The whole limo ride home I debate what I’ll say if Eli asks me to his room but when we pull up at Velvet House, he untangles himself from me. “Go upstairs. I need to make some calls.”
My heart hits the floor. Is he going somewhere without me? Because I said I wouldn’t sleep with any of them?
Eli smiles. “I’m going to call some ugly old men to discuss business then go to bed alone,bella. Now run along, and don’t forget your new purse.”
I smile so hard my face hurts then I kiss Eli’s cheek and run inside, hugging my Chanel bag to my chest like it’s a puppy. I practically float upstairs to the East Wing replaying the whole evening in my mind. When I get to my room, I find a Mac laptop on my bed. Taped to the screen is a note.
Enjoy tonight, JJ. Tomorrow, it’s my turn. Meet me in the dining room at10am.
Love, Bobby
Excitement curls inside me, as strong as anything I felt when I was with Eli.
“Oh no,” I tell my empty room. “What am I going to do?”
The room doesn’t answer.
Chapter Nine
January Whitehall
Istare atthe laptop screen for a long time. I can tell because the numbers on the little clock keep ticking over. All my money is gone. Every dollar. I didn’t have much, just the fifteen thousand my daddy left me when he died and some birthday and Christmas gifts from my uncles, but my current bank balance is zero. My account was emptied two weeks ago. The contents transferred to Corinne Whitehall. My stepmother.
I burst into hot, furious tears. I’ve cried a lot since I was taken at my wedding, but this is different. The sadness pours from deep inside me and a howl comes ripping from my throat. Two weeks ago, I was in a cage under Velvet House. No one knew where I was, or if I was even alive and my stepmom used that moment to steal my money. I knew she sold me to Mr. Parker, but I thought that was to save our family. But taking my money wasn’t to save my family. It was because she hates me for being Daddy’s daughter. She always has. My whole life, she’s been mean and controlling, and now she’s stolen from me too.
I was going to use that money to rent an apartment while I looked for a job. I don’t have any qualifications, but I thought I could be a barista. Stand behind the counter at a nice café and laugh with customers. Now I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t get to a café from Velvet House. I can’t drive and I don’t have a car and as far as I can see, we’re surrounded by spooky forests.
“Everything is ruined,” I whisper.
For now, bella. But what will you do next?
Zia Teresa’s strong, scratchy voice is like latte warming my insides. I wipe my eyes. “Are you always going to be able to talk to me, Zia?”
I don’t see why not. Now, enough whining. How do we make this better?
I lie back on my bed. “I don’t know.”
My gaze falls on the Chanel bag Eli gave me last night. I could sell it and some of my nice clothes and then I’d have plenty of money. But that wouldn’t be right. The bag was a gift. Besides, if I sold the bag, I’d only have money because men want to be with me. Everything about my life has been about men wanting to be with me. I want to do something on my own.
And I want to live in a castle and have little piggies do the laundry, bella. What are you going todo?
I glance at the clock on the laptop. There’s only twenty minutes until I’m supposed to meet Bobby downstairs. “I don’t know. I’ll have to figure it out while I’m on my date.”
Zia Teresa laughs, a loud throaty chuckle that reminds me of Doc.Then go get ready, bella. Roberto is the boy I like best.
I think about that as I shower. If the Zia in my mind likes Bobby best, does that meanIlike Bobby the best? The Zia who speaks to me when I need help feels so separate from me. Yet if she was still alive I’m sure she would like Bobby. He’s more well put-together and kinder than the others. But Zia doesn’t seem to know he might be married. I’ll have to ask him about that today.
I find a pair of jeans in the massive wardrobe and pair them with a pink T-shirt and sparkling white sneakers. As I pull my hair into a high ponytail, excitement bubbles in my stomach. I can’t help it. When Bobby was my math tutor, I used to fantasize about going on a date with him. Now it’s happening.
With a last glance at myself in the mirror, I grab my Chanel bag and head downstairs, loving the feel of my sneakered feet bouncing off the floor. My stepmom hated sneakers, so I wasn’t allowed to wear them. Well, I’m done doing what she wants. When I’m a barista, I’ll wear sneakers every day.
Only, even if I find some way to commute to a café, I don’t know if being a barista will pay enough for me to move out of Velvet House. I’ll need a job that pays well and doesn’t require a lot of experience.
I remember Dreams, the girls strutting around in lingerie, and my stomach flips. I could dance at Dreams. Then again, the Doc that offered me a job there isn’t the Doc who almost beat poor Archie to a pulp for hugging me. I can’t imagine he’d want me giving out lap dances.
As I approach the dining room, I overhear men’s voices.
“…you’re askin’ a lot, Mr. Morelli. Maybe too much.”
