While I can’t be completely sure that my slimy ex is the culprit, it does seem like something he would do. Especially if he and Damien got in an argument recently about everything Dylan has been doing. It would be entirely in character for him to smear me all over his lies.
But does Damien think so little of me that he would actually believe Dylan Decker, his public nemesis, over me? Surely not…
The light turns green, and I am forced to move on, both from the intersection and my spiraling thoughts. I am not going to walk into my sister’s house a gushing mess. I don’t want Luca tosee me that way. I will wait until he is preoccupied with doing something else before I come undone.
Rachel lives in a neighborhood that lies between my little old house and Damien’s sprawling estate. The neighborhood isn’t gated, but every house has a pool and lawn service. You get the picture.
I pull up onto the red stone driveway and park my car in front of the door. Then I take a deep breath before making my way inside.
“I think the key is to make sure it isn’t too full,” Rachel’s voice comes from the kitchen, and I walk in to find my sister showing Luca how to properly construct his next edible slime volcano.
“Yeah, last time, I dumped all of it in and it exploded everywhere,” Luca says with a giggle, and Rachel laughs too.
“I heard about that.”
“It got all over her boss,” he goes on, and I hold my breath, standing still in the foyer. “But he wasn’t even mad.”
“How could he be mad about something this yummy?” She asks, and I take another step closer. The movement catches Rachel’s eye, and she stands up straight.
“Oh, look who it is,” she smiles in confusion.
“Mommy! We are making the orange one this time!” Luca exclaims.
“I see that.” I force a smile, but Rachel knows better.
“I thought you were working late tonight…” she says, and I swallow hard. Her smile is also forced as she looks down at Luca. “Sweetie, just in case it gets a little messy, why don’t you take it out on the back porch.”
“Okay!” Luca rushes off with his slime volcano. And as soon as the patio door slams shut, I break down.
“What in the world?” Rachel rushes over to me as I cover my mouth with my hand, sobbing into it. She ushers me to the couchwhere we both sit, her arms around me. “What happened? El? What did he do?”
“It’s not what he did,” I blubber. “It’s what I did. Allegedly.”
“Okay…? So what did you allegedly do?” she asks.
And I tell her everything.
“Someone has been stealing concepts, leaking information, and convincing employees of Damien’s to leave his hotels…among other places…to work elsewhere.”
“Other places?” she asks. “What kinds of other places?”
I should have known she would get caught up on that part. But oh well. I guess if I am going to confide in my sister; I am going to have to tell her everything.
“Damien owns a gentlemen’s club,” I say.
“A gentlemen’s club?” she whispers. “You mean like a strip club?”
“That…and…more.”
I look at her, and she studies me. Then it clicks. “Oh…okay. Go on.”
I am impressed by how quickly she accepts what I am saying to get to the point.
“Apparently, Damien is under the impression that I am the one behind all of the betrayal,” I say.
“You? But how could you do any of that?” Rachel sort of laughs. “No offense, but you’re just his assistant. You don’t have that kind of power.”
“I am his personal assistant,” I say softly. “His…all inclusive…personal assistant.”
