You know what? I will tell her. Having her here takes my mind off real life. Like how people will die because I couldn’t convince Alessio to keep me. Maybe I should smell his darn underwear and socks. Armpits? (Is that too much?)
Maybe I should beg for a job and promise I’ll be his whore. Maybe that’ll work.
Forget not begging a man for attention. I would do it. If it would save my brother’s life, I would do anything. I have no pride left. Zero. Make that double zero. I might as well tell Val how we met and what happened until I returned to my apartment.
As I tell the story, I’m folding clothing from the hangers. The little black dress. The little white dress. The slacks.
“Thing is, my brother doesn’t shit where he eats. It’s a rule for him.”
“What’s it got to do with me?”
“Everything. Hooking up with a random girl in the hotel we own is out of character for him.”
“I was supposed to be gone, so he figured, like I figured, it was a one-night stand.”
“One night or two or ten, you’re the exception Alessio broke his rule for. He’ll break a rule only if he wants something so badly, he can’t deny himself.”
I laugh. “I see where you’re going with this. I’m not that hot.”
“Hot has nothing do with it, but just so you know,” Val flips her hair, “Alessio’s fucked two royals at the same time. He refused to marry one of them when he found out she stopped using birth control to trap him. Trust me, your looks have nothing do with him being interested in you. You made him drop his guard, which tells me he finds you irresistible. In fact, he must think he won’t be able to deny you to himself. He’s forcing you out of the house. Don’t you get it?”
“I think so. I should’ve walked away from him when I had the chance.”You’re welcome to leave. But I guarantee you’ll have a very pleasant night if you stay.He promised me a good time, and I stayed. That’s what I get for being…what did Val call it? An adventurous lover.
“No, silly. Alessio’s treating you like a threat.”
My breath hitches. He is? He knows I’m spying on him?
My distress must show on my face, because Val smiles. “Oh no, don’t be alarmed. It’s a good thing. In fact, it’s nothing short of a miracle.”
I zip up my suitcase. “Whatever you say, Val. But for the record, your brother looks like a man who eliminates his threats.”
“He doesn’t. His hitman deals with them.”
I stare.
Val falls back on the bed, laughing her tits off. “The expression on your face.”
I smile. “Haha, very funny.”
She stretches out her arms. “Help me back up.”
I grab her hands and pull her into a sitting position. “I get it now. When we were in the office, he said I had to leave because he wanted to fuck me.”
Val vaults off the mattress and pumps her fist in the air. “Yes! Yaaas!” She wiggles her behind. This family is weird. I don’t say anything, though. Continuing to pack, I throw my carry-on suitcase onto the bed.
“Lake?” Val says, serious again.
“Hm?” I catch a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“How badly do you want this job?”
“Pretty badly. Why?”
“Because I have an idea of how you can keep it.”
ELEVEN
LIVE-IN HOOKER
