“So what is the plan for tonight?”
I eyed her, already picturing her in silk in diamonds begging to be stripped off. “We have an invitation to Villefort’s campaign dinner.”
Her mouth dropped open. “No.”
I shifted to face her better. “You’ve only seen the edge of this operation. Ten girls. He’s sold and transported hundreds of girls with Fernand. If you really want to help me bring him down then you’re going to have to wear another pretty dress, smile at assholes, and help me put on a show at the campaign dinner.”
She scrubbed her hands down her face. It took a moment, but she met my eyes again. “Is this how it’s always going to be? Awkward situations and uncomfortable information hunts?”
I leaned forward and captured her hands. “Think of yourself as someone else. Imagine in your mind, you’re not you doing these things.”
“Is that what you do?” She whispered.
The car stopped and I let her go. The driver opened her door, and she stared me down for a heartbeat, and then climbed out of the vehicle.
I knew she wouldn’t let that statement go. She led the way to the apartment this time. I wanted to stop her, let her off the hook.
But before I could force the words out, she stopped and spun back. “What time are we leaving?”
I cleared my throat. “Seven pm.”
She went into her room and closed the door behind her.
I entered my own room, and sat on my bed. I still smelled like the brothel. A mix of heavy perfume and incense. Quickly, I stripped and lay on my bed. We still had time before I got back in front of people. Before I stood in front of her again.
I stared at the ceiling and focused my mind. I never even heard my door open and I had no idea I wasn’t alone until her face swam above mine. I jerked and moved to sit up, but she shoved me back, climbed over me, and curled up against my chest, head on my bicep.
She didn’t speak, she’d changed, only wearing a thin silk slip now. I waited to see if she’d say something, but she didn’t, seemingly content to lay in my arms.
I let myself relax enough to wrap a hand around her shoulders. She sighed as I pulled her in tighter.
We lay there for a while. Long enough for the alarm on my phone to alert me when I needed to dress and go. “We need to get ready,” I whispered.
She shifted away and looked back at me. “Thank you,” she said, without meeting my eyes. Then she walked out.
I peeled myself out of the bed. Oddly feeling better. Focused. I cleaned up and dressed quickly. When I exited my room, buttoning my cufflinks, I thought I’d have to go into her room and fish her out. But no, she came out in seconds wearing another devastating formal dress, this one in black satin. Her hair was twisted artfully at the nape of her neck.
How did she manage to do that so fast? “Ready?”
She waved her clutch. “Yes, did I do alright?”
“You look beautiful.”
She ducked her chin, and having nowhere to go after that compliment I punched the elevator button. We made it to the car in silence.
Once we pulled away, she faced me in a rustle. “What do I do tonight? Distract or…”
“Tonight, we watch, wait, and listen. I’ve already set up some interesting entertainment which should do all our work for us.”
“Do I want to know?”
I shrugged. “Don’t worry. It should just be Villefort here tonight. Try to avoid him if you can.”
She snorted and I watched her reaction. “No problem there. I guess I’ll dance with handsome politicians and drink good scotch.”
“I’m sure you’ll have no trouble there.”
She shifted in the seat facing front again. “Sounds like a relaxing night out then.”
