Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
NATASHA
“Our guys left in the middle of the night,” Lulu says, and Scarlett nods. “They must have gone to help Julian.”
“Julian didn’t say what it was, but he scanned my electronics and stuff to make sure that I wasn’t responsible for anything.”
“What?” Scarlett scowls over at me. “Why the fuck would he think that?”
“That’s ridiculous,” Lulu adds.
“I think he’s being paranoid and just wants to make sure.
I mean, I guess someone could have planted something in my stuff without me knowing.
He said that I’m the newest member of the circle, so he had to eliminate me first. But he checked, and there was nothing to find, like I knew there wouldn’t be.
I didn’t like it, though. I don’t like feeling like he doesn’t trust me. ”
“He trusts you,” Lulu says with a frown. “Julian’s crazy about you. Whatever it was that went down, it must have just really rattled him.”
Nodding, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, so I pull it out and find a text from my father.
He hasn’t reached out to me since I got married.
Not a phone call, not one message.
So, what does he want now?
I open it and read his text.
Papa: You will come to lunch tomorrow. Noon at Tolstoy’s Lounge. Do not be late.
Yep, that’s my father. He’s not asking, he’s demanding. And because I want to keep the peace, I’ll go. Conveniently, Tolstoy’s is in the same shopping center as the store where I bought the Chanel bag, and I can pick it up at the same time.
I quickly reply.
Me: I’ll see you then.
“We should hit the spa at Rapture sometime soon,” Lulu says, catching my attention, and I shake my head.
“No offense, but I don’t want to spend any time at Rapture.”
“It’s not attached to the club,” Scarlett says. “It’s way different and so relaxing. You won’t even know that you’re in the same building, just like when we’re at Lulu’s penthouse.”
I take a deep breath, watching my friends with apprehension. I do not want to be in that building.
“You can trust us,” Lulu adds.
“Oh, I trust you both. Implicitly. You guys have become my best friends, and I know that you’d never hurt me. I kind of hate that I’m afraid of a building. It’s so ridiculous.”
“You’re entitled to your feelings,” Scarlett reminds me. “But the building, even the club, can’t hurt you. Maybe if you go with us, you’ll see that there’s nothing to worry about. I promise you, it’s perfectly safe. Lulu and I both work and live there.”
“You’re right.” I nibble my lip and then decide to trust my new friends. “Okay, I’m down for the spa.”
“Holy shit, let’s go today.” Lulu does a little dance in her seat. “I’m not letting you change your mind.”
I grin as she pulls her phone out and starts making calls. “Looks like I’m not changing my mind.”