23. Chapter 23
Veronica
Berenice offered to lend a hand once a week, leaning on her social work experience. Finding Abel by her side was a shock; he’s usually dead to the world during the day after a night at the club.
“Thanks for the food,” I say, looking at the empty plate of toast and eggs.
I’ve been better about eating lately, especially since starting self-defense classes.
It seems the training has left me hungrier than usual.
I’m also trying hard to be comfortable with eating around others. I glance up and catch them watching me.
“What?” I ask, shifting in my seat. “Is there something on my face?”
Bere doesn't laugh. There’s a look in her eyes that says she isn't letting me off the hook. “Are we really not going to talk about it?”
I pick at my nails, hoping that if I don't bring it up, the moment will just pass. It doesn't.
“Start talking,” Abel says. It isn’t a suggestion; it’s an order.
I tell them almost everything. I leave out the pills, the getting mugged part, especially the photograph.
“What a son of a bitch,” Bere shouts, loud enough for only us to hear. This is supposed to be a professional meeting, after all. I glance down and see her leg bouncing, a nervous habit she can never quite shake when she’s holding something back.
“Bere, is there something you need to tell me?”
She looks at Abel, but he just shakes his head, his expression grim.
“I can’t,” he whispers, leaning in close. “I’ll be in deep shit. Plus, you’re fucking the owner. You should tell her.”
The hairs on my arms stand up. “What’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”
“Well…” Her voice is low. “I’ve seen Miles before…at the club,” Bere says.
Shocked is an understatement. I feel the blood drain from my face. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“The night you went with me?” she continues, her voice trembling slightly. “I saw him there. He’s…he’s one of Sebastian’s business associates.”
Abel decided to chime in. “Since she broke the news, you should know he’s a regular there.”
I turn to Bere. “What was he wearing that night? Was he wearing a mask?”
“Not when I saw him.”
I let out a long, shaky sigh of relief. If he had seen me there, I would have been royally fucked, no pun intended.
I turn to Abel. “Tell me everything.”
He hesitates, but Bere steps in to reassure him that he won’t lose his job. Technically, she’s the one who broke the news, not him. My brother is a corporate lawyer, so I know a thing or two about making a living off technicalities.
With the assurance that his job is safe, Abel finally tells me what he knows. It isn't much.
First, Miles only ever uses the private rooms. The memory of the man and woman I saw that night flashes through my mind. What actually happens in those rooms? My curiosity is piqued.
Second, he always requests Gemma. I imagine doing what she does and getting the attention of men like Miles, she must be beautiful. He seems like he wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfection. Finally, his visits aren't consistent. There’s no pattern, no schedule; he just appears.
The image of him fucking someone in a sex club pisses me off.
What a hypocrite. He gets to do whatever he wants while I’m stuck in a dry spell, all because of him and my brothers.
I tap my manicured fingernails on the conference room table.
An idea comes to mind. I turn to my friends, more so Bere, since she’s the one who can help with this.
Dating Sebastian gives her some pull with the owner of the club. “I have a favor to ask you.”
I tell them the plan, expecting resistance, but she doesn’t even blink.
Her immediate “I'm in” leaves me speechless.
This is Berenice, the girl who follows every rule, the one who lives by the “high road.” Seeing her trade her “good-girl reputation” for a shot at payback is startling, but I have to admit, I love it.
“Now, let’s get down to some business,” I tell my friends.
The rest of the meeting goes by quickly, but it is productive. Berenice will be providing her social worker services; she will help alleviate some of the caseloads from our other social worker, and Abel offers to volunteer for events whenever his schedule allows.
I walk my friends out, and as I approach the receptionist’s desk, I see Lana smiling at me.
“You know, you’re a natural at this,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
“At this.” She gestures around the room. “Putting together events, overseeing projects. Have you thought about going to school for Project Management?”
“I haven’t even thought about going back to school, let alone for that,” I admit. It’s the truth; I don’t live my life planning years ahead. For me, it’s always just been about getting through one day at a time.
“Well, it’s just a suggestion,” she says with a shrug. “But don’t sell yourself short.”
She returns her attention to her work. Her words linger in the air as I look around.
I return to the conference room that has been converted into my workspace.
I didn't want to take anyone else's office, and this works perfectly; I have all the room I need to plan events with my fellow volunteers.
I check my phone and see a missed call and a message from Ian.
Ian: Dinner at my place tonight at 7:00 p.m. Don’t be late.
Me: What’s the occasion?
I stare at the screen. What is the occasion? Ian never has people over. Before Serena, every time I visited him was an unannounced drop-in. Now that Serena’s living there, I need to announce my visit. I don’t want to walk into something. Gross.
Ian: See you at 7:00 p.m.
Me: I’ll be there.
I leave early and have Kai, my new driver, take me home for a quick outfit change.
Kai has been with me for a couple of days, but he’s so different from my previous driver.
Whose name I can’t recall. I still feel guilty that he was fired because of me, but he always looked miserable at his job. So I doubt he misses it.
As I wait to arrive at my brother’s penthouse, I replay my interaction with Miles.
It’s going to take some time to get used to thinking of him as Miles, not Cam.
He left to take care of his aunt in Colombia.
I had no idea he even had an aunt. Then again, I know nothing about him, and he knows almost everything about me.
I don’t know why, but I pull out my phone and send him a message.
Me: I hope your aunt is okay.
I exit the car and head for the top floor. I know this building well. Caleb lives here, too, but my brother owns the top penthouse and the rooftop. The security is intense; the place is like Fort Knox.
The elevator doors slide open, and I step into a massive living room that has finally been brought to life.
It used to be a dull, stereotypical bachelor pad, but now it’s vibrant and full of color, no doubt Serena’s doing.
My parents are already here, along with my brother Gabe, who’s standing next to Yuri.
Theo’s laugh echoes through the space, and I start toward the group.
Behind me, the elevator pings again, followed by the familiar sound of my cousins bickering as they arrive. This must be big if everyone is here.
Serena rushes over and pulls me into a tight hug.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
She is beaming. I catch a glimpse of her left hand, that finger.
She can’t hide her happiness. She grabs my hand and leads me to the group.
I make my rounds, saying my hellos. My mother taught me manners, so I make sure to say hello to Yuri.
But something is off. She looks different.
I notice my brother is close to her. In the past, if an occasion forced him into her presence, he kept his distance.
Now he’s right there. I look around and realize Xander, Yuri’s fiancé, isn’t here.
When I glance at Gabe for an explanation, he just gives me a look that clearly says, Don’t ask. So I don’t.
My brother and Serena announce their engagement.
My mother is overcome with emotion. Maybe because she thought Ian would never get to this stage in his life.
I mean, who would have thought? Looking around the room, I realize we are it; we are Serena’s new family.
Her parents are nowhere to be found. I walk to my mom and dad and stand between them.
Grateful to have them here. I can't help but look back at Yuri. I know she’s happy for her best friend, but there’s no spark in her eyes.
I watch Elias hug Serena and whisper something into her ear.
She laughs, and I see my brother’s hand tighten into a fist. He’s overbearing, but he loves her so much.
If he found that, maybe I can? The thought is fleeting, gone as quickly as it came.
Damon brings out the celebratory drinks that Ruby’s been mixing, the crystal clinking as he sets the tray down to toast the news.
He’s the youngest Korolov and the most unpredictable of the men who protect me.
I don’t miss the dirty looks that Ruby and Damon give each other.
I’m staying out of that. Tonight is for celebrating.
I’m opting for an evening class at Nina's, having been too tired this morning from last night's festivities.
There are many new faces tonight, no doubt due to the community event a couple of weeks ago.
I can't help but feel proud of myself. I’m stretching, and I lose my balance.
I begin to fall forward, nearly taking down the man next to me.
Before I can hit the floor, he catches my arm with a steady hand.
I look up to find him smiling at me. “Are you okay, miss?”
“Oh goodness, yes,” I say, my cheeks flushing as I regain my footing. “I’m so sorry.”
He laughs. “Don’t worry about it. Although I’d prefer any injury to come from a roundhouse kick rather than a stumble. That’s a term, right?”
A laugh escapes me. “Agreed. Falling over wouldn’t be a very fun story to tell.”
He extends his hand. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m Frank.”
“Hello, Frank. I’m Vee,” I reply, taking his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is this your first class?”
“Actually, my second,” he admits. “I figured coming back once wouldn't kill me. I signed up at the event a couple of weeks ago and realized I just needed to stop putting it off and do it.”
“Well, welcome.” Nina stands in front and introduces herself to the newcomers. I partner with Frank for the rest of the class.
"If you don't mind me asking, Frank, what brings you here?"
"I don't mind at all, Vee." He stands up straighter, his gaze drifting to the floor for a moment before meeting my eyes again. "Actually," he says, his tone shifting into something more somber, "I'm on a healing journey."
"I’m sorry, Frank," I say quickly, "I don’t mean to pry."
"Oh, goodness, no, Vee. Thank you for asking," he insists, with a small, appreciative smile returning to his face. "It’s just…not a lot of people take the time to ask me about myself."
“I’m on a journey as well. It’s more of a who-am-I journey, but a journey nonetheless.”
"In that case," Frank says, snapping back to his cheerful self as he begins to stretch his arms, "I'm glad I'm not the only traveler in the room. Even if I'm the one who almost got flattened during the first five minutes."
"Technically," I tease, "I was the one doing the flattening. You were the hero of that story."
He grins. "I'll take it. Better than a roundhouse kick to the face for a first impression."
After the class, I check my phone and see a message.
Miles: Thank you.
Nothing else.
Frank walks out with me, the cool night air a sharp contrast to the humid studio. He extends his hand, and I take it.
"If you ever want to compare notes on our journeys, let me know," he says with a sincere smile.
"I will," I promise, returning his smile.
Settling into the back seat, my mind immediately drifts to Miles.
I hope everything is okay with his aunt.
Maybe I’ll ask him during our next meeting.
That wouldn’t be too personal, would it?
Shit, I just don’t know where he and I stand.
It’s somewhere in the middle of being colleagues and the guy I desperately want to punch in the face.