Chapter 11
“Father,” Danica said, extending a hand to her sire. “I did not expect to see you here.”
Russell lightly shook his daughter’s hand.
Much to their mutual chagrin, he extended his hand to Alicia as well.
“Flew in this morning to speak with Senator Smith over lunch. Decided to stay the night and speak to some old friends.” His hand almost crushed Alicia’s.
She grimaced and couldn’t pull her hand away fast enough.
“I take it the trip has been going well so far?”
“Very well, thank you.” Danica pulled Alicia into her embrace.
More than a few people around them covertly looked over their shoulders, curiosity brimming on their plastic faces.
She’s making a show out of me in front of her father?
Danica definitely knew something. “Alicia and I have been having a wonderful time. When I’m not working, of course. ”
“Of course.” Russell took a step back and waved to someone behind him.
“Danica, I must introduce you to one of the most lovely families I have ever met.” An older man and a younger woman appeared.
They both bowed their heads to Danica and Alicia before lightly shaking their hands.
“These are the Matsudas, from Osaka. Have you had the pleasure of meeting either Satoshi… or his lovely daughter, Natsuko?”
The young woman straightened up, her fine, young face carrying a hefty weight of knowledge within it. Wow. She’s beautiful. Sharp, angular features to match Danica’s, and clever amber eyes. They looked like a match already.
“I have not had the pleasure, no.” Danica introduced herself before turning to Alicia. “This is Alicia Colbert. My girlfriend.” Her eyes flitted toward her father when she spoke.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Alicia said, trying to keep her voice level.
The young woman, Natsuko, replied first. “Thank you,” she said. “This is my first time in Chicago, although my father has been here several times before. It’s a beautiful city, yes?”
“One of the most beautiful in the world.” Russell gestured to his daughter and another empty spot a few paces away. “Excuse us, but I need to speak with my daughter for a moment. Alone.” That was directed more at Alicia than the Matsudas.
Danica reluctantly released Alicia and went with her father to a corner.
Alicia remained where she was abandoned, shifting her weight and clearing her throat alongside a well-to-do father and daughter.
The father took a phone call and spoke in rapid-fire Japanese that Alicia didn’t have a hope of understanding. The daughter checked her watch.
“Is it your first time in America?” Alicia’s attempt at petty conversation was… bad.
Natsuko forced a smile. “No. I’ve been many times before. I studied at Brown.”
“Oh.” Alicia slightly turned. So much for that.
“…The Matsudas are one of the richest families in Japan. They have ties to the emperor, for fuck’s sake,” Russell said only a few feet away.
Did he know that Alicia could hear him? Probably.
He wanted her to hear. “You’d be a fool not to speak with Natsuko later this week.
I’ve already arranged a lunch between you and her. ”
“To talk business, of course,” Danica glibly replied.
“Of course, to speak business! When you’re done sharing your portfolios, you can ask her out to the opera. Take her home and fuck her for all I care, but don’t let her father find out.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“What is there to pretend about? She’s a beautiful woman. You love beautiful women. With any luck, you two can be married by the end of next year. Maybe sooner if you get rid of the hangers-on.”
Natsuko sighed. Alicia flushed with extreme embarrassment on her companion’s behalf.
“I prefer not to talk about people that way,” Danica said. “Besides, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I consider Ms. Colbert my girlfriend. I have no intention of letting her go anytime soon. In fact, I was hoping we could have dinner so you could get to know her better.”
“Don’t waste my time with that nonsense.
Don’t waste that young lady’s time, either.
I know she’s having fun with you, and you think you’re having fun with her, but it’s time to stop playing around and settle down, Danica.
You can find a mistress once the deed is done, but you need to keep up appearances until the first child is born. That’s how it’s done.”
“Perhaps in your day, but times have changed. People actually marry for love now.”
“Don’t begin to tell me that you’re in love with that slut.”
Whatever Danica tersely said in response… Alicia couldn’t hear it. She was too gobsmacked that her ears shut down to all Moreau voices.
Natsuko took a step toward her. “I’m sorry. This is terribly awkward, isn’t it?” Mr. Matsuda returned, hand touching his daughter’s elbow and saying something in Japanese. Natsuko waved him off. “Excuse us. My father wants to go sit down, and I cannot blame him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alicia mouthed at her.
“It’s fine. Mr. Moreau is from another time. It’s not so different in my family. But at least my father doesn’t call me a slut.” Natsuko took her father’s arm and strolled toward the ballroom. “Good luck, Ms. Colbert. No hard feelings.”
What did that mean?
“Come on.” Danica appeared, yanking Alicia’s arm toward the ballroom as well. “I hear they’re serving supper soon.”
The ballroom was filled with circular dining tables, each one draped in soft, ivory fabric and bedecked with golden candlesticks and dining ware.
Seats were assigned. Somehow, Alicia was not surprised to find them sitting next to the Matsudas.
The silver lining was that Russell’s name was nowhere on their table for six.
Danica pulled out Alicia’s chair for her while exchanging renewed greetings with the Matsudas. They were cordial, at best.
“Well, well,” came a voice from the other side of the table. “See, you’re still within the circle, Ms… Cullen, was it?”
Alicia sat down. “Colbert.”
“Right, right.” The woman folded her arms on the table, her red dress boosting her breasts up like two inflated balloons. “Cullens are from some book. Good book, too, if I remember correctly. Loved the sex.”
The masculine person beside her responded. “You’re thinking of Fifty Shades, dear.”
“Am I? Was that the one with the tampon?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, right. Yes, good book. Needed more kink, though.”
Danica sat down between Alicia and Natsuko. “Always a pleasure, Misses Anderssens.”
“Oh, we’ve met before!” Alicia shouldn’t have been so excited. Not like she actually knew these people. “At the gala a few weeks ago. Right?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Anderssen – was her name Lara? Alicia couldn’t quite remember – held up her glass of champagne. “Cheers, Ms. Colbert. You and Ms. Moreau have made it this far, so it must be forever.”
Natsuko shifted in her seat. Danica didn’t look too impressed, either. Her father called me a slut. She had better not be happy. “What brings you two to Chicago?” she asked the couple.
Lara put her hand on her spouse’s shoulder.
“Kennedy here fancies herself a politician. An absolute menace this election cycle. I can’t get any rest from all the pandering in our own home.
” Her grin implied she was talking about the traditional type of pandering.
I can’t decide if I find these people charming or frightening.
“So, here we are, throwing money at some senators I’ve never heard of. ”
Kennedy Anderssen shrugged as if she couldn’t expand upon what her wife said. “We all go through phases. Should be asking what you lovely people are doing here.”
“You know how it is,” Danica replied. “We all have appearances to make.”
“And appearances to keep,” Lara said. She glanced at Alicia.
The whole table glanced at Alicia. It’s like they can see the balls in my pussy. She gulped down a whole glass of champagne while everyone watched. The Matsudas looked away. The Anderssens were still grinning.
“Danica!” cried a voice from another table. “There’s my favorite bitch! How’s it going?”
While Alicia’s girlfriend was pried from the table once again, she poured herself another glass of champagne and tried to block everything from her mind. Except Natsuko covertly watched her, and Lara Anderssen blatantly stared at her.
“So, how are matters of life and love?” Lara asked. “You and Danica are splashed all over the pages these days. Everyone’s talking about you at the sports club. Or so I hear. We got kicked out of there. Apparently, you’re not allowed to screw around in the locker rooms.”
Natsuko stifled a giggle. Alicia, on the other hand, tried to keep her composure.
These people sure were open with their sex lives.
Is this normal? Am I expected to talk about my sex life at a fancy party?
She wasn’t sure if she was comfortable with that.
More than likely, Danica didn’t want her talking about it, either. That would be for her to confide.
“Things are going well,” Alicia said. She tried not to look at Natsuko. Why do I feel bad for her? She can’t be seriously interested in Danica. Is she even in on it? No way. They all just met. Besides, she knows what Russell is like after that display…
Lara leaned in across Danica’s empty chair. “Nice collar. Now I know how you two met, unlike the papers.”
Alicia remained frozen in her seat, throat perpetually dry.
“You used to work at Midnight, right? I thought I saw you there one night.” Lara looked to her spouse for answers, but none were forthcoming. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe.”
“What secret?”
Lara lowered her voice again. Alicia had to lean in closer to those luscious red lips to hear a thing. “That you have two Ben Wa balls shoved up your cunt right now.”
“I… what…”