“Reinforcements?!” Sun exclaimed. “Gosh, I should’ve never told you guys.”
“All I’m saying is,” Evelyn started, “next time you’re at Radiant, be prepared.”
Sun stared in horror. “Be prepared for what?”
My lips curled into a smirk. “Oh, you know …”
“No, I really don’t!”
“To get dicked down by some hottie.” Evelyn giggled.
“No!” Sun shouted. “I don’t want to get dicked down by anyone except Russ.”
Heather wiggled her brows. “That’s who she’s talking about, especially after Russ and Maya see a sexy older couple talking to you.” She giggled behind her hand. “Oh God, this is going to be so good.”
CHAPTER
FORTY
CHARLIE
“Hey, Charlie!” Winter said at Radiant’s coatroom, beaming at me when I walked in for my meeting with Michelle. She had pulled her brown hair into a high ponytail. “Didn’t expect to see you here today.”
I clenched my jaw. Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have come here alone.
But I hadn’t wanted to disrupt Athena. I really wanted to make this partnership work because, no matter what Athena said, she deserved it. Athena deserved everything that I could give her and more.
Instead of answering Winter, I placed my coat down on the counter and headed right for Michelle’s office in the back hallway with my bag. Winter called after me to make small talk, but I had no drive for small talk with anyone anymore.
Radiant was quiet today, albeit it was early.
Once I made it to Michelle’s office, I knocked twice and waited in the hallway. There was some shuffling happening within the room, which sounded like things being knocked over and heels clacking against the ground.
“One sec!” Michelle called.
A moment later, the door opened, and Michelle peered at me, her hair a wild mess and red lipstick—which wasn’t her usual color—on her neck. She slipped into the hallway and smoothed out her wrinkled dress.
“Just finishing up in here,” Michelle said, wiping some red lipstick off the corner of her lip. “You’re here early. Why don’t I meet you at the bar in five minutes?”
The door opened behind Michelle, and a pretty woman with dark brown hair and bright red lips scurried out of the room, throwing a wink toward Michelle and running down the hall while trying to tug on her clothes.
When she disappeared, I opened my mouth to say something quirky to Michelle, only for the door to open again. This time, another woman with bright pink lipstick slipped out the door while fastening her bra.
My lips curled into a smirk. “Damn, okay, Michelle.”
Michelle rolled her eyes. “What?”
“How many more do you have in there?”
“Oh, shush it, you,” she said, playfully pushing me away. “I’ll see you in five.”
After chuckling, I headed back toward the main area, passed Winter, who giggled and waved while I ignored her, and grabbed a drink at the bar from Abdul. I swished it in my mouth and drank some down.
“You see your dad since the other night?” Abdul asked.
“No, thank God,” I mumbled. “But I have to see him this weekend.”
My stomach twisted into knots, and I stared emptily at the whiskey in my glass. After swirling it around, I took a sip and placed it down on the bar in front of me. The party was Saturday night, and I had to see those stupid fuckers.
