Page 41 of Crush

The entire house and gardens were highlighted with thousands of fairy lights, warmly glittering against the crisp night sky.

It wasn’t the first time I’d visited the Swift estate, but I hadneverseen it looking so lavish. It was also extremely busy, alive with life as guests arrived from all directions.

“It feels like we’re going to the Oscars,” Luca said as he pushed his whisky glass back into the slot in the drink’s cabinet. He’d dated a few actresses and so he would have been more than qualified to make that comparison. It certainly didn’t feel like we were on our way to an old man’s birthday bash.

As the limo drew up in front of the house, the glass partition that cut off the back from the front slid down.

“I’ll take your bags up and leave them in one of your rooms. Her ladyship has put you in guest rooms four and five.”

“Great and thanks for the lift,” I said as the back door was opened by a uniformed member of staff.

Luca and I both climbed out of the limo and made our way up the steps to the house.

There were bodieseverywhere, all dressed to the nines filtering along the driveway like ants;well-dressedants.

“I’m actually nervous,” Luca muttered.

I braced myself for what was to come, “You took the words out of my mouth,” I replied. My buzz from our joint was fading fast. As I said, Luca and I were wealthy and used to living the high life, but this was another level entirely.

Making our way through a massive archway made of gold and white balloons, my eyes drilled into the backs of those before us.

“The night just got even better,” Luca suddenly whispered from the side of me, and I glanced over to where he was looking.

“Molly Singleton’s here,” he announced with another nudge to my ribs. I winced; they were still bruised from the fight at the ring the other day.

“Who is Molly Singleton when she’s at home?”

Luca motioned towards a tall leggy blonde who was on her phone just to the side of the queue.

“She’s the current face and body of Victoria’s Secret, an underwear model. I’ve wanted to work with her forages.”

I raised an eyebrow, “I’m guessing ‘work’ is a euphemism for something else?”

“You bet your sweet arse it is.” Luca chuckled with a sly look.

“Good evening and welcome to Mr Jonathan’s home. May I take your names, Sir?”

Clearing my throat. I informed the elderly man just inside the doors into the lobby of our names. He was dressed like a butler and was standing in front of two large security men. They had chests like brick walls, wore earpieces and looked like your typical men in black. They wore name tags which amused me, one was called Benny, and the other was called Thatcher.

Giles or whatever the hellhisname was, was searching down his clipboard. He eventually found my name, but Luca was down as aplus one. I watched as he placed a tick against both.

Everyone looked so pristine and shiny and even though both Luca and I were dressed identically in black tuxedos I still felt out of place; like one of the bouncers rather than a guest. It was my tats, it had to be.

We thanked the stuffy-looking butler and walked into the house. As if by magic, a waiter appeared with a silver tray of fizzy shit. Not wanting to appear rude, we both lifted a flute with a mumbled thank you.

I took a sip of the liquid I assumed would be champagne. Luca just sniffed his glass with a grimace. “If I drink this, I’ll be farting all night. Just saying.” Sometimes he was a little bittoohonest.

Glancing around the marbled floored lobby, the place washeaving. There was a sweeping staircase with cherry oak polished bannisters and doors leading off on both sides. A handful of guests were looking up at the large portrait of astunningwoman which was above an ornate fireplace. Amber’s mother? Ithadto be. They looked so alike.

As we mingled in and out of the guests with a nod here and there at people who ranged from semi-familiar to strangers, we eventually exited the house through the bi-folding doors at the back of the kitchen and out into the gardens.

The scene then fully unfolded. There must have been over ahundredguests, men in black tie and women dressed in finery that probably cost thousands ofpounds. The large stone patio area had an outside bar to one side and a huge seating area opposite. Steps led down into the garden where a large marquee had been erected. The thing washugeand I could see seating set up in there. It even had fancy wooden flooring which had been laid to cover the grass. The tables were all dotted around a large dance floor. It was as grand as you could get, almost like a royal wedding or something.

I scanned the area but couldn’t see Amber anywhere. Jonathan was in a huddle of guests and I lifted my glass in greeting as he saw me and waved.

Depositing our flutes of bubbles on one of the poseur tables which were scattered around, Luca and I made our way over to the bar for a real drink. I kept with whisky and Luca ordered a bottle of Bud Light. The bar was free which didn’t surprise me.

With our drinks in our hands, we made our way back to another poseur table and I started to unwind. A couple of girls were also resting their drinks there and they gave us both the once-over. Luca and I exchanged a look as both women had massive racks, and fake lips, something webothfound a complete turn-off; the lips that is,notthe breasts. You didn’t grumble about a pair of tits, real or not real, they still did the job.

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