AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER ONE
Lily
I stare at my reflection in the mirror of the guest suite. I got an order to prepare for tonight. My blonde hair is perfectly coiffed, and my gold dress is to die for. The moment I saw the dress on Migan Jorgensen‘s website, I knew I had to have it. I also knew that it would be perfect for this event. I even treated myself to a matching bra and panty set in candy apple red from Ezra’s. The Manhattan boutique is pricey, especially for someone who’s never shown anyone their underwear before, but I felt like I deserved it. I’ve been working so hard lately because everything has to be perfect for this party. It’s the first one I’ve planned by myself. I work for my mother at VIP Parties, INC. If it weren’t for her taking on a last-minute engagement party for the governor, I would be second string as usual. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but staying in the shadows isn’t something I can do for very long. I started working with Mom during my freshman year of high school to make a little bit of money and stay out of trouble. Growing up in Brooklyn, I had plenty of opportunities to fuck up, but my mom put the fear of God into me very early. At first, I resented having to give up all my nights, weekends, and summers to do this, but then I started to like it. Then I loved it. No one throws a party like Evelyn Canton. I learned from the best, but now it’s time to put all that knowledge to the test.
While Mom is upstate throwing the engagement party of the season, I’m in downtown Manhattan throwing a charity gala for St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital’s new children's ward. This is actually something I really believe in. children. Sure, there are plenty of children’s hospitals, but the unfortunate truth is there are more sick kids than there are places to treat them.
However, there is nothing worse than last-minute panic to get the blood pumping. I know panic is coming, given the look on the face of Janine Boswick as she practically runs at me. Whatever she has to say, I’m not gonna like it.
“I’m sorry Ms. Canton, but they are stuck on The BQE. They won’t make it in time.”
“The centerpiece flowers?” I ask to clarify. I know it’s the flowers because they’re the only things that were to be delivered today as opposed to yesterday in order to keep their freshness. they were supposed to be here four hours ago at the ass crack of dawn, but there was a major overnight accident between Brooklyn and Queens. I should’ve used a Manhattan florist. They could’ve been walked here in a pinch.
“Yes, ma’am,” the older woman says in a clipped tone. I wonder if it pisses her off that I’m her boss, but I don’t have a lot of time to dwell on the fact. I need to come up with a backup plan. The first thought that comes into my mind is, what would Mom do? And then it hits me.
“I’ll be right back, Janine.”
I leave the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria and head down the street to the nearest bodega, highly overdressed. At the cash register, I purchase every single flower they have. The scent of the mix-matched tulips, roses, daisies, carnations, and baby’s breaths are enough to choke a donkey. It’s not very elegant, but the rest of the centerpiece is already on the table. The flowers were the only thing missing; in addition to the flowers, I bought a pack of gum and headed back to the hotel $134 lighter. The shop owner thanked me profusely for buying them out. She said she hated tossing them at the end of the day, which gave me an idea for future events.
As soon as I enter the ballroom, I find the waiters setting the tables for the sit-down dinner. Staying out of their way, I start on tables that they have not begun to set yet. Taking a few flowers, I arrange them in a simple, elegant way. Having wasted a lot of time on this, I’m glad I got dressed earlier. The hospital administrator comes over and introduces herself to me, despite the fact that we have met no less than eighteen times during the planning of this gala.
“Hello Dr. Cunningham, it’s lovely to see you again. I hope this evening is a success as far as your fundraising efforts go.”
“Yes, of course lovely to see you as well Miss...?”
“Canton. Lily Canton”
“Right. Miss Canton. I’m sure the evening will be great. The ballroom looks amazing. Do tell your mother, I said hello.”
Before I could even respond, I watch the woman walk away, her formal gown swishing behind her. A little while later, guests begin to arrive, and there’s really not much for me to do once the party is going. I am on standby for emergencies, but I do not anticipate this crowd providing me with any emergencies to deal with. With a glass of champagne in hand, I make my rounds around the room, ensuring that everything is in top order. I’m not sure how long I’ve been wandering when the string quartet begins to play. This particular quartet is known to play modern music, mixed in with the classics, which is why I thought it would be perfect for this gala. Over the last few years, I watched my mother effortlessly run these things however, I am feeling the stress. I don’t wanna fuck this up. Hors d’oeuvres of being passed around as well as drinks. Everything is going so well; maybe I can take a little breather.
That’s when I noticed an older man staring at me. Staring hard. He’s staring at me as though he can see through me. He raises his glass of whiskey in my direction, jutting up his chin at me. His dark hair has silver flecks sprinkled in, and he is giving off major zaddy vibes. I try to ignore him as the evening goes on, but it is impossible. Everywhere I go, he tracks me with his eyes. When I move to leave the room, I can feel him following me. I get out into the hallway and step into an alcove. I am not at all surprised when he joins me there.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?“ I ask coquettishly.
“There may be something you can help me with, Miss?”
“Canton.”
“Miss Canton, I can’t help noticing that you’re here alone. Would you like to remedy that?”
What the hell does this guy think he is? Sure, he’s hot, but good looks can only get you so far.
Why do I want him to follow me?
CHAPTER TWO
Ray
I stared at her from across the room until I moved closer to her. She’s even more beautiful than I thought she was from afar. I shouldn’t even be here, to be honest. I’m a doctor who specializes in emergency surgery. Feel bad about not having a Valentine this year, among other things. I’m actually on call tonight. Therefore, being in a tuxedo, it’s not my idea of fun; it never has been. I grew up in Queens and wasn't rich, but I wasn’t poor either. My Pops was a jack of all trades for the Vitali family. Yes, those Vitali’s. Crime pays when you are affiliated with the Vitali’s. We lived on their estate in a humble house that my mother still takes pride into this day. Pops does whatever Alberto, Senior, and Fabrizio tell him to do, and he’s happy with that arrangement. You don’t know how many times I’ve offered to retire them to Florida, but death is the only way out of this life. I know it could be so much worse given the other crime families, and the way that they do business, but at some point, I’d like to see my sixty-five-year-old parents take it easy.
Not even I am immune to the Vitali power. I’m the doctor they go to see when there can’t be any cops involved, which is 100% of the time. I’ve treated the common cold all the way up all the way up to emergency surgery in my parent's living room. It’s not all removing bullets, but I would say that’s at least ninety percent of it. Against the law not to report gunshot wounds, but I do what I have to do, and they pay me handsomely for it. Without me on the payroll, I know there would be more casualties, and that’s how I justify it. That’s how I justify breaking my oath, and the law in order to keep people safe. My day job at the hospital allows me access to the things that I need. We just got to the point where I’ve set up a small surgery on the Vitali compound to keep the blood out of my mother’s carpet, which I know she appreciates.
At forty-two years old, I’ve never wanted something or someone as much as the girl in the gold dress. She’s younger than me, twenty or more years but that doesn’t matter. I can’t help but imagine her draped in nothing but gold jewelry, gilding her out for my eyes only. She has this air of innocence about her that I want to debauch.
When I walk over to her, she looks at me like I’m insane. She is making me thus.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” she asks, her voice sultry, hitting me straight in the balls. My cock hardens painfully in my slacks. I can’t even remember the last time my cock got hard. Was it really three years ago? The war between the Vitalis and their allies against their enemies has been prolonged.
