Page 39 of Conquering Oz

“Your name isElleMartin?”

“Yes,” Elodie said.

“Yournameisn’t on the list,” she said and stared down at the phone.

What the hell is happening?

“Oz said I’d be on the list.”

They shared another look, but neither motioned for her to enter the club. The girl cocked her head, and the man immediately shook his head, mouthing, “She’s lying.”

I’m lying?

The woman slipped past the guy and stood in front of Elodie. “You can get in line. It should only be a forty-five minute wait. An hour at the most, but I’ll make sure you get in.”

An hour? Who on earth would wait an hour in line to get overcharged for drinks and dancing? Elodie glanced at the line of people. There was her answer.

“Or you can callOz.” His taunting tone had Elodie scowling at the man.

She reached into her bag for her phone until she remembered. She had called from the office landline so she didn’t have the number stored.Mistake number one. And…the slip of paper with his number was on her desk.Mistake number two…shit!

“I don’t have his number with me but…”

The man snorted, shaking his head. “That’s fucking convenient.”

“Bruno.” The woman snapped and swung her head back. “Continue with the line.”

He glared in her direction and then aggressively grabbed the phone from her hand. The woman didn’t even flinch and turned back to Elodie.

“We have a strict protocol for the VIP list. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you in.”

“Can you call Oz and ask? He was the one who invited me.”

Tension marred her features, and she offered a shaky smile. “I don’t have direct access to the owner. If I call to question the list, it goes through three people before it gets to him. And if you’re not on the list, it’ll cost me my job.”

What?

“For asking a question? That’s absurd.”

“My job is to follow the rules, not make them. I’m sorry.” The woman shifted on her feet. “But um” —she glanced over at the door— “maybe I can…”

No.

Elodie grabbed her wrist when she started toward the door. She wasn’t going to let anyone put their job on the line for her.

“It’s fine. And thanks for checking the list again.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Elodie shook her head, stepped back, and winked. “Don’t be.”

She was putting on a calm and unfazed exterior, but inside? Her heated blood was racing through her veins. Elodie clenched her teeth, ignoring the stares from the women at the front of the line. She was now forced to do a walk of shame. It was fitting.’Cause I definitely got fucked!

She walked toward the end of the line with no intention of getting in it. She’d call the car service and go home. She stopped near the edge of the lot under the light, pulled out her phone, and started sifting through her options. On a busy Thursday night, they were limited. It seemed everyone was jockeying for the cheapest ride.

Elodie scoffed, muttering, “There’s no way I’m paying that.”

She continued to scroll the list when a call came in. The minute she saw the blocked number, her muscles tightened, and heat ripped through her veins. Elodie considered ignoring it, but answered anyway.

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