Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Elle
Outside, a sleek black limo waits for us, the chauffeur ready to open the door. Inside, there’s champagne already poured and waiting. I grin at Candy and pass her a glass, saying cheers as we pull off.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Candy mutters when the car pulls up outside the club.
Outside there’s a crowd of onlookers and press lined up on both sides of the golden carpet that’s been laid out for arriving guests.
“Please. You’ve seen the press this past year, the world is chomping at the bit for this club opening. Look at them,” I tell her, and she grins because she knows I’m right.
In a sudden wave of nerves, I tear my gaze away from the crowd outside and turn to Candy.
“Tell me who’s coming tonight,” I plead, pulling on my mask.
It was decided that everyone coming to the club tonight would wear a mask to enter, but could take them off once inside. If people wanted to. My mask is black with delicate blooms hand painted in deep reds, and it’s gorgeous with my deep wine-coloured gown.
Candy shoots her an evil grin and shakes her head. My heart sinks. She’s not going to tell me shit.
“You know I’ll never reveal our members’ identities. Discretion is part of our appeal. Hence the masquerade.”
“Boo, bitch. I’m your best friend!” I cry, only half joking. I respect the boundaries of the club and how hard they’ve all worked to make it a success, so I don’t really expect her to tell me. But still…bestie code…she could at least give me a hint.
“Yes, and after tonight you’ll be a fully paid up member so you’ll be able to see for yourself.”
I sigh wistfully. “Imagine your virginity being taken by a celebrity or rockstar or famous billionaire.”
“I can’t believe you’re losing your virginity in a sex club,” Candy says, shaking her head as she reaches for her own mask.
“I know!” I grin, before the smile falls from my face and nerves kick in again. Candy immediately senses my shift in mood and pats my thigh reassuringly.
“Babe? Seriously, you don’t have to do this,” she says.
“It’s not that.” I sigh.
“What is it then?” Candy asks patiently, like we have all the time in the world and we’re not holding up a queue of limos behind us with other attendees waiting to disembark.
My pregnant pause lasts so long, I can tell Candy is starting to worry I won’t answer. I’m worried I won’t answer.
But then I take a deep breath and the question flies from my lips before I can stop it.
“What if no-one bids for me?”
“Elle, don’t be insane. You’re…everything. We’re more worried you’ll cause a bidding war and then a riot.” She squeezes my hand reassuringly. “You have absolutely got this.”
“Will you bid on me? If no one else does?” I plead. Honestly, I’m not sure where this insecurity has come from. It’s not me. And I hate it.
“You want me to buy your virginity?” she teases with a smile.
“Just if it’s crickets out there!”
“It won’t be. But fine.” Candy sighs, giving in when she realises I’m serious and worried about this. “What’s my budget?”
“What’s the minimum bid?” I ask.
“Five hundred.”
I pull a face. “Fine. It’s for charity anyway. Five hundred pounds to save my ass from humiliation up there, deal?”
“Babe…” Candy tries to smother a laugh behind her hand, but fails. “It’s five hundred thousand pounds.”
My jaw drops.
“But that’s…that’s insane,” I stammer.
She shrugs. “I’d pay that for a night with you. Not even for the sex.”
Holy shit, that’s an obscene amount of money!
“Just…please. If it comes down to it, bid for me?” I beg, more convinced than ever that no one will be willing to pay that.
It’s just not worth it. I’m not worth it.
“I promise. I love you, babe,” she tells me earnestly.
“Love you too,” I reply.
I watch as Candy pulls on a white Volto-style mask and smooths her palms down her muted gold sequin dress. It’s absolutely stunning on her, showcasing all of her curves perfectly, and I know that the guys must have had a hand in choosing it. Just because she’s not dirt poor anymore, it hasn’t changed the crux of who my best friend is, and she’s not suddenly shown an interest in fashion now that she has a disposable income. She looks stunning though.
She manages to fix her mask into the right place just as the limo door is opened and a hand appears to help us exit.
Candy climbs out of the limo and I give her a minute, when I hear Dash’s voice filter in from outside. I can’t keep the grin off my face; the two of them are so cute together and I love nothing more than seeing my best friend happy.
Eventually though, I clear my throat and Candy moves to the side so that Dash can also help me from the limo, offering me his arm.
“Gee, such a gentleman,” I quip, before leaning in to whisper to Candy, “I feel like chopped liver next to you with the way he adores you.”
Dash chuckles, then guides us up the gold carpet – which is a nice touch. There’s a flurry of flashing paparazzi lights and a cacophony of shouts as the gathered press try to discern our identities. The whole thing is amazing, the atmosphere is electric, and I can’t help pausing to pose for the cameras to make the most of my moment in the spotlight.
Too soon, we’re stepping through black double doors and Dash is leading us across a gorgeous marble entrance to a waiting elevator, which speeds down to a basement garage, where there’s a whole fleet of limos waiting for the guests to whisk them off to the club’s real location.
“Your carriage awaits,” Dash tells me, bowing low and opening the door for me. I giggle as I climb in, unused to being treated with such chivalry. I scoot over for Candy to join me and frown when Dash stops Candy with his hand on her wrist.
“She’ll see you there,” he tells me with a wink. “She’s got a different ride tonight.”
I cheer and whoop, suspecting that Dash has a little naughty limo nookie planned for my bestie, and even though I can’t see her face because of the mask, I’m fairly sure she’s blushing. I nod, close the door, and am driven away in the lap of luxury, leaving Candy with Dash to wonder what’s going on.
I know that Candy and the guys planned every aspect of tonight out, down to the finest detail. Her not joining me in the car wasn’t part of the plan, so I know that she’ll have a juicy surprise in store.
I smile to myself, knowing that it’ll just be the first of many surprises tonight.
It doesn’t take long to get to the club and gloved attendants open the doors for me, as I walk to yet another gorgeous building. This one’s the real deal though.
As I stand off to the side, Candy practically glowing in the centre of the small crowd that’s gathered, I can’t help but smile. She deserves all of this – the joy, the love, the adoration, the damn fairytale. The whole scene around us – the opening night crowd, the swanky new club, the flutes of non-alcoholic champagne – feels like a dream.
Candy’s surrounded by her five guys, each one a different layer to her happiness, and I can see in her eyes how much this night means to her. It’s hard to believe she went from being this heartbroken, guarded girl, to the woman standing here now, full of life, love, and confidence.
I know she’s put so much into the club – it has been her passion project, and it’s already clear it’s a success. But I also know these guys have given her something just as important.
I take a sip of my champagne, half-listening to her laugh and thanking people while she makes her way toward me. But then she stops, blinking in confusion as her five men kneel down before her.
My breath catches.
This can’t be what I think it is…can it?
Wint starts first, his voice low and sweet as he talks about how long he’s loved her. I know her so well, and even from where I’m standing, I can see her struggle to hold back her emotions. Each guy adds his own words – Dash with his steady devotion, Don with his raw vulnerability, Frost with his fierce passion, North with his intensity. They’re proposing to her. All five of them, here in front of everyone.
“So, what’s it going to be?” Frost asks, his face and voice filled with hope. “Will you be our wife?”
She finally releases her breath and cries, “Yes!”
“Yes?” Dash says, his voice brimming with laughter.
I want to cheer for her, but I’m too stunned, and honestly, my heart feels tight just seeing her so overwhelmed with joy. I watch Candy, tears in her eyes, nodding, murmuring yes to each of them, her hand pressed to her mouth as if she still can’t quite believe it’s happening.
“Say it, baby,” Wint prompts. “I need to hear it.”
“Yes! I’m yours, and I always will be. Oh god, I can’t believe this is happening.”
“You’re surprised?” Frost asks, his tone teasing. “What did you think was going to happen when we said you were ours forever?”
I swallow the lump in my throat, my eyes are full of tears as I take in the guys kneeling before my best friend. She’s so happy and she absolutely deserves it.
“Sorry for the tears, baby,” Dash says, as he gets up and gently cups her cheeks and dries her eyes with his thumbs. The tenderness makes a lump form in my throat. “We want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.”
“Say it,” North opens his arms, inviting her to fall into them. “Say the words.”
“I’m yours. And I will always be yours.”
“Forever?” Don prompts.
“Forever,” she confirms. My heart feels ready to burst for her.
When the crowd around us erupts into applause, I clap along, feeling my own emotions well up. She catches my eye and beams, like she’s sharing this impossible, incredible moment with me. And right then, I know. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be there for each other.