Page 51 of Savage

Once we’re well clear of the Savages, Marylin sighs loudly. “Christ, what a bitch. Sorry they all treated you like that.”

I look at her, surprised, but I can’t be sure it’s not a trap. I don’t know what to say, so I shrug. My shoulders have slumped a little, but when I realize it, I stand straighter again. I’m already a mess. If Hunter turns the vibrator on, I don’t know what I’ll do.

“It was fine,” I demur.

“It’s not. She looks down on me, too. The only reason she even wanted to invite me is because she hopes I’ll tell my online audience to vote for her.” Marylin shakes her head in disgust. “Did you hear how she talked about this event? Like fundraising for child healthcare doesn’t matter.”

I still can’t tell if she’s faking it, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to. I bite my lip, trying to think for a moment as we make our way through the crowd toward the bar. “It probably doesn’t matter to her,” I say quietly, but that’s the most negative thing I intend to say about any of the Savages.

We get to the bar, and Marylin places the order for six glasses of wine.

“Wait,” I say quickly. “Just five. I only want water.” Hunter was perfectly clear on me not drinking.

Marylin gives me a look. “You want the wine, trust me. There is no way to put up with this crowd otherwise.”

I shake my head, trying to figure out how to word this without looking like a total idiot. There’s no real way to do it, though, and I sigh. “Hunter wouldn’t like it if I drank. He’s… um…”

Marylin’s perfectly plucked eyebrows go up. “He’s a controlling dickbag? You definitely want the wine, then.” She picks up one of the wine glasses and forces me to take it, then clinks her glass against it. “Cheers. Let’s get through this and help redirect all these people’s funds to a better cause.”

I find that I like her a little—or at least, I like the persona she’s pulling off. If she’s being genuine, I could’ve been friends with her in a better life. I bite my lip then down the wine, setting the empty glass down on the bar. “Water, please,” I tell the bartender. Hunter doesn’t need to know.

“Perfect!” Marylin smiles at me and picks up the wine for the others. “I’ll mingle a bit once we deliver these, but…” She looks around, then leans in closer to whisper against my ear, “If you need something a bit stronger, try the bathroom on the second-floor hallway.”

My heart hammers in my chest at the thought. Something stronger. I could go for something stronger, but I don’t have any money. I’m not going to tell this pretty model that, though. Despite how nice she’s being to me, she probably looks down on me, too.

Honestly, she has every reason to.

“Thanks,” I say, and I genuinely mean it. Hunter would kill me if he knew how badly I was yearning for the release. Or rather… He’d torture me over it, and I think in some ways, that could be a lot worse.

“No prob.” Marylin smiles ruefully. “And don’t worry about the actress thing. It takes a while to get a foot in the door, but I bet your boyfriend can open some doors for you. Money really does make the world go ‘round.” She starts heading back to the Savage family, expecting, like Hunter does, for me to simply follow.

I can’t stop thinking about what she said, though. The bathroom on the second floor. It would be easy to find. I could be gone and back before Hunter even realizes anything’s wrong. I should really ask for permission to use the bathroom, though—which is a thought that strikes me as insanely off. I shouldn’t need to ask someone for something that basic.

But I do.

I bow my head and carefully take a tray, relying on the grace I’d learned at Ntimacy to help me carry the tray through the crowd. Unlike the cheap beer at the club, though, this wine is probably over a hundred dollars per bottle—maybe more.

I return to Hunter’s side, presenting the tray to him. “The water is mine,” I murmur.

“Good,” he says, taking a glass of wine. Senator Savage and Bethany already have theirs, which means the remaining glass of wine is for the Senator’s assistant. He takes it and offers me a small smile before turning his attention back to his boss.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Hunter didn’t smell the wine on my breath, but then, I hadn’t had much of it. Not nearly enough, at any rate.

“Ma’am, the speeches are about to start,” he says. “Doctor Savage, you’re up right after the hospital director.”

Hunter lets out a small huff, but he doesn’t say anything. He finishes his glass of wine and nods. “Fine. I see Doctor Ghislain. I’ll go greet her.”

I look pleadingly at Hunter, but he doesn’t motion for me to join him. He simply sets the wine glass back on my tray.

He’s probably embarrassed by my presence by now.

“You’re reading the speech we sent you, right?” Senator Savage says as Hunter starts to leave. “Because… Oh, look, I see Turner over there. I need to discuss the next fundraiser with him.” She walks off, her assistant following behind her in a harried manner.

That leaves me with Marylin and Bethany. I hold my breath without even meaning to, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of these two. Marylin seems nice enough, but Bethany? She’s not someone I want to be around.

“I should make the rounds, too,” Marylin says. She sets her empty glass on a nearby table. “It turns out, people want to see my face before they donate to sick children. See you around, Stefanie, Bethany.”

I want to protest, but my words get stuck in my throat. My face isn’t the one they want to see, which means I’m stuck here with Hunter’s sister. I wait for her to make her excuses as well as I clutch the stem of my water-filled wine glass, but she doesn’t move away.

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