Page 42 of Glass Wings
She heard the furious motion of someone turning the handle of the locked door.
“Go away!” the pirate yelled, seemingly unbothered.
The handle didn’t stop turning initially, but after a few moments became suddenly still. A few seconds later, the door was kicked open, and small pieces of wood that were ripped apart by the lock flew across the room, nearly landing at the edge of the bed.
In walked the security guard who had checked Hadley into the party.
“Someone heard screaming, so I was sent to check it out,” he reported, starting at the backside of the pirate and frowning.
“Fuck off,” the pirate said, discounting what was happening. “Thisis a sex party; everyone here will be moaning and screaming all night.”
“The lady is clearly in distress, Saul,” said a new voice that Hadley recognized from the earlier speech.
“It’s time to walk away. Just because someone’s working doesn’t mean you get to be an ass,” Sheng said, his pearly white teeth sparkling under a smile. Hadley couldn’t read his true expression since he still wore a mask, but the pirate shuffled off the bed at that moment, putting himself back together.
“I think you owe Hailey an apology here,” Sheng said while blocking the pirate’s exit from the room.
“I’m fucking sorry,” he shouted, not even bothering to look back at Hadley, who was still on the bed tied up with his belt. Sheng moved to the side to let him pass and went to attend to Hadley, freeing her before aiding her up off the bed.
“We cultivate a culture of consent at these parties for everyone. I’m sorry this was your experience,” he said to her, Hadley’s hand lingering in his.
“Thank you,” she said, the words choppy.
“Why don’t we go and enjoy the rest of the night downstairs, away from locked doors? I’m really glad you came.”
The two wandered into the hallway, with the security guard following behind.
“Did you . . . were you the one that hired me? I’m surprised you know my name,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Sheng as he descended the stairs a few steps behind her. Hadley’s sense of danger had not gone away. Every moan and pleasurable sound that hit her ears made the hair on her arms stand on end. Grant wasn’t there. She had to take care of herself right now.
“I did hand select everyone that you see in attendance,” Sheng answered her. “You, Miss Hailey, are the most glorious decoration here. Every person in the manor cannot stop staring at you. This is not only because of your beauty, but because they cannot figure out who you are in that show-stopping dress. You are the most alluring thing a person can be: a mystery.”
Sheng led Hadley through the hallway and back into the bright, bustling kitchen. He locked eyes with a spiky-haired waiter with frosted tips, who stiffened to acknowledge his presence. He had medium-sized black gauges in his ears, and Hadley half expected him to reveal that she was secretly on the set of a music video production.
“My man.” Sheng winked at him. “Do you think you can get my friend and I something comforting to eat? Something not on our rotating appetizer menu?”
“I got you, dude,” he responded and walked the few extra steps into the cooking line, mumbling something into one of the chef’s ears.
“You think that I’m mysterious?” Hadley asked after Sheng turned to look back at her, filling the silence between the two.
“Even you asking that question seems to prove it.” He smirked as the waiter brought the couple two glasses of ice water adorned with lemon. He set them down on the barstool countertop they were leaning against. Sheng had his left arm supporting his weight as Hadley turned towards the window before her, looking out into what looked like a lush backyard, hinted at by moonlight.
“Does that man follow you everywhere?” Hadley asked her next question, shrugging her shoulders to the opposite corner of the room where his security guard stood.
“Him?” Sheng asked. “That’s just Amis; there’s no need to worry about him. He’s been my bodyguard for what feels like eternity. I owe that man my life in more ways than one but I’d be willing to bet that he’d say the same thing about me if you asked him.” Sheng smiled down at his water before pushing Hadley’s cup closer towards her.
“Please, drink.” His eyes were large and brown behind the mask that he wore.
“Only if you tell me what your costume is supposed to be.” She smiled softly up at him, grabbing her glass.
“I live at the bottom of a famous Parisian opera house,” Sheng said, opening his arms wide in quick movements while beginning to mimic the famous keys of an organ’s musical introduction.
“I see,” she smirked, taking a deep drink from her frosted glass.
The waiter appeared again, this time holding a tray with two plates sitting underneath the most beautiful yet casual sandwiches Hadley had ever seen.
“Are these real?” she asked cautiously as the waiter set the food down before them.
“Of course, I present to you my comfort food of choice, a BLT.” The waiter smiled triumphantly, waiting for Sheng’s approval before leaving them alone. Sheng pulled a folded-up bill out of his inside coat pocket, handing it to him.
