by Grant, Livia
“But he spends so much money here.”
“We have a waiting list for the suites every weekend. Anyway, you’re more important than money.”
The call went dead before she could say thank you. Nalani waited another fifteen long minutes, listening to the angry shouting that eventually got softer as they escorted Henry Ainsworth from the property. She ran to the window in Madison’s office that looked out onto the Runway parking lot. She got there just in time to see Roger and another security guard manhandling Mr. Ainsworth towards a black and white police car parked near the front door. Even at this distance, she could see how red his face was as it contorted with anger.
Nalani jumped away from the window when he stopped just before being put in the back seat of the police car. He paused just long enough to glare up in her direction. Her brain knew there was no way he could see her in the sunny reflection of the window, but for a brief moment, it was as if his glare penetrated her.
She’d been so lucky that morning. She shuddered to think about what a nightmare it would have been had he succeeded in getting her back into the Hong Kong suite. She pushed the nightmare aside, grateful for her co-worker’s quick action.
The office door bursting open behind her scared the shit out of Nalani. She swung around defensively, ready to fight off an intruder.
“Like, it’s just me! Are you okay? I got a call from Miguel in my car on the way here.”
It was Madison. Her boss rushed toward her after throwing her big bag onto the floor first. The women hugged while Madison apologized.
“You warned me he was dangerous. I didn’t listen last time. I’m so damn sorry. Are you really okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just a bit shaken up. I feel better just seeing him being taken away. I’m just not sure we should have called the police.”
“Why not? He deserves to rot in jail!”
“But we don’t need this kind of negative attention for Runway.”
“Screw that. I’m sure Jaxson is going to agree. I’m gonna call him next.”
“No! Please. He’s going to be angry.”
“We have to tell him. I can’t hide something this important from him, and you know it. You should go home now. I can feel you shaking.”
“I’ll be okay,” Nalani tried to reassure the shorter woman. “I’m just so grateful security believed me.”
“Believed you? Why wouldn’t they?” Madison asked.
“I don’t know. So often these things are he said/she said. He’s rich and powerful. I’m a…”
“A what? You’d better have been about to finish that sentence with ‘a treasured employee. Or good friend.’”
Nalani swallowed the words she’d been thinking.
I’m a nobody.
“I don’t want to leave yet. I need to finish cleaning the suites first.”
“Okay…” Madison looked unsure. “But I’m gonna send up one of the girls from downstairs to help you today.” Her friend held up her hand to silence Nalani’s objection. “I won’t take no for an answer. I want you to wrap up and get out of here early. If you aren’t going to go to the Academy Awards, you need to at least get out of here early enough to get home to watch them on TV.”
Nalani didn’t have any fight left. Madison’s plan actually sounded wonderful. So much had happened over the last week. As small as her apartment was, she desperately needed to get home and have some time alone to think through everything.
“Thanks.” She hugged Madison. “For everything. I really appreciate it. I’d appreciate help from Julie today. I’m really looking forward to changing into sweats and vegging out on the couch tonight,” she added truthfully.
“I still say you’re crazy for not going with Shane, but hey, you’re a big girl.”
It took all of Nalani’s courage to walk out of that office and down the same hall where she’d been assaulted. Her brain knew Ainsworth wouldn’t be there ever again, and that was a huge comfort, but knew it would take some time before she wouldn’t be waiting for him to jump out and accost her, all over again.
* * *
Six hours and eight clean suites later, Nalani was changing back into her street clothes. Her lack of sleep the night before had caught up with her—combined with the huge relief of knowing she would no longer need to watch out for Henry Ainsworth—resulting in an undeniable urge to take a long nap.
For the briefest of moments, she considered going up to Shane’s newly cleaned suite to spend the evening watching on the big-screen TV. She could order room service and soak in the whirlpool. She suspected he wouldn’t mind, but as tempting as it was, the horrifying possibility of being there when Shane brought some other woman back to his bed that night after a night out hobnobbing with the rich and famous was unbearable. Her brain said he wouldn’t do that to her, but her heart couldn’t risk it.
Anyway, her houseplants had to be dying without being watered for a week, and she desperately needed to do a load of laundry. She didn’t have that many clothes, to begin with, and on the off chance she changed her mind and actually went out for dinner with Shane one night this week, she wanted to wash her one little black dress that was presently cum stained.
True to his word, Roger walked Nalani to her car. It had been days since she’d left the property. The stale air in her sedan was steaming in the late afternoon California sunshine. Just before taking her seat behind the wheel, Nalani turned to Roger, emotions threatening to overwhelm her as she hugged the tall man.
“I can’t thank you enough for your help today, Roger. It means so much to me that you and Miguel… well, everyone, really… you believed me, and I won’t have to see Henry Ainsworth ever again.”
“I just wish I’d seen what was happening on the monitor as it was going down. I’ve watched the footage several times now, and I get angrier each time when I see him manhandling you and dragging you down the hallway.”
“I just hope the press doesn’t get ahold of the story. I’d hate to bring a scandal to our doorstep.”
“Who knows, and who cares if they do? We have the security footage and made sure he knew damn well we’d go public with it if he tries to shift the blame on you.”
“Wow. You guys did all that for me?” Nalani was in awe of the support she was receiving. She’d always known she worked with wonderful people, but everyone was being so kind.
“Hell, yes. I do hope the news doesn’t get out if only because we understand how private you are. I mean, you aren’t even going public with the good news about dating Shane Covington, so we know you don’t want this to get out.”
“Wait. You all know about that?”
“It’s a little hard not to notice,” Roger chuckled. “Your car hasn’t left the property in days, and remember, we do monitor the security feed both upstairs and…” Roger paused before blushing and adding, “Downstairs.”
Oh. That was his way of saying the security guys had been watching all the debauched things she’d been up to with Shane at Black Light. She had hoped there were no cameras in the club for security reasons but knew they’d taken risks making out in the elevators that were certainly monitored. She felt the heat rising in her own face as he blushed beet-red.
“We’re all really happy for you,” Roger rushed to add. “As long as you’re happy, that is. All I know is, Covington is one lucky bastard.”
Nalani didn’t know what to say but managed to squeeze out a simple, “Well, thank you… for today.”
“Any time. And just know that the police are going to want to interview you at some point. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know. Drive careful.”
She rushed to get into her car so she could end the awkwardness that had invaded between them. She tried to put the idea of her co-workers watching her on the security cameras at Black Light out of her mind, focusing on getting home.
She’d forgotten how bad traffic was in town on Oscar’s day. The mansion was only a few miles away from the famous venue, and her apartment was even closer.
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br /> It took thirty minutes to make a trip that normally took ten. Despite knowing it was ridiculous, she kept looking in her rear-view mirror, worried Henry Ainsworth was going to pop up in the back seat and scare the shit out of her. By the time she got to her block, she was ready to jump out of her skin. She needed to get behind her locked door.
The small parking lot next to the row of shops she lived above was completely full, forcing her to find parking along the busy four-lane street full of tourists looking for a glimpse of anyone famous. She was only about eight blocks away from the main drag in front of the theater. A limo inched by as she locked her car door, and for the briefest of moments, she regretted not being in a limo with Shane right at that moment. Hell, that could be him driving by now.
Nalani shook the thought out of her head as she walked to the nondescript door halfway between the vape store and arcade. As normal, rowdy kids congregated on the sidewalk, but today, they unnerved her.
“Look what the cat dragged in. You go out of town or something?”
She didn’t need to turn to know it was the landlord’s son and her next-door neighbor, Frank, speaking to her. He was a nice enough guy, but she wasn’t in the mood for his normal press to go out on a date.
“Hey, Frankie,” she answered as she put the key in the lock of the security door. She didn’t have time to turn the lock when the door popped open.
“Hi, Nalani. The kids broke the door again. I called a locksmith, but he isn’t gonna be able to get here to fix it until Tuesday.”
Normally, it wouldn’t bother her, but today, the idea of one less locked door between her and the rest of the world was not a welcome thought. Nalani turned to talk to the man who always had a toothpick hanging out of his mouth since he’d given up smoking.
“Any chance you can call someone else? I don’t want to have the door unlocked overnight.”
“Oh, baby. What’s got you spooked? I’ll be happy to sleep over at your place tonight if you need protection.”
Frankie was always annoyingly forward, but today, his full-court press as he leaned closer freaked her out. Nalani put both palms against his chest and pushed him away.
He backed up right away, lifting his hands to surrender. “Whoa. I was just kidding.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not funny today.”
“You don’t need to be such a bitch about it.”
Nalani felt bad for snapping at him. He wasn’t a bad guy.
“Sorry, I’m just really tired and ready to lie down for a bit. I’d feel better if you got the lock fixed tonight, though.”
“But it’s Oscars night. The town is a gridlock. No one will brave this unless it’s an emergency. I’ll see if I can get them to come tomorrow. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.” That would have to do. “Thanks, Frankie.”
At least the steep staircase was well lit as Nalani walked up to the second floor. There were only two modest apartments in the building. At the top of the stairs, she turned left down the short hall that led to her apartment above the arcade. Frankie had taken the nicer apartment above the vape shop. Thankfully, her place wasn’t too noisy except for weekend nights. She hoped the kids below wouldn’t interrupt the well-deserved nap she hoped to get in before the pre-show started in less than an hour.
After spending a week living in the opulent Paris suite at the mansion, the stark bareness of her small space depressed her. Sure to lock the deadbolt behind her, Nalani threw her keys on the small table that served as both dining table and office desk. She stopped at the fridge in the galley kitchen to pull out a cold soda before returning to her small living room to survey her withering plants as she first quenched her own thirst. She had just finished splashing the half-dozen pots with water when Frankie knocked on her door.
“Hey, Nalani. I have an update for you.”
She peeked through the peephole before finally opening the door. “Hey, there,” she greeted her neighbor and landlord.
“I got ahold of the lock service. They’ll be out tomorrow at noon. That’s the earliest they can get here.”
“Okay, thanks for making the change. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. So… You want to come over to my place to watch TV tonight? I know you love the award shows, and it would be better to watch on my big-screen.”
There was absolutely no one she wanted to watch the show with, let alone Frankie, but she tried to let him down gently.
“Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it, but I’m pooped. I’m gonna crawl into bed. I’m gonna record it, so I can watch it later.” That was the truth. She just didn’t tell him she was recording it to scour it over and over for a glimpse of Shane and the hundreds of other celebrities.
She’d seen the disappointment of her rejection on his face before—even thought about saying yes once or twice in the past, he was a nice enough guy—but now, she knew Shane had ruined all men for her. The thought of being with anyone other than the larger-than-life actor made her heart hurt.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then. Talk to you later,” he added before heading back down the hall toward his own place.
Nalani closed the door behind him, locking the door once more. She’d just made it back to the TV, about to flip it on, when Frankie knocked again. Annoyed, she went to the door, swinging it open.
“Now what?”
It took a few seconds for the truth to register. The question of what he was doing there merged with her memories from earlier in the day.
Reflexively, she rushed to slam the door closed. She almost succeeded, and for a brief moment, she thought she might have a chance to get the door closed and locked.
But he was too heavy, too strong…
Too angry.
The door came crashing inward, slamming back against the nearby wall. She heard the scream. She knew it was hers as her fight-or-flight instincts took over. Nalani turned, ready to run to the kitchen—there were knives there.
She didn’t make it. Arms squeezed her tight from behind, lifting her feet off the ground as she fought like a wildcat. She heard her door slam shut behind them. He must have kicked it closed.
Pushing the panic down, Nalani tried to recall the moves she’d learned in the self-defense class she’d taken upon moving to the city. She wiggled hard, managing to loosen his hold on her enough, she fell forward to her knees hard as he let her go. She took off scrambling on her hands and knees, trying valiantly to get to a knife, but he reached down to grab her ankles, lifting her legs and halting her forward movement.
She rolled, trying to yank out of his grip. She kicked like a wild cat, crawling like a lobster across the floor in her attempt to get away.
They were both out of breath by the time he caught her ankle again. This time, he had a better grip. She sat up, using her nails to claw at his hands, trying to force him to lose his grip. She felt his skin tearing under her nails as he shouted in pain. Unfortunately, he kept his hold with one hand, and now that she was closer, backhanded her so hard, she felt her teeth rattle.
A sharp pain exploded in her head as her neck snapped painfully under the fast strike. Nalani reached up, trying to protect her face as his hand connected with her face again, this time with his fist.
Her brain knew how much trouble she was in, yet some part of her was having trouble reconciling the third hit to her face was actually happening.
Things like this happened to other people, not her. She’d known he was dangerous, but never in a million years had she believed he would break and enter her home. That he’d seek her out outside of the mansion. That he would physically assault her and use her face as a punching bag.
Nalani fought like a wildcat until she finally pulled free, curling herself into a small ball on the floor, throwing her arms and hands over her head in a defensive move.
That was when the kicking began, accompanied by terrifying words.
“No one gets away with disrespecting Henry Ainsworth. All of you… you’re gonna pay. And I’m st
arting with you. I’ll teach you a hard lesson right before I end you.”
His foot connected with her back… her head. Stalking around her, he kicked at her stomach, connecting with her ribs.
Was this really happening, or was it a nightmare? If so, she hoped she woke up soon.
The assault continued until his voice became distant. She was woozy, tasting the metallic blood in her mouth. She fought not to pass out, knowing that as horrific as this was to live through, being unconscious, available for him to do anything to her unchecked, was a hundred times worse.
He was a man possessed as if years of pent-up frustrations were pouring out of him, directed at her. She didn’t have a chance. She did her best to protect her head and organs until the beating slowed. She was too afraid to cry, too shocked to scream again.
The clicking of the lock on the handcuffs, locking her wrists together, broke her out of her shock. She yanked her arms, testing the metal, knowing just how much trouble she was in.
The man towering over her was a stranger, his humanity gone, and in its place was a red-faced psychopath. His evil grin was menacing as he spewed his hateful promise.
“You may not be dead yet, but I’m not going to stop until you wish you were.”
Despite lying on the floor, the room started to spin. She struggled to push down her fear, knowing passing out would be the worst possible thing, but the pain across her body married with her fear. White lights filled her vision as the humming in her ears grew louder, drowning out everything until darkness claimed her. The last thought she had was regret—none of this would have happened if she’d only said yes to Shane. Oh, how she wished she were miles away on the red carpet.
Now, she didn’t even know if she’d ever get to see him again.
Chapter 15
“Hand me my purse.” Piper bit out, directing her request to her personal assistant sitting across from her in the stretch limousine. The same limousine they’d been inching forward in for the last thirty minutes.
