Page 30 of Gilded Lies
Raja’s grin is devilish as is his rumbled, “I know.”
“You will have to torture your friend some other way. I’ll have a few names for you by the end of the week. Will that work?”
“Make it after the new year. No rush, sweetheart. I’ll be taking over for a bit. It will keep my mind off the holidays. Mid-January sound okay?”
“Perfect and Raja?”
“Magnolia.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I would have liked…”
“Never apologize, sweetheart. Live your life knowing you have a friend who loves you deeply.”
There is an odd tone to his voice when he leaves my office. Like his own demons are the real reason he never sought a connection with me. His retreating back has my heart breaking for my friend. A part of me wants to wonder what a romance with him would have been like. Maybe in another life.
The rest of the night drags on and it’s not until nearly four in the morning that I can finally sign off for the night and take theelevator down. Working at a sex club that operates after hours means I work a version of the graveyard shift. Another aspect none of my men enjoy all too much.
On the bottom floor, I wait in my usual spot where they pick me up, but the space where I find them by the front door is bare of anyone. In fact, the entire lobby of the high-rise is empty.
Trickles of cold run up the length of my spine. I tighten my coat around me and pull out my phone. It feels like I have eyes on me so I look around for the source, but I can’t even find the security guard.
I’m being paranoid because it’s dark, cold, and I’m not surrounded by fifty people at once.
“Get a grip, Magnolia.”
I check for messages I might have missed, but there’s nothing since this morning. Fifteen minutes pass and my eyes grow heavy. I shoot off a message to our group chat and grab a taxi. They can come find me at home when they finish. I need to water my plants and I haven’t slept in my bed for weeks. All that open space sounds nice, come to think about it.
It’s only a few blocks to my apartment building in the same district, but I can barely keep my eyes open, much less walk in this cold.
The doorman recognizes me, and I head up to my apartment without seeing another soul. Twenty floors up it’s dead silent as I step out of the elevator.
I don’t see it at first but when I approach my door, there is a single soft pink magnolia bloom settled on the floor in front of my door.
“That is odd.” No one is allowed in here without getting by the doorman and then the security guard. It’s all part of the Golden Key Society set up to protect management for those who chose the package. I get less pay but a secured, up-scale place to live rent free.
I pick up the flower and go inside. Shoes come off, then the hair comes down. My jacket is next and then I take my phone out. The flower has to be from them. Danika’s name comes up first, so I tap and shoot off another text message.
I’m home. Waited for Rune but he didn’t show up. Hope all is ok. Much love.
I wait but only get silence in return. That is not like them. I message and someone answers in seconds.
Fear rears its ugly head. My conversation with Raja comes to mind.
Was the flower a send off? Like a thanks for the fun and we loved toying with your emotions?
I can’t go there just because they are busy and can’t answer the phone. My heart hurts for no real reason. It’s ludicrous to think they need to live by their phone in case I call.
I need a shower and some downtime, anyway. Sleep. God, do I need sleep. I check the front door locks, head for the kitchen for a glass of water, and turn to my bedroom when my phone rings.
I pick it up hurriedly. “Hey babe! Is everything okay?” I don’t know which of the men it is and don’t care. The flood of relief that fills me is very telling, but I will reflect on how much I’ve grown attached to them later. After they come over and ravish me from head to toe.
“Magnolia, I missed you too, baby girl. Do you want to come and see Daddy? I have longed for this day. I hope you have too, sweet thing. Did you like my gift?”
The nasally, sweet voice makes my heart constrict.
My blood runs cold, and I hang up the phone. I check the number. It’s a private caller. Dots fill my vision. Acid burns the back of my throat, and my knees are so weak I have to sit down. Trembling fingers make it hard to dial, but I manage to get to the front desk.
I wrangle the fear in my voice. “Security, there’s been a breach. Someone has entered the building and I need every level checked for a man with brown hair, brown eyes, and a scar over his left cheek. Consider him dangerous.”