by Layla Hagen
“You were wonderful.”
“Let’s get out of here,” she says in my ear.
“You don’t want to stay at the after-party?” I ask in surprise.
“Not really. I had a fight with my ex-husband over the phone before the show. I’m in the mood for a girls’ night out. I say we grab Alice too and go out. You can’t say no.”
“I’m all in, but Sebastian—”
Pippa holds her hand up, rolling her eyes. “My brother will have you for himself for two whole weeks. He can do without you tonight.”
“Okay. Where are we going?”
She grins. “I don’t know, but a good friend of mine, Caroline, is somewhere around here. She always has great ideas.”
“Okay, let me tell Sebastian I’m leaving.”
“Meet you in front of the entrance in fifteen minutes?”
Wow. She must want to leave this place badly. “Okay.”
Getting to Sebastian is not as easy as I thought. Though the press was invited to leave right after the show ended, there are plenty of people fighting for his time and attention. When I finally do reach him, a tall guy in an expensive suit extends his hand to shake Sebastian’s.
“Bennett, this is extraordinary. You always had great marketing, but this surpasses everything.”
“The merit belongs to our consultant and our team.” Sebastian points at me, and the man takes a step back, nodding appreciatively. “She was the fresh mind we needed in our company and worked well with our team.”
“Are you free to take up new projects? You could do wonders in my company.” The man gives me a sleazy look that tells me he’d also want me to do him. Not happening, buddy.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to discuss that with my boss,” I answer politely. “I already have projects lined up, but we have a large team of consultants.”
The man opens his mouth, but Sebastian cuts him off. “Sorry, we must leave you. I have to make the rounds, and everyone will want to meet the brain”— he points at me— “behind this show.”
Sebastian looks uneasy as we leave. “Our private celebration will be impossible tonight. There are too many people I have to talk to, and that’ll last well into the after-party.”
“You don’t need me here though, do you?”
“Why?”
“Pippa wants to get out of here for a girls’ night out.”
Sebastian frowns, looking through the crowd. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah. She wants to let some steam off. She’s worked hard these past weeks.”
“So have you. Go with them. Blow off some steam.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
I nod, but instead of leaving, I start tugging with my teeth at my lower lip.
“Ava, is something wrong?” Sebastian asks me.
“I met Simone today when I was shopping. She has this great plan to seduce you.”
He laughs, cupping my cheek. “She’ll fail hard. Go and have some fun with my sister. The two of us will have fun at home. Don’t doubt me. ”
“I trust you. Completely.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ava
Holy crap.
I dearly hope Sebastian trusts me, because Pippa’s friend brings us to a strip club. I keep hoping it might be a regular pub with a very shady name, but when we step inside, there are scantily dressed men everywhere. To my left, to my right. Dressed in overalls, thongs, or in nothing at all. Wait, no, that guy I took for naked actually does have a thong. But it’s nude. And another guy wears a thong with a penis painted on it!
“Why would he wear a thong with a penis on it?” I ask Pippa, bewildered.
“Look at that one,” Caroline points out. “His thong is transparent.”
“Dear God, I need some alcohol,” Alice announces. “There’s too much testosterone around.”
We attract stares, because we’re all wearing long, elegant dresses, but I have to admit, it’s kind of fun. We make our way to the bar and find some empty seats.
“Bartender, bring on the tequila,” Caroline says. “We’d like a shot each.”
He places glasses in front of us almost immediately. Arming ourselves with lime slices and salt, we clink our glasses, and down the tequila. I grimace, feeling it burn my throat.
The bartender looks at us carefully. “Are you girls on a bachelorette party? I can ask the boys to give you a special round of. . .dancing.”
“Well, no one’s getting married,” Caroline says.
“That we know of.” Pippa gives me a doubtful look. Oh, Pippa. I wish this were my bachelorette party. Nadine’s been dreaming about organizing it ever since I told her about Sebastian turning Simone down. She’s convinced he’s the perfect man. So am I.
“You can totally ask your guys to give us something special,” Caroline concludes.
“Actually, I don’t feel comfortable with that idea,” Pippa says. Next to her, Alice nods. “Let’s watch from afar.”
“This is no fun.” Caroline pouts. “I have another idea. Let’s play truth or dare.”
“Are we in high school?” Alice asks. I study Pippa for a beat. Behind her apparent exuberance, there’s sadness in her eyes.
“Don’t be a prude,” Caroline says.
“Fine,” Alice says. “Who’s the best lay you’ve ever had?” she asks Caroline.
Caroline rolls her eyes. “Let’s have another round of tequila before we start.”
“Aha,” I remark. “Who’s a prude now?”
We down another round, and Caroline rests her palms under her chin, a dreamy expression on her face. “My best guy was in senior year at college. Sad, I know, but it’s true. That man gave me the most amazing orgasms.”
“Oh, my God,” Pippa says. “I just realized you’re talking about my brother.”
“Which brother?” I ask at the same time Alice says, “You’re still hung up on him?”
“She means Daniel,” Pippa informs me.
“Oh.” I smile, wishing I could dig a hole in the ground and disappear in it. It’s ridiculous how relieved I feel.
“I’m not hung up on him.” Caroline says not so loudly that several people turn to look at us, snickering. Okay, no more tequila for her. “But he did give me fond memories. If only he hadn’t broken my heart. The bastard.”
Alice puts an arm gently around Caroline’s shoulders. “If it’s any consolation, he does ask about you from time to time.”
Caroline frowns, as if considering her words. “Nope, it’s no consolation.”
“Right.” Pippa claps her hands hard. “Forget about truth or dare. No more talking about past guys. This can’t turn into a sob night. We’re here to have some fun.”
“You two were the ones who shot down the offer of private lap dances.” Caroline glares at Pippa and Alice.
“Well, I don’t feel comfortable with a stranger grinding his ass against me,” Alice says.
“But we have no problem looking at them, do we?” Pippa wiggles her eyebrows. “I spotted a ten.”
“We’re giving grades?” I ask.
“If not here, where?” Pippa replies.
“Amen to that,” Caroline says.
“Okay, show me, which one is supposed to be a ten?” I ask.
Pippa points to the left of the stage. There’s a man there, all right. And his butt is. . . double. Right, if I see double ass, I should really ease up on the tequila. Narrowing my eyes, I concentrate until I only see one ass. “Nah, that’s a nine, max. Sebastian is a ten though.”
“Oh. My. God,” Pippa exclaims. Alice shakes her head, laughing. “I need friends who haven’t had sex with my brothers. This is weird. I don’t want to know about my brother’s ass.” As Caroline opens her mouth, Pippa lifts a finger at her. “Or my other brother’s skills in bed.”
“Let’s get back to giving grades,” Alice says. She places her forearms on the counter, leaning on them, narrowing her eyes at something across the room. She reminds me of a ca
t preparing to jump on unsuspecting prey. “I saw one I’d definitely let give me a lap dance.”
“Ohhh, you’re starting to have a fun side, Alice. Let’s get you some more tequila.” Caroline raises her arm, gesturing to the bartender to bring another round, but I shake my head at him.
“Let’s have a break,” I tell Caroline. “We already had two rounds.”
Caroline snickers. “Aww, you’re adorable. Why have we never met until now?”
“Because you missed my parents’ anniversary.” Pippa gives her the evil eye.
“You know I don’t like to be around if Daniel’s there.” Caroline sighs.
“You’re not an adopted Bennett?” I ask in surprise. “I thought you’d qualify, since you’re Pippa’s friend.”
“Nope. You lose the right when you bang one of the brothers,” Caroline says in a dead-serious tone.
“Oh,” I reply sadly. “I’ll have that tequila now.”
Two hours and countless shots later, I am slurring my words and miss Sebastian terribly. I excuse myself from the table and walk outside, in dear need of fresh air. Thank God for speed dial, because I couldn’t find Sebastian in my phone book if my life depended on it.
“Hello, handsome.”
“You’re drunk,” Sebastian says.
Well, he catches on fast. “No,” I reply vehemently, giggling. “Maybe. A little.”
“Where are you? I can take you home.”
I lean on the wall next to the entrance.
“You don’t want to know where we are.” I giggle again, imagining the frown he must have right now.
“Now I want to know more.”
“Well, remember my joke about the strip club last time?”
Sebastian lets out a sound between a growl and a snicker. “My sister brought you to a strip club?”
“No, her friend Caroline did.”
“Oh, that explains it. So how drunk is everyone?”
“I’d say we’re seeing double butts, and that’s butt overload because there are enough butts as it is.”
Sebastian laughs into the phone. “I only got the word butt. Let’s leave it at that, I don’t want more details.”
“Where are you?”
“Home. I left the after-party about half an hour ago.”
“Were there no naked butts around there?” My voice is playful, but despite the drunken state, my heart grows heavy.
“Should I come pick you up?”
“Yeah. The girls need a lift too.” I realize he hasn’t answered my question. I give him our address and go back inside to tell the girls they have to prepare to leave.
***
“This is fancy. We’re having a private driver,” Caroline giggles while Sebastian helps the four of us in the car. Or tries to, because we’re not making this easy on him. He holds his sisters by the waists, and they are each kissing one of his cheeks, muttering something about best brother in the world.
“More like babysitter,” Sebastian says.
“I want shotgun,” I announce, elbowing him.
He indulges me and helps the three girls climb in the back.
“This was fun,” Caroline says as Sebastian hits the gas pedal. “Ava, we should go out again.”
Pippa answers before I even get to open my mouth. “She can’t. She’s going on a short holiday with my dear brother, and then returns to New York, or wherever her job sends her next. ”
“Oh, but aren’t you doing her, Sebastian?” In the rearview mirror, I see her frowning, looking from Sebastian to me.
“Really smooth, Caroline,” Alice remarks.
“I’m drunk. I can get away with this.” She shoos Alice away good-naturedly. “Don’t break her heart, like your brother did with mine.”
“Thanks for the advice.” Sebastian’s tone is clipped, but he places his hand over mine, and I melt in my seat.
We drop the girls one by one: Caroline, Pippa, and Alice.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sebastian
“Up we go.” I lift her in my arms, and she immediately rests her head on my chest.
“I can walk. You don’t have to carry me. But this is nice.”
Laughing, I kiss the top of her head.
Once inside the bedroom, I lower her to her feet and unzip her dress, pushing it down. Her glorious body greets me. She’s wearing nothing but a thong. I can’t help myself and knead one of her breasts, kissing the nipple of the other one.
“Perv, you want to get me naked,” she murmurs, grinding against me. I pull back.
“Usually yes, but tonight I’ll just tuck you in.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re drunk, and I’ve been taught not to take advantage of drunk women.”
“Not even if I want you to take advantage of me?”
“No.”
I tuck her into bed, drawing the sheet right up to her neck, then lean next to her.
“I missed you,” she tells me.
“Even if you were surrounded by sexy butts?”
“You have the sexiest butt.” She says the words with a vehement nod. I want to kiss her senseless. “How was your night?”
“I answered a lot of questions, caught up with my brothers.” I hesitate, wondering if I should tell her everything that happened tonight. I decide in favor of honesty. She deserves it. “Simone won’t work for us for future shows anymore.”
She gulps, her beautiful eyes widening. “What happened?”
“She had someone send me backstage under a ridiculous pretext. She was waiting for me naked back there.”
“Oh.” She makes herself small in the bed, pulling the cover up to her lips.
“It was very pathetic.”
A shadow of fear crosses her eyes. “Did anything happen?”
“No, silly. I wanted to tell you so if you found out from someone else you didn’t think I’m keeping it from you.”
A smile spreads across her face. “I like you.”
“You’d better like me; otherwise, I’ll think you were taking advantage of me, sleeping with me all these months.”
“And I like your family,” she mumbles. “Why can’t I have them too? Your sisters are great. I always wanted to have sisters and brothers.” She’s growing sleepier by the second. “A big family, like yours. Lots of kids.”
“Define lots,” I tease her.
“Mmm, four.”
“That’s not a lot.”
She hugs the pillow under her head, mumbling, “Why do I have to leave? It’s unfair,” before falling asleep.
“You won’t leave,” I whisper to her, even though I know she can’t hear me. “I’ll make you stay.”
I stay up, watching her for a long time. I’ll give this woman everything she wants as long as she remains by my side. She makes me want all those things I dismissed because I lost confidence I’d find a woman to share everything with.
At some point during my stalkerish watching, a buzzing sound comes from the living room. What the hell? Who calls at this time? I check the nightstand. My phone is here, so Ava’s is buzzing.
I ignore it, resuming watching her. Whoever is calling will take the hint that it’s late. Except they don’t, and if the phone continues to buzz, it’ll wake her up. Grudgingly, I get up and go into the living room. I turn the phone on silent mode, but the caller doesn’t give up. There’s no caller ID either, so I can’t send a message telling them to fuck off.
I decide to answer. “Who is this?” I bark into the phone.
“Who is this?” An unpleasant and vaguely familiar guy’s voice sounds from the other end of the phone. My insides boil.
“Listen, douche bag. It’s 2:00 a.m. and this is my girlfriend you’re calling. I get to ask the questions.”
“You just answered mine, Sebastian Bennett.”
The phone switches off. What the hell? I stare at it, expecting him to call again, but after five minutes, I give up and go to bed. This better not be some idiotic reporter trying to get th
e scoop on my private life, because I’ll sue the fuck out of him and his entire family tree.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ava
I arrive at the office at noon the next day. Despite having downed one too many tequila shots last night, I only have a slight headache. Sebastian woke up early. He’s not at the office when I arrive, because he and Logan are at the bank, caught up in a daylong meeting.
Nostalgia grips me the second I arrive at my desk. I can’t believe my last day is finally here. Taking a deep breath, I start packing my belongings, trying to focus on my upcoming trip with Sebastian, and push out the thought that I won’t see him again after the trip ends.
Last night, we had a moment—at least, I think we did. I let my guard down. I know that for sure. I can’t believe I told him I want four kids. And there was that moment just before I fell asleep, he might have told me to stay. I might have imagined it, and I don’t have the courage to ask him. Maybe on our trip. . .
Smiling, I fetch a small box to put the gifts I’ve gotten from him in. I kept one chocolate, and let one rose dry. I place them carefully in the box, ignoring the feeling of finality sweeping over me as I close the lid.
I sit at my desk and check my e-mail, looking for any unanswered request from Sebastian’s team. My eyes freeze on the subject of the newest email.
Termination of contract
With trembling hands, I click it open.
Dear Ms. Lindt,
We regret to inform you that your employment at our agency was terminated, effective today. The fourth clause of your contract was violated. As you were informed, this is grounds for immediate and irrevocable cease of work. You also lose your right to the contract termination compensation and to the bonus for your work with the client in this case.
We wish you best of luck.
I stare at the screen, reading the text again and again, until my eyes water.
No!
Sweat dots my palms, a strange coldness gripping me. I am on the brink of panic, unable to fight it much longer. Barely keeping it together, I call Dirk. He picks up immediately.
