He smiles like I’m being nice to him, like I’m not going to watch exactly where he goes tomorrow.
TWELVE
Elias
Obviously, I don’t get much sleep. I haunt the internet, trying to find out anything I can about Andre Black, but there’s remarkably little. Not even The Axis’s sleek website features him.
I do find an article on the previous owner, Peter Grange, who committed suicide two years ago, shortly after selling the hotel to Black Enterprises in what was termed an “unexpected sale.”
I’m too agitated to jerk off, even though it would probably help me sleep. Mostly, I toss and turn, obsessing over the question,Why me?
It makes no sense that someone like Andre Black—wealthy, powerful,beautiful—would choose me. Of course, he’s not choosing me inthatsense, even if a few moments sent all the wrong signals to my body. What he wants is for me to work for him. But even that is bizarre. I work at a bodega for god’s sake.
Usedto work at a bodega, I guess. Now, tomorrow, I’ll be his personal assistant. That’s a close position. And all this time he’s been considering me for it? He’s been coming into the bodega because ofme? I can’t wrap my head around that at four a.m.
It’s no easier at eight, but I do have to get moving. I have so much to do and only three hours. I don’t even bother with coffee or tea. I doubt I could get anything down anyway.
I walk to the animal shelter to give the cats the last of my treats, except for a few that I hold back for Turtle at the bookstore. Mostly, I want to see the cats, but I do feel a slight obligation to say,Hey, I won’t be back.
At least, I don’t think I’ll be back. But maybe? What happens when Andre realizes he doesn’t want me? I should have asked. Fuck, I’m so dumb.
But then, when no one at the shelter or even Shiloh at the bookstore really reacts to me saying I got a different job and am moving, I remember that it doesn’t matter what happens. Sure, they say,Oh, exciting, good luck, but I know that doesn’t really mean anything. They don’t ask what my new job is because they didn’t know what my old one was. I might be dumb, but I’m not delusional. No one is interested in me.
Except, for some reason, Andre Black.
It’s after ten by the time I get back to my apartment. Shit. I have to change. And pack. I know that Andre said someone would pack my things, but I don’t love that idea. Some stuff is private.
I dig out my personal documents that I don’t need anyone looking at too closely. I mean, they’re good. The best that money can buy, and I spent everything on them five years ago. But still. I’m paranoid.
Everything goes in my backpack, along with my slow, glitchy laptop. Next, the toys. Ireallydon’t want anyone seeing those. I also don’t want them rolling around loose, so I stuff my other toys into the black box with the plugs and shove the whole thing, along with its purple ribbons, into my backpack. It doesn’t fit well. It’s obvious there’s a box in there, but no one will know what’s inside the box, and that’s what matters.
I change into my best jeans and newest t-shirt. I’m still putting on my socks when a knock at the door makes me jump. I cram my feet into my pre-laced shoes and snag my backpack.
Andre said “someone” would pick me up, so at least I know it’s not him in the hallway. I’ve been too busy to mentally prepare myself, but I should have at least 45 minutes before wereach downtown. Hopefully by then I’ll have figured out how to not sound like an idiot.
I open the door. “Uh …”
Andre’s lips quirk. “I told you I would pick you up at eleven.”
I snap my mouth shut then say, “You saidsomeonewould pick me up.”
He shrugs. “I’m someone.”
His hands slide into his pants pockets, parting his steel-gray jacket over his vest, revealing a silver watchchain. I heft my backpack in front of myself as though it can shield me from comparison.
His eyes fall to the obvious outline of the box. His lips quirk again. “Interesting.”
I sling the backpack over my shoulder because it’s only making things worse. “I just had some things I wanted to bring.”
His eyebrows pinch together. “Just that? Don’t you want to bring anything else?”
“I mean … I guess I need my clothes and sheets and stuff.”
“Everything you need will be provided, but anything you want, anything you care about, you should bring.”
“Just my clothes then.”
Andre frowns. “Are you sure?”
