friend. Was she crazy? I had him fooled into thinking I was the professional who had my shit together. I didn’t want to break the illusion so soon. “I’m not going to call him to come guard us while we eat cheese and drink mimosas.”
“So let’s go out tonight then. Somewhere boujee. Like Kadia.”
“Kadia, huh?” I pursed my lips and considered the suggestion.
I hadn’t been out dancing in a while. Come to think of it, it had probably been about four months or so. I was so busy working on my shelter project that my social life had taken a back seat. Sure, I still spent tons of quality time with Uncle Tom and Marley, but aside from that, I was at home in my office or out and about in meetings, trying to get my foot in the door with the city council. They were finally starting to take me seriously. I’d made leaps and bounds of progress over the last six weeks.
Maybe a night out with my bestie was just what the doctor ordered.
Marley drained the rest of her mimosa. “Call him. I’m gonna mix us some stronger drinks.”
She pushed herself out of her chair, and I reached for my phone on the table by my drink. I scrolled to Liam’s name in my contact list and frowned down at it.
Was this childish? Was he going to think me superficial for wanting an escort to a club?
Did I care? I had the money to pay him in cash for his services tonight. And it was a good chance to see what he’d be like in a different environment from Tuesday.
I pressed dial and lifted the phone to my ear.
His sexy drawl filled the line on the second ring. “Hey there, Miss London. I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
; My cheeks burned, and my skin grew hot. “I didn’t expect to call so soon either.”
“How can I help you?”
I swallowed. “My friend and I are going to Kadia tonight. I was wondering if you were free to be our escort?”
“Wondering if I was free? This is an on-call gig, isn’t it? You call. I come. Of course, I’m free for you.”
Of course, I’m free for you.
Swoon. “All right. I’ll text you my address. Pick us up in two hours?”
“See you then. Do you need anything?”
“You’re security. Not an assistant.”
“I don’t mind stopping on my way.”
I smiled and bit my nail. “No. We’re okay. Thank you, though.”
His deep chuckle filled the line. “All right. Text me if you change your mind. Otherwise, I’ll see you in two hours, Miss London.”
“Thank you.”
I hung up the phone as the butterflies in my stomach swirled around chaotically.
Then Marley returned with two tequila shots and two mixed drinks, with contents I couldn’t decipher. She handed me my shot. “What did he say?”
“He’ll be here in two hours.”
“Perfect. That gives us time to have a couple more drinks and get ready. Do you mind if I borrow a dress?”
“Not at all. When do you not borrow one of my dresses when we go out?”
“Touché. Now do your shot.”
We tapped our shot glasses together and tossed them back to mark the beginning of the evening. Then, after another two drinks, we made our way to my bedroom suite where we kicked off the best part of any night out: getting ready.
She started with her hair, and I went in on my makeup. Then we switched. We spent the last half hour trying on dress after dress until we settled on our outfits for the night, and then we went back out to the kitchen to have one more drink before Liam arrived.
Liam.
I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He’d been in the back of my mind all week long. It was infuriating because I’d sworn off men. I wanted nothing to do with them right now. I had enough on my plate as it was, and the last thing I needed was a good-looking guy to sweep me off my feet in the middle of my dream finally being realized.