Page 3 of Awakened by Sin

“Just wondering.” Surely, Alice owned a mirror.

Lyla shot her a repressive look. She sipped her drink as she listened to them talk about the volunteer events that Alice was organizing. She didn’t look tough enough to be in Las Vegas, much less working for Gavin.

“How long have you worked at Pyre Casinos?” she asked.

“A year. My position was created after…” Alice flushed and looked away.

“After Gavin went to jail and my husband and Manny Pyre were murdered?” Being politically correct had never interested her. It was a waste of time.

Her eyes flared with remorse. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Alice,” Lyla said, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad your position was created. It’s great that Pyre Casinos created the Pyre Foundation and are giving back to the community.”

“Yes,” Alice said, clearly relieved. “Mr. Pyre has given me free rein really. I’m so excited that I get to make a difference through his generosity.”

Alice’s transparency was alarming. She was a goldfish among great white sharks. The men in this city would eat her alive. Alice wouldn’t last long if she continued to broadcast her feelings on her face. She had to give this poor girl lessons on how to be a badass bitch.

“Here come the masses,” Lyla said.

Carmen looked up as the VIPs descended into the club from the grand staircase with their entourage and a swarm of paparazzi. One figure stood out to her among the others. “Kody Singer’s here?”

“The movie star?” Alice asked, going on tiptoe to get a better look.

“He better not come by me.” She didn’t need the drama tonight.

“Why?” Alice asked.

“He used to drunk call me all the time, that asshole. It used to piss Vinny off.” Kody caused a shitload of problems in her marriage.

Alice’s mouth dropped. “You used to date …?”

“He was a week-long fling when Vinny and I were on a break.”

“She broke his heart,” Lyla said. “Kody is a pretty nice guy for a movie star. Come on, Carmen, he was really romantic.”

“He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer,” she said sourly and switched her attention to the next VIP. “Douchebag in the house! Carter Raymond is here. Seriously, when’s the last time he even played football? What a fucking show-off.”

“You know him personally?” Alice asked.

“When your husband is COO of Pyre Casinos, you’re obligated to go to a lot of events. You meet people.” Before, it had been a game to acquire famous contacts. Now, she couldn’t care less about who she brushed shoulders with.

“You stay around long enough; you’ll know celebrities personally,” Lyla said.

“Me? Celebrities?” Alice let out a nervous giggle-snort. “I don’t think so.”

Carmen signaled to the bartender with the great fake tits for another Hookup cocktail. “Getting celebrities involved in your community projects would be great publicity.”

“I’m having a hard time recruiting volunteers, much less a celebrity.”

To gain the media’s attention, Alice needed celebrities to join her community events. Tonight, there was an exclusive pool to manipulate and exploit. Carmen eyed the crowd and decided it was time to call in some favors.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said as she finished her drink.

She sauntered into the crowd and headed for the VIP tables. She nodded to the publicists, agents, and managers who recognized and waved her through. Unfortunately, the first celebrity who noticed her was Carter Raymond, a football player who retired in his prime and had been riding the sponsorship wave ever since.

“Yo, Carmen, you looking for me?”

He placed his hands on her hips as if he had every right to touch her.

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