Page 81 of Secret Seduction

“It is,” I agree, sliding my arm across her shoulders and pulling her into my side. “But I happen to love your kind of trouble.”

27

Vanessa

“Whiskey, neat.” The gentleman at the bar smiles a smarmy smile, and I force one back.

The key to getting good tips is to edge the line between flirty and professional. And I love tips.

And the gentleman sitting in front of me—Rodney Shefield—loves to tip.

“You got it,” I tell him, turning to grab the bottle of Kingston Limited.

“Did you hear about the mayor?” the guy next to him asks, gaining my attention as I make Rodney’s drink.

“Yeah.” Rodney laughs. “He’s being forced to step down.” He shakes his head. “I always knew Eric Vanderbilt was a lying, scheming asshole, and that leaked recording proves it.”

“What recording?” I ask, setting his drink down.

“A recording of the mayor admitting that he took bribes and was aware that Paul Astor Jr. was injured to ensure that Eric would win the election.”

Oh shit. Lorenzo mentioned that he had recorded the conversation between Matteo and Eric, but I wasn’t sure what Matteo planned to do with it. I guess he decided to throw him under the bus.

“He deserves everything coming his way,” Rodney says. “I heard the council has appointed Paul Jr.,” the other guy says.

“Hey, Vanessa,” Felisha, another bartender I sometimes work with, says. “The boss wants to see you. I can cover you.”

I glance at her. “Is everything okay?”

In all the time I’ve been working here, I’ve never been asked to go to the main office.

She shrugs. “No clue. I was just asked to let you know.”

“Okay.” I sigh, then quickly get her caught up to speed on the gentlemen sitting at the bar and what they’re drinking since I don’t know how long I’ll be.

It’s late, nearly one in the morning, and my feet are killing me.

I have a couple of Band-Aids in my locker, so before I go to the office, I grab them and make a detour into the restroom so I can put the Band-Aids on the backs of my heels and go pee.

I’ve only just taken my first heel off when I hear the clicking of a lock, which has me looking up because it’s not a one-person restroom.

At first, I think my eyes are deceiving me. But then I realize that I’m not seeing things.

Eric Vanderbilt—my mother’s husband, the man who tried to sell me—is standing in the doorway to the restroom, blocking my way out.

And before I can scream, he’s on me.

“You fucking bitch!” he hisses, grabbing me by the throat and shoving me against a wall. “This is all your fault.”

The alcohol on his breath has me gagging and trying to pull away, but he only tightens his hold on me.

“Your stupid fucking husband framed me, and now I’m going to lose everything, so I’m going to take everything from you.”

Lorenzo

“Hey, Solace,” I call out to one of the bartenders as I have a seat at the bar in the casino of Hotel Blu. “Where’s my wife?”

Vanessa isn’t a fan of me hanging out while she works, saying I give off jealous, possessive vibes, which messes with her tips, but Leo is with Dani tonight since I had a late dinner meeting, and I figured I’d come by and have a drink and take her home myself.