AllFreeNovel
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I would.
Especially when I open up the other parcels, the smooth matte black bags uniform and disguising the stores the items are from. I’ve got a new phone, a tablet, a new wallet, a large bag to hold it all, and a pair of sleek riding boots. They’re black leather, and they go almost all the way up my calf. Elenor’s been busy, while I’ve been going on adventures with Hadrion. And speaking ofhim...
I turn my phone on and look up the local number for animal control. Somebody has to go looking for that dog, if Hadrion won’t let me.
As the phone rings, there’s a knock on my door. I get up and answer it, finding Hadrion standing there, looking impatient.
“What are you doing?” He glances down at the phone in my hands, and his expression goes dark.
“Um, just calling about the puppy-“
He snorts.
“It was notapuppy,” he says shortly, “and I already called about him. He’s been picked up and reunited with his owner.”
“That quick?” My eyebrows lift, and I don’t... exactly believe him. He gives me a look, challenging me to question him. A soft shiver wants to roll through my body, but I don’t let it, taking a slow, deep breath instead. I don’t want him to see how affected I am from just the way he looks at me.
“I need you downstairs for pre-opening. We’ve got a big VIP event tonight, and there are some things that need going over with Livvie before she’s let loose on the members.” He leaves again before tossing over his shoulder, “And I’ll need to take you out later for the appropriate outfit. You can’t go downstairs in that.”
I glance down at my jeans and oversized sweatshirt. I pulled these items out of the drawers. They were in my size, I assumed...
“Katydid,” he snaps from down the stairs, and I jerk, dropping the phone on the bed, running after him and down the steps.
“Sorry,” I mumble, and follow him downstairs, trying not to feel hurt about the way he insulted my clothing. He’s the one who bought it and gave it to me, after all. He ignores my response, and I trail after him like a pathetic sheep onto the club floor. Already things are cleaned to glistening, the lights above a lavender and blue tone that makes the whole room feel shivery cold.
“Good, you’re here,” Livvie says, her eyes narrowing at Hadrion’s back. She doesn’t seem pleased that he dragged me downstairs, and she takes me by the hand, leading me to the bar, away from him. “God, he’s in a mood. Elenora told me that you two went out for breakfast. I thought that would have mellowed him, but naw,” she grumbles. “C’mon, gotta go over some things with you about tonight.”
Behind us, Hadrion barks at someone, one of the guys wiping down the booths, probably, and Livvie rolls her eyes as she takes me passed the structural glass separating wall between the main area and the VIP rooms.
“I swear, sometimes it’s like I’m working with a pack of animals,” she mutters. I want to ask her why she does it, why she works for him. Is it the money? I mean, so far he’s seemed really nice to her, and she acts like he practically saved her ass, but I guess even people you owe your life to can piss you off from time to time.
He saved my life, and I’m a bit annoyed with him.
“How do you work for someone so... demanding?”
Livvie laughs.
“Trust me, you’re not the first person to ask that. Hadrion’s not as bad as you think he is. I mean, he is, but also he’s not. Oh, here we are.” The lights from the main area refract from the crystalline structure of the curtain wall, sending small cool rainbows everywhere, and this area of the club has a much lower ceiling, making it feel more intimate and... well, the only word for it is sexy.
“So, this is where the private parties are?” I ask, and she nods, pulling out a clipboard from where it’s laying, discarded on top of one black leather chaise lounge. She sits on the edge of it, and motions for me to take a seat on the couch opposite from her. We’re in an open sitting area, with walls and half-walls all around us and behind us, leading to more private rooms.
“This is the VIP lounge, and yeah, it’s for special events, big names, celebrities, and the like. People who may not be full-time members, but are special guests and let in because of who they are and who they know, often party back here.” She makes a few pen marks across her clip sheet. “You’re going to meet more of the team tonight because I expect we’ll be busy. Those guys you served the top shelf to?”
“Oh... yeah, the one was Hadrion’s friend.”
“Mmm, yeah, they’ve booked out the whole place, and they’re bringing a who’s who list of the crème de la crème in the city. Politicians, even a senator, will probably show up, along with local celebs...” She taps her pen on her bottom look and then eyes me up. “Hadrion told me you don’t really have anything super high-end for tonight,” she comments.
“He’s buying me an outfit, I think,” I reply, and her eyebrows shoot up.
“Oh?” Her tone is amused, and she sets her clipboard down. “And how are you feeling about that?” I pause, startled by her question.
“I mean... didn’t he do it for you, too?” The way she looks at me in response to my question has me wondering how naïve and stupid I look. She shakes her head slowly.
“Oh, you’re in trouuuuuble,” she drawls. “Well, I was hoping you could be here to learn faces with me from the guest list, but I’m guessing you’ll be out until even after opening. Hadrion won’t show up until half-way through the night, he likes to make an entrance, tell everyone that he doesn’t care how important they are, he shows up when he shows up, and not a minute sooner.” She eyes me up again, chewing on her lower lip. “And I’m guessing he’s going to be bringing you on his arm.”
“On his...?” I shake my head. “I’m just the new manager, aren’t I? Why would I come with him?”
Livvie laughs, a delighted little cackle. She claps her hands together, and I’m not exactly pleased about how happy she is.
