“Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Bastian. We’re fine.”
“Here, take my coat,” Lux offers, and I see out of my peripheral that she undresses and hands it over to the bunny.
The two of them move out from behind the cars, and I wait a beat before I lean in close to Stan. “What the fuck were you doing with her?”
“Bastian.” A cold chill climbs up my back as the head of the board Richard Seymore steps up behind me. He puts a friendly hand on my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze as he smiles at me and then at Stan. “Looks like Stan here was just having a little fun. Right, Stan?” He raises an eyebrow in question, and Stan hurries to agree.
“You know how these girls are. They’re all hot for it until it’s time to pay up.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. I’ve got a couple waiting in my car if you want to join us.” He says it to Stan, but he turns to me. “We’re going back to my place. Why don’t you come back for a nightcap, Bastian?”
The implication is clear. I’m supposed to agree to this, and under no terms am I to cause waves right now. The anger I feel right now doesn’t burn like fire, it’s like a hurricane at sea, and it won’t be held back much longer.
I clench my fist and glance over to where Lux is talking to the bunny. I realize they’re arguing. The girl is trying to give Lux her coat back and talking in low whispers. Lux looks defeated, and the girl stares back our way. To my surprise, she glances at Stan and Richard and then stomps away into the night. Lux is left standing there holding onto her coat for only a second until she goes after the bunny.
Before I can stop her, I see the two of them get into the back of a taxi and take off without so much as a goodbye.
“Oh too bad, looks like yours got away too.” Richard's smile is almost evil as he throws his arm around Stan’s shoulder and they make their way to his limo. “Enjoy your evening, Bastian,” he calls over his shoulder as I stand there in the empty lot, feeling like I’m the thing that’s empty now.
7
Lux
“You better not have ruined this for me.” Scarlett taps angrily on her phone while scolding me like I’m a child. How the heck am I in the wrong here? She freaking screamed, and I'm pretty sure that’s a universal call for help. What else was I supposed to do? “You have no idea how much money those old fucks are worth.”
I actually think I have a pretty good idea with how they were acting. No rules applied to them and their good old boys club. After what I saw tonight, it was more than clear.
Sitting back in my seat, I’m drained and not willing to fight with her. I did my part, and now I’m out of it. I’ll make sure she gets home at least because she might have been drugged or something. I don’t think she’s drunk, but I don’t understand her behavior. She’s clearly not okay, and I think of the times my brother Luca told me the city is filled with crazy people. I’m starting to think he might be right.
“Yes!” Scarlett blurts out, and I see a smile spread across her face.
When I lean over to see what she’s looking at, there’s a video on the screen. My mouth falls open as I watch the whole encounter play back on her phone. Someone must have been recording it for her, because it’s filmed from a distance. Whatever she did it’s going to blow up in that old man’s face because there’s no missing the wedding ring on his finger.
I keep watching as I try to get her to take my coat, but the more I watch, the more my stomach turns. I look away, not wanting to see or hear any more, especially when they ask Bastian to come with them and the other bunnies. I’m disappointed that Bastian would even be associated with people of that caliber. He sure had me fooled, but I should have known better. He was too charming and sweet and a reality that was too good to be true. Lesson learned, even if it was done the hard way.
“Nasty fuckers are going to pay.” Scarlett puts her phone back into her pocket, and I have no doubt she’s planning to blackmail someone.
I think about it for a second, and I don’t even care. I hope they get what they deserve, and I’m glad to be away from it. I still can’t help the heavy feeling in my stomach and how foolish I feel. The city isn’t turning out anything like I thought it would, and I feel more naïve every second I’m here.
Scarlett doesn't even say goodbye when the taxi pulls up in front of her building. She gets out of the car without a word, and I give the driver my address next. Luckily it isn't far, because I need this outfit off of me quickly.
The second I enter the apartment, I’m kicking off my heels and pulling at the bunny costume. I’m a dog chasing my tail as I try to reach the back snaps, but it’s no use. I start to panic, feeling claustrophobic, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to get this thing off. Tears prick my eyes as I realize I’m going to have to be buried in it because I'll be wearing it for the rest of my life.
“You okay?” I swing around to see Avery standing in the living room and trying to fight a smile. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants, and it’s hard not to appreciate the view. He’s not big and bulky like Bastian but lean and trim.
“You look Photoshopped,” I mumble, not meaning to say it out loud, and he bursts into laughter. His reaction helps me calm down a little, and I let out a long sigh.
“I better, with the time I put in at the gym and the cardboard crap I have to eat.” He comes over to where I’m standing and makes a circle with his finger. “Turn around.”
I do as he tells me and feel instant relief when he pops a few of the buttons. He stops partway down, and I glance over my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” He’s staring intently at my back.
“Do you have to return this thing?”
“Probably?” What the heck is going on back there?
“The zipper is stuck.” My anxiety starts to rise again, but he must sense I’m close to freaking out. “Fuck it,” he says as he grabs the top and pulls on it in one hard tug.
As material rips, I suck in my first real breath of the night and finally feel relief. “Thank you.” I hold the front of the costume so that it doesn't fall, and take a second to appreciate my ribs moving back into place.
“That’s what roommates are for,” he says as he locks the front door. “I’ve got an early shoot.”
“Night,” I say and I go into my bedroom and finish getting the bunny outfit the rest of the way off of me.
Once I’m out of it, I put on the most oversized pajamas that I have and fall back on my bed in a not-so-graceful plop. I’m exhausted, but sleep doesn’t come quickly as my mind replays every moment of the night.
Even after I go over all of it, there’s one thing I can’t deny. Bastian fills too many of my thoughts.
“From bunny to secretary?” Avery says, walking into the kitchen.
I’m in a pale pink silk top with dark brown wide-leg black pants and flats. My feet still aren’t over Friday night’s heels, and these are the most comfortable shoes I own.
He steals a mini muffin off my plate. and I smack his hand. The little muffin falls to the floor between us and his face crumples.