Giulia does something that she has never done before. She hands me her notepad. I take it with wide eyes, unsure as to whether I want to see myself the way that she sees me with her discerning gaze. She has flipped to a page marked “Fallon’s Work”.
In clear, neat handwriting she’s detailed my feelings over the last couple of months and how they correlate with the projects I’ve been doing. I don’t know why I expected her notes to be filled with medical jargon. They look a lot like my day planner. She has smiley faces here and there, placed near projects I am excited about. On the other hand, she has straight and sad faces next to various other projects. Modeling appointments, casting calls, and endorsement deals. I hadn’t even realized how uninterested I was in these projects until they were presented to me in such neat little lists.
“I’m…satisfied.” I whisper the words as if they were a sacrilege. I have always wanted to be an actress, to be a world-renowned model. Haven’t I? Thinking about my struggles with Virginia Ricki and HALE’O, I thought that had always been the goal.
But now that I have it, it feels…hollow. Small. I think back to the way I feel every time I’m in my office. Being on the screens was a rung in the ladder. I’ve reached that threshold but my ambition isn’t satisfied what do I really want?
“Are you?” Giulia takes her notepad back with a raised eyebrow. “I don’t think you are.”
I would bristle at her tone but I have to remember that she is here to help me. Everything she says is geared toward making sure I get what I want out of life.
I lay my head against the headrest of the chaise. I have taken a lot of risks to get to where I am now. I launched my career with some of the hardest earned money imaginable. My time as a Sugar Baby has been enlightening and fun but it could have easily worked against me. Starting my own companies has given me the chance to turn the entertainment business on its ear.
And boy, have I?
The bigwigs who had looked down their noses at me quickly turned around when it was me buying out corporations and betting on the best stocks. It helped that I had made so many friends in high places. I had the right people backing me and everyone else had been forced to either get out of my way or get in line.
But I hadn’t come out unscathed. It had been a dirty, ugly year. I had had my name smeared across an impossible number of pages. Previous lovers and distant relatives had come out of the woodwork, just to hop on the bandwagon of “bring down Fallon Opal”.
What I hadn’t counted on was that not all of my opponents had been the sleazy haters I was used to. I wasn’t just challenging the entertainment business when I stepped into the limelight. I was also challenging regular businessmen who didn’t want a young, beautiful woman eating at a table that had been exclusively for old men.
I had muscled my way through the red tape and the difficulties. I had even gone so far as to get the mayor on my side. Politics was an ugly, harsh world but I had found that it was just a convoluted as the mainstream media. Everything was connected and in the end, it all came down to whose pockets were deeper.
Mine.
Giulia doesn’t say anything, even though I’ve been lost in my thoughts for a while. The bomb I dropped with my last sentence probably blew her mind but she leans back and draws in her notepad. After a few minutes, she pushes a button in her chair arm and music begins to play.
This is one of my favorite parts of therapy with Giulia. Sometimes it feels as if it’s the only time I really get to relax. I pull my knees up to my chest and take a few deep breaths. This has been my goal for so long that thinking about focusing elsewhere almost makes me panicky. But I can do this. I just have to let myself grow in that direction. “I think I’m done with the movies. I want to focus on making my corporation an empire.”
The declaration feels like it comes from the pit of my stomach. Just saying it lifts a weight off my shoulders. But when I look at Giulia, I can tell she’s still waiting for something. “What is it?” I ask.
She hesitates. “Well, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that you’ve come to this conclusion on your own. I know the money isn’t why you’ve kept up with these endeavors, and I was worried that you were only continuing them as a giant f-you to the people who doubted you but that’s not work I’m talking about.”
“Then you’ll have to enlighten me because I’m not sure what you mean.”
Giulia shifts in her seat. “When you first began therapy, you spoke of your goals and ambitions. Some of them were professional. And you have focused a lot of your time and energy on accomplishing those goals. But what about the things you were looking for in your personal life? Have you given up on them?”
Her gentle words stop me in my tracks. It’s a good question, one that I haven’t considered in much too long. It is true that I have been working hard to make all of my professional dreams come true. I have been in some big name movies, had the best sponsors, and can have my pick of any eligible bachelor in New York—maybe even the world. I’ve kissed plenty of frogs.
But I haven’t found my prince.
I sit back up, the music no longer smoothing my ruffled feathers. “I’ve done everything I can in that department. It’s just not something you can just get.”
“Oh, I know.” Giulia snorts and I get the impression she’s speaking from experience. “I just mean that I’m worried you are going to work yourself into a pit. You know, like you won’t be able to see the forest for the trees.”
I bite my bottom lip and shift uncomfortably. “It’s not like I want to be alone. And you know that I’m dating—”
“Barry.” She interrupts me. “Yes, I know. But we both know that Barry is not going to be a permanent fixture in your life.”
I want to be shocked or offended but I can’t. Barry doesn’t fit into my life. I can’t take him to places where I might meet clients or paparazzi. He isn’t respectable, even if I like him more than any of the other guys I have dated recently. He’s just not the right kind of person for the social circles that I frequent. But that doesn’t mean that I want to give him up.
“Maybe he and I can make it work. It would be difficult but we could make it work if we tried.”
Hearing it in my own ears doesn’t make it any more viable, but I pull my shoulders back and look Giulia in the eyes. I need her to believe that this is possible because I want it to be. I haven’t known Barry for very long but in the two months we’ve been dating, I have grown to at least want to have a future with him.
Giulia smiles. “You’ve got that look in your eyes again. That look that says you’ll do whatever you have to, to make your goal a reality.”
I flash her a smile and it feels like the first genuine one I’ve had in weeks. She’s right. I’m going to try to make it work with Barry, and the first step is letting him inside my world.
I slide off the chaise and walk back over to my purse where I left it near the door. My phone chirps as it powers up and I immediately text Barry: Babe. Dinner tonite? I’ll make plans.
I don’t know why but I feel like my heart is going to leap from my chest while I wait for his response. Giulia offers me a cup of chamomile tea and I drink it to steady my hands.
Almost fifteen minutes go by before an answering chime goes off. Place & time.
He likes to make me wait but he doesn’t waste time on stupid questions. That’s just one more thing to like about Barry. I send him a response and immediately call Arianna. She won’t be happy about actually having to work for her paycheck but I have just the restaurant in mind. Getting same-day reservations is going to be a pain but with my clout, it shouldn’t be a too bad.
Chapter Three
“Reservation for two. Opal.”
Barry and I stand up simultaneously when my name is called. A sharp-dressed woman with classy pearl chopsticks in her dark hair extends a carefully friendly smile to greet us.
I move toward the hostess with clipping steps, extending my hand in greeting. “Thank you for having us,” I say a
s if speaking to a friend who invited me over for a meal. This is the kind of familiarity afforded to me by my rank as a celebrity and business owner. “I hope you have my usual table ready.”
The hostess offers me a warm, easy smile after shaking my hand. “Of course, Miss Opal. Right this way.”
I move carefully, minding the sexy slit in my dress. I have opted to dress the part and am wearing a Chinese-style dress that hugs my curves. This is one of the most expensive Asian bistros in the city. The sushi and prepared seafood are considered the best in the country.
It is nothing like you would see from a cheap Chinese take-out place. This restaurant has high-end everything. From the black cherry floors, to the expensive lighting that casts a purple glow everywhere it touches, this place screams opulence. At the center of the modest space, there is a sushi bar where chefs expertly cut slices of wet, pink flesh.
The smell of soy sauce and wasabi assaults my senses in the best ways. I take a deep breath, my mouth watering.
We walk through the restaurant, heading for the second floor. There, a mezzanine overlooks the rest of the establishment and is furnished with low tables and fluffy cushions meant to be used in place of chairs. It is easily the most coveted section of the expensive restaurant but there are only four or five tables set up and each of them is reserved for the biggest names in the business.
New York can be a harsh place if you don’t know the right people. It just so happens that I am the exact kind of person who can get to anyone anywhere.
I look back over my shoulder and try not to laugh. Barry’s eyes are wide and round. He looks down at his rough-and-tumble clothing and I can practically read the thoughts running through his head.
He might be underdressed for the crowd, but as long as he is with me, nobody will raise a fuss.
We take our seats and the hostess immediately encloses us behind several paper walls. The privacy screens block our view, though if we want, we can pull one of them aside and see everything.
They don’t block the gentle Asian music flowing through the air or the soft hum of conversation. We might not be seen from the outside of the screens but if we speak above a whisper, we can be heard.
This is exactly why I picked this place.
As if reading my mind, Barry shifts uncomfortably on his cushion. “This is a pretty fancy place.”
He mutters it as if he’s unsure of what else to say. I can’t hold in my laughter this time. He looks so uncomfortable and it’s the first time I’ve seen him so out of his element. “It’s one of the fanciest places.”
He shrugs but before he can respond, there’s a tap at the screen. “Come in.”
Our waitress is folded on the ground, her head respectfully bowed when the screen slides to the side. She maintains that position for several seconds before slowly lifting and presenting us with two menus. “Please take all of the time you need. There is a buzzer at the end of your table. When you are ready to order, simply push it and I shall return.”
The exotic lilt of her voice matches the rest of the décor and I have to give credit where it’s due. She takes our drink orders—I decide to be adventurous and order several bottles of flavored baijiu—and leaves without another word.
Barry shudders. “That doesn’t freak you out?”
“Not really.” I glance over the menu and quickly decide what I want to eat. I don’t need to spend too much time on it. I have other things in mind. “It’s a form of art. She’s playing a role, which includes serving us.”
Barry shrugs, leaving me to believe that the artistic nature of our meal has been lost on him. I try not to let it bother me, but it says something about his ability to take on higher roles with me. For a second I doubt my plan to mold him into someone comfortable in my world. Maybe it just isn’t possible.
“Still, you must’ve put a lot of thought into this place. So I’ll try not to let it weird me out.” Barry rubs a hand over his bald head and rolls his big shoulders, as if he is getting ready to lift something heavy. When he picks up the menu I realize what that load is for him. His eyes roll a little as he takes in the prices.
“Don’t worry about ordering too much, “I say trying to get him to relax. “This is my treat.”
Even though I said it before, I can tell he’s not completely comfortable with the idea. I’m strangely pleased by his level of discomfort. I never have to worry about Barry wanting me for my money. He wants to take care of me, not the other way around.
After a few minutes, he closes his menu and looks up at me. The smooth confidence in his expression lets me know that his moment of uncertainty is over. He shifts back on his cushion, his long legs crowding me in and taking up more room than they should.
For the first time this evening, his hot gaze roams over my body. “I didn’t even realize how good you look tonight. Shame on me.”
He runs his tongue over his lips suggestively, never one to waste words. His dark blue eyes touch the low neckline of my dress stroking my breasts. My stomach does a turn and I suck in a heated breath. “I guess you’re just going to have to make it up to me, aren’t you?”
Barry smiles and his straight white teeth seem almost like a threat to me in the enclosed space. This is what I like the most about him. His primal energy, his aggressive nature. Before I can even think of it, he reaches across the short table and drags me up on the smooth surface. My breasts come in contact with cold, hard wood and he continues to pull me until my mouth is pressed up against his.
He kisses me until I am breathless, those sharp teeth dragging against the sensitive skin of my bottom lip. He pays no mind to the carefully mounted chopsticks in my hair, knocking them askew with his meaty hands.
When there is a knock at the screen separating us from the general population, he releases me with a rough yank and hisses. His husky voice drops to a whisper. “I’ll do more than make it up to you.”
With shaky hands, I let my hair down and make sure my dress is not revealing any more skin than it should be. My voice is weak and thready when I finally give permission for the waitress to enter. I hadn’t even realized that Barry pushed the button before he began kissing me. It seems he is as turned on by the potential of an audience as I am.
“Hello again, Miss Opal.” The waitress says as another server unloads a tray with our drinks, giving no indication that she had heard our exchange. It’s “I am glad to take your order at any time.”
I have to clear my throat several times before I can tell her what I want to eat. I select a noodle bowl as well as several lines of sushi, which I no longer think will satisfy my hunger.
Barry orders steak, his voice smooth and steady as if he is unaffected by what has just transpired.
Our drinks are spread out in front of us, bottles along with tiny cups that hold a mouthful of liquid. The waitress and server leave quickly and I barely manage to thank them because my focus is centered on Barry. He had flashed his cocky smile at the woman when she entered but when she leaves, his attention is focused solely on me. Just the way I like it.
“Take a drink, Fallon. Have you ever had baijiu before?”
I reach for the decorative bottle with shaky fingers and try to take a breath to steady myself. I’m highly aware of the fact that there are people surrounding our little room of privacy. If anything happens, we will have indirect witnesses—one of my sexual weaknesses.
“I haven’t.” I respond as I pour the clear liquid into a small glass. I wince at the smell alone. It smells like it’s going to taste harsh but I try not to jump to any conclusions. I tip the glass to my lips and immediately regret it.
The stark, cold taste makes me feel like I bit my tongue. I immediately set the glass down and Barry laughs deeply.
“Not your cup of tea, huh?” I raise an eyebrow when he reaches over and takes the cup. He pours it down his throat with one smooth motion, smacking his lips. “Looks like this is just my kind of drink. Reminds me of moonshine.”
I must have been makin
g a face because Barry scoots closer to me. “Moonshine is a little harsh for you, isn’t it? My delicate flower.”
The tiniest bit of annoyance flits through my system and I shove at his shoulder. “Don’t call me that.”
Barry has the habit of treating me as if I’m some porcelain doll. He doesn’t believe that I can handle the rougher stuff. It is funny when you think about it. I have done kinky things that he wouldn’t even begin to believe.
“Aww,” he whispers. He moves closer again, crowding me in the small space. “Don’t be like that, baby. I’m sorry. Here, I’ll help you get a taste for it.”
I twist away but he grabs me easily and holds me still as he takes another long drag of the alcohol, straight from the bottle. Before I can figure out what he’s planning, he runs his free hand along the silky material of my dress. The warmth from his hands seeps through the fabric and sinks into my breasts. I tilt my head back, the tiniest moan slipping free of my lips.
“Mmm.” He responds, sealing his mouth over mine. My annoyance is forgotten as he presses against me, kneading my flesh with his strong fingers. I part my lips and some of the alcohol trickles into my mouth, warmed by his tongue.
The taste explodes in the back of my mouth and I arch my back. It’s so much better this way and I’m not sure if that’s because of him or because the alcohol needed to be heated up. Either way, I want more and I climb into Barry’s lap, waiting impatiently while he takes another drink.
“More,” I command. He chuckles and hurries to obey my command. The split in my dress lets me spread my legs wide and I feel his erection pressing through the rough fabric of his jeans.
He pours more alcohol into my throat from his lips and I grow lightheaded much more quickly than I expect. Baijiu is stronger than what I’m used to and it makes me bolder than I usually would be.
I slide down his lap under the weight of his hands on my shoulders. The friction as I move rubs against my panties, making my breathing fast. The small space we’re in heats up and I feel sweat bead at my brow.
Love Through LimeLight Page 2
