Chapter 12
The Saturday night of the party came a lot quicker than she wanted. A pit had been growing in her stomach since the moment she woke up that morning.
All day she had been pacing her house wondering what the hell to do with her time. She had tried everything from reading, streaming a bunch of shows she needed to catch up on, and even attempted cleaning the house. None of it lasted very long before she felt compelled to move on to the next thing.
She stared at herself in the mirror and murmured. “Get your shit together.” Her father had always been able to sternly direct her to what she needed to do, even if she didn’t listen all the time. Now, she was left without that looming guidance in her life. It was only the lingering memories that haunted her, serving as a reminder of whose daughter she was.
One of the silver linings of having a wide open schedule for the first half of the day was that she could take her time getting ready. It also served as a perfect storm to overthink everything right down to the most meaningless details.
Layne preferred her hair down but kept it styled so one side of the dark chestnut locks was pulled back away from her face with some strategically placed pins. She brushed on some makeup, going for an elegant evening look with a seductively smokey eye and a flirty shade of dusty pink on her lips.
Pulling her dress off its hanger, she shimmied into it. The silky fabric was unforgiving in how it adhered to the curves and lines of her body. The regal shade of purple complimented her fair skin, which there was plenty of it exposed to capture the attention of any wandering eyes.
The dress was a halter-style gown that left her back fully open, down until the material wrapped around the roundness of her ass. The strap around her neck was embroidered with tiny shimmering crystals that dove down into a steep neckline.
The remainder of the dress fell into a narrow skirt with a slit just high enough to be considered a classy display of the flesh of her leg and, more practically, allow for more ease of movement.
Lastly, the outfit wasn’t going to be complete without a little bit of safety insurance. She latched a thin strap to her upper thigh where a dagger was slid into the sheath. If shit went south tonight, she refused to be playing a game of ‘could this random item be used as a weapon’?
After picking out a small clutch and strapping on her heels, she met her driver outside of her house. He held the door to the back seat of the SUV open for her with a heartwarming smile. “You look radiant, Ms. O’Reilly.”
The older man with silvery grey hair, Artie, had been working for her family for years. She didn’t make a habit of using his services too often, but on a night like tonight where appearances were everything, she opted for the car service.
From everything she had heard about the guests in attendance, there were going to be some of the most important names in criminal organizations across the city coming together under the guise of raising funds for charity. It wouldn’t be all the big bad guys there, of course. Politicians, financiers, judiciaries, and others amongst New York’s social elite would also be in attendance.
“Thanks, Art. You’ve always had the kindest things to say.” Her hand gave his arm a gentle squeeze while she sweetly smiled at him before sliding into the back seat. The door shut behind her, and moments later, he was driving her to the Ellis residence not too far from where she lived. It was only about ten minutes further uptown. A little too close for Layne’s tastes, but she wasn’t about to pack up and move on Eric’s account.
By the time Artie pulled up where others were also unloading from their vehicles, she was a solid ten minutes late. Still socially acceptable in her mind and by elitist standards. Layne wasn’t in a rush to kick off this evening which she had been dreading ever since she agreed to it.
While she sat in the back seat, she wrestled with her nerves that refused to settle down. This should be like any other job she had ever had a hand in. Joey’s presence should have been inconsequential. However, she still found herself spending far too much time thinking about his involvement in tonight’s affairs instead of thinking about Eric’s proposition to salvage the O’Reilly family business.
The back passenger door swung open, and instead of being greeted by her driver, she noticed Joey standing there with his hand reaching out to her.
Her breath caught in her chest as she saw him dressed in the sharp lines of a tux, a crisp white shirt underneath the black jacket, and a corresponding black vest and tie. The way it fit the muscles of his upper body reminded her of the delicious gift underneath all that packaging. The creep of his neck tattoos peeked up past the top of his collar, and the ink on his hands was easily visible. It was the only indication that he wasn’t in the same class as the rest of the pompous assholes in attendance.
Layne did her best to remember to breathe and not appear as shell-shocked as she felt seeing him all cleaned up for once. But, damn, could that man wear a tux.
Stubbornly, she ignored his offer of assistance, gathering the lower half of her dress and stepping out onto the sidewalk on her own accord. The length of her dress fell around her legs down to her feet which were set in a sparkling set of heels encrusted with shimmering crystals that matched the shine of the crystals on her halter straps.
He dropped his hand back to his side, but his eyes never left her. Joey didn’t usually break the serious fa?ade when it came to his work, but in this case, Layne did manage to pick up on the subtle shift in his brown eyes. A shift that told her she wasn’t the only one with a view worth appreciating. His tongue subtly swiped across his lower lip, an act that one would expect while eyeing a particularly decadent dessert.
“You’re late.” A slight edge of frustration could be heard hanging off the end of his words.
Layne gave a nonchalant shrug with a smile knowing how it was eating away at him and how she was not bothered in the least about her tardiness to this little affair. “I guess you should have come picked me up if you wanted me to be on time.”
After she was out of the car, he shut the door and stepped up to join her at her side. His arm wrapped around her lower back, pulling her in close to his side as he leaned in and whispered, “Remember, I’m still here as part of your security detail. Which, as I recall from the last time I kept my eyes on you full-time, you were extremely satisfied with my services.” His charismatic smirk stretched across his face.
As people walked past them on their way up to the front door, Layne plastered an over-the-top saccharin smile on her face. Tonight was all about wearing an invisible mask that told a story that not only did she want to be here, but she belonged here. That included upkeeping the premise of Joey being part of her security.
She didn’t even look at him as she quietly responded. “I’m in four-inch heels, a dress that wants me to be ten pounds lighter, and my escort is breathing down my neck. You’re asking a hell of a lot right now for me to look satisfied with any of your services.”
His voice dropped down to a dominant tone with his words teasing along her skin. “You used to like it when I did things to your neck.”
Uncontrollably, her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink before her hand slapped his chest and she managed to slither away from his arm that wrapped around her. “Stop dicking around.”
Joey smirked noting that he had managed to get under her skin. “Interesting choice of words.”
Layne shook her head while trying to keep things between them strictly business. After all, that was the agreement, wasn’t it? She would help him tonight and then he would be on his merry way.
Quickly ending the conversation and moving straight on to the matter at hand, she followed the rest of the guests dressed to the nines into the obscenely luxurious private home of Eric Ellis.
It was situated on a prized corner lot and was previously an old printing house that had undergone massive renovations that turned it into a residential space to be admired by the city’s deepest pockets.
What most people failed to notice was the extensive security on the outside. Cameras were tucked into various corners at multiple angles turning the home into a fortress. Nobody was coming or going from this place without it being captured on video. At least, mostly nobody.
When Layne and Joey both approached the entrance, there was a delay in movement as everyone was checking in with event planners to ensure no unwanted or uninvited party guests tried to sneak their way in.
Joey stuck close to her, only a step behind, and even then, she could still feel his gaze roaming over her body. Despite all of her conflicted feelings, she couldn’t deny that having him here with her put a part of her soul at ease. Something she hadn’t felt in some time.
When it was finally her turn to check in, she smiled pleasantly at the woman who looked like she was typically as quiet as a mouse. Her condensed facial features were speckled with a few light freckles, and her brunette locks of hair were tied back into a short but low ponytail.
“Name, please?” Yup, Layne was right, the woman’s voice was soft as a whisper in a confessional booth.
“Layne O’Reilly.” While the woman began scrolling through an iPad with names on it, Layne took a glance at the entryway. The gothic style decor was a little over the top for her tastes but it was better than the same boring old-money style that most of uptown was accustomed to.
The woman looked up from the screen and looked at Layne and then over at Joey. “I’m sorry, Ms. O’Reilly, but I don’t see a plus one next to your name.”
Joey stepped forward to intervene, but Layne rested a hand on his bicep as a signal for him to back down.
“Oh, he’s not my date, he’s my security. I didn’t realize I needed to register him, I thought it was already taken into consideration.”
The poor girl looked like she was on the edge of tears as an apologetic look crossed her face. “I do apologize, but we can’t allow anyone inside who hasn’t been pre-cleared. Mr. Ellis’ orders.”
This wasn’t off to a great start at all. Right as Layne was about to choose some stronger words to make her point to this delicate little rose, she heard Eric’s familiar voice as he approached. “Laura, it’s ok.” His hand patted the woman’s shoulder and motioned for her to continue checking in other guests.
The host himself was done up in a tailored tuxedo that was all black right down to the shirt. His hair was slicked back except for a small piece that was having no part of compliance with the rest of it. With all the darkness wrapped around him, the blue of his eyes particularly stood out more than normal.
He turned to Layne and stood there taking his time drinking in the image of her all dolled up. An image that he surely thought was solely for his benefit.
Eric’s eyes memorized every fine detail and curve that was on public display. His lips parted in awe, drawn in by the vision in front of him.
“My little harpy, you do not disappoint.” He exhaled a breath while his gaze remained locked on the vision that stood before him.
His hand reached out to take hers bringing it up to his mouth where he pressed a lingering kiss to the back of it. The gesture got minutely more intimate when his eyes lifted to stare at her as he did so.
The presence standing at her back was getting restless as Joey cleared his throat loudly.
Hearing the grumpy disruption behind her, Layne slid her hand out of Eric’s slowly. “Eric, I didn’t realize that I needed to register my security for the evening. I hope it won’t be a problem.”
The icy hue of Eric’s eyes looked past Layne at the familiar tall and well-built man accompanying Layne. Judgment and condescension settled across his face. Their prior standoff at the rock concert while he was enjoying Layne’s company had left a sour taste in his mouth.
He was quick to shift back into a man full of incredible charm the second he returned his look to Layne. “Of course not. Though, I will say there was no need for it. You have my full protection while you are here.”
Joey interrupted. “It’s not your job to keep her protected.”
Eric gave a light shrug. “No. I suppose you’re right, it’s not. Not yet, anyway.”
Starting to suffocate with the tensions growing in the air and the amount of testosterone being pissed around, Layne awkwardly tried to change the subject and move things along.
“I’m sure you have other guests to greet, I don’t want to keep you from your obligations.” She preferred he kept busy with all the other guests for as long as possible.
Eric gave a nod of appreciation that she recognized he had other duties to see to. “I look forward to us picking up our conversation later on the arrangement we’ve been discussing.”
Before anything more could be said, a rather heftily round man came up to Eric and slapped a hand on the back of his shoulder. A rowdy greeting followed before immediately diving into a conversation about the renovations that were done to the recently acquired building.
Layne took the window of opportunity to scurry further inside, heading towards the stairs that led up to the next floor. According to the signage, that’s where the primary party spot was.
As for Joey, he didn’t let her get too far ahead of him. “What did he mean by ‘not yet’, Layne?”
She gave an irritable sigh as she began to conquer one step at a time without tripping over her dress. “How the hell should I know?”
Once they were on the second floor, he pulled her by her elbow off to the side to peer into her eyes, looking for a better response from her. “Tell me what he meant. I’m not asking twice.”
She glanced around in paranoia that someone would overhear them so she kept her voice down to a whisper hoping that Joey would do the same. “Even if you did ask twice, I wouldn’t have anything to tell you. Now, I got you in here, go do whatever it is you came here to do.”
There was no sense in getting him worked up and involved in her business affairs. He was here to do a job, as was she. The only difference was that his job was hopefully short-lived while hers had more permanent consequences.
As she pried her arm out of his hand, Layne saw Joey’s hands squeeze into tight fists in either anger or frustration — she couldn’t tell which it was.
“This conversation isn’t over,” he warned. Knowing how well Joey let go of things, she knew damn well that he was going to continue poking the bear until he got a response. “I won’t be far,” he added before walking off.
Layne watched as he stepped away from her, blending into the hustle and bustle of the other guests who were also making their way towards all the festivities.
After Joey’s departure, the tension in her body eased up momentarily while her emerald hues relaxed. With her thoughts becoming less clouded by his presence, she realized she desperately needed to drink half the bar if she was ever going to survive this evening.