Page 60 of Asher Black (The Five Syndicates)
I don’t mind, because Carmen’s is only a block away. We could have walked, really. It’s far more practical than finding parking in New York City, especially near campus.
Turns out, we don’t have to worry about parking, since Xavier parks in a no parking zone without a care in the world.
“We’re not going to have a car to come back to when we leave.” Frowning, I point at the sign that reads, “Tow Zone.”
Xavier nods towards the front license plate. “They won’t tow this car or ticket it.”
I look at it. My eyes bulge when I realize they’re diplomatic plates. Seriously? How does one acquire diplomatic plates without actually being a diplomat? The amount of clout Asher has is astounding. I may have to steal a car from him when this is all done. I can get used to parking wherever I want in New York City.
Carmen’s is a family owned bar, whose main customers are students. I see a lot of them as I walk in. Most of them are congregated at the bar area, watching some sports game. The guys are watching the game, but the girls are watching the guys. It’s a sight so familiar it’s comforting.
I pass the bar area entirely and seat myself at one of the booths in the far back corner. Xavier, thankfully, sits himself at a different table while I wait for Aimee. He’s far enough that I’ll have privacy but close enough that he can get to me quickly if something goes wrong.
“I hate you. You missed—I don’t know—about four of our scheduled weekly lunches and dinners, you bitch.” Aimee sits down across from me, her arms crossed, clearly expecting me to grovel.
“You can blame Asher for that. I was being held hostage.” I turn the tables. “You didn’t think to come save me?” A fleeting smile crosses my lips as I mock, “You bitch.”
Aimee rolls her eyes and holds up her phone. “I didn’t even get an SOS text. Not a single one.”
She’s right. I didn’t want her to call in the cavalry. A few days into the engagement, I signed a formal contract, outlining the details of my arrangement with Asher. I’m getting a lot out of this deal. In addition to the free housing, food, job recommendation and clothes, he’s prepared to give me a condo in the area and a $2.5 million divorce settlement upon our separation.
We’ll be getting married quietly in a courthouse sometime within the next year and divorcing a year after that. All in all, I’ll be committing two years to this ruse, but I’ll be financially secure for the rest of my life. It’s a generous offer, one Asher certainly didn’t have to offer me.
But I’m starting to see why he did.
It’s the bait, and I’ve taken it—hook, line and sinker.
No way am I going to ruin this for myself, even if I do have to hide in his penthouse while I wait for some damn clothes to be made. God forbid I make a fashion faux paus and embarrass Asher.
I sigh and give her the apology she deserves. “I’m sorry. I really have missed you.”
And I have. When she was my roommate, I often found myself needing space from her. But now that she isn’t, I find myself missing her. I’ve heard the saying “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” before, but I never knew it applies to friendships, too.
Like all lessons in life, I learned the hard way.
Her eyes are glistening as she says, “I didn’t realize how important you are to me until you vanished off the face of the planet.”
I’m glad it’s not just me. My heart swells at her words, though I try to steer our conversation away from the heavy stuff. I’ve never been too good at talking about feelings.
“I didn’t vanish! You could’ve come visit me.”
“I tried.”
“What?!” I’m angry now. “And they didn’t let you up?”
“No.” A faint blush spreads across her face.
I’ve never seen her blush before, and it causes me to sit up straight.
She admits, “I couldn’t bring myself to go up. I was outside the building, too. I just saw all of these guards, and it was pretty intimidating.”
Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now. Aimee is the fearless one between the two of us, yet here I am, living in a building she’s afraid to enter. When did the tables turn in our friendship? How did we get here?
“It’s not as scary as you’re picturing. It’s actually a really nice place.”
Her eyes dart cautiously to Xavier’s table. Her tone is gentle but serious when she asks in a whisper, “Are you in danger, Lucy? You would tell me if you are, right? I promise I’ll take it seriously.”
My heart warms, unfamiliar with being cared for but liking it nevertheless. “I’m safe, Aimee. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t feel right. There are contracts and agreements in place to protect me if anything goes wrong. The only way I see this going wrong is if I breach the contract, which I have no reason to. I’m being treated well, and I’ll gain so much from this when it’s over. This is a smart decision for me.”
