Chapter 14
Everly
SLAP SLAP SLAP!!
The door shakes under the force of the blows, jolting me upright. My heart stutters as I sit up too fast, and my head spins. The room tilts, and before I can steady myself, I’m tumbling out of bed, my nightgown twisting around my thighs like a trap. I land with a soft thud on the floor, my palms stinging from breaking my fall.
“What the hell!” I mutter, scrambling to my feet. My body protests, heavy with sleep, but the relentless slapping against the door drives me forward. I stagger toward it, yanking it open with more force than necessary.
Lila stands in the hallway, a grin plastered on her face. She’s dressed in a pair of high-waisted black jeans that hug her hips, a cropped red shirt, and ankle boots. A leather jacket is slung carelessly over her shoulder, and gold hoop earrings cling to her lobes. She looks like she just stepped out of a magazine, effortless and put-together, while I can barely straighten out my nightgown.
“Morning, sunshine,” she says, her voice chipper, almost manic. “You’ve got 10 minutes. If you’re not ready, I’m leaving without you.”
I blink, my brain struggling to catch up. “What... what time is it?”
“Late enough that we’re missing breakfast.” She steps past me, uninvited, and plops onto the edge of my bed, her eyes roving over the disarray of my room. “Come on, Evie. It’s boring eating in the kitchen every day. Scenic change of pace, yeah? Plus, I’m starving.”
I rub my face, trying to shake the lingering haze of sleep. “But... why now? And why did you—” I gesture toward the door, where her slapping had nearly given me a heart attack.
She shrugs, her grin widening. “I thought you could use a wake-up call. Literally.” Before I can argue, she cuts me off. “Ten. Minutes. Tick-tock.”
And just like that, she’s out the door, leaving me in a whirlwind of confusion. I stand there for a moment, my pulse still racing, before my body kicks into gear.
I rush to the bathroom, flipping on the light and wincing at my reflection. My hair is a tangled mess, and there’s a faint crease from the pillow on my cheek. I wet my face with cold water, brush my teeth in record time, and drag a comb through my hair until it’s manageable.
Back in the bedroom, I grab the first dress I can find—a simple floral sundress with cap sleeves—and pull it over my head. I don’t even check the mirror before rushing out the door.
By the time I reach the living room, Lila is already waiting in the foyer, her arms crossed and a look of mock impatience on her face.
“Cutting it close, aren’t we?” she says, raising an eyebrow.
I straighten my dress, smoothing out the wrinkles. “I made it, didn't I?”
“Barely.” She turns and heads out the front door, her boots clomping against the steps. “Come on, Evie. Let’s go get some coffee before I pass out.”
And with that, she’s gone, leaving me to trail behind her like a puppy on a leash.
But wait, that's twice now—Evie?
Just outside is a waiting car. Lila circles it to the other side while I open the backseat door and sink into the cool leather of the backseat. Lila flops down beside me, her energy impossible to ignore. The driver—a man in a sharp black suit with a face like carved stone—glances at us in the rearview mirror.
“Morning, Karl,” Lila chirps, her voice light and amused. “The Sunny Side Café. And don’t take the scenic route. I’m wasting away over here.”
He nods, his eyes flicking back to the road, and the car slides smoothly into motion. I watch as the house recedes in the window. It’s eerily quiet outside, the world still waking up, but inside the car, Lila’s energy is enough to fill the space.
She hums under her breath, tapping her fingers against her thigh in a staccato rhythm. The sound is oddly soothing, like the ticking of a clock, and before I realize it, I’m tapping my own fingers against my knee in sync. She catches the movement and smirks, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“You’re a morning person,” she declares, as if she’s just discovered a secret. “Or at least, you could be.”
I frown, still trying to shake the fog from my brain. “No, I’m not. I’m not a night person, either. I’m a sleep person.”
She laughs, a sharp, ringing sound that makes me jump. “Oh, Evie, you’re adorable when you’re half-asleep.”
I glance at her, narrowing my eyes. “You know, most people would consider it rude to wake someone up like that.”
“And most people would have told me to fuck off,” she shoots back, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “You’re not most people, and neither am I.”
I sigh, leaning my head against the window. “You’re impossible.”
“You have no idea.”
The drive is mercifully short, and before I can fully process the blur of streets and buildings outside, the car pulls up in front of a small, unassuming café. The sign reads The Sunny Side Café in cheery yellow letters, and the smell of bacon and coffee wafts through the air, sharp and inviting.
Lila is out of the car before Karl even has a chance to open the door, striding toward the entrance with the confidence of someone who owns the place. I follow, my eyes adjusting to the warm glow once we get inside. The café is cozy, with red vinyl booths and chrome details that scream 1950s charm. I catch the scent of butter and syrup, and my stomach growls in response.
We slide into a booth in the back, Lila claiming the side facing the door. She grabs a menu and begins flipping through it while I try to catch my breath and wrap my head around the last 20 minutes.
The waitress arrives, a perky woman with a name tag reading "Dawn," and takes our order. Lila insists on coffee first, and when Dawn nods and hurries off, Lila leans back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest.
“So,” she says, her tone shifting from playful to something more serious. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
I frown. Here it comes.
“What?”
“You,” she says, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Specifically, the way you stood up for yourself at dinner last night. I mean, damn, Evie. You’ve got bite.”
The praise catches me off guard, and I feel heat rise to my cheeks. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Don’t lie,” she cuts in, wagging a finger at me. “You were brilliant. Xavier loved it.”
I stiffen at the mention of his name, my stomach twisting into a familiar knot. “He didn’t seem to love it.”
“Oh, Xavier’s always like that,” she says, leaning forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “He doesn’t show everything he's feeling. But trust me. He’s paying attention to you, and he likes what he sees.”
I frown deeper, my thoughts tangling. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because,” she says, sitting back as Dawn returns with our coffee, “somebody needs to. And if that somebody isn’t Xavier, then it might as well be me.”
The coffee is hot, and I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my palms as I turn over her words in my mind. I take a sip of the steaming liquid, the bitterness a jolt to my still-foggy brain. Lila watches me, her expression softening in a way I hadn’t expected. She leans back, cradling her mug in her hands, and her gaze drifts toward the window, as if tracing the rays of sunlight streaming through.
"When I first met Xavier," she begins, her voice a shade quieter, "I was in deep. Gambling debts I couldn’t pay. He offered me a way out, but I didn’t realize I was stepping into a different kind of trap." She pauses, her eyes refocusing on mine.
I hold her gaze, intrigued by the vulnerability she lets slip through. "Why did you stay after paying off your debts, then?" I ask.
She shrugs, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Xavier has a way of making you feel alive. And once you’re in, it’s hard to imagine life outside these games, these dynamics. But you lose pieces of yourself if you’re not careful."
I nod, understanding flickering to life. "So, how do you keep yourself?"
"Boundaries," she says, her tone firm. "Know where you stand. Submission doesn’t mean losing yourself; it’s about choosing to give, to trust. Don’t let anyone, not even Xavier, take that away."
I nod, the warmth of my coffee mug still cradled in my hands. “I was thinking about that when I stood up to Xavier,” I admit. “About boundaries, I mean. I didn’t realize it then, but I guess I was testing where I stood.”
Lila’s eyes light up with a knowing glint, her lips curling into a sharp smile. “Girrrrl,” she drawls, dragging out the word like a victory cry. “You’re smarter than you think you are.”
I flush, dipping my head to hide the heat in my cheeks. “I just... I don’t want to lose myself in all of this. It’s already so much to take in.”
“Good,” she says, her voice taking on a serious edge. “That’s good, Everly. You’ve got to keep that fire lit, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.” She pauses, taking a sip of her coffee before continuing, her tone softening. “You know, I used to live for the rush. Gambling, parties, pushing limits—anything that made my heart skip a beat. Xavier was the ultimate rush, you know? But after a while... it stopped being exciting. It just feels empty.” She swirls the coffee in her mug, her gaze drifting away. “I thought I was done with all that. I mean, I paid off my debts months ago. But lately... I don’t know. There’s this itch under my skin, like I need to do something reckless, something that’ll remind me I’m still alive.”
The way she says it unsettles me. “Lila, you’re not thinking about—”
She laughs, the sound sharp and self-deprecating. “Oh, trust me, I’m not talking about running up another gambling debt. I’ve been there, done that. This is different. Something new. Something bigger.”
“Bigger?” I repeat, unable to keep the worry from my voice.
She grins, the mischievous spark in her eyes making my pulse quicken. “It's something I'll know when I see it.”
Before I can press her further, the waitress returns with our food. Lila’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning as she digs into her eggs, her earlier seriousness forgotten.
“Thank God,” she mutters around a mouthful of bacon. “I’m legit starving.”
I watch her, marveling at the way she can switch gears like that. One minute she’s talking about life-altering decisions, the next she’s shoveling food into her face like nothing’s wrong. It’s exhausting just to watch.
“Eat up, slowpoke,” she says, gesturing to my plate with her fork. “Your stomach's been speaking to me all morning.”
I roll my eyes but pick up my fork, spearing a bite of pancakes. They’re sweet and fluffy, melting in my mouth. With one taste, I forget about all the complications swirling around me. Forget about Xavier and the dolls and the shifting power dynamics in that sprawling house. All that matters is the sugary sweetness on my tongue and the chaotic energy of the woman sitting across from me.
But even as I savor the moment, I can’t shake a nagging thought. Just last night, Xavier was asking me if I was thinking about leaving.
It seems like he asked the wrong doll.
* * *
Later, as we step out of the café, Lila pats her stomach contentedly, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
"That was exactly what I needed," she says, her voice light and cheerful.
I nod in agreement, feeling a sense of ease I hadn't realized I needed. The warmth of the sun on my skin and the gentle breeze in my hair contribute to my relaxed mood. Grateful for this moment with Lila, I glance around for Karl, expecting his familiar figure to be waiting by the car.
That's when I see her—a woman hastening toward us with purpose. Her face is a map of sharp angles, her eyes blazing with a fury that makes me take a step back. Lila, sensing my unease, stiffens beside me, her expression tightening as recognition dawns.
The woman halts abruptly in front of us, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her appearance is disheveled, her clothes worn, and her hair a mess of tangled strands. But it's her eyes that catch my attention—they burn with a bitter resentment.
"Well, well, if it isn't another one," she spits, her voice venomous as she looks me up and down. "Fresh meat, how quaint."
Lila steps forward, her posture defensive. "Liane, leave her alone," she warns.
But Liane is undeterred, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. "You think you're special, don't you? Just like the rest. But he'll tire of you, just like he did with all of us. You're nothing but a toy to him, a plaything to be used and discarded."
I feel a surge of fear mixed with confusion. "I don't know what you're talking about," I manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady.
Liane laughs, a harsh, grating sound. "Don't play dumb. I see it in your eyes. You're already under his spell. But mark my words, you'll end up like me, scorned and forgotten."
Lila intervenes, her voice sharp. "That's not true, Liane. You know it wasn't like that—"
"Don't lie for him, Lila!" Liane cuts her off, her voice rising. "You know as well as I do how he operates. He takes what he wants and throws you away when he's done."
I feel a hand on my elbow, Lila urging me toward the car. "Let's go, Everly. She's not worth your time."
As we move away, Liane's parting shot reaches us. "You'll see! He'll ruin you, just like he ruined me!"
Once we're safely inside the car, I let out a breath. Lila's expression is somber, her usual vibrancy muted.
"I'm sorry you had to deal with that," she says quietly.
I turn to her, seeking answers. "What happened with her?"
Lila hesitates before responding, "Some people... they can't let go. They get fixated on Xavier, thinking he's the sole cure to all their ailments. He's not going to keep someone if it's not right for her or him. But sometimes, people don't see that. They blame him for their own unhappiness."
I don't know what to say to that. So I sit in silence, processing the encounter and Lila's explanation. The image of Liane's bitter face haunts me. It was like a picture of the complexities and potential dangers in Xavier's world. I wonder how many more Lianes there are out there and whether I'll end up like them.
How would I know if Xavier wasn't right for me? How did he know he wasn't right for Liane?
The car ride is quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts. I can't help but reflect on Lila's words—some women develop unhealthy fixations on Xavier, and he won't keep someone to their detriment.
Lila said Xavier's been watching me. So what does he see?
And will I like the answer to that question?