"Look, she has a massive history in the export business,"Sarki said.
"In the 'women' business too!" Elisa shouted from the background.
"She seems legit, Megs. Don't get me wrong. She’ll be accompanied at the breakfast, the note mentions her team. If that turns out to be a lie, you just make an excuse and go back to your room."
"That’s the plan," I said, kicking the sheets off my legs to get up and change. "What did you think about the bathroom situation?"
"It reminded me of that case you spent almost two months on,"Sarki replied."You know, with all the complications and delays? The guy who was asphyxiated at that BDSM club."I remembered the case and nodded to myself. "Maybe that's the only sane part of all this."
"Remember how you made me study that case with you so we could understand the dynamics?"I saw Lisa leaning over Sarki’s shoulder, smiling broadly at me through the video call."We actually adopted a few things from that study. Except for the morbid parts, obviously."
I raised an eyebrow, and they both gave me a knowing smirk.
"Calm down, we’re just talking handcuffs and a few slaps. We don't even consider ourselves practitioners. Maybe just... curious."
"I really need to stop knowing so much about your private lives," I teased. "But anyway, she said she’d let that woman be the wife of one of the senators. What do you make of that? Is she like a Domme?"
"It could be an arrangement between them,"Sarki suggested."That was one of the points you used to exonerate that Dominatrix, remember? They had a contract, and the security footage showed he was the one asking for more."
"So, an arrangement involving a billionaire, an export empire, an escort, and the prize is a senator. I’m intrigued. I’m going to go for a run and chew on that. It’s a hell of a story."
"It definitely is. I have to run, Elisa is heading to a fashion event and won’t be back until next week,"Sarki said with a pout.
"Have a safe trip, Lisa! It’s going to be amazing."
"Of course it will be, babe! Tell me everything you find out later. I love the drama you guys get yourselves into,"Lisa said, gathering her coats.
"Before you hang up, Megs! Peter showed up alone at a Republican event yesterday afternoon,"Sarki added."It was some 'old boys' club' thing to introduce new party members. I have no idea what he’s up to."
"Republican? Of course. Adulterous, white, and rich," I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my laugh. Sarki joined in. "It’s so typical of him to get involved in something like that."
"Maybe the 'angel' is showing up just to make your life miserable. Lisa and I don't get why he was alone when he could’ve taken his 'perfect' family out for a stroll."I heard Lisa laughing and saying something I couldn't quite catch. "We have to go, she can't be late. Love you!"
"Love you guys!"
I hung up, took a quick shower, and checked the temperature by sticking my hand out the balcony door.Freezing. Absolutely freezing.
???
The moment I laced up my running shoes, I noticed that coffee had already been set out in the suite’s antechamber. I sat for a moment, quickly downing some orange juice and finishing a fruit salad before heading out.
Hotel gyms are usually excellent, rarely more than two people at a time, which is exactly how I like it. When the elevator doors opened on the gym floor, I was pleased to find the room completely empty.
After a quick stretch, I started a steady, gradual run while my headphones played the local news. When my watch beeped at the thirty-minute mark, I slowed the treadmill to a pause. I looked to my side and nearly jumped. Kelsey was there, wearing a black sweatsuit, running on the machine just two spots over.
Our eyes met, and she offered a small smile. I grabbed a hotel towel and wiped my face, which was already dripping with sweat.
She moved over to the treadmill directly next to mine and said something I couldn't hear over my music. I pulled one earbud out, and she repeated herself: she’d just said "good morning" and hadn't meant to startle me.
"I was happy to see you wearing the necklace," she added.
"I figured someone else had picked it out for you," I replied, taking a long drink of water. "I assumed you wouldn't even know what it looked like." I felt like I needed another two hours of cardio just to process the sudden spike in my heart rate.
"I don't let anyone else choose my gifts." She rested a hand on the treadmill rail and turned her face toward me. "Especially when it was chosen just for you."
"Let’s get straight to the point, Kelsey. What’s the endgame here? The flirting, the gifts... what are you after?"
She offered a discrete, knowing smile. "Technically, the gift came first." I snorted and rolled my eyes. As I moved to step off the machine, she reached out and gently caught my wrist. "Wait. I’m sorry."
