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Her heels tapped on the tile as she took two steps toward me. "Oh, you wanted Olive? Would you tell your friends out there that you picked Olive up from the ghetto? Would you tell them that she works at a diner and makes minimum wage? That she made this dress because she can't afford to buy nice clothes? Is that what you wanted?"
I sighed. "I just wanted to have a nice night with you."
"No, Lucas. You wanted to flaunt me. Why else would you have invited me to the fucking mayor's house? I'm sure that with your money you can get a thousand women to hop on this opportunity. But you wanted me because you know I would never take a dime of your money."
It was true, and I couldn't deny it. So I did the next best thing and expressed another fact. "I like your company, Olive. It feels easy with you. At least, it did until you turned into a different person out there."
She closed the space between us, and I could smell the sweet aroma of her perfume. She rocked onto the front of her heels, lifting herself to my height. She paused less than an inch away from me, her lips so close to mine that if I moved a fraction, I could kiss her. "I'll let you in on a little secret, Lucas." She reached out and lifted my mask off my face. "People wear masks even without needing a reason to."
What the fuck happened to her? I held her gaze. "I don't."
She smirked, grabbed my whiskey out of my hand, and chugged what was left. "Then you're a unicorn. And you know what they say about magical creatures? They don't exist."
The door to the kitchen opened. "Mr. Wilson—oh, sorry."
I stepped back, breaking the tension between Olive and I. Jessie's assistant smiled at me, her eyes darting at Olive. "My apologies. Mr. Isaacs was asking for you."
"Thank you, Sheila. I'll be there in a moment."
As Sheila closed the door, Olive pressed my mask against my chest and spun on her heel. She dropped the Whiskey glass on the counter and headed for the spiral staircase.
"Olive, where are you going?"
"To find the bathroom." Her gait was unsteady as she paused on the first step and turned to face me. "Have fun out there. You fit in really great here, Lucas."
Fuck me. I didn't need this shit. Spinning on my heel, I threw myself through the door, immediately regretting inviting her.
Barbie would have been a better option. At least, she wouldn't have stolen my drink.
5
OLIVE
Ipaused at the top of the spiral staircase as the door to the kitchen slammed shut. A smile spread across my face and my heart leapt into my throat. That couldn't have gone better. Apparently, acting crazy was the perfect way to freak a guy out.
Lucas had bought my act perfectly.
Now I could finish the mission and return as his date with a simple apology. “The alcohol made me woozy.” “I'm not used to being around rich people.” Anything would work as long as I kept up this act for him tonight.
I'd probably tone it down a bit, but I'd keep the name Mallory.
My tracks would be covered, but in the event someone suspected something, a fake name would help. Either way, I'd ensured that Lucas would write me off as the kind of woman who didn't fit into his life by my behavior. He'd probably text once or twice after this, but communication would fade, and I wouldn't follow up.
It was exactly how I had planned it.
I trotted the last few steps of the stairwell and emerged into a dark, cool room.
Grabbing my phone, I opened my texts with Quinn. His last text,Text me when you make it up the spiral staircase.
My fingers moved quickly.Ready.
As his text bubble appeared, I used the light from my phone to glance around the space.
Shelves stocked with canned goods lined the walls, and jugs of water were stashed in the corners. It was a pantry—a pantry bigger than my bedroom closet. The most surprising part wasn't the years worth of food but the crystal chandelier that hung from the vaulted ceiling.
Of course, Jessie Isaacs' pantry had a fucking chandelier above his spiral staircase. What mayor wouldn't?
"Rich people." I shook my head. I didn't get them. This whole place screamed gaudiness, a 'look at me' facade that mirrored Jessie's personality. He was nice enough. Charming like most politicians. But I wouldn't be here if Jessie didn't have secrets.
