Chapter 11 #2
“Oh yeah. Isn’t that one of the best new steakhouses in the city? I heard it’s tough to get a table. I heard the steaks start at like $200. They’re dry-aged.” I lick my lips as my stomach grumbles. I love steak.
“Well, I guess tonight really is your lucky night.”
“You’re so full of yourself, Jack.”
“Not really.” He sits back and pulls out his phone. “If you don’t mind, I have a couple of work emails to answer.”
“Go ahead. I have my own emails to check.” I pull out my phone and type quickly in my girls' group chat.
Oh my gosh, guys. I’m going to dinner at Pinnacle Steakhouse. The home of $$$$ steaks.
I send the message to Brielle and Willow and wait for their responses. I’m pleased to see that Brielle responds right away.
NO WAY.
Yes way. I type back. This is like fate. I was just telling you guys about that place a couple of nights ago.
It’s like you manifested it. How exciting. Let me know if the food is good. I don’t think I’ll be going there for ages. Seeing as I am making no money. Brielle responds again.
I can take you guys if you really want to go. Willow finally responds.
I groan under my breath. Now that she’s with a billionaire, Willow’s very generous, and I love that.
I just hate the fact that she always feels like she has to treat us.
I wish we could treat her sometimes. Sometimes I think if she hadn’t dated Sebastian, then all of our lives would still be the same.
We’d still be there working in that hotel.
We’d still be there cleaning toilets. It feels weird to me that my life has changed for the better because of who she ended up dating.
I’m a woman who likes my own agency. I’m a woman who’s independent.
I’m a woman who wanted to feel like I could do it on my own.
And right now, I haven’t proven anything to myself, other than the fact that I’m still horny for Jack Heathcliff.
The car pulls over suddenly, and I realize we’ve arrived. I watch as Jack puts his phone away and adjusts his shirt.
“We’re here. Are you ready for a fun evening as the love of my life?”
“I’m more than ready,” I say, grinning, though that is far from the truth. I am totally not ready, especially when he uses words like the love of his life. I watch as he gets out of the car and then walks around to open my door. I step out, and he grabs my hand.
“Really?” I say, trying to pull away from him.
“We’re in love. We’re on a date. I think I should hold your hand.”
“You’re trying to tell me that when you go on a date with every Nancy, Jane, and Sarah, that you’re holding their hands?”
“I will have to admit, I’ve never been on a date with a Nancy. I’ve never been on a date with a Jane, and the last Sarah I went out with was in college, so technically I can’t remember if I held their hands or not.” I don’t even bother to respond to him.
We head inside the champagne bar, and my jaw drops.
This is the most exclusive club I’ve ever been to in my life.
The lights are dim, but the mood is whimsical.
Black candles are lit throughout the bar and on each glass table.
I feel like I’ve stepped inside a gothic castle as I stare at the dark velvet drapes and black chairs.
“I’m surprised there aren’t more people here. This place looks really cool, and yet it’s barely full.” I look around in surprise. There aren’t many people here, but everyone in attendance looks rich. Like really rich.
“They have limited seating to make it more private,” he explains. “And they charge for entry, so that stops a lot of riffraff from attending.”
“It must be expensive,” I say. “How much is it? Not more than a grand?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says. “You’re here as my date. Remember?”
I stare at him and roll my eyes. It definitely costs more than a grand. I know it in my bones.
“Here goes,” he says as he waves to Levi, Santiago, and some ladies standing with them. “The girl in the red dress—that’s Raquel. That’s who we want to ensure is not all over me.”
“Don’t you worry about it, boss,” I say, pressing myself against him.
I see Raquel staring at us. She’s got super-long, straight blonde hair, big blue eyes, big boobs, and long legs. She looks like a million dollars, and for the life of me, I don’t know why Jack doesn’t want to be with her—but I’m not going to ask him.
“Hey, everyone,” Jack says. “I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Katherine. Katherine, these are my friends—”
“Darling, Jack!” Raquel immediately heads toward him and cuts him off.
She pushes me out of the way sharply and gives Jack a big hug, pressing her boobs against his chest and pressing her lips to his cheek.
I can feel myself growing angry at how she’s trying to dominate and push me to the side.
This bitch really thinks she’s going to take my man, is all I can think, and even though he’s not technically my man, she doesn’t know that.
“Hi, Raquel. Good to see you again,” Jack says, taking a step back. “This is Katherine.” Raquel’s cold blue eyes meet mine, and I can tell from the expression on her face that she doesn’t think I’m much competition.
“Katherine,” she says. “How quaint.”
“Really? You think so?” I say, beaming at her, like she’s being nice to me. I decided to play her game and be as Midwest nice as I can be. I grab Jack’s hand and squeeze it. I look Raquel up and down and smile my prettiest smile.
“I really like your red dress,” I say softly. “It reminds me of something.” I rest my head on Jack’s shoulder. “Isn’t it pretty, honey?”
“It is.” His eyes are sparkling. “Almost as pretty as you.”
“Why are you so sweet?” I bat my eyelashes at him and then look over at Raquel. “Isn’t my man so sweet?”
“Not the words I would have used to describe him.” She purrs as she looks at his crotch. “I personally like to call him Kong…” She grabs his hand. “Or King.” I want to puke. Is this lady for real?
“Well, he’s my man now. All mine.”
“Is he?” She purrs and leans forward. “Maybe tonight we will see.”
“Uh huh. You know what you remind me of, Raquel?”
“A supermodel?”
I laugh loudly, but I realize she’s not joking. “Uhm, no.” I lick my lips and run my fingers down the side of Jack’s body. “Darling, I am so hot and horny right now.”
“Oh yeah?” He grins, and Raquel frowns.
“You wanna have a threesome, Jack?” She says, and I watch as she grabs his hand.
“You remind me of the streetwalkers down on—” I say sharply, pissed off.
“What did you say?” she cuts me off, eyes blazing. “Are you trying to offend me just because Jack and I have a past?”
“Oh, it wasn’t meant to be a diss. I mean, you’ve got an absolutely wonderful body. You can get away with a slutty, inappropriate dress like that to a bar and a nice restaurant.” I smile. “Or are you not coming to dinner with us? Were you hoping to be his dinner?”
Raquel presses her lips together and turns back to Jack.
“Darling, control your whore.”
“Excuse me?” My jaw drops.
“I was trying to get in contact with you, Jack. I’m going to be in Paris next week, and it made me think of that night we spent in Monaco and how you spent the—”
“I don’t think that’s really appropriate talk,” Jack says, cutting her off and shaking his head.
“Yeah, Raquel,” I say. “Please don’t try to remind my man of nights he had with you hundreds of years ago.
” I look her up and down. “Because he is very satisfied with me, and I am a jealous sort.” I look at my nails and show them to her.
“These are real, and they can cut a bitch,” I say, hissing with a pleasant smile on my face.
She gasps. “What did you say?”
“I think you heard me,” I say under my breath.
“My nails can cut a bitch. A nice bitch, a mean bitch, and a slutty bitch.” I look her up and down.
“So just so we are both on the same page here—Jack is my man. He fucked me before we came here tonight. We are going to fuck when we leave. Shit, I might even give him a blowjob in the bathroom if I’m feeling particularly horny.
” I lick my lips, and because some sort of she-devil has come over me, I run my fingers down the front of his pants and give him a light squeeze.
Raquel gasps. “And you’re calling me a slut?”
“Hey, if the shoe fits,” I say. “I just want you to know that he’s my man, and his cock is my cock, and the only hole or holes it’s going to be in tonight belong to me. So back off. Find yourself someone else and leave my man alone.”
Raquel gasps. “You’re going to let her talk to me like that, Jack?”
He holds his hands up. I can tell from the amused expression on his face that he’s both shocked and exhilarated by my little performance.
“Hey, what can I say?” he says. “My woman’s a little crazy, a little kooky, a little clingy—but I love her.”
I look over at him, and because I can’t stop myself, I grab his face and give him a deep kiss.
“And I love you too, honey,” I say, biting down on his lower lip.
“And tonight—well, tonight you’re going to know just how much I love you.
” I look back at Raquel. “So what are you still doing here?” She blinks, then turns away quickly.
I look up at Jack as he stares down at me.
“Was that a good enough performance?” I ask, smiling.
“Was that a performance, or was that real?” he asks in a low voice. He grabs my wrists and pulls me into him. I feel his lips at the side of my face. His tongue licks along my jaw to my ear, and then he nibbles my earlobe.
“Do you want to fuck right now?” he murmurs.
He grabs my hand and places it against his hardening cock.
“You feel that? I’m fucking ready to go, Katherine.
I’m ready to fuck you hard and fast. I’m ready to fuck you so that everyone in the restaurant hears you screaming.
If we really want to tell and show Raquel that I’m yours, then—” I grab his hand and pull it away from mine, looking up at him.
“Jack,” I say with a warm smile, “what you didn’t know about me is that I am an Oscar-worthy actress.” I lick my lips slowly. “You and I are not going to fuck tonight. We’re not going to fuck tomorrow night. We’re never going to fuck. I am doing the job you paid me for.”
“I don’t think I paid you for anything.”
“Well, you know what I mean. You pay my work salary, and I figured this is part of my job.”
He chuckles. “You totally want me, don’t you? You’re not that good an actress, hun. Trust me. I know.”
I laugh lightly, even though my heart is racing. “This was all an act, Jack. I’m just trying to help you, because Raquel is a bitch and rude, and well—to be quite honest—I don’t really care who you date. But tonight, I’m going to pretend that I do.”
He smiles. “Whatever you say, darling. Keep on acting, cos you’re very convincing.”
I swallow hard at his words because the way I feel right now is not an act, and there’s no way I want him to know that.