Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 480(@300wpm)
“Thanks, but I think we’re just going up to the terrace,” I tell him.
“Of course.” He nods, but something flickers in his expression. “Just give me one moment to get clearance upstairs. We have a limited capacity tonight.”
He steps out of earshot to make a quick phone call, and a minute later, we’re met by another member of security.
“Miss St. James, I’ll escort you and your friends to the terrace.”
“Okay…thanks.”
The situation only gets weirder as we walk through the club and the rest of the staff members glance our way. Before we can even enter the elevator, a server arrives to greet us.
“Hi, Miss St. James.” She offers me a bright smile. “I’m Kelly, and I’ll be your personal attendant this evening. Is there anything I can bring you to start?”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” I shift. “We can just order from the bar on the terrace.”
“Take the service.” Lucia elbows me in the side. “This is great.”
Kelly smiles. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m happy to bring you anything you need.”
“In that case, we’ll have two of your Original Sin cocktails,” Lucia says.
“I’ll take a whiskey sour.” Giovanni sniffs. “My friend will be joining us too. His name is Tommy Romano.”
“Excellent.” Kelly nods. “I’ll escort your friend up when he arrives, and I’ll get those drinks to you shortly.”
The three of us follow security into the elevator, and when we reach the top floor, he directs us across the terrace.
“Right this way, Miss St. James. We’ve reserved a private table for you.”
I thank him, and Lucia raises a brow at me when we see it. It’s not just a private table. It’s an elevated alcove with lush greenery, a waterfall feature, and panoramic views of the city.
“Enjoy your evening, Miss St. James.” The guard dips his head and walks away.
“Okay, who did you blow to get this kind of treatment?” Lucia asks.
“I wish I knew.” I take a seat on the lounge, glancing around the space. “The last time we were here, I was convinced the server might poison me.”
“Well, whatever happened, I could get used to this.”
“You can’t even reserve this lounge,” Gio remarks. “I guess it’s good to have friends in high places.”
It seems like more of a sarcastic observation, but I let it go. The only thing I can conclude is that Cristian’s security team saw me here with him on the last visit and made a note of it. In that context, I imagine all the boss’s friends get this treatment.
Lucia and Gio make small talk while I settle in and appreciate the view. It’s a beautiful night, and now that I’m here, I’m glad I came.
Kelly brings us our cocktails, along with a chef’s menu. After looking it over, I realize something I rather wish I hadn’t.
They don’t have strawberry waffles, which means Cristian must have requested them for me. I doubt it’s a coincidence, but I have no idea how he knows they’re my favorite.
It’s another thought I’ll have to file away for later.
Eventually, Gio’s friend arrives and takes the seat next to mine.
“Hey, I’m Tommy.” He jerks his chin at me. “You were here last time, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, that was me.” I try not to grimace at the memory.
“Tommy kept asking who Lucia’s pretty friend was,” Gio teases.
“Can’t help it.” Tommy eases back against the lounge. “You were hard not to notice.”
“I’m sure the Fish-bowl really helped.” I force a smile.
It’s obvious that Gio invited Tommy for a reason, and that reason is he probably thinks this is a double date.
“I was just hoping you’d come over and hang out with us,” Tommy says. “But I guess fortune smiled on me tonight, because here you are.”
“I need to borrow Chantel for a sec.” Lucia stands and gestures me outside the lounge, pulling me far enough away that the men can’t hear us.
“Are you good with this?” she asks. “I swear I didn’t realize Tommy was into you. I got pretty drunk that night, so I don’t even remember him mentioning it.”
“It’s fine,” I assure her. “I know you would have told me if you knew.”
“But what do you think of him?” She steals a glance at the lounge. “He’s cute, right?”
“I’m sure he’s great,” I tell her. “But I’m not interested.”
“Dang.” Lucia deflates. “I was kind of hoping you were so we could both get married, have babies, and do everything together because they’re best friends.”
I laugh, and she smiles.
“A girl can dream.” She shrugs.
“Those are for Mr. Vitale,” a server calls out to another as she passes by.
My gaze follows the direction she points—and my stomach hollows out.
“Oh, Cristian’s here,” Lucia observes. “Looks like someone’s getting cozy over there. I never would have pegged him as a romantic.”
The scene does look nauseatingly romantic. Lit candles, bottles of wine, and a familiar woman.
I recognize her from Marco’s party because she was sizing me up like I was competition. Cristian told me she wasn’t his girlfriend, but they seem pretty well acquainted when she fondles his tie and whispers something in his ear.