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“This engagement is about to become a whole lot more real, so I needed Giuliana to understand that she’s nothing but a business transaction to me. A means to an end. She needs to understand the role she’s going to be playing in my life.”
Standing from the couch, I pull Ashley up with me and glance back at my brother who looks awfully comfortable for someone who didn’t want to entertain these women not too long ago. “I refuse to deal with awifewho thinks she’s anything more to me than a name on a piece of paper when we have far bigger issues to work out with this merger.”
Enzo raises his hands. “Hey, you know I’m here for the bigger picture.”
After saying our goodbyes, I lead Ashley and I toward my office, and just as I predicted, Giuliana’s eyes are glued on me from her VIP table in the corner.
I knew she wouldn’t leave the club unless I ordered her to, and that would’ve defeated the purpose of allowing her to show up here tonight. Iwanther to see me bring Ashley into my office. Iwanther to know she’ll be getting me off tonight. Because the sooner she understands this upcoming marriage between us means nothing, the better it’ll be for both of us.
3
LUXTYN
Iwoke up this morning with that sinking feeling still in the pit of my stomach. When I texted my mom last night letting her know I got home from work, she never responded. Then I texted and called while I was at my day job, serving the breakfast and lunch crowds at a local diner, but she still hasn’t responded.
She could be busy working. Maybe her client has her doing other things, but it’s unlike her to not answer me.
I’m getting ready for my job at the bar when I decide to just call her repeatedly until she answers the phone. That seems like an annoying enough thing to do to elicit a response.
Pulling out my phone, I click on my mom’s number, but instead of the dial tone taking over the speaker, it goes straight to voicemail.
Voicemail.
She never turns her phone off, not even at night.
I try it again in hopes that maybe it’s a technological issue that has rectified itself in the past few seconds, but no,voicemail again. How the hell am I supposed to go to work when I don’t know what’s going on with my mom?
Glancing in my bathroom mirror, I tell myself to relax and that I’m just being paranoid. My mom is busy working and lost service. Everything is fine. I look down at my phone, willing it to light up with my mom’s picture, but it doesn’t.
“Don’t worry, Lux,” I mumble to my reflection in the mirror. “I’m sure she’ll text while I’m at work, and that’ll prove I’m just acting like a crazy person.”
As soon as I get to work, I’m distracted the entire time, constantly checking to see if she’s called or texted.
“Are you okay, Luxtyn?” someone asks while my head is buried in my phone.
I glance up to Kelly pouring a slew of beers from the tap. She’s eyeing the phone in my hand before I shove it in my back pocket. “Yeah, everything’s fine.” I point to the row of pint glasses she has lined up on the counter, waiting to be filled. “Do you need help with those?”
“Actually, yeah,” she says, tucking some strands of shoulder length golden blonde hair behind her ear. “If you could grab eight chilled tequila shots for this order, I’d appreciate it. Macie has that large group of guys over there who apparently came out to get shitfaced,” she says as she nods toward a group of guys that Macie’s busy entertaining.
“Yeah, I can do that.” I line up eight shot glasses and pour the tequila in the shaker with some ice.
I’m putting the filled shot glasses on a tray when Kelly comes up beside me, placing her first tray of beers on the counter next to the shots. “You seem distracted tonight.”
I shake my head. “Everything’s good.”
Even though Kelly and Macie are best friends, Kelly’s always been cordial. Even so, I’ve never been one to open up to people, so we’ve never gotten to know each other.
“You’ve been checking your phone a lot tonight. Are you expecting a call or something?”
She’s trying to be nice and make conversation, but opening up to her about my mom is the last thing I want to do. So instead of telling her about my concerns, I lie. “The Yankees and the Rays are playing tonight. I’m a huge Rays fan, so I’ve been stalking the game.”
Turning around, I walk down to the other end of the bar before Kelly can negate what I’m saying because I havenoidea if the Yankees and the Rays are playing tonight. I don’t even know if baseball games are on this late, but that was the only thing I could think of. I pray I got the hint across that I don’t want to talk and she leaves me alone for the rest of the night.
Thankfully, Kelly does just that, only occasionally speaking to me when she needs assistance with an order here and there. And Macie surprisingly does the same. I’m not sure if Kelly said something to her when they wandered off on their break earlier, but it’s not important. Right now, I need to figure out what’s going on with my mom because I know something is wrong.
4
MATTEO
