by Marie Skye
“I’m just doing my job.” Of course he was. Grayson was in another country and still trying to control shit.
Entering my room, I was greeted by room service laying out a spread of delicious-smelling food.
I faced Alistair with my hands on my hips. “Seriously?”
His response was to pull a chair out for me. I didn’t even have the energy to fight, so I sat, and I ate. He read a book, even though I knew he was watching me.
“I told you the food was good.”
Smiling, I nodded. “It’s very good.” I pushed my plate away, having only eaten half.
“You’re off for the next two days. Do you have anything in particular planned?” Alistair asked.
“Just job looking, I guess.”
He nodded. “Well, both Luke and I are available to you 24/7, as well as Benny for additional security.” He stood up to leave. “Don’t go anywhere without one of us present. It’s for your safety. Mr. Mandrake insists.” He gave me one last nod before leaving.
I wanted to call Grayson and rip him a new one, but that meant talking to him, and I wasn’t done feeling betrayed.
The rest of the week went by fast, and I hadn’t heard a word from Grayson. While I was relieved, I was also a bit disappointed. Maybe he’d moved on in Paris. Wouldn’t have surprised me. He was a bit of a man slut before he met me. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I missed him.
“How about this one?”
I studied the dress Edith was holding up. It was even shorter than the last one. “It doesn’t look like my type, Edith.”
“That’s the point! Just wear it. You’ll look amazing.”
I shimmied into the thin fabric, added some makeup, and we were out the door for girls’ night. I was adamant about not bringing Alistair or Luke for car service. I was tired of having babysitters.
We met Isabella outside a club named Arc. “It’s about time your ass got here. You look great!” She eyed me up and down.
“I practically had to convince her to wear it,” Edith complained.
I rolled my eyes at Edith. “Well, it’s not hiding much.”
Isabella leaned into my ear. “That’s the point. Make him see what he’s missing.” I shushed her. “No one knows about it, not even Edith. So as far as everyone is concerned, we’re still dating.” She nodded. “She just thinks we had a fight, not that we broke up or that, you know, he’s married. He’s probably fucking some French maid as we speak.” I looked around at the line to enter the club. “Maybe, I should be fucking someone else, too.” I turned back around to Isabella, who was focusing on something over my shoulder.
I turned but didn’t see anything. “What are you staring at?”
She looked back at me. “Nothing. Who else are we waiting on?”
I glanced around us. “Gwen. Oh, there she is!” I pointed and waved.
Gwen came running over as best she could in her heels. “Remind me why we’re dressed like this when it’s winter?”
Isabella laughed. “Because it’ll be hot inside. Let’s go, bitches!” I started to head toward the back of the line, but she grabbed me. “We’re VIP.” We walked toward the bouncer, who was impeccably dressed in a suit and had a mic in his ear but looked like he wrestled with bulls as a thrill. He glanced at us and made eye contact with me before whispering into his mic. He opened the rope, and we stepped in.
I was in awe, expecting some dingy club. This was a lot swankier than that but still had the club vibe. We were led upstairs to the VIP lounge that was spacious on its own. It included couches, its own bar, and its own dance floor. And that was just our section. It also had what appeared to be hanging private rooms.
“Welcome to Arc. My name is Deniece. I’ll be your server this evening. If there’s anything you need at all, let me know. What can I start you beautiful ladies off with?”
“Shots!” screamed Edith.
“Okay, let’s just calm down.” I glared at Edith.
“Nope, we’re doing shots. Deniece, bring us all a round of your finest tequila please, followed by another round of your finest tequila,” Edith requested.
Isabella threw her head back. “I like her. I’m all in!”
There was no point in being the voice of reason here.
I took in my surroundings, starting with down below to the bottom dance floor where the music was pumping. Then I peered up above us, wondering what was in the upper levels covered by glass and black curtains. Security and offices, I guessed. I headed back to our table just as Deniece was setting down our trays of shots, as well as glasses of water.
Edith handed us each a shot with a wedge of lime. “To having a great time tonight! Now, you must drink your second one immediately. No backing down. That means you, Emma!”
I saluted her. Everyone took theirs, followed by the second one.
Deniece set out more glasses of water as well as trays of meat, cheeses, and fruit. “Compliments of Arc.” Looking at me, she smiled. A few minutes later, she came back with another waiter carrying two bottles of chilled champagne.
“Holy shit, my ovaries just exploded!”
I busted out laughing at Gwen’s lame attempt at whispering. “How’s that tequila treating you, Gwen?”
She smiled dubiously. “Doing good, baby.”
I had just finished my second vodka cranberry and was most definitely feeling all sorts of giddiness when Edith screamed as “Cha Cha” by D.R.A.M came on down below. Grabbing me by the arm, she practically dragging me down the stairs to dance.
“We have our own dance floor!” I tried shouting over the music.
She laughed. “But we aren’t finding any men up there now, are we?”
I laughed as she wobbled into me. Shutting my eyes, I let the music flow through me. It wasn’t long before two men started dancing with us.
“What’s your name?”
I briefly contemplated giving him a fake name. “Emma.”
“I’m Malcolm. Can I get you a drink?”
I shook my head. “I’m good for now. I’m just dancing with a friend before we head back up.”
He looked me up and down. “I like your dress.”
All of a sudden, I felt like I was naked.
“Thanks.” Out of the corner of my eye, even though it was dim, I saw the security guy from the front entrance eyeing us, and for some reason, it made me want to take a step back from Malcolm.
He pulled me closer. “Let’s get out of here.”
Giving him a half smile, I answered, “No, that’s okay,” and attempted to release my wrist from his grasp. I turned to look for Edith, but she was nowhere in sight. When I turned back around, not only had his grip loosened, but he had a pained expression on his face. I stepped back, and to my surprise, Grayson was standing behind him, with Malcolm’s arm in what appeared to be a painful twist behind his back.
“I believe she said no, did she not?” He twisted harder, and Malcolm let out a shriek. “She’s taken, asshole.” He turned to the security guard who appeared at his side. “Take him out of here, and make sure he’s banned forever.”
The security guard nodded and grabbed Malcolm before hauling him out like trash. We stood there staring at each other. It was my first time seeing him in four days. Four long days. In that very moment, I had mixed emotions. Emotions that included anger and lust. Which meant I basically wanted to either slap the shit out of him or fuck him.
I inwardly smiled as the lyrics to “Coming Back For You” started to play because it fit the moment. After all, it was what he said. I met his gaze. It felt like there was no one else in that club but him and I. Grabbing my hand, he led me to the other side. I practically had to run to keep up with him. We went behind a black curtain that had a hidden elevator. He was silent during the ride up. The elevator opened to a room that had a view of the entire club. I went toward the window, looking below.
I turned to him. “Edith was down there with me.”
He nodded. “She’s fine. They’re al
l fine, I promise, and don’t worry, no one can see in here or even hear you.” He had a ghost of a smile.
I looked around me uncertainly, still quite a bit tipsy. “What are you doing here, Grayson?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re in my club.”
This was too much like our first meeting. I crossed my arms, trying to offer myself some protective barrier, looking anywhere but at him.
I started backing up. “I didn’t know this was your club. I didn’t pick it. I mean, I knew you owned clubs, but I guess I overlooked this one as yours, or if I knew, I didn’t pay attention to the name.” I was rambling. We both knew it. “You said you would give me time.” Wall. I backed right into the damn wall. He uncrossed my arms, standing so close to me, our lips were practically touching.
He pinned my arms above my head with one arm. “I told you, wherever you are, I am.” He stared down at my lips. “And you’ve had enough time.” Slowly, his eyes traveled down the rest of my body, and his brow crinkled. “His hands were on you.” His grip tightened around my wrists as his eyes grew dark.
“We were dancing,” I whispered.
His hips pinned me harder into the wall as he put a knee between my legs, and I gasped at the contact. “I didn’t like it.”
Instinctively, I started rubbing myself back and forth on his thigh. “What are you, jealous?” I panted, then hissed at the bite he gave my neck.
He grabbed my hair, pulling it back so I could look him in the eyes. “Savagely.” He finally let go of my wrists, which allowed me to slap him as hard as I could, taking us both by surprise.
He looked at me, stunned. I was pissed because it sobered me up. I needed another drink, even if it was a drink of him. "Come Say Hello" by Superhumanoids began pumping through the dark office, and I reveled in the sensual beats that screamed sex, and had me putting down my defenses.
His mouth crashed into mine, and I pulled him to me. He lifted me, pushing my dress up around my waist. “I’ve needed you,” he growled in my neck. At that moment, the weekend came crashing back down on me. I pushed him away and slapped him again.
He sighed. “You’re not doing that again.”
I smoothed my dress down. “I can’t be here with you. I’m being rude by being here with you and not out there with them. It’s girls’ night.”
He nodded. “I’ll take you over.”
I shook my head. “I can find my way.” I headed for the door.
He reached it before I did. “I wasn’t asking for your permission, Emmalin.” He placed his arm around my waist, pulling me tight.
We reached the VIP lounge, where it was even louder than when I had left it. Apparently, there were a few more people who were invited up.
Gwen came running over to me. “Where have you been?”
I looked up at Grayson. “I got sidetracked.” She gawked at Grayson and nodded before winking at me.
Edith came sauntering over. “Emma, sorry I lost track of you.” She stopped when she saw Grayson. “Mr. Mandrake, sir.”
He smiled. “Grayson is fine.”
She broke out in a fit of giggles, and then she looked at me. “Aww, you’re sober. You need a shot.” She handed me hers, which Grayson intercepted.
I glared at him. “Don’t ruin our girls’ night.”
He took the shot and grimaced. “The fuck was that? You don’t need to be drinking.” He pulled me tighter to him. “I’m leaving, but I’m not going far.” Before he turned to leave, he nodded at Isabella and left. I glanced over at her, and she gave me a half smile.
I marched right over to her. “What the hell was that?” She handed me a drink and shrugged. “Don’t play coy with me. Did you two conspire something behind my back? You knew this was his club and he would be here, didn’t you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, so what if I did? He said he wanted to talk to you, and I’m sorry, I am, but I think you need to listen to him. And before you say it, I’m on your side. I’m always on your side. No matter what. He looked desperate. He suggested a club and said he would take care of everything.”
I shook my head. “You shouldn’t have done that. That goes against girl code 101.”
“I know, but when I see two people meant to be, I can’t help it.”
I sighed. What’s done was done. We had one more drink on Grayson before calling it a night. I stumbled into my hotel room, hastily stripping down to my underwear and crawling into bed.
“He doesn’t love you. No one loves you. Look at you. Who would love you? Who could love you? You don’t deserve him. Everyone you touch dies. Everything you touch turns to shit. Your own mother didn’t want you. She died to get away from you, remember? He’ll die too.”
“No!”
He laughed.
“No! I love him, I won’t let you take him from me, not Grayson!”
I was tossing and turning, and fighting, and then I felt hands wrap around my arms, followed by Grayson’s scent.
I heard his gentle voice whispering, “Come back to me, Emmalin. Come back,” over and over.
Gasping, I finally opened my eyes. I blinked several times, concentrating on him.
He smiled. “There you are. Focus on your breathing. Just look at me, okay?” I nodded. He kissed the top of my head, and I relished his touch.
Several minutes went by, and I felt myself finally calm down. When my breathing had evened again, I finally spoke. “What are you doing here?”
He shifted so that he was halfway on top of me. “I had to make sure you got in safely, and whether you like it or not, we’re not leaving here until you listen to me.”
My eyes welled up with tears as I looked away from him. “Get out, Grayson,” I whispered.
He kissed the top of my forehead. “I’m not leaving. I need you to listen to me.”
“Why should I listen to you? You’ve lied to me. You’ve been lying to me this entire time. You made me fall in love with you, and now…” I stopped as a tear fell.
“Now what?” He looked at me tensely.
“Now, I hate you.”
His face fell. “You don’t mean that. You loved me and still do.”
“Yeah, well, you hurt me, and right now, I hate you. And I need to hate you to decide if I can love you again.”
“Never say anything you don’t mean, remember? Don’t use your love for me as a threat against me. Don’t attack me with it.”
I laughed at his audacity. “Are you serious right now? Get off me, and get the hell out of my room.” I struggled against him, which was pointless since I was no match for him. He put his full weight on me.
“ATTIC!” His voice boomed out, and I froze, unable to take my eyes off him.
He shifted off me slowly, both of us staring at each other. I didn’t know what to do since he was the one who safeworded me.
“I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen, but I give you my word that I will not lie to you about anything.”
I took a deep breath and looked at her. She seemed so small lying there on the bed with her knees pulled up to her chest.
I sat on the bed facing her. “The woman at the charity banquet, Lydia, first and foremost, we aren’t married. Never have been. But I am married. At least I was.” I pulled a picture out of my pocket and handed it to Emmalin. “This is Carmen. Lydia’s identical twin. Lydia was often jealous of our relationship and would try to pass herself off as Carmen.”
I felt myself starting to drift off back to my younger years like it was yesterday. “We were young and in love. A year later, I started making it big in poker tournaments. I had already made over eight million and had invested all of it. I began making a name for myself. People started to notice.” I paused. “Carmen got pregnant. She was so scared to tell me, but I was so happy. I loved Carmen, and I knew I could provide a good life for our child. We fought about getting married, whether or not it was the right thing to do. She was eighteen, and I was nineteen. We hadn’t even told our families about the pregnancy. H
ell, we were already ‘living in sin’ at Caliscades.” I chuckled.
“We eventually decided to elope, with Lydia as a witness. I remember Lydia arguing with us the entire drive to Las Vegas, purposely nagging Carmen, doing anything to get a reaction out of her, just to goad her. But no matter what, Carmen wanted her there because that was her sister. We said our I do’s while Lydia stood there glumly, and I had never seen Carmen look so happy. She was glowing, and not just that pregnancy glow, but purely glowing.” I got up and went to the window, needing to move around.
“I don’t know why she wanted to drive to Vegas. She said she wanted to tour and make all these ridiculous stops, but I couldn’t say no to her. I was asleep in the backseat that night. Lydia was driving. I woke up because Lydia was yelling again, and Carmen was trying to get her to calm down. Lydia was always so unstable. I just remember Lydia saying, ‘You never listen to me,’ and she was looking at Carmen, but no one was looking at the road. The wheel had shifted, and the car was heading right for the oncoming truck in the other lane. I screamed for her to watch out. She swerved, barely missing the truck, but overcorrected, and we rolled three times before we landed side down.” I sank to the floor against the window. “The car started filling with smoke. I remember screaming for Carmen, and I looked toward the front seat, but she wasn’t there. I didn’t understand why she wasn’t there. Lydia was there, with this huge gash running down the side of her face, but Carmen… It was like she just vanished. The smoke got thicker, and I remember hearing voices above the car and people trying to pull us out. I kept going in and out of consciousness, seeing the car erupt in flames and saying Carmen’s name one last time before blacking out.” I didn’t realize I was crying until Emmalin touched my face. I placed my hand over hers, cherishing the comfort she was giving me.
“I woke two days later. They told me she was ejected from the car and was killed instantly. They said she didn’t suffer. Lydia, on the other hand, was fine but suffered from a mild traumatic brain injury. They diagnosed her with Post-Concussion Syndrome. She often thinks of things that aren’t real, and in turn, took on the role of acting like Carmen, but as Lydia. She was convinced we were together, and that it was she and I who were married and having a baby. Her uncle felt it was a good idea to go along with it, in helping with her treatment. Of course, I think it’s only fucked her up even more. I was keeping tabs on her, up until a few years ago when she fell off the radar. Then she showed up at the gala, which I’m sure Dale had everything to do with.”