Page 4 of The Holiday

Etta helped Jamie and Natasha out of the car, handing their luggage to a waiting housekeeper. She turned to the driver to relay instructions about coming to pick them up Sunday while a butler greeted them at the front door. Inside, Jamie heard voices.

They hadn’t taken two steps into the foyer when a familiar group of faces appeared.

Jamie’s stomach dropped.What the fuck?

There stood her friends, Monique and Helen, along with Helen’s sister Eve, who looked sharp as ever in a three-piece suit and flawless makeup. Kathleen Allen, the elegant philanthropist,waved from across the room. Jamie knew her well—Kathleen had even adopted a kitten from the litter Jamie discovered on her property. And then there was Kathleen’s partner, Ira Mathison, standing beside her with an easy smile.

“You didn’t tell me there would be others here.” Jamie accepted a kiss on the cheek from Monique. “What is going on, Etta?”

Etta’s sharp gaze took in the scene. Dressed in her immaculate business suit, she looked much more formal than the others. Helen wore a beige sweater dress and winter leggings while Ira had opted for thick trousers and a turtleneck. Etta’s expression darkened. “I thought this was supposed to be a private weekend.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

Etta turned to the butler. “Care to explain this?”

The butler gave an apologetic shrug. “Ms. Mercier only told me that there would be guests this weekend. I didn’t find out how many until a few hours ago. I believe you are the bulk of it.”

“Eight of us,” Ira muttered. “Looks like we’re having a fucking party.” They poured more drinks for the newcomers.

Natasha, who had been trailing behind Jamie and Etta, stopped dead in her tracks.

Eve’s eyes lit up at the sight of Natasha. “Well, well, well,” she said, swirling her drink. “Look who showed up.”

Natasha’s cheeks turned the pinkest hue Jamie had ever seen.Those two go back. Eve was notorious for flirting with Natasha whenever in the office, and though Natasha always turned her down, Jamie knew her friend had a soft spot for Evelyn Warner.

She’s single, so what’s stopping her?

Jamie slumped into a loveseat by the fireplace, glancing at the mismatched gathering. It was clear now that everyone had been fed the same story: Jem Mercier had promised them a privateweekend at the villa. Except privacy was the last thing any of them were getting.

Etta threw off her jacket and slouched beside Jamie. “I’m going to wring Jem’s neck.” She took the glass of brandy Ira offered and downed it in one gulp.

After taking the glass back, Ira said, “I had a double as well. By the way, did you know that we’re havingroastfor dinner?”

“Hopefully nobody’s a vegetarian,” Kathleen quipped.

“Nobody here is a vegetarian.”

Everyone looked at Monique, sitting by herself next to the fireplace. She shrugged. It was her business to know the preferences of every elite person in the area. Especially those into kink.

Which every last one of them was into.

Jamie sighed as her stomach growled. Whatever game Jem was playing, she didn’t care anymore. She just wanted to eat!

Chapter 4

Monique

“Ineed to speak with you. Privately.” Helen’s breath was hot in Monique’s ear, sending a quick shiver down her spine. “Come.” Her hand wrapped around Monique’s wrist. Nobody paid them any mind as Monique rose from her seat and followed her Domme out of the study.

This is either good or bad. On a night like tonight, Monique had a hard time telling. She could safely say she was a bit irate too.

“Where’s the nearest private room?” Helen asked the butler. “My fiancée and I need to make a call.”

The man pointed to a room across the hall. “The guest office, ma’am. It should be unlocked. You are free to use the landline if you wish.”

Helen placed her hand protectively on the small of Monique’s back. “That won’t be necessary. When’s dinner? We’ll only bea few minutes, but I don’t want to miss it.” The damned roast. Monique could faintly smell it there in the foyer.

“Dinner should be in about thirty minutes, ma’am. Would you like me to put you in contact with Ms. Mercier? Although she may not be available at this time.”

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