Monique was not perturbed. “How fascinating.” Alicia recognized that look in her hostess’s eyes. If Candice thought Alicia was looking mercilessly at some poor newborn baby? Then she had no idea how eager Monique was to devour her after learning such a key piece of information. “I would love to pick your brain sometime, Ms. Holt. Don’t know if you know what business I’m in, but…”
When they left the Warner Estate fifteen minutes later, Alicia had more questions than answers, and Candice had a very interesting new business prospect.
Chapter 8
Alicia sashayed out of the bath, bottle of lotion in hand. Danica lay half-dressed, as was usual for her around nine at night, but instead of reading or staring at the TV on the faraway wall, she was glued to her phone.
“Absolutely, Robert,” she said, oozing with charm. Alicia sat down on her side of the bed and began judiciously applying lotion to her arms and legs. “We are fully prepared to give you everything you need to be on your way. Or should I say that my wife is?”
Alicia glanced at her when she said that. The scent of coconut butter permeated the air.
“You don’t even visit America anymore. No, no, don’t lie to me. You spend all your time in Toronto and Rio. The last time you came here, you were in Hollywood. Let my wife take that property off your hands. What? Of course, that would make us co-owners. Didn’t think I had to explain that to you.”
Since she had no idea what was going on, Alicia flopped back on the bed and curled up next to her wife.She hasn’t showered yet. Perfume had faded, and sweat reigned.
“All right, Robert, we’ll deal with this tomorrow. Oh, and think about those shares of yours. Might as well get rid of the whole bag of money while we’re at it.”
Danica hung up, the phone plopping on the bed. With a haughty sigh, she wrapped one arm around Alicia, her pleased countenance almost too much to bear.She really does think she runs the show, doesn’t she?Alicia already knew that, but having Monique’s warning buzzing in the back of her mind put it into a new perspective.
“What was that about?” Alicia asked.
“Another surprise I have lined up for you.”
“No, no, you should tell me. I can’t take many more surprises right now.” She had already been surprised by the BMW 330i sitting in their parking spot downstairs.“Just a little something I picked up for myself, now that you’re using the Town Car.”Alicia had been too entranced by the sleek curves of the (black, of course) car to say anything.She'd better take me for a ride in it, or I’m filing for a divorce.
Danica entwined her fingers with hers. Alicia could think of a few other things they could entwine. After all, they hadn’t had sex yet that day. It would be the first day in what, two weeks? With no sex, that is.
“That was Robert Grove.” Alicia vaguely recognized that name. “I’ve arranged it so you’ll be buying his share of Midnight.”
“Whoa.” Alicia sat up. “That was the co-owner of the club?”
“Usedto be the co-owner of the club. He hasn’t been involved with it for months, though. Time for him to move on. What better person to buy it out than you?”
“With your money.”
“Actually…” Danica picked up her phone again, tapping on one of her financial apps. “Some of your investments are already coming through. You should check your bank account and portfolio, my love. You’ve probably earned your first million.”
Alicia snatched her phone off the nightstand.How do I use this thing?She fumbled with a brand-new phone that she wasn’t yet used to. It took both her and her wife to access her bank account within the next five minutes. When Alicia saw the figures, she nearly passed out.
“On top of this good news, there’s something else.” Someone was in a really good mood. Areallygood mood. “Once the sale is arranged, I’m asking you to become the de facto owner of Midnight. You’re more suited for our properties that hinge on hospitality. There may be others in the future, depending on how things go with my…” She stopped. “Alicia?”
She knelt on the bed, eyes glazed over in thought. “You want me to not only own a piece of, but to also run the place where we met and you got me fired from?”
“Poetic, isn’t it?”
“You really are a conniving shit.” Alicia slumped against the headboard. “Of evil genius proportions.”
“I do try.”
In celebration, Danica kissed her arm before bringing her back down to her level. Alicia straddled her abdomen.It’s so easy to become addicted to this.Now Alicia knew what her new friend meant earlier. How easy would it be to always defer to her wife and let her take over everything, for better or for worse? That’s what Alicia dipped into every time they were in bed. With her grasping her arms and holding them to her sides, her silk bathrobe falling from her torso and exposing the most tender parts of her? She was in trouble.
“Speaking of,” Alicia cleared her throat, “we should talk about us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. Us, Danica.”
She eased her grip. Alicia’s hands landed on either side of Danica’s shoulders. Her breasts swung free from her robe and threatened to graze Danica’s.Not that I’m complaining.Another thing Alicia never thought she would love so much.
