Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“No, I’m good, thank you.” I realize I never even drank the whiskey sitting in front of me, because I was so focused on Lux. “I’m just going to walk Miss Cross out.”
“Sure thing.” His lips are tight as he steps back, and I help Lux to her feet. “Do you have a coat?” I glare down at her bunny suit that I believe was manufactured with the specific purpose of driving me insane.
“Um, yes. We got dressed here before our shift, but I just planned on covering up until I got home.” She worries her bottom lip, and I have the sneaking suspicion she’s thinking about how she’s going to get herself out of this costume.
“I’ll wait for you out back,” I say and walk her toward the exit. She goes toward the kitchen to grab her things, and I step outside into the cool spring night.
It’s chilly, but when I take a deep breath, it’s refreshing. Something about the night feels different, like I haven’t really paid attention to it before. Are the stars brighter? I blink a few times, and something feels off inside of me, but I can’t place it. I’m warm from the inside out, and the only difference from when I walked in is Lux.
The back door opens, and when she steps out she’s got a coat that covers just enough for her to appear naked underneath. Great, and here I was thinking her outfit couldn’t possibly get any more obscene.
“Can I give you a ride home?” I nod toward my driver on the other side of the parking lot, and she worries that damn lip again. Why is she unsure now that we’re out here and alone? We were less safe in that basement with all those lechers.
Just as she opens her mouth to answer, we both turn to the noise coming from the other side of the parking lot. There are several town cars and a couple of limos parked back here, but I see movement behind a few of them and then a woman cries out.
I rush over, and when I make it to the other side of the car I freeze when I see one of the bunnies from tonight being pinned to a sports car by Stan, one of our board members.
“Hey!” I bark, and they both turn to me in surprise. Stan straightens up and adjusts his tie as the bunny clutches the front of her costume that’s obviously been torn open. I look away to save her the embarrassment and take a step toward Stan. “What’s going on back here?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Bastian. We’re fine.”
“Here, take my coat,” Lux offers, and I see out of my peripheral that she undresses and hands it over to the bunny.
The two of them move out from behind the cars, and I wait a beat before I lean in close to Stan. “What the fuck were you doing with her?”
“Bastian.” A cold chill climbs up my back as the head of the board Richard Seymore steps up behind me. He puts a friendly hand on my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze as he smiles at me and then at Stan. “Looks like Stan here was just having a little fun. Right, Stan?” He raises an eyebrow in question, and Stan hurries to agree.
“You know how these girls are. They’re all hot for it until it’s time to pay up.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. I’ve got a couple waiting in my car if you want to join us.” He says it to Stan, but he turns to me. “We’re going back to my place. Why don’t you come back for a nightcap, Bastian?”
The implication is clear. I’m supposed to agree to this, and under no terms am I to cause waves right now. The anger I feel right now doesn’t burn like fire, it’s like a hurricane at sea, and it won’t be held back much longer.
I clench my fist and glance over to where Lux is talking to the bunny. I realize they’re arguing. The girl is trying to give Lux her coat back and talking in low whispers. Lux looks defeated, and the girl stares back our way. To my surprise, she glances at Stan and Richard and then stomps away into the night. Lux is left standing there holding onto her coat for only a second until she goes after the bunny.
Before I can stop her, I see the two of them get into the back of a taxi and take off without so much as a goodbye.
“Oh too bad, looks like yours got away too.” Richard's smile is almost evil as he throws his arm around Stan’s shoulder and they make their way to his limo. “Enjoy your evening, Bastian,” he calls over his shoulder as I stand there in the empty lot, feeling like I’m the thing that’s empty now.