Page 136 of Bad Seed
“I am not. I have a system. See. Hit me,” he tells the patient but weary croupier. When the face card lands, my father’s face falls. “Okay, okay. Bad example. But I can make it back with the next hand.” My father’s in heaven, blowing through money that isn’t his as he kicks his feet back and forth.
“What about you?” I ask my mom.
“Oh, I’m supposed to be his army candy.” She rolls her eyes at the very idea, then my father flags her over.
“Pyaari! Come, come.” My dad hops up and down on his leather seat, waving my mother to his side. With a sigh, she sidles up beside him. “I need a kiss for good luck.”
My mom bends closer to plant a peck on his cheek. He swivels his head and gives her such a deep kiss, my mom’s cheeks turn red. “You damnable fool,” she chides and smacks his shoulder after, but her whole face lights up.
“Sadvhi?”
My phone vibrates, and I slip it out.
“When is the show?”
“Not until eight,” I tell her.
“I hope we’ll be eating before then. I saw a noddle place outside that looked pretty good,” my father says.
“Dad, we have Michelin star chefs in house…” I begin to explain when I realize it’s a text from Aubry—a single eggplant emoji. “I have to go.”
“Get some pad thai. I haven’t had that in—”
I rush forward to give my parents a kiss on the cheek. “You two have fun. We’ll see you for dinner, in the ambassador suite, at seven.”
A collective groan rises from my employees as they realize I’ll be leaving them with my parents. But it can’t be helped. The boss summoned me. “Have fun you two. Stay out of trouble.”
“I always do,” my father calls out. “Hit me,” he crows before dropping a mess of chips in my mother’s hand. “Go get yourself something nice.”
At the door, I tug on my bodyguard’s collar and pull him close. “Make sure they don’t go over ten thousand.”
He’s grim, but nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
It’s a far too slow ride to the penthouse with only that single emoji for company. By the time the elevator opens on our private entrance, I bolt for the door and nearly call out for him. A garment bag hangs off the shoulder of the statue with a note.
Wear me.
So he’s inthatkind of mood. While having him put it on me himself would be fun, my curiosity’s piqued and I have to look.
Ooh.
Red leaps out at me as I tug the zipper down. I glide my palm over the shiny fabric and my body breaks out in goosebumps.
Yes.
After leaving a trail of my clothing in the hall, I sashay through our sitting room in a dress that hugs my tits, rounds my hips, and cuts so high on my legs I’ll flash the whole world if I lean to the side. “Aubry?” I call out, growing more bold with every cool breeze against my bare nethers. “Hello?”
He’s not on our favorite couch pretending to do work while he waits for me. I check the bedroom. “Aubry?” When the lights flick on, an orange pillow in the middle of the bed uncurls itself to stare up at me. “Have you seen your daddy?” I ask Astin. His tail flicks like he’s hiding a big secret, then he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Maybe in his office. As I scoot across the floor, realizing I need to put on a pair of heels to hitch up the dress, I run my fingers over the piano. He still doesn’t know how to play, but it gets used weekly.
Is the light on in the kitchen?
Of course.
The beautiful galley kitchen gleams from a recent cleaning, nary a spot or object out of place. Except for the large, long eggplant sitting dead center on the island. I chuckle internally while gliding around the room.
“Aubry?” I call out, my voice ringing with too much concern. “Are you here?” With a great huff, I collapse my elbows to the island right beside the eggplant. “I can’t find my gorgeous husband anywhere. It’s such a shame.”
