Chapter 10
LILA
Saturday
Keira calls me around four in the afternoon.
She wakes me.
“What’s going on, girlie?”
“Uh, what?”
“Are you asleep?’
I push upright, run a hand over my eyes and squint at the glass doors. The weather is perfect. Bright sun. Blue sky. A nice breeze makes the trees sway gently.
I move the same tense hand over my mouth as I push to my feet and walk to the patio doors.
I tug at one and slide it open before the oppressive humidity hits me.
“Oh, shit. It’s hot outside.”
“It sure is. How were things last night?”
“Last night?”
“Yeah. Did you get home all right?”
“Yes. Everything was fine.”
So many things have happened since she and I split our ways last night.
“You seem in a good mood,” I say.
She laughs.
“You got that right. I want to have some fun. Do you have plans for tonight?”
I move away from the patio doors and walk out of the room.
“Lila?”
“Yeah. I’m here,” I say quietly. “What about we do this? Let me check if there’s anyone’s in the house. I’ll call you in a couple of minutes. Maybe you can come over. We can order food and have some fun by the pool.”
“Ohh… Sounds cool.”
A few moments later, I put on some clothes, gather my hair into a ponytail, and walk downstairs.
All the staff members are in the kitchen, so my hope of being alone swiftly gets shattered.
Platters of food sit on the kitchen island––the same place where I sat last night when he returned my earring and collected the microphone from under the counter.
The most beautiful layered cakes perched on cake stands. Trays of appetizers. Bowls of salad. Everything arranged in great taste across the porcelain surfaces.
How could I miss the pre-planning of such a big party? Why had nobody told me a party of this size would take place in this house?
It looks like an anniversary.
Something that requires a lot of planning.
He said she wouldn’t come back this week.
Not only had she come back, but they’re celebrating something, although neither of them is in the house.
Would’ve killed him to tell me about this party?
“Hi,” I say, approaching Livia. “What are we celebrating tonight?”
She brings her focus to me.
“It’s just a summer party,” she says, amused. “You’ll get used to these.”
I hope not.
I can’t get used to the rapid development of events around here, Damon West’s little secrets, Henrietta’s sudden departures and unexpected returns, the fact that I can’t understand these two people’s dynamic.
I push my eyes over the food.
“What time is the party starting?” I murmur, convinced I’ll need to head out.
“Seven.”
For sure, I won’t spend the night here, watching Henrietta fawn over Damon West.
I make a quick calculation in my head––there’s food here for about fifty people, and then my phone rings.
I tap the screen and swing it to my ear.
“Change of plans,” I say to Keira, who, impatient as always, had thought it was a good idea to call me first instead of waiting for me to call her. “We’ll go out.”
Livia catches that.
“Why don’t you invite your friend over?” she says.
“Who was that?” Keira asks at the other end of the line.
“Livia. There’s a party in the house, and you’re invited. I’d rather go out, though.”
Livia touches my arm.
“Don’t be silly. You and your friend will have fun tonight.”
“Let me call you back,” I say to Keira and hang up.
“I don’t want to impose,” I say, truly wanting to avoid being part of this.
I see it more as a predicament than as us having fun. I know a lot of people will be here. I know no one will pay attention to Keira and me. But seeing Damon and Henrietta together after what happened last night?
No, thank you.
On the other hand, I’m sure that watching them interact with other people might help me understand what their story is.
“There’s no imposition. This is your place, too,” Livia says naturally, and I wish I could believe her.
She surely believes what she’s saying.
“Okay,” I say softly. “Let me call my friend.”
“Do that.”
I’m about to walk away when I pivot back to her.
“Do you have any idea what I should wear? Are these parties formal events?”
“Some are. Some aren’t. Choose something comfortable that also makes you feel good about yourself.”
“All right.”
I thank her and head upstairs. The buzz of yet another new thing happening in this house moves through my head.
I push the door open, walk into my room, and call Keira.
“We’re all set. You’re coming here. I can’t promise you we’ll have fun, but the food is good, and we can always snatch up a few drinks and retreat to my room. We can also sneak out and stuff our faces with burgers downtown,” I say, smiling.
She has a good laugh before we talk about what to wear, and I give her the directions to my place.
So much for her never coming here. So much for me never messing with a married man.
I feel nauseous about both.
At least, I’ll learn something tonight.
I hope it’ll be something good.
DAMON
“What’s going on, Damon?”
Henrietta pushes the door to my bedroom open, just as I swipe my work phone with my thumb and slide it into my pocket.
“Stop barging in like that, for fuck’s sake. And knock on the door next time, will you?” I say, noticing the short blue dress hugging her silhouette and revealing her legs.
Her tanned skin shimmers. Her crimson lips seem dipped in wet paint.
Her hair moves like a conqueror’s flag, although there’s nothing victorious about her these days.
“What was the question again?” I ask.
She walks toward the middle of the room, her rehearsed moves meant to drive a man crazy.
It’s worked on so many men.
“Lila Skye told me you stumbled upon her last night and had your men give her a ride home.”
I cross my arms over my chest.
“Are we still talking about this? I thought we had that conversation last night, didn’t we?”
“Yes, we’re still talking about it,” she says, ignoring my sarcasm. “I just found out someone saw her at the club.”
Not a muscle moves on my face.
I’ve suspected for a while that someone snitches on me.
So let me see if I got this right.
Men cheat in the back room while playing cards, with the help of a woman, or maybe more, and now someone feeds Henrietta information?
Is it the parking valet?
I doubt it.
No sane man would risk their livelihood for something stupid like that.
It can’t be someone from my crew either. No one wants to die over some woman accompanying me upstairs.
Is Henrietta bluffing?
She must be bluffing.
“I thought we were done with this,” I say.
“Well. I don’t think we’re done, are we? We have an agreement, Damon. You want more, you can get more, but then I’ll have to keep my part.”
I weigh her words, my eyes pinned on her as I move closer to her.
“Listen. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
I don’t want more. I want what’s mine. You’re lucky that you’re still here.
I gave you the chance to get out of this without anything bad happening to you.
I won’t be listening to your crazy ideas now.
What we have agreed on is not up for renegotiation. ”
“She’s in our house.”
“Yes, she is. And she’ll stay with us for as long as she needs to, so no lawyer can screw with you. I thought you were on board with that. What’s your fucking problem now?”
She arches an eyebrow at me.
“Where was she last night?”
“When exactly? She was here when we left.”
“When we returned. When the people from the club called your work phone.”
I flick my shoulders.
“I don’t know. She was here. Swimming, I think.”
“You think?”
“That’s what the cameras say.”
I slide out my personal phone and swipe the screen a few times. I make sure I offer her a recording of Lila Skye swimming with a timestamp.
“Look for yourself,” I say, handing her my phone and moving my focus to the crowd outside.
A year from now, this place will look different. I may or may not keep the house. For sure, Henrietta won’t be here. If she’s lucky and stops asking stupid questions, trying to stir up trouble, she’ll be alive. And well on her way to husband number… I don’t know. Whatever?
And I’ll be… It’s hard to tell. Life has surprised me too many times. I could go up. I could go down.
I could be dead.
One thing is sure. I’ll get my money. I have a reputation to protect, and my reputation will be my legacy when I’m gone.
She hands me my phone.
“What’s up with the jealousy?” I ask, tucking my phone away.
“I’m not jealous.”
I tilt my head back, incredulous, and wait for her to continue.
“I’m not. I’m protecting my interests.”
“Seriously. What can Lila Skye do to jeopardize your interests?”
“I don’t want her to get my money.”
I smile.
“How can she get your money?”
“You know how.”
“No, I don’t. First off,” I say quietly. “It’s not your money. It’s always been mine. All right?”
She says nothing, her lips trembling with frustration.
“I saved your life, Henrietta. Never forget that,” I add in the same quiet voice before she finally sets herself in motion and flips me the bird on her way out.
“That’s my girl,” I say, amused. “Enjoy the party, honey.”
There’s some commotion outside the door before she swings it open and leaves it like that as she moves down the corridor.
Moments later, I shift my focus back to the crowd.
I pull closer to the patio doors and check the people.
Henrietta always liked these parties. I never had anything against them, although they’re hardly my thing.
It’s a good opportunity to watch people mingling, engaging in phony conversations.
Once in a while you learn something about human nature. Once in a while you need proof that someone’s leading a double life. And once in a while you just like to stare at a beautiful woman.
Henrietta walks toward the small crowd that’s been awaiting her arrival.
Some of the men who like to gamble in the back room at the club are here with their wives.
She knows the drill.
She knows too much.
I’m surprised I still trust her.
I wouldn’t if she were less guilty than I am.
Things might change, though, when we’ll get even, and she might think of some other way to get back at me.
If I know anything about her, no matter how guilty she is, she’ll always find a way to blame someone else for her stupid shit and plan and execute her revenge.
I used to like that about her, but not anymore.
But I didn’t have her in mind when I was talking about staring at a beautiful woman.
I was thinking about the woman wearing a pink dress with a beautiful bow at her neck.
Her dress hits above the knee, hugs her chest, and reveals her arms. It makes Lila Sky look like a gift.
A gift I’d love nothing more than to unwrap.
There’s her friend. A red-haired woman wearing a backless purple dress.
She’s pretty and sexy but not like Lila Skye.
There is something about Lila.
Why in the world would she need a boyfriend?
Men would probably kill each other to get her if they knew what was hidden behind those beautiful eyes.
She seems unsettled as she looks around the pool and then upstairs. Looking for me, I suppose.
I don’t move as our eyes connect.
She stares at me long enough for her friend to look up as well. I wonder what she’ll tell her friend. Who am I to her?
Yes. Who am I to her?
Will she lie about me?
Will she make up a story about us?
Will she portray me as the bad guy?
I am bad, just not to her. I could be bad to her, though. I love to push her buttons, break her will, and see her beg for me. I love to see her torn. Struggle with guilt and embarrassment.
It gives me a hard-on every time I get that feeling that she’s done something against her will.
But the idea of her finding a boyfriend needs to be retired. Although a boyfriend would surely alleviate Henrietta’s suspicions.
What is it to her, anyway?
Whatever that may be, I know women, and I know Henrietta. She can be so vile because of something so stupid.
It would be enough to make her do something dumb that would forfeit her right to her money, and then we’d both be out.
She better stay cool and collected and never get wind of my little fascination with the woman in the pink dress.
It would be a pity to end up with blood on my hands.
She knows me. She knows how cruel and ruthless I can be.
That’s why it still blows my mind that she thought she could get away with it.
Finally, Lila Skye touches her friend’s hand and nudges her away. They’re both out of my line of sight.
I hate that.
Although watching her does nothing to quench my hunger for her.
Just don’t do anything stupid and get serious about letting someone else touch you, beautiful girl, or we’ll be the talk of the town.
With this thought in mind, I reluctantly pick up my suit jacket and put it on.
I’m meeting some important people tonight before anything else can happen.
One thing I know for sure.
This will be another long night.
They’ve all been like that since she moved here.