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Zoe took my hand in hers. “I know that wistful look. Spill.”
My head buzzed with my churning emotions, deciding how much I would tell her. Then, the events of the entire afternoon spilled from my mouth. Zoe’s expression morphed from shock to irritation to gawking. Once I was finished, she hopped off my bed and paced while she waved her hands in front of her as though she were trying to piece it all together. I assumed it was so she was clear on which part to chew me out about first, since she didn’t have a clue about what I’d been hiding. I hadn’t wanted to share my personal enjoyment of the staff with anyone. It was much more fun to have a dirty little secret that was all mine. Unfortunately, Cole’s recent discovery brought huge consequences, and I needed help from my best friend.
Finally, she turned to me and placed her fists on her slender hips. “What. The. Fuck. Shae Wessex.” Zoe only used my full name when she was pissed at me.
“I was afraid to say anything. I’m sorry.” I gave her my saddest puppy eyes, hoping she wouldn’t be mad at me for long. We had a party to attend. I didn’t give a shit what Cole had said.
“How long have you been screwing Ibrahim and Matt?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “If Cole tells your dad …” She smacked her palm against her forehead.
“Ibrahim since I was sixteen.” I cringed, waiting for her to rip me a new one. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Colecan’tsay something to Daddy ...” I flopped onto my bed, wet strands of hair sticking to my back.
Her mouth hung open, then she slammed it closed, her teeth clicking together. “Girl … I can’t even … You haven’t said anything for almost three years?” she squeaked.
“Until now, there wasn’t any reason to. I couldn’t afford to chat about it. It was too risky.”
“Risky? You want to talk about risky, Shae? Cole fucking Jennings recorded you banging your dad’s limo driver and the gardener’s son. We have to get our hands on the video and destroy it. Then you can cover your ass and make it up to me.” Her forehead creased and her gaze narrowed. I wasn’t surprised that she was pissed at me. If the roles had been reversed, I would have been upset with her, too.
“It was a bit of fun, Zoe. I didn’t mean to hurt you or make you mad. Ibrahim is hot as hell, and he’s got a huge cock. He’s addictive. He’s not a high school boy trying to figure out where the hole is.” This was another reason I didn’t want to tell Zoe. I didn’t want her to scold me like I was a two-year-old that didn’t understand my decision or that what I’d been doing was wrong.
Zoe snorted. “God, I actually can’t blame you. But fucking the hired help is a big no.” Her shoulders slumped forward for a second, then she plopped down next to me. “Promise me no more, Shae. It’s not worth losing your inheritance over. Let’s figure out what we have to do in order to erase the proof, so you’re not cut out of the will. Girl, we have plans, and you can’t travel the world with me if you’re a broke-ass bitch.”
“I know.” I blew out a guilty sigh. “Obviously there are cameras in the limo. Cole barely got home for summer vacation, so they had to have been installed sooner.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him to have talked one of his friends into helping him. But who and why, though?”
Drumming my fingertips on my thigh, I wracked my brain for the answers. Zoe was right. Cole had access to the limo like I did. While in high school, I was constantly leaving a book or my backpack in the car, so Daddy had keys made for all of us. Cole could have easily given his copy to someone.
“Babe, I think you got played. I have no idea why Cole would do that in the first place, but everything that gorgeous, hot, hunk does has a purpose. He’s cold and calculating.”
“No shit, but I have no fucking clue what he’s up to.” I covered my face with my hands, wishing I could rewind the events of the day and make different choices. But it was too late. Daddy had always taught me to admit my fuck ups and fix them. I still didn’t have an issue playing with Matt and Ibrahim, but my fun was officially over since Cole had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. One thing was clear. I had to get that recording and destroy any evidence before it ruined me.
“Cole said you’re not going to Harrison’s party tonight?” Zoe asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Like I’m going to listen to him.” I sat up, sulking that he was around for the entire summer. Shit, he’d only been home for a few hours, and he was already making my life unbearable.
“Of course not, but while we’re there I’ll keep an eye on him and see if I can steal his phone so we can locate and delete the video. But for God’s sake, Shae. Don’t fuck Ibrahim again!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down.”
“Sorry. I’m obviously still processing and pissed at you.” She folded her arms over her chest and glared at me.
I kissed her cheek. “Don’t be mad. If it had been you keeping a secret, I would forgive you.” I leaned my head on her shoulder.
“Ugh. I know you would, but don’t kill my buzz. It’s difficult being angry at you, so I’m going to hold onto it for as long as I can and make you suffer.”
I giggled. “Love you, Zoe.”
“Right back atcha, bitch.” She placed her head on top of mine.
Over the next few hours, we took our time getting ready for Harrison’s party. Zoe had selected a pair of light wash jeans paired with a black crop top that revealed her belly button piercing, the small diamond winking in the light as she moved. Zoe riffled through my closet and tossed a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, with a plum-colored, off-the-shoulder shirt, onto the chair. I smirked and placed my hands on my hips and tapped my toe against the floor. I wanted to wear something brighter, but Zoe reminded me I needed to blend in since we were on a mission to grab Cole’s phone.
I’d messaged Annabelle to bring up some snacks and drinks for us while we analyzed every possibility of how to erase evidence of my sexcapade. Hopefully, Cole hadn’t uploaded it to the cloud yet. Unless he’d changed the passcode, I still remembered it from when we were home during Christmas break. He hadn’t realized that I was standing behind him with a clear view of his screen when he’d unlocked it. Maybe fate was on my side after all. Butterflies ran amok in my belly with the exquisite thought that I was about to strip Cole of the power that he held over me. Karma was a bitch, but so was I.
***
Once we were ready for the evening Zoe headed downstairs to chat up Cole while I snuck into his room and searched for the recording or his phone. At least it was cleaner than earlier. I wasn’t expecting to find anything, but I had to try. I hurried to his desk and glanced around. Nothing. Tugging on the top drawer, I peered inside but only found pens and pencils. I chewed on my bottom lip and pulled on the bottom one. It wouldn’t budge. “Dammit. You shit. What are you hiding?”
Zoe and Cole’s voices reached my ears, and my heart broke into a gallop. If he caught me snooping, I would be in deep shit. I rushed to his dresser and quickly rummaged through his boxer-briefs. Nothing.
