Wynter: Nah. If I have to do this, I’ll inconvenience him as much as possible lol
Victoria: Atta, girl. If you change your mind, just let me know
Victoria: Now, I have to wash the scent of vomit off me, so excuse me while I exist in the shower for the rest of the night
Wynter: Hey, at least your shower will show you a good time
Victoria: Loooove the way you think, girliepop!
TWENTY-ONE
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
The guards eyeme as I walk toward their ride. I know I’m not at all terrifying, but the fact that they study me as if I’m a walking explosive tells me how deeply Maxim put the fear of God into them.
I can just imagine it involved a hacksaw and a platter à la Salome and John the Baptist’s head.
Humming happily, I continue my saunter toward the SUV.
One, like a smart man, climbs out and waits for my approach.
“I’m going to New York in Shay’s car,” is my greeting.
“We had orders to take you in ours.”
“Then you can ask for new orders.”
“Ma’am—”
I cringe. “Don’t ‘ma’am’ me, please.”
“I’m following orders, miss.”
I gag. “How is that worse?”
The man’s lips twitch. And, huh, if Maxim didn’t have my ovaries in a twist, I’d probably even admit he was hot. “Ma’am is better then?”
“Barely.” I heave a put-upon sigh. “Wait a second.”
Me: Leaving for NYC in my car now
Maxim: With guards trailing you?
Me: Yes.
A message pings on the guard’s phone.
“There? Happy now?”
He shoots me an apologetic smile. “The last guard who failed you lost an arm, ma’am. I prefer to err on the side of caution.”
My brow lifts because I didn’t receive an arm.
“Understandable. Okay, I’m going, but I’ll be stopping off to collect Wynter. We’ll be heading to the city afterward.”
It’s a lie, but I refuse to get into the BS about turf, etc.
“Of course.”
