Hey, it’s Gia. This is my new number. Sorry I disappeared on you. When you’re off again I’d love to hang if you’re up for it and we can talk about it.
I put my phone down on the white marble countertop with the screen facing up. Shortly after, it showed as read, and the three little dots bounced.
OMG! Girl! I’ve been so worried about you!
What are you doing tonight?
Hmm. I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, thinking about how to respond. The thought of being invited back to the club on a Friday night made me tense with apprehension. I wasn’t sure I was ready to see everyone, and I’d been dodging texts again.
Staying in and cooking
I’d invite you over but I know you have to work
Living on my own, I still cooked big Italian meals from scratch, enough to feed an entire army. I loved the thought of cooking for a big party or for a family, however that was something I’d never have at this point.
But the way the kitchen came alive with aromas of herbs, spices, sauces, and dough, made me feel anything but lonely. Cooking and baking were two of my passions, and with so much food left over, I’d divide it into meal-sized portions and store them in the freezer for future use. I was slowly becoming my Nonna.
Nope. The club’s closed this weekend.
Closed?! They never closed for an entire weekend. Unless Mr. Knight wanted to cover up a massacre or something else equally drastic, there was no reason to close. With him, there was no telling what could’ve happened. I almost giggled at the thought then quickly realized how morbid that made me.
What if I come over and cook with you?
I made Italian food so it’s already on the stove and I don’t let non-Italians touch my peep’s food
LMFAO ok that’s fair!
Haha Just come over and hang and we’ll eat
Send me your address and I’ll be over at 6 is that cool?
Sounds good! See ya then!
As soon as I sent her my address, I threw myself into several tasks. Between checking on the food and baking bread, I also managed to squeeze in some chores. It was odd, yet satisfying, so domesticated after my time at Penthouse L.A. Looking back now, I realized how much of a prisoner I’d been in that club, unable to see it at the time. But now, I was free to live life just the way I wanted.
At exactly 6:05 p.m., I buzzed her up from downstairs, and a few minutes later, she rang my doorbell. I swung open the door to find her beaming at me, a bottle of wine in hand.
“Hey heyyy!” she greeted me before wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug. “Your hair! It’s black and?—”
“Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, its natural color again.” I embraced her in return for a moment before stepping back. “Come in.”
She waltzed through the doorway, her eyes widening at the sight of the spacious living area. “Hole... lee... shit.” Her gaze swept over the twenty-foot wall of windows and the open floor plan. “Girl,” she turned to face me, “daddy must’ve left you some serious money.”
Some people might have been offended by that comment after losing their father, but Kirsten had never been one to walk on eggshells. I appreciated her blunt honesty because I was the same. A giggle escaped my lips before I could stop it, and she gasped, realizing her crass statement.
“It’s okay!” I quickly reassured her, walking over to take the bottle of wine from her hands. “Thank you! Let me grab a wine key.” Striding into the kitchen, I set the bottle down on the island while she explored the first floor of my home with wide eyes.
As she strolled through the spacious living room, her gaze took in both sitting areas, one facing a large flat-screen television and the other positioned in front of a striking feature wall adorned with a fireplace nestled between two expansive windows. However, my favorite spot was the latter, where I often found solace in curling up with a good, spicy book. The entire downstairs exuded an elegant and sophisticated vibe, tastefully decorated in a monochromatic palette of black and white with gold accents adorned throughout.
“So happy I didn’t have to work tonight,” she beamed, coming to a stop on the other side of the counter. “I needed a night off and so glad you texted.”
I picked my glass up. “Yeah, what’s up with that?”
After taking a gulp of her beverage, she pressed her lips into a thin line, leaning on her elbows. “The Jigsaw room we weren’t supposed to see? Well, it’s finally being gutted for something else, and I think the guys didn’t want to take the chance of anyone seeing what was going on, so they had to wait until now. Tyler told me more security features are also being installed so that explains it too. And something with Luxe is happening, but I don’t know what. He’s keeping it a huge secret from everyone but Luke.”
“Ah, okay.” I didn’t know what else to say. Since I was no longer there, I wondered if I’d been privileged to the information or left in the dark. Would I even still be Luke’s assistant or helping run Luxe? My thoughts drifted away into an inner monologue before I heard my name.
“Gia!”