His mouth clamped, his face pinching with resentment. His tongue ran inside his mouth, as if he were trying to bite out the pain of old memories. My fingers stroked his arm, my heart thumping hard.
His past explained the blood I saw on his knuckles. We all dealt with pain in our own way—Hugo fought.
“Anyway, Radcliff prevented me from committing the biggest error of my life. He offered me a job as his COO after paying for my studies, and now I’m holding the shares of that bastard company,” Hugo laughed. “Got that asshole fired two years ago, and he’s currently on trial for rape with a judge he can’t bribe—Mr. LeBon.”
I smiled, seeing Hugo’s face lit with victory. He obtained the revenge he sought. As for Radcliff, all this time he pretended to not have a heart. Yet, that gesture showed he was against injustice.
“I’m glad Radcliff found you. You deserve all the best, Hugo,” I said, my emotions raising the hair on my skin.
“So do you,doudou.”
“Can I ask you a favor?” I bit my lower lip, hoping Hugo wouldn’t be reluctant to help me.
He shot me a glare, but I batted my eyelashes.
“Can you bring me to see him?”
“Nope, nope.” He shook his head in a no, his gaze widening. “He’s gonna kill me if I do, and I’m not kidding with the kill.”
“If you want his happiness, you’ll take me.” I posed my hand on his and leaned forward. My eyes begged him like a cartoon character. “Please, Hugo.”
“Christ, you truly are a witch, aren’t you?”
I couldn’t feel more ridiculous than when I arrived inside the sensual debauchery of Club 7 dressed in an azure empire-waist dress that made me look like a village girl and exposed my bruises.
I didn’t fit the scenery. Men wore suits, women either elegant dresses or very revealing ones. All the guests’ faces were hidden behind their masks looking like peacocks.Great. Just great.My heart galloped to the rhythm of the spotlights and neons, whose color changed from a reddish light to a dark purple one.
I scratched my arm several times, my eyes darting to each side of the club. Hugo had left me alone, being his usual social butterfly self.
I found my courage and crossed through the crowd, making myself as small as a mouse to Radcliff’s office, ignoring the raking smell of sex inside the club. As I walked up the dark stairs, an arm blocked my way. I skidded to an abrupt halt. My eyes shifted to the side. Melissa had intercepted me.
I scrutinized her, a shiver behind my back. She wore a tight black leather dress that didn’t hide her bondage lingerie underneath—probably not covering any of her intimate parts. A black collar on her neck. Latex glossy boots. It seemed to be some kind of fetish outfit.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, chewing the interior of her lip.
“I need to see Radcliff,” I answered in the same bitter way as her question.
“He doesn’t want to see you. Plus, he’s in a meeting right now that’ll keep him busy.” She eyed my outfit from head to toe with a glare, crossing her arms on her chest. “You should head home, Lily.”
“Please.” I tried to reach out to the kindness inside of her. “With your help or not, I’m going to meet him.”
“You should be lucky that I don’t call security right now and throw you out. That said, I have an appointment inside the rooms that I don’t want to miss.” Melissa strolled sensually through the crowd, waving at a few customers.
I prowled after her. “Is Radcliff in one of those rooms? You have to let me get in there.” I shrank inside the crowd, maintaining the pace. “I won’t say you helped me.”
“So, what? You want to go inside and perform?” She laughed sarcastically—the idea of me dancing was a total joke to her.
We battled our way through the masked people before passing an arch next to the scene, where curtains in the form of garlands acted as doors. It felt like we were entering a clairvoyant dwelling.
“I’ll do anything.”
“I see that, since you’re following me around like my pet.” She rolled her eyes.
We stood in a black hallway surrounded by red velvet paintings of body shapes. It had only two secret doors without handles. They opened through magnetic cards only. The area looked so secretive, as if what was hidden inside should never see the light of day.
“Melissa, please.”
With two fingers, she held the magnetic card as one held a cigarette. “Radcliff will kill you and probably ruin your whole existence. It’s the most stu—” She stopped, considering this with a malicious smile. “After all, I don’t care, suit yourself. But if you bitch me out, I’ll make you regret this.”
