Page 17 of Ruin
All this socialising is actually exhausting, and I’m ready to climb back into bed. But I know that if I say no, it will just give Sebastian more to worry about. So I allow her to lead me from the room, aware of the way Sebastian watches us while he puts our plates into the dishwasher.
“So, I guess we’ll start here on the ground floor. Like Sebastian said, that’s the kitchen we use for every day meals. The other one is more for official use, and the chef Sebastian uses would most likely die if any of us touched his set up, so we tend to stay out of that one.” She points to the door next to us, and I nod, wondering what kind of official events take place here where they’d need a professional chef.
Again, probably not something I’ll ever be told about.
Imogen continues down the hall, coming to a stop before another door. “And this is the gym, which you are free to use whenever you want.” She pushes the door open, revealing a room that is far larger than I’d expected.
There are several treadmills, exercise bikes and a step machine, and the walls are lined with weight machines. There are also four people inside, and I freeze in the doorway. I’ve become so used to avoiding the company of others that my first instinct is to turn and run, but Imogen ushers me inside as they all give me curious looks.
“Guys, this is Lily. She’s…” Imogen pauses, obviously trying to work out how to explain my presence. “She’s a friend of Sebastian’s and will be staying here for a while.” She waves a hand towards the three women and the man who are spread across the room on various pieces of equipment. “On the stepper, that’s Daniella. She moved out a few weeks ago but you’ll still see her around.” The gorgeous blonde woman gives me a wave with a smile, and I nod back. “And over there, on the treadmill, that’s Sabrina.” The curvy red head greets me the same way, slowing the treadmill to a walk. “On the bike, we have Kresta.” Another beautiful blonde, this one with curls piled on top of her head.
I assume they are more of the sex workers, as all three women are dressed in expensive looking tiny workout shorts and sports bras of varying colours, and hold themselves with confidence. Like they know they are beautiful but don’t care.
I wonder what it’s like to be so utterly comfortable in your own skin?
“And that one posing in front of the mirror is Dante,” Imogen finishes, smirking at the shirtless guy who is finishing a set of bicep curls while watching us in the mirror.
He is gorgeous, with a perfectly sculpted body, tanned skin and light brown hair. He could be a model. Or a movie star.
“Hey! I was not posing,” he argues, his beautiful face twisting into a pout as he turns to face us.
He has a faint accent, which I can’t quite place. Maybe French?
“You were one hundred percent posing,” Kresta replies with a giggle.
“Why would I be posing? I don’t need to pose when I’m this pretty.” He winks in my direction, and the instinct to run grows stronger.
“Stop flirting, brat,” Sabrina says, shaking her head. “She’s Sebastian’s friend, remember.”
“I can’t turn it off, you know that.” Dante shrugs.
Imogen just shakes her head when he grins at me. “He is a giant puppy dog.”
“Yeah, he might even hump your leg,” Daniella says, causing the others to laugh.
Dante tuts. “Only when asked, thank you very much.”
I have absolutely no idea how to respond to any of this, and Imogen must sense my discomfort. She gently links her arm through mine, steering me back towards the door.
“Anyway, if you see Lily around, say hi. No leg humping, though,” she calls back over her shoulder, and a chorus of laughs follows us out of the room.
“Dante is harmless, I promise,” Imogen murmurs to me as the door closes behind us and I let out a breath.
“I’m sure he is… I’m just… I don’t really know how to talk to men these days,” I say quietly, surprising myself at my honesty.
There’s just something about Imogen, and Annika, that makes me feel comfortable enough to let my guard down a little.
She cocks her head to the side but doesn’t ask any questions, which I’m grateful for.
“Well, don’t worry. All the men who work here are respectful of women and would hate to make you uncomfortable. Especially Dante. Like I said, giant puppy dog, and an absolute sweetheart. He’s basically one of us girls, really.”
I nod. “Okay.”
She continues with the tour, taking me back through the entrance foyer, bypassing the spiral staircase that leads downstairs.
“What’s down there?” I ask, pointing towards the stairs.
She pauses, glancing at me. “Um… The club.”
