Chapter Seven
Akasha LaVey
Work, Work, Work
It’s been a week since I moved to the city, and I can honestly say I haven’t regretted a single moment. I spend my time either working or exploring with Korvin. He shows me his favorite places and we discover new ones together.
The Gin Room is always filled with new and interesting characters, and I quickly make a few new friends.
“Hey, girlie,” Ari says as she hops onto the bar.
I smile brightly. “Hey. What have you been up to?”
“Just running some errands for the boss,” she says pointing at the floor above us. “You?”
“Not much, just some exploring.”
I leave out the part about doing this with Korvin. I have a feeling he wouldn’t want people knowing his business. He hasn’t said anything to me, but I have learned to trust my gut feelings a long time ago.
“I hope you are enjoying the city,” she says with a smile. “I wanted to show you around, but things have been a little hectic.”
She blushes and I feel a strange wave of affection for her.
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, patting her knee. “I am seeing tons of stuff. But maybe we can get together for a movie or a girls’ night?”
“Heck, yes!” she exclaims. “We are both off tomorrow night. Let’s go have some fun.”
I laugh at her enthusiasm. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Ari disappears into the back grabbing some extra glasses for the bar as we finish setting up. Slowly people start trickling in.
“You’re new,” a voice says behind me as I grab a beer for someone down the bar.
I stare at the man before me. Tall and athletic, dressed in a black suit with a blood red tie, dark hair, sharp features, and an air of danger. To be honest, he is also starkly beautiful, and I can’t help but stare.
“Malichai!” Ari calls out from her end. “Stop picking on the staff.”
“Ari,” he purrs, turning his dark gaze on her. “When will you give in and let me be your man?”
She sneers at the cover model in front of me. “When hell freezes over.”
He laughs with his head thrown back. All the while I am trying to figure what the hell is going on. I’m not sure how I feel about my only acquaintance disliking this man so much. Her entire demeanor has changed, the air around her charged with something I can’t quite put my finger on. Turning my attention back to him, I wait.
“Don’t judge me on Ari’s reaction,” he says softly. “But know that I messed up and her anger is righteous.”
He looks sad as the words fall from his lips and I can’t help but wonder what happened. “What can I get you?”
“Vodka rocks.”
It takes me a moment to get his order. Once I return, I see the longing in his eyes as he tracks every move she makes.
“Have you tried talking to her?” I ask, leaning closer.
“We are too different. Things were bound to end badly,” he says, turning his attention to me. “The worst thing is we both knew it was a bad idea and went ahead with it anyway.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants,” I say with a small smile, meaning every word.
My thoughts turn to Korvin, and I know he is the man I want.
“Yeah, Doll. But sometimes love isn’t enough to overcome the fundamental differences between people.”
Malichai drops a bill on the counter before taking his drink and moving into the throng of people. I want to call him back and talk some more, but my attention is drawn to the longing scrolled across my friend’s features. My heart hurts for her but I don’t know either of them well enough to meddle in their affairs.
Maybe we can talk about it tomorrow night.
****
Just like every night, the hours pass in a blur. “Last round” has been called and only a few stragglers remain inside The Gin Room, finishing off their drinks before they will make their way through the city that never sleeps.
Korvin stands in one of the corners, watching over the entire place. He frowns when another man approaches me, even if it is just to order a drink, and looks like he might hit someone if they stand around making small talk too long. But he doesn’t move.
Ari never introduced me to him, so I didn’t catch his job description, but I assume he is one of the bouncers or some other form of security. His size alone is enough to intimidate most people, and no one dares to approach his scowling form. He is such a sweetheart when it’s just the two of us but has put off heavy “fuck around and find out” vibes once other people are around.
A scuffle breaks out, drawing my attention away from him. At the door, one of the twins—I still can’t tell them apart—is holding a man by his throat, his frame pressed against the wall.
“We don’t hurt women!” he roars.
I watch his face shimmer and distort, and I swear I see a bull. But the image is gone in seconds. Korvin is beside him, whispering in his ear. Slowly he releases the man before making his way to his brother where a short but curvy woman is wrapped in his arms.
“Akasha.” Turning to the unknown voice I stare at the man before me. I know him from my interviews. He is Aldron, the owner of The Gin Room, and my boss. “I need to see you in my office when you’re done. And bring Korvin with you. The grumpy old bear should be present for this conversation.”
I want to laugh at his description of the man I am quickly falling in love with, but I don’t. For some reason I feel trepidation, like a child being called to the headmaster’s office. I wonder what he could want to discuss with me, but I have a feeling this could change everything.