Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I follow and stand on the step. “You don’t like me. Why?” I question her.
She looks up over her glasses. “Because you hold a power I don’t possess.” Then she climbs in her car, slams the door, and drives off the same as last time.
Going inside, with the dress still in hand, I notice this one reads, Saint Laurent. Fucking hell! Why does he keep sending me expensive dresses to wear? I am not keeping this one, no fucking way. Upon opening the zipper, I see the bright pink foil-looking dress. This one is short, cute but very short. It has a one-shoulder neckline and a shimmering look about it.
In a word or two—it’s fucking beautiful.
And the same price tag as the last one.
Sliding it on, I start to get ready. This time I actually take longer than fifteen minutes, since I have more time. I curl my hair and loosely pile it on top of my head, securing it with bobby pins. Then grabbing my black heels I had on last night, I put them on, then finish my makeup. I take my time adding a bright pink lip-gloss to match the dress, and shimmery pink and smoky eyelids.
Fifteen minutes to eight, I hear a knock on my door. Is he early? Grabbing my purse, I go to open the door, and as I do, another knock comes. Pulling it open, Atlas is standing there, hand raised as he looks at me.
“You assumed I would be late?” I ask him, my hand going to my hip.
Devilish eyes assess me. “No. You do not disappoint.” He turns, walks to the car, and holds open the door for me.
“What am I to be doing tonight? Flirting with the round man again?” I question with an eye roll.
“Round man?”
“Yes. He is round and loud,” I reply while sliding into the car.
“Mr. London is…” He thinks on it while sliding in after me, then he fixes his suit jacket, which is much the same as the last time. “I guess, yes, he is round,” he states with a head nod. “But, no, tonight you will observe and listen for me. Don’t speak to anyone, do not tell anyone who you are with or your name. Do you understand?”
I nod at his request.
“I need to hear you say it, Theadora. Speak that you understand. It’s paramount that you do. These men are dangerous.”
“I’m in a car with one, am I not?” I say, referring to someone who’s fucking dangerous.
“Touché. Now, tell me you understand. That you will be quiet and not speak. Just listen.”
“What am I listening for exactly?”
“If you hear my name or my casino’s name, that’s what you should be listening out for.”
“Okay, I think I can do that.”
“Think?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I can do that.” I nod. “Is this the stuff you had Lucy doing?” I brave a question in the hopes he will answer.
“You want to discuss your sister?” he asks, to which I nod my head eagerly.
“That can be arranged once you pay off her debt.”
The car comes to a stop and Atlas opens his door.
“The car will take you around the block one more time. Your name will be at the door for entry.”
“I can’t come in with you?” I ask.
“No. Now you know what you are to do?”
“Listen,” I say.
“Yes. Listen and don’t talk to anyone, Theadora.”
“How much will this knock off? I calculated the other night I have worked, and you said it was over a million. So how much does tonight equate to?” I ask, hoping for some kind of answer.
“We will discuss upon your completion tonight.”
I nod.
Atlas shuts the door, and the car takes off around the block. I check my cell purely out of nervousness and put it straight back in my purse. When we reach the front again, I climb out and walk the steps until I arrive at the person who’s holding an iPad checking names. Giving them my name, they smile, then let me inside.
I enter by myself, while almost everyone else in here is standing with someone or holding someone’s hand.
“Can I get you a drink?”
I smile and shake my head, and the waiter walks away. Walking around, I spot Atlas straight away. He isn’t hard to miss. I think almost every woman here has ogled him at some point. Even the wife whose husband Atlas is talking with is looking at him as if he’s her next meal, even as she stands there holding her husband’s arm.
I look away from his perfectly crafted hair and nose ring that makes him look even more appealing. Reaching in my bag for my AirPods, I place them in my ears with my phone in hand and walk to a small empty table situated behind a few guys who are bundled around another table talking.