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Chapter Seven
Corentina
When he first asked me to sit down at the bar and have a drink with him, I thought I was in a dream. His eyes were raking over my body the entire time I was dancing, and it only got more intense over time. Rémy was like a lion in the African wilderness, and I was the gazelle. I don’t know how else to describe the way he was making me feel. Now I’m sitting at the bar, and he had to go in the back to take care of something. He assured me he’d be back soon, so I’ve been sipping my drink, patiently awaiting his return.
“You okay?” Poppy asks as she comes by. She’s been one of the nicest to me since I arrived. A lot of the women are faking it simply because if they’re an all-out dick, well, they won’t have a job. But Poppy isn’t like the rest of the ladies here. When she smiles, you can practically hear fairy music and birds singing. She’s just so happy all the time. Then again, she looks like someone who’s really happy. She has soft pink hair, kind of pastel, but it’s still bright. Nowhere close to being neon, though.
“Yeah, I’m all right. Just waiting for Rémy to come back,” I tell her, and she narrows her eyes before realizing what’s going on.
With a light laugh, she takes a seat beside me. “I knew he had some sort of crush on you. Rémy talks to us all the time, but he’s been avoiding you for some reason.”
“Really?” I’m a bit surprised by what she’s said. Since starting here, I’ve barely seen Rémy.
“Yep, he buys us food sometimes, sends us for spa days. He treats us really well, and he’s hands down the best boss I ever had.” Poppy goes on to tell me as she twirls around on the barstool like a kid would. I stare at her and can’t help but giggle.
She grabs onto the bar. “Sorry, I get a little fidgety sometimes. If I stay still, I feel the need to keep moving, so I distract myself with stuff like this. Plus, isn’t it fun to just spin around for a minute? Kinda takes away all the world’s worries.”
I wouldn’t know. I want to say that to her, but I don’t. “I imagine it does,” is what comes out of my mouth.
“You’re stressed. I know just what to do for it!” Poppy slides off the barstool and sets her bag down where she was sitting. “Okay, now hold onto your seat and just close your eyes.” I barely get a grip on the seat before I’m swirling around in circles. Even with my eyes closed, it’s like my body knows to naturally get dizzy. Poppy’s laughter rings out from around me, and before I know it, I’m laughing too. I open up my eyes just as the chair is slowing down, and Poppy smiles brightly at me.
“Thank you. I really needed that,” I tell her, and she nods.
“Glad to be of service, ma’am. I’m gonna get going, but I’ll see you tomorrow. You did great out there tonight, by the way. The crowd went Gwen Stefani bananas for you.”
I break out into laughter at her Gwen Stefani reference. Poppy’s a bit eccentric, but I like her. “You’re a real sweetheart.”
“Shoot, don’t say that too loud. My ex might hear you,” Poppy mutters, and a sinking feeling strikes through my gut.
I swallow hard before gaining the courage to ask her this. “Um, did you and Rémy date at some point, or?”
Poppy’s face pales. “God no! That guy has so many issues—er, I mean he’s great for you and all, but I. Shit. I’m just trying to. Fuck, I was trying to be funny and look what I’ve done. Put my damn foot in my mouth.”
“I’ve got some issues, huh?” Rémy’s voice comes up from the side of the room.
Poppy glances over at him and laughs nervously. “What? No. I said I needed a box of tissues.”
“Oh, are you all right?” Rémy asks, but anyone who’s paying attention can see he’s trying to call Poppy out on her bullshit.
Poppy doesn’t seem like a great liar, so I interject. “I was talking to her about a French movie I saw, it was tragic and beautiful. One of the best cinematic experiences, if I’m being honest. Dear Poppy was simply telling me she’s empathetic and would need some tissues.”
Rémy licks his bottom lip and a grin forms on his face. “I see, I see.”
“But anyway, I need to get going. I’m beat. See you tomorrow, Cora!” Poppy waves, grabs her bag from the barstool, and walks off. Now it’s just Rémy and I alone, in this part of the club by ourselves. The stage lights shine bright from behind us, and the red and gold accents pop vividly.
I grab onto my drink the bartender made me before I left and take a sip. “Seems Poppy’s a real fan of yours.”
Rémy comes up beside me and stands next to the barstool.
I shrug my shoulders. “She’s a nice girl. I don’t think it’s hard to befriend her.”
“No, it isn’t, but it’s not always easy for her to open up. It was nice to see her chatting away with you.” Rémy walks around the bar, goes behind it, and grabs a short glass. He puts a couple cubes of ice in the glass and grabs a bottle of scotch. It’s higher up on the shelf, but I figure he’d have good taste. Rémy pours the amber liquid over the ice, and puts the bottle on the back of the bar.
The silence is damning, but my heart pounds effortlessly in my chest. The anticipation is almost too much. He turns around and takes a sip of the scotch, his eyes focusing directly on me. You know when a hot man stares at you like you’re on the menu for dinner? That’s how I feel right now.
I lift my drink and take a sip, wondering if this feeling will simply dissipate, but I know better. There’s no way it will. Not with the way I’ve felt over the last couple days. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Rémy. Part of me wonders if I get him out of my system just once, if this will all go away. I know that’s the logical part of me, but deep down, I don’t want whatever’s about to happen to be a one-time thing. Funny how I haven’t even had a taste and I already want a second bite.
“Is something on your mind, Cora?” Rémy asks me with the sultriest tone I’ve heard from him yet.
