Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
ROME
“I’ve never been pampered with a whole girl day. I’m in.”
My firefly’s face lights up, and I rub my hand over my chest as I lean forward, taking everything in. I’ve been listening since they left the bar, following them through all of the camera feeds from the comfort of my own office.
I don’t mind that she confided in Scarlett. I want her to make friends, and based on Scarlett’s reaction, I need to give the woman a raise. She’s loyal, and I reward loyalty.
I’ll arrange for a day in the spa for both of them.
“Do you like to work out?” Scarlett asks Eloise as they walk back to the elevator.
“Define work out,” Eloise replies with a smirk. “Because not really. I mean, I’m on my feet a lot, and I like it. But no, I’ve never been to a gym. I wasn’t allowed to.”
Scarlett frowns at her as she presses the button in the elevator for the next floor down, and I switch cameras.
“What do you mean?” Scarlett asks.
“Well, I wasn’t allowed to leave my house much. Just for classes, and if I volunteered. Going to the gym wouldn’t have been allowed even though my father totally fat shamed me every chance he got.”
Rizzo’s going to meet a painful death.
“Dude, you’re beautiful,” Scarlett says, and I can tell that she squeezes the arm she’s been holding.
I don’t love someone else touching my firefly, but I’ll allow this.
Eloise looks at ease. Not only that, but Scarlett’s telling my firefly the truth.
She is beautiful. Sexy. “People suck. I didn’t know that Loveland was such a sizist.”
“Sizist?” Eloise asks.
“You know, someone biased based on size. So I’m totally bisexual. I love people. Male, female, trans, I don’t really care. Sexy is a state of mind, an attitude. A persona, if you will. And it comes in all shapes and sizes. I mean, look at you.”
I narrow my eyes as the elevator stops, and they step out, and I shift cameras again.
“Your curves are amazing. You have to know that you father was so, so wrong. You’re a bombshell. And you have all that gorgeous dark hair and green eyes, and yeah, I get why Mr. Alexander wants to keep you.”
Eloise snorts, and it’s fucking adorable.
Yeah, I want to keep her. I am keeping her.