I shouldn’t have hesitated, it gave away too much, but someone was finally noticing James’s behavior and I no longer felt alone. I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about it.
“Listen, it’s fine,” my voice wavered. “Don’t worry about it.”
His brows shot up. “Don’t worry about it? Lily, if he’s doing somethin—”
“Can we just drop it? Please.” I looked at him, pleading silently for him to stop. Or at least lower his voice in case Mom heard.
“Yeah, fine...” He ground his jaw as he moved away from the front desk to go sit on one of the white sofas by the door.
Our little moment from earlier was gone, cut off by the walls I put up. It was concerning how quickly Dean's expression darkened as he looked over his shoulder to the busy street outside – to where James was driving by in his red Porsche.
I felt like I needed to tell Dean not to do anything. But I couldn’t bring myself to start talking about James again. I also didn’t want to come across as assuming he would act out violently.
Maybe he would give James a warning?
I chewed at my lip as Dean pulled his phone from his back pocket, scrolling through it with his elbows resting on his knees.
I moved to step out from behind the desk but caught myself and backtracked. My ears pricked at the sound of Julia and Mom returning. Just as I went to warn Dean, he stood to leave. Not once looking up from his phone, he let the doors swing over on their own as he strode outside and out of sight.
My heart sank.
The happy tone of Mom’s voice filled the foyer as the two women walked into the room, slowing beside the desk while I took my seat at the computer again.
“It was an absolute pleasure doing business with you, Mrs Ricci,” she smiled, shaking Julia’s hand. “We’ll have the keys ready for you to pick up from reception on Wednesday.”
“Thank you, Kate,” Julia smiled, giving me a small wave before she turned and left too.
I knew my mother could only keep up the fake smiles for so long, and she proved my point once we were the only two in the room.
“Our conversation from earlier isn’t over,” she snapped before heading back to her office.
My stomach twisted anxiously, but not because of my mother’s reminder.
I watched the emerald-green Cadillac drive by in the same direction James traveled earlier. I knew it was only a coincidence they were heading in the same direction. Dean was obviously just driving Julia home. But I couldn’t help that my mind was already jumping to the conclusion that Dean may have taken that route on purpose.
It was my first night starting my more permanent role in the basement. I headed into The Den at the usual time of 9:20 PM, but right on the dot of 11 PM was instructed by Roxy to head downstairs. When I told Jen and Xavier that I wouldn’t be seeing them as much anymore Jen smiled and pulled me into a hug.
“You’ll be fine. Plus, we’re just a staircase away,” she said. “And X’s housewarming is this Saturday.”
Xavier, wiping a glass and smirking a little, responded with, “She’s too good for us, now. Rubbing shoulders with the real bad guys.”
“Something I am not too thrilled with, by the way,” I added.
“Are you kidding?” he chuckled. “You get to be around shirtless men all night while we’re up here. Serving drunken idiots.”
“Dangerous, shirtless men,” I corrected, gripping the strap of my shoulder bag as I eyed the back door of The Den.
He wagged his eyebrows. “That just makes it more exciting.”
I laughed a little nervously before the staff room door opened and Roxy strutted out. Her eyes immediately fell on me and widened slightly.
“Why are you still up here?” Her tone cut like a knife. “Antonio doesn’t like being kept waiting.”
Jen muttered a slur under her breath before smiling at me, paying no attention to Roxy’s presence. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Roxy took it upon herself to walk me downstairs. At first, I couldn’t understand why until I realized it was only to get me alone.
