“Well.” She grabs two champagnes from a passing waiter, one for each of us, before continuing, “Do you see the man in the leather mask that looks like a crow? He’s two down from Harrison.”
“Yes.” It’s hard to make him out because his mask covers most of his face, but his green eyes are vibrant and shine against his black face piece.
“Well, he’s…a good friend at work and invited me with a guest.” She sips her champagne. “I forgot he’s close to Harrison and his brothers.”
“Why did you hesitate atgood friend? How good of a friend?”
She clears her throat. “Not great, just friends.”
She’s lying.
I know Becks better than anyone in the world, and there is only one reason why she would lie to me about him, and I’m scared to even confirm after what she’s gone through in her past.
“Rebecca.” I drag out her name. “Please tell me he’s not your boss.”
She cringes and chugs down a massive gulp of champagne.
“Becks,” I hiss. “What the hell are you doing?”
She closes her eyes momentarily. “Well, technically, he’s my boss’s boss, but it just happened, and it’s not like last time.”
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself.
When Becks was an intern in her senior year of college, her boss manipulated her to fall in love with him. He wined and dined her and told her he had recently divorced his wife. He even went so far as to show her an apartment he wanted to buy for them in SoHo.
It turned out he was never divorced or even separated, and on top of that, his wife was pregnant. To say it killed Becks is an understatement.
The wife was the one who found out about Becks, so she did what any other pregnant wife would have done if she found out her husband had a mistress—she went to the office and made a huge scene in front of everyone.
Becks was not only mortified, but she felt horrible. She eventually sent a letter to the wife explaining everything that happened from day one. Then found out the wife divorced that son of bitch soon after, but Becks never fully recovered.
Luckily, her internship was up around the same time, and because of it all, they gave her a raving review.
All I know is if I were her, I would have never been able to stay in that industry, running into the people who witnessed it all. I couldn’t handle it.
“Get out of your head, Jules. I promise I’m okay, and it’s truly not like last time. We’re nothing serious, just fun.”
“Are you positive he is what he says he is?” I ask, worried.
“His name is Matteo Moretti. You can look him up if you want. He’s not as well-known as Harrison and his family, but you’ll find information.”
Interlocking our hands, I squeeze gently. “I love you and worry about you.”
“I know.” She squeezes back.
We turn toward the party, sipping our drinks, silenced by the scene in front of us. “I’m used to bougie galas, but this is different. It’s very avant-garde.”
“Totally.” She nods in agreement as a performer wrapped in ropes drops from the high ceiling. “It’s pretty incredible.”
The whole vibe of this party is out there, with the outlandish performances and mysterious masks. Electric beats you feel in your core pump through the speakers.
“I feel like I’m at a party with the Life and Death Brigade.”
She lifts her drink. “In omnia paratus.”
I check her hip lightly. “You jump, I jump, Jack.”
“God, I loveGilmore Girls. We’re due for a binge sesh.”
