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ChapterNineteen
TATI
It was quiet again.
Finally.
The whole “low odor” paint thing was mostly a lie, so my house was full of fumes I was currently trying to coax out with open windows, but it looked good.
Or would once I pulled up all the drop cloth and painter’s tape.
I really should have done all this before I moved in, I mused from the tub. My soak would bemuchmore relaxing if I could safely light my candles, but this was fine too. Between me, my mother, Onyx, and then Maite and Keira showing up later, we’d managed to get it all done.
Now, between all that and this morning’s training exercise, I was sore and tired.
I hadn’t been toBottomsin a long time.
Too long probably, to be second in command of the club.
The first story that spread about my absence was some bullshit initiated by Sanaa, that I was heartbroken and in hiding because of it. The goal was painting me as some bitter chick who couldn’t handle being broken up with.
Now, the truth was trickling out, probably thanks to Sanaa as well. This time with the goal of painting me as a liar, but my people knew me too well.
They could easily deduce the truth.
Did I love the idea of everybody and their mama knowing about it and potentially treating me like some victim?
Of course not.
But I alsowasn’t interested in my assault being some secret to potentially be used against me, like it was something formeto be ashamed about.
I wasn’t the one who had done something wrong.
Even for the few days I was at the club headquarters during lockdown, I’d kept to myself so much more than I usually would. Instead of being in the mix like normal, I was holed up in my suite, bored out of my mind.
That shit was dead.
No, I didn’t want to talk about it, wasn’t about to host a damn seminar. I just wasn’t going to continue hiding my face and not being visible for my club.
I wasn’t going to talk around it.
Yeah, it happened, and I was stillthat bitch.
We could all move on.
I pushed out a sigh.
Much easier said than done.
All the affirmations in the world couldn’t make up for the fact that I was feeling iffy about showing my face at the bar; it was a little different than the casual environment of headquarters. Typically when I went toBottoms, I was there to represent the clubandhave a good ass time while making sure the patrons were having a good time.
It involved being very,veryvisible.
Which, all things considered… was a little scary.
But by the time I got out of the tub, I’d made my decision.
It had beentoolong since I got myself dressed up to step out.
