Page 82 of King

The elevator opens before I can respond, Damien leading me into a large room with high ceilings. It's decorated in cream, white and grey, an aquarium inside a tan wall. The bass from a deep-house song flows through the room, students scattered about. This place could house a large family, a hallway leading to what I assume are bedrooms. Plural.

Floor to ceiling glass walls show off Eden Gardens about thirty feet below us. I’m staring out the window when students run by, leaving wet footprints behind them. I follow the trail out to a large patio, and…is that a hot tub?

Before I can ask, Damien leads me in that direction. We take a spot in the corner of the ginormous balcony, a glass barrier stopping our fall. The lights from the downtown core sparkle from up high like Christmas lights from a distant tree. A large bush separates us from the rowdy crowd outside.

Damien eyes me from head to toe before leaning in. That fresh scent coming with him. His voice is a low rumble, “You look good enough to eat tonight, Jo.” His hand comes around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I can feel his breath on my ear when he speaks, “And that’s exactly what I’m doing the minute you’re out of this dress.”

A smirk is on my face when I turn to look at him. His eyes are bluer tonight, twinkling in the setting sun. They drop to my lips and it sends a jolt up my spine. The rest of the party grows into muffled background noise, the students around us a blur.

I’m at a lavish ERA party with Damien King and I’m his date. No games. No drug deals. Just the King and I. A finger grazes up my scar, Damien looking as lost in my eyes as I am in his. He inches closer and I freeze up.

Damien King is about to kiss me at Georgina Dupont's hotel party. Does that mean what I think it does? Could we really be an item?

“I’m so glad you made it!” Georgina's squeal breaks my gaze. She runs over to us with a flute of champagne, a bottle of whiskey in the next. Damien pulls back as she smiles between us, handing the bottle to me. Georgina took it up a notch tonight, wearing a long silk maxi with gems scattered throughout. “Damien tells me you’re more of a whiskey girl and as your hostess for the evening, I aim to please.”

“Thanks, Georgina.” I take the bottle, giving the space another look. “This is insane.”

A fire crackles from a table between patio sofas some feet away. On the other side, behind Damien, sits what looks like a full-on garden. Benches and small fountains included.

Georgina waves me off. “Oh please, this is nothing compared to what my eighteenth birthday will be like. Daddy’s already booked Eden Castle.”

“Isn’t that Lea’s birthday spot?” Isaac approaches us from the balcony doors, glass in hand.

Two girls in too-tight dresses are on either side of him. He’s in a purple velvet robe and I can’t tell if he came here like that or it was part of an outfit change.

“Well, things look like they’re changing around here.” Georgina holds out her hand. “Come. I’ll introduce you to everyone."

“Actually…” Isaac takes my free hand, shooing his girls away. “There’s something I need to talk to the two of you about.”

Damien nods, returning his hand to the small of my back. He leads me away from Georgina, Isaac on the other side.

“You look incredible Jo,” Isaac says, tipping his glass towards me. His plump lips form a seductive grin. “That dress really accentuates your assets.”

A low growl comes from Damien, Isaac raising his palms in the air. He holds his glass between his thumb and index. “Hey, I call it as I see it.” We round a corner and the balcony continues into a thin strip. Isaac gestures to an empty spot on a wooden bench in front of a golden Buddha head. They both stand in front of me as I get settled.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Five hundred dollars is what’s going on.” Isaac winks, reaching into his pocket. A small bag of coke comes out between two fingers. “You down?”

My shoulders drop. Heart and stomach sinking.

I’m happy to cash in, but I thought Damien was trying to say something tonight. I thought he wanted to show everyone that we are a thing. That I’m his…or whatever. But it looks like our relationship is strictly business.

“Or not?” Isaac tilts his head to the side before sitting down next to me. “You alright?” Damien leans against the fence, staring at me. I look down at my fingers instead. If I match his gaze I’ll only fall deeper into his spell. Isaac leans in. “Jo? Earth to Medusa.”

“What?” I’m snapped out of my disappointed thoughts.

“You down?” Isaac asks. “It’s another party in the Acres. Stefan Van der Woodsen put in a decent order for some top-grade Columbian. I need to know if my delivery girl is on call tonight.”

I shrug, all the excitement of tonight getting punched out of me. “Sure, alright.” At least I’ll get a load of cash out of it. I glance at Damien before I rise from my seat. I wiggle the bottle as an excuse. “I’m going to get a glass.”

Damien calls after me but I head for the balcony doors. Turning the corner I bump right into a head of long dark hair. "Shit sorry," I mumble, but when I focus in on what, or who's in front of me, I take it back.

"Watch it slut." Lea's eyes narrow, a rush of air escaping me.

A lump forms in my throat and I swallow hard, wondering if she heard what Isaac said. Lea Huang is the last person I want to know about my unconventional job with the Kings. But something tells me I've given her exactly what she needs to get me out of Eden.

“You think you’re Queen Bee?” She takes a step so there’s no space between us. Her frilly beige dress ruffles and the puffy sleeves make her look like a swan. “Think again. The quicker they rise, the harder they fall.”

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