by Logan Fox
Seth’s thumb brushed against her hip bone. Every stroke drove a new wave of relaxation through her body.
“Maybe they’ll let me go,” Pearl murmured, on the edge of sleep. “After everything…”
“Maybe they will, kitten.” Seth let out a soft sigh. “Maybe they will.”
As she slid into a dreamless sleep, her heart gave a slow, sickening thud.
Seth hadn’t sounded convinced.
“Kitsune?” Caden repeated, his voice as deadpan as his blue eyes.
Pearl nodded, paused, and nodded again. “I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.”
“You’ll have to be more than just ‘pretty sure’, Miss Buchanan,” Caden said, sitting forward.
She sat opposite the man, a span of black wood separating them. For once, Caden’s computer was off — had been off since she’d stepped into the room. Instead, he’d been sitting in his chair, chewing on the end of his fountain pen as he stared pensively at one of the large, abstract paintings on his office wall.
He’d beckoned her closer, watched as she sat down, and then commenced with nearly fifteen minutes of interrogation about her altercation with Tanner.
That’s what he’d called it: an altercation.
“Who’s Kitsune?” he asked.
Pearl shrugged. “Don’t know. I’m not the one that said it. Tanner—”
“Yes, yes.” Caden let out a sigh, sat back in his chair, and tossed the fountain pen to the table.
Pearl jerked, watching the pen as it rolled over the wood’s surface. Caden seemed to have a tentative grasp on his patience tonight — his face was drawn, and his mouth kept thinning into a line.
“I’m reaching the end of my tether with you, Miss Buchanan.” Caden closed his eyes and slid his fingers behind his thick-brimmed spectacles, rubbing his eyelids. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Since you’ve arrived here, you’ve been nothing but trouble.”
Those blue eyes opened again, spearing into her.
“I’m starting to think you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
Pearl said nothing. Hopefully, Caden would reach the conclusion she so badly wanted him to: that it would be better for everyone involved if she left the Fox Pit.
Fuck the hundred-thousand dollars.
She could live with sleeping in her hole of an apartment. At least she’d be alive. There would be no more Tanner. No more wolves.
“But,” Caden murmured, “Tanner seems to like you.”
Pearl opened her mouth, an angry protest on her lips.
“Despite—” Caden lifted a finger, cutting her off before she’d even gotten a word out. “Despite what you may think. Or how he may act. He can be—” Caden lifted his gaze from her, searching the ceiling for a second before finishing, “—mercurial at times. The nature of his work, I suppose. I keep telling him that he needs to relax. De-stress. But—”
Caden shook his head, smiling ruefully.
Pearl gaped at him. Her heart began a slow, heavy thudding in her chest. Tanner had to relax? The fucking playboy did nothing but screw and drink all day long. And the nature of his work? He didn’t have work! She’d never seen him take a single business call. The closest thing to business she’d seen him conduct was with Malik today, and that had turned out to be nothing business related at all.
“Work?” was all she managed to get out; a pitiful attempt to sum up the ranting in her mind.
“Yes, work.” Caden lifted an eyebrow at her. “He runs a very successful import-export business, Miss Buchanan. It nets several million each month. I’m sure even someone like you can appreciate how much administration something like that requires.”
Pearl made a strangled sound in the back of her throat, but Caden didn’t seem to hear her.
“Then there’s this—” a wave toward the ceiling “—which takes up even more of his time.”
Caden sat forward, meshing his hands together and pointing his index fingers at her. The white quarter-sleeved shirt he wore — the thin fabric did a poor job at hiding his ink — hiked up to his elbows.
“And then there’s you. And you’ve certainly proved more time-consuming than any of the foxes we’ve ever hired.”
Pearl’s shoulders slumped. “So why keep me? I’m sure there are a hundred hookers who’ll jump at the chance to stay here.”
Caden cocked his head at her. “I’m sure there are. But we don’t hire hookers. We have a standard to maintain.”
“So just pole dancers and amateur porn stars?”
Caden gave a dry laugh.
“Most of the girls here were never involved in the sex industry. You’ve met Ivy, surely? And Opal? Neither of them ever saw the likes of the grubby singles I’m sure you’re so very familiar with.”
Pearl squeezed her lips shut, trying to force down her flash of indignation. It took a few short, harsh breaths through her nose before the swell of anger subsided.
“But Owen seemed to see something in you. Heaven knows what, but he did. And he was never wrong before. Not this wrong, anyway.” Caden shrugged. “So I’m curious to find out why we hired you. Too curious to let you go just yet.”
Pearl let out a long, resigned breath. Tears began stinging at her eyelids. She hurriedly blinked them back, forcing a trembling smile onto her mouth.
It was fine. Everything was fine.
As soon as she saw Gia again, she’d get the keycard from that little whore — even if she had pummel the girl to death with her fists — and once she had the keycard, she’d arrange with Greg to get the fuck out—
“Did Seth speak to you about Jarred’s schedule?” The words tumbled out of her in a rush.
Caden blinked. He drew his hands over the table, palms flat, and stared at her a moment. Then he nodded and cocked his head toward the computer.
“Seth was very persuasive. And Jarred… well…” Caden let out a bemused sigh. “He’s just as interested in you as Tanner, it seems. He doesn’t usually alter his schedule once it’s been set but he had no qualms to squeeze in our newest patron.”
Caden tapped his index fingers against the desk a few times and then gave her a short nod.
“I assume this means you’ll be playing nice from now on?”
Pearl unclenched her jaw.
“Yes. I’ll… play nice.”
“Good to hear.” Caden drew his arms back, tugging at the hems of his sleeves. “But I’ll still be keeping an eye on you. For now, I expect you to—”
There was a loud clang behind Pearl.
She spun around, her hands slamming onto the back her chair and digging into the thick leather.
Tanner stood in the doorway. His hair was tousled, a crooked grin on his face. He wore a pair of beige shorts and a white short-sleeved, button up shirt. He stared at her for a second, and then up at Caden.
“Hold off, will you?” he said, lifting his hand.
“On what?” Caden asked, sounding mystified.
“Canning her.” Tanner wiggled his finger at Pearl.
“I wasn’t canning her,” Caden said, enunciating the word with plenty of distaste. “But if you want—”
“What?” Tanner snorted and strode over to Pearl.
She stiffened, hurriedly sitting forward and pressing her lips into a line. Air swirled around her; Tanner’s cologne had a hard time competing with the tequila he’d obviously bathed in.
“No, no, no,” Tanner said in a light voice. “She’s not getting off the hook that easy.”
Caden lifted a limp finger to his mouth. “Your…lip. Have you been to see Nurse April yet?”
“This? Pfft.” Tanner’s hands closed over Pearl’s shoulders, making her jerk in her chair. “Told her not to bother coming out. ‘Tis but a flesh wound,” he said, leaning down close to Pearl’s ear. “It’ll heal all by itself.”
Caden’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t insist. Instead, he waved toward Pearl.
“Well, I’m done here. Do you need her—”
“Not n
ow. I’ve had enough of this little spitfire for one day, thank you.” Tanner moved away from Pearl, perching on the edge of Caden’s desk. “Imagine what she’d do with my balls if she got the chance?” The man gave a theatrical shudder. “Nah, I think I’ll have to give her a few days to cool down, won’t I?”
Tanner faced her, that lopsided grin melting from his face.
“But I think I’ll set a date to see you again. Give you a chance to prepare yourself. Maybe it’s been all the girls talking me up, there in your little den, telling you tall tales about me.” Tanner crossed his arms over his chest. “They’re all true of course. Some grossly understated, even.”
Caden let out a low laugh, and Tanner glanced over his shoulder at the man.
“Am I right?” Tanner said.
Caden shook his head, touching his fingertips to his temple and giving Tanner a bemused smile.
“Too right, I’m afraid.”
Tanner slid off the desk, clapped his hands together, and gave Pearl a slap on her back as he walked past.
Pearl’s head bobbed. She peered over her shoulder, watching as the man headed for the door.
“Tanner?” Caden called out.
The man paused, twisting his neck just enough to watch Caden from the corner of his eye.
“Who’s Kitsune?” Caden asked.
Tanner frowned. “What’s that?”
“Kitsune. Who is she?”
Tanner straightened and gripped the door handle. “Fucked if I know, bud.”
The door slammed shut behind them.
Pearl could feel Caden’s eyes boring into her. When she turned back, the curious frown she’d been expecting to see was right where she’d expected to see it.
Caden sighed. “I’m beginning to think you’re a compulsive liar, Miss Buchanan.”
“Caden, I swear—”
He cut her off with a flick of his fingers. “Enough, please.” He tapped the desk with the side of his hand, fingers curling. “You’ll be seeing Jarred tomorrow at noon. You’ll have a scene after — repeat customer. Which reminds me… he sent something for you. Has Seth given it to you?”
She managed a shake of her head.
“Then speak to him.”
Caden quirked a brow and rose, his lithe body towering over the desk as he leaned forward and put his palms on its surface.
“Despite everything, you do make an excellent fox, Miss Buchanan. If you could just adopt the right attitude, you might realize what a gold mine you’ve stumbled into.” He shrugged. “So just stop acting the fool—”
“I wasn’t lying.” Pearl sat forward, gripping the edge of her seat with white-knuckled hands. “I told you the truth. You just don’t—”
Caden straightened, tugging down the hem of his shirt as he came out from behind the desk. The rest of Pearl’s words died on her tongue.
He paused beside her chair. “You don’t seem to understand, Miss Buchanan. This place, this opportunity we’ve given you?”
He touched the back of his finger to her cheek, drawing it down to her jaw.
“It’s a blank cheque, sweetheart. Payable to one: Pearl Buchanan.” Another shrug. “So stop fucking around and take advantage of it. It could change your life.”
13
When You’re Gone
Pearl woke, slapping Gia’s hand away. The girl had been shaking her as if trying to wake the dead. From the way Pearl’s eyes felt, the girl had succeeded.
“What?” Pearl murmured.
Gia shook her again.
“Fuck, Gia. I’m up.” As testament to this — and to avoid another shake — Pearl clambered up and rested her back against the bed’s headboard. “What is it?”
Gia grabbed hold of Pearl’s hand. “Thank you.”
Pearl tugged herself free. “Fine. Whatever.” She twisted around, intent on yanking the covers over her head and resuming sleep.
The girl began shaking her again. “Pearl. Pearl.”
“Fuck,” Pearl growled. She slapped the girl’s hand away. “What?”
“I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”
“Give me—” Pearl began. Then her eyes widened. “Oh no, Gia. You said you’d—”
“Tomorrow. I promise.” Gia bobbed her head a few times, her blue eyes wide. “Please.”
“Why the hell do you even need it? You’re leaving this week, aren’t you? Just give it—”
“It’s safe.” Gia shrugged. “I give it to you, it’s not safe anymore. You’ve got a target painted on you—” the girl stabbed towards Pearl’s chest “—big enough they can see it from space. I give it to you too soon, someone else’s is going to find it.”
Pearl’s mouth worked. “But what if I need it today?”
“Not today.” Gia shook her head.
“How do you know? I could—”
Gia shrugged. “It’s too soon. If something happens to you, he comes right back to me. You’ll have to keep him occupied. Keep him busy… till I’m gone.”
Pearl took a deep, calming breath. “So it was you in the bathroom yesterday.”
Gia didn’t bother looking away. Perhaps the girl simply didn’t have any shame. Then again, Pearl had watched Gia being fucked by her wolf the first day she’d arrived here… maybe this was just Gia getting square.
“Just keep him busy. Whatever it takes.”
The girl got to her feet.
Pearl caught her wrist. It felt like a child’s wrist — Pearl could so easily wrap her fingers around those tiny bones.
“You know you got yourself into this, right? You get that, don’t you?”
Gia scowled at her. The girl had put on a handful of their bedroom lights — her blond hair had a faint aura around it.
“Yeah, Pearl. I get it. I’m a slut, and sluts always get what they deserve.” She jerked her hand free, and her scowl slowly slid into a sad upside-down smile. “Hasn’t it happened to you before?”
Pearl let out a short laugh. “What, seducing someone and having it turn sour? Nope, can’t say that it has.”
Gia shrugged angrily, brushing away Pearl’s words. “You meet someone new. You think you like them. You let them know you like them. And then… they turn out not to be the person you thought they were. They’re… too intense. Too… twisted.”
Pearl’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile, but it faded a second later. She took a deep, unsteady breath.
“I do. It… it sucks.”
“Yeah. Well, that’s what happened. I thought I liked him. Turns out he’s about seven different people, all squashed into one body. And I don’t even think he realizes it.”
Gia turned away and disappeared behind her partition. Pearl stared after her.
She slid under her covers, staring up at the few star lights shining above her. Gia’d forgotten to turn them off, but there was little chance of her finding sleep again, anyway.
When Seth came to the den that morning, he had a small gift bag dangling from one meaty hand. It looked so out of place — pink and frilly as it was — that Pearl covered her mouth with a hand to prevent a laugh slipping out.
Opal was already in the lounge, glued to the television, and Morgan was busy making coffee. They greeted Seth with unenthusiastic ‘hellos’ as Pearl and Gia left their bedroom.
“Morning,” Seth said, giving Morgan a nod.
His eyes found Pearl, and he thrust the bag in her direction.
“For you, kitten.”
“Why you never bring me nothing, Seth?” Opal complained, without taking her eyes off the television.
“It’s not from me,” Seth said, sounding slightly put off at having to admit it. “And you’d better get ready. You have a scene in thirty minutes. I told you—”
Opal waved a dismissive hand at him without looking. “Yeah, yeah. I heard you. I showered last night.” She lifted her arm and sniffed loudly at her pits. “I’m good to go.”
Seth shook his head, stepping back as Morgan hurried across his path with a coffee cup.
&
nbsp; “There’s one for you, Seth,” she said, making a kissing sound at the man as she passed.
“Thanks, kitten.”
“Hey, where’s Ivy? She staying over at Tanner’s or something?” Morgan turned to Seth, blowing on the surface of her coffee.
“Guess so,” he said with a shrug. “Haven’t been sent to fetch her yet.”
Pearl’s stomach twisted queasily. God, don’t let Tanner take his anger out on her. Ivy hadn’t done anything. It had all been—
“I have better things to do than stand here all day, Pearl.”
Pearl blinked, stepping forward and accepting the gift bag from Seth.
“What is it?”
The man rolled his eyes at her. He walked over to the back of Opal’s couch and grabbed the back of her neck. The girl started, spitting out a mouthful of cereal.
“Fuck it, Godzilla. You’ll give me a heart attack.” Milk dribbled down her chin as she scowled at Seth over her shoulder. “Let go of me. I just have to throw on my—”
“Then throw it on now. Move!”
Opal slammed her cereal bowl down, splashing milk and cereal loops over the coffee table, and stormed into her room. The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing in the den.
Seth sighed, pointed at Pearl and then at the bathroom.
“Get cleaned up. You have an hour before your first scene.”
Pearl nodded, spinning on her heel and going back into the bedroom. She dug her hand into the gift bag, grabbing out the small box inside.
It was gold. It had roses embossed on it.
She levered open the lid and peeked inside. The lid fell to the bedspread, her hand sagging as she stared at the glittering treasure inside.
A tiny, golden bracelet gleamed back at her. Ten disks, shaped in the form of roses, dangled from it, each sporting a chip of diamond in their centers.
“It’s pretty,” Gia said into her ear.
Pearl jerked, almost dropping the box. “Good God, Gia. Wear a bell or something.” She turned her head, glancing at Gia over her shoulder. The girl stood on her tiptoes, peering over Pearl’s shoulder. Giving her a sidelong glance, Gia rested her chin on Pearl’s shoulder and let out a soft sigh.
