Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
ARIANA
B y Monday morning, Obsidian was a little more himself, and now on Wednesday, there’s no trace of the forlorn man who appeared after he fucked me in the middle of the manor.
When there’s a knock on the office door midway through the day, it startles me at first because very rarely does anyone come by during the workday. I look up and see Anabelle looking around the office, presumably searching for Obsidian.
“Hi, you just missed him. He went to grab a cappuccino from the kitchen. Apparently, Mrs. Potter makes the best ones.”
She rolls her eyes good-naturedly. “Asher feels the same about the green smoothies she makes him in the morning. We’ll never compete.” She laughs.
I stand from my desk and walk toward her. “Do you want to wait, or I can pass along a message if you like?”
“Actually, I’m here to see you. I wanted to see what you’re up to tonight.”
Surprised, I blink several times. “Um… I didn’t have anything planned.”
“Great! The girls and I want to take you out for a drink so we can get to know you better.”
Alarm bells blare in my head because why do they want to get to know me? “The girls?”
“Kol’s wife, Rapsody, and Nero’s girlfriend, Cinder.”
I nod. “Should I be concerned?”
I try to keep my voice light, but I’m honestly worried. Maybe they’re digging for information, and if so, why? Has someone figured out what I’m doing? Maybe Asher asked her to pry because girl talk usually divulges more.
No, if that were the case, I’d already be out on my ass.
She waves off my question. “Not at all. You’re a part of Sid’s life now, and we just want to welcome you into the inner circle, that’s all.” She looks behind her and leans closer. “We all know firsthand how challenging the Voss men can be.” She winks.
Though I’m nervous about what questions might come up and what I’ll do to avoid the truth, the idea of making some friends while I’m here sounds too nice to decline. We moved around so much when I was young that I never had the opportunity to form any close female relationships. “In that case, I’d love to. What time were you thinking?”
“Be ready to go at eight. Meet us at the front door, and one of the drivers will take us into town so no one has to worry about driving.”
I nod. “Will do. Thanks for the invite.”
Sid walks through the door and halts when he sees I’m not alone. “Anabelle. Asher being unbearable? Need me to straighten him out?” He sips his cappuccino and continues toward his desk.
“It’s funny that you think anyone can straighten that man out,” she says with a humorous lilt. “I was just inviting Ariana out for girls’ night tonight. Well, I’d better get back to work. Don’t want the boss firing me.” She winks, turns on her heel, and leaves.
Obsidian stares at me, chewing on his cheek.
“Did you want me to turn down her invitation?” I ask him.
“Not at all.”
But his words don’t match the look on his face.
We settle in a booth, and I sit next to Anabelle with Rapsody and Cinder across from us. Rapsody has a blond chin-length bob and is about as sweet as they come, while Cinder has big blue eyes and long blond hair styled with a wave. I feel a kinship with Cinder instantly, as if we’ve both seen some shit in our lives.
I’m anxious about being here with someone other than my brother, as though they’re closer to discovering my secret by sheer proximity to where our exchanges go down. But the bartender isn’t the one I’m used to seeing on Saturday nights, so at least I don’t need to worry about her calling out my frequent visits in front of the girls.
Cinder takes our drink requests, then goes over to the bar.
“She used to work here,” Anabelle says.
She and Rapsody laugh when they see the surprise on my face.
“None of us come from money,” Anabelle adds.
I don’t know why I assumed they did, but it just seemed most likely. Don’t the Voss brothers kind stay in their own pond?
“How did you all meet them?” I look between her and Rapsody.
“I met Kol while my mother was in the hospital. He was there visiting someone,” Rapsody says.
I get the distinct sense that there’s more to Rapsody’s story, but I’m not going to pry since I don’t want them to pry into my own.
“And I met Asher when I came to work for him. Kinda like you and Sid.” Anabelle knocks her shoulder with mine.
“I never expected…”
“Oh, we know,” Anabelle says. “There’s just something that draws you in about those Voss men, isn’t there?”
My cheeks heat. I realize as I’m sitting here talking to them that they would have been there the night of my initiation. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that until now.
“Were you guys there the night I…” I glance around the bar. “In the basement?”
Both women give me a sympathetic look and nod.
“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” Anabelle says.
Right. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.
“I’d never done anything like that before,” I admit.
“Oh, neither had we,” Rapsody says.
Cinder returns and sets the drinks on the table, sliding my glass of wine over to me. Normally I’d order a beer, but I felt like maybe I should order something a little more sophisticated in front of these ladies. Although now that I’ve chatted with them, I don’t think it would have mattered.
“What are we talking about?” Cinder asks before taking a sip of her drink.
Rapsody whispers the answer in Cinder’s ear.
“Ah, gotcha,” she smiles. “Will you be returning next month?”
I nod. “Yeah, as long as Obsidian wants me there.” I bring the wine glass to my lips.
“I was just saying how none of us had ever done anything like that before,” Rapsody fills Cinder in.
“Yes and no for me. I used to strip for a living. That’s actually where I met Nero.” I appreciate the fact that there’s zero shame in Cinder’s tone. “But I’d never, you know, in front of other people.”
Cinder is very well-endowed, and I can imagine that she must’ve done well when she worked at the strip club.
“I never would have guessed that,” I say.
She shrugs. “None of us really met the guys in a conventional way. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be something good.”
I twirl my glass by the stem. “Why do I get the feeling that’s directed at me?”
Anabelle squeezes my hand. “You’ll have to excuse our excitement. It’s just that none of us have ever seen Sid into a woman like he is with you, and from what the guys say, he’s never been serious with anyone else.”
“How do you know he’s serious about me?” I take another sip of my wine to ground myself.
Anabelle gives me a look of disbelief. “He wouldn’t have initiated you into the club if he wasn’t serious, Ariana. They only do that for the keepers.”
Is that true? Does Obsidian see a future with me despite never having said that?
And if so, why do I feel both happy and sad at the idea of it?
But I know the answer to that question—it’s because there can be no future for us. As soon as he figures out what and who I really am, he’s going to hate me.
I try to play off their enthusiasm. “We’ll see.” Wanting to change the subject from Obsidian and me, I turn to Rapsody. “So what do you do?”
We chat for a while longer, finishing another drink before Anabelle says, “We should probably call it a night. Asher has an early phone call I need to be up for.” She pulls out her phone and texts the driver to pick us up.
“This was really fun. Thank you for inviting me.” I polish off the rest of my wine.
“You should have your meals with us in the dining room,” Cinder says.
Though I think I’d like that, I’m not sure how Obsidian would feel about it. “I think I’ll wait until Obsidian invites me, but I appreciate the invite, thanks.”
“I get ya,” she says, and we all slide out of the booth.
After Cinder says a quick goodbye to the bartender, we head outside to the car waiting for us.
Before we all go to our separate wings in the manor, each woman gives me a hug goodbye. I can’t imagine being a part of this life. A real part of Obsidian’s and their lives. It would be a dream, but who am I kidding? A life like this isn’t in the cards for me. It’s going to be hard when I have to leave them all.