Page 37 of Red Velvet

Now he's the one sounding like an asshole. There's a condescending tone in his voice that’s new to me, clearly born from pain.

"Okay, cool, th-that sounds… great," I stutter, unsure how I feel about it.Is he lying to me? Is he just trying to hurt me?

Why would it even hurt me to hear that he found his own place? I wanted him to move on, and now it sounds like that's what he's doing.

"Well yes, itisgreat," Jim cuts into my pondering. "So, when can I come by to get it?"

I remember the time just when he finishes his question.

Kade!

He must be waiting downstairs already.

Shit!

"I'm sorry, but can we talk about this later?" I press, grabbing my purse as I head for the door, my heels echoing through the hallway. "I have to go now."

"What? Go where? Can't we just—"

"Not now. I'll call you!"

And with that, I hang up on him. I'll admit, it wasn’t the classiest move of my life, but I hate being late, especially for Kade. He doesn't deserve to wait down there like an idiot just because I have to bear with my ex’s troubles.

It's bad enough that Jim's voice is still resonating in my head as I hurry down the stairs, taking my bad conscience with me.

Chapter 19

Kade

"That's a pretty dress."

She looks at me, her eyes bright and sparkling with beautiful pride upon receiving the compliment as I hold the door open for her to enter the building.

She's smiling, casting me coy looks as a blush blossoms on her cheeks. "Thank you."

"I want you to take it off."

Her expression changes within an instant, her eyes widening in surprise with a hint of disappointment blending in.

"Now? Here?"

Her eyes flit around the small lobby, finding the private changing rooms with lockers to our left.

"Here is fine," I tell her as she turns toward the changing rooms. "I'll hold on to your dress while we're here."

She sucks in a sharp breath, looking at me as if I'd just suggested for her to jump off a cliff.

"You want me to just… take off my dress? Now?"

I nod, crossing my arms in front of my chest while she keeps turning her head. A young woman sits behind the reception at the other end of the lobby, dressed in a tight-fitting black dress with her hair pulled up in a stern bun at the back of her head. She smiled at us when we first arrived but turned her head away discreetly once she realized we don't need her help. She's only here for guidance after the doorman conducts the initial check and decides who's allowed inside.

Lila's eyes rest on her for a few seconds too long, and the girl looks up from her desk, tilting her head in question.

"Now," I urge on a whisper not audible to the receptionist. "Right here and now. You have thirty seconds."

The gasps that flees her lips is the sweetest sound imaginable. I like shocking innocent little girls like her, especially when I know she’ll obey. Shewillobey, And she’ll fucking love it.

She’d already proved to be a good little slut a few days ago when I asked her to take a picture of her beat-up ass while she was at work. The time limit was just to get a move on things. If she’d fought me on the demand or pestered me with questions for too long, then she wouldn't be fun to play with.

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