Page 115 of The Laughing Game

I saw him glance at the young employee before he leaned in and kissed me, then whispered in my ear. “You are the best thing to happen to us in ages, Angel. I hope you realize that.”

“V,” I muttered, choked up. “Really?” I looked at Gideon. “But…”

“But what? Don’t argue with me.”

I didn’t.

Vihaal let us go. He stepped back, and it looked like he wanted to say something else. Then he sighed and grinned.

While Vihaal was speaking to Alice and offering her a promotion and a raise, Gideon and Soresh showed me around the store. I’d never been in the place long enough to have a good look at all the incredibly valuable furniture and sundry other items, so it was a thrill to be able to walk around for a bit.There were lamps and bed frames and textiles and fine wooden escritoires, wardrobes and dining hutches. There was even a section with antique bicycles and clothing.

“That’s how we got to know Sebastian and Jacob,” Gideon explained. “We helped them gather what they needed for the club. And we recommended a seamstress, who we hire to repair things before we put them up for sale, to make the bloomers and chemises. The corsets and leather shoes areactualantiques, though. We generally have enough of them in stock in to find the perfect fit.”

He gestured to a rack that held a selection of shoes just like the ones the molly boys at Maverick Molly’s wore. Some were brown and some were black, some had buttons and others laces. But they were all authentic.

“Oh, wow,” I said, moving closer to a piece of furniture that had caught my attention. It was an antique wooden armoire—mahogany, most likely—with scrollwork details and etched vines all over the front. “That’s gorgeous.”

“You like that?” Soresh said. “It only came in last week. But, yes, it’s so lovely.”

I stepped forward and turned over the tag that was hanging on the tiny black knob. And almost passed out.

“Jesus. That’s…expensive.”

Gideon smiled. “Well, you won’t find anything like it anywhere else. And it’ll last another lifetime, I wager.”

I laughed. “It’s too rich for me.”

There was no way I was spending upwards of five thousand dollars on a piece of furniture I didn’t actually need. Even if the stunning piece made my heart ache when I imagined how lovely it would look in my living room.

Soresh didn’t seem perturbed to have seen Vihaal, Gideon and I kissing earlier, and pointed out quite a few interesting objects. He seemed to know what he was doing, and had an expressiveway of speaking about the things he showed us. I was glad that he would be working here full time, now that Dominic was out. Assuming, of course, that Alice would want to take over as manager.

We needn’t have worried. Alice was thrilled to be offered the position, and relieved to be rid of Dominic, even though she’d had no clue he’d been trifling with the accounts.

“That littleshit!”she said, whenever his name was brought up. “I knew he was an ass, but I had no idea he was doing anything so brazen!”

“Well, my father, who is the one who basically appointed Dominic to the position, back when I actuallycaredwhat my father thought, admitted that he’d tried to sabotage me.”

“Vihaal! My God!” Alice said, putting a hand to her chest. “That’s terrible.”

“My fatheristerrible. Seems I keep forgetting, and giving him the benefit of the doubt. Never again.”

I remembered what I’d learned about Vihaal’s stint at boarding school and his mother’s attitude toward him when she’d learned of his lifestyle.

“Will he keep trying to ruin your life, do you think?” Gideon asked, running his fingers along the edge of an upholstered settee.

“He can try as much as he likes. I won’t let him.” Vihaal shrugged. “After the things he said to me, he’s lucky I don’t try to get revenge. But I’m not that kind of a person.”

“Vihaal, can I talk to you for a second?” Gideon asked, beckoning Vihaal over and proceeding to walk with him to the armoire I had so vocally admired.

“Oh fuck,” I said, glancing at Soresh, who looked excited.

When Vihaal and Gideon looked in my direction, I held up my hand.

“I only thought it was pretty. I’m sure someone will buy it for the price on the tag.”

Gideon said something to Vihaal, and Vihaal smiled then nodded. He gazed at me.

“You want it, Angel?”

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