L
Opening my eyes against the bright sunlight, I squinted, realizing I had forgotten to close the blinds last night. Then Jennie's scent hit me, and I rolled over to an empty bed. Shit. She was gone.
I had slept through her leaving for work. Dammit. I had wanted to kiss her good morning. Did she remember to eat breakfast? Frustrated, I threw the covers off and sat up. Jennie had a job. I had to accept that. She wouldn't let me not accept it. Even if it sucked. I didn't like her working so much, especially after I had kept her busy most of the night. There had been very little sleep.
She was going to be so tired today. When she got off work, I would feed her and then give her a massage and bathe her. Tonight I would make up for the fact that I had fucked her like a madman all night. We would go to bed early. She would get her rest. I could keep from fucking her for one night. But I would probably eat her pussy. I only had so much selfrestraint.
I decided to skip a shower. I could smell Jennie on my skin, and I wasn't willing to wash that off just yet. I wanted to be reminded for the rest of the day of how fucking lucky I was.
By the time I had made my way downstairs to get something to eat, it was almost noon. The doorbell chimed, and urgent knocking followed. "Lisa! Open the door! My hands are full!" Rosé yelled from the other side.
Crap.
I opened the door, and my sister stood there with her hair up in large rollers, several shopping bags, and a garment bag that said "Saint Laurent." What the hell?
"Rosé, why are you at my door with shopping bags? And last time I checked, there wasn't a Saint Laurent or"—I glanced at the bags in her hands—"BVLGARI or Celine in Rosemary Beach. Where did this shit come from?"
Rosé dropped her bags and looked at me like I was the one who had lost my mind. "Manhattan. I bought them when I was there last month. I have two dresses from Celine that I'm just not sure about. And then the shoes . . . that's another story. I can't even begin to decide. I need to know what you plan on wearing, and I need to use the bathroom in Mom's room for my stylist to fix my hair and makeup. There's more room here than at my place. Besides, this way, we can ride together," she said, as if any of what she was saying made sense.
I had no idea what the hell she thought I was doing, but if a naked Jennie wasn't involved, neither was I. "What are you talking about?" I asked, wishing I had gotten at least one cup of coffee before Rosé had arrived with her crazy ranting.
She froze halfway up the stairs and turned to look at me. Her face said drama was about to ensue. Shit. "Tonight, Lisa. Did you forget? Really?" Rosé's voice went an octave higher, and I knew she was about to get hysterical.
Fuck, I needed some coffee.
"Oh, my God! You did forget. You're so wrapped up in her that you can't remember something this important to me." Rosé was now yelling.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples, hoping I wouldn't end up with a headache from this. I just wanted to drink coffee and plan my evening with Jennie. Not this mess. "Rosé, I just woke up. Please stop yelling at me," I said.
"Stop yelling? You're really going to tell me to stop yelling when my own sister forgot that tonight is the debutante ball? I've been planning my debutante ball since I was five. You know that. You know how important tonight is. But you forgot!"
Motherfucker. I did not want to escort my sister to a ball where a bunch of spoiled females dressed up and tried to outdo one another for hours. Jennie did not factor into this equation, and I wanted to be with her.
"You don't want to go," Rosé said with a loud wail. She sounded like a child.
"I forgot. I'm sorry. But you haven't mentioned it in months, and you know this isn't my thing."
Rosé threw down the bag in her hand.
Great. We were going to have a temper tantrum with articles of clothing that cost me a fucking fortune. Jennie was working her ass off daily, and my sister was buying shoes with my money that cost more than Jennie could make in two weeks. Fucking unfair. I hated this. I hated not being able to give Jennie everything she wanted.
"Are you saying you won't take me, Lisa? I have no mom or father here to take me. You're the only one I have. My escort has to be a family member who's also a member of the club. I have no one else. Just you." She wasn't yelling anymore. She sounded hurt. The lost little girl who needed her big sister to save the day.
"Of course, I'm going to take you, Rosé. I just forgot. And you started yelling at me before I had any fucking coffee," I said, not wanting to see the sadness in her eyes.
She sniffed and nodded stiffly. "OK. Thank you," she said, then bent to pick up the bag she had thrown down. "After you have coffee and are less mean, could you please bring my other bags up?" she asked as she continued up the steps.
She didn't need me to answer. She knew I would do it. I went to the kitchen. I had to get my anger under control. Going to this thing tonight mad wasn't fair to Rosé. It was just one night. I would explain it to Jennie. She would understand, because she was . . . Jennie. She didn't expect me to do anything. She didn't require anything from me. She was the first person in my life to just want me for me. Not for favors.
My chest tightened. She would probably be asleep by the time I got home. I wanted her in my bed. I didn't want her going to sleep in the other bedroom. I wasn't sleeping without her.
I poured my coffee and downed it, then poured another cup, before heading back to the foyer to pick up all the shit Rosé had brought in. She was coming down the stairs when I started up.
"Do you have the combination to Mom's jewelry box? I want to wear her sapphire necklace that she bought at Tiffany's that Christmas."
"I'll unlock it for you." I wasn't going to tell her to call Mom. There was a good chance Mom would say no, and then Rosé would break down, and I would have to clean that mess up, too.
Rosé grinned. "Thank you! I'm going to wear one of the Saint Laurent dresses, and that necklace will go perfectly. I think she bought those earrings that go so well with them, too. Or she borrowed them." Rosé waved a hand as if it didn't matter. "No biggie. The necklace will go with the diamond teardrops."
I left her prattling about jewelry, took the bags to Mom's room, and dropped them on the bed. I had several tuxes here; I would just pick one. What I was wearing wasn't an issue. But I needed to talk to Jennie first. Let her know where I would be tonight.
It turned out she'd be working. My calls had gone straight to her voice mail, which meant her phone had been off or dead, which wasn't surprising, knowing Jennie and the importance she put on having a cell phone. When I had called the club, I had gotten Mino on the phone. He'd informed me that Jennie was busy. They were slammed getting ready for tonight. Then he'd told me Jennie would be working and warned me that if Rosé said one thing to her, he would have her escorted out. Then he'd hung up on me.
Fucker.
J
Leaving Lisa in bed this morning had been hard. She'd been sleeping so peacefully I hadn't wanted to wake her up. I'd refrained from kissing her face before I left. Asleep she seemed so worry free. I didn't realize how intense and on guard she was until I'd watched her sleep and seen her completely at peace.
Opening the door to the staffroom I was greeted to the smell of fresh donuts and a smiling Jimin.
"Good morning sunshine," he said cheerily as always.
"That remains to be seen… are you gonna share those donuts or not?"
He held the box out to me. "I bought two extras just for you doll. I knew my Alabama bombshell was coming to work today and I didn't want to be empty handed."
I sat down across from him and reached for my donut. "If I thought you'd enjoy it I'd kiss your face," I teased.
Jimin wiggled his eyebrows, "Who knows, baby? A face like yours can lead a man astray."
Laughing, I took a bite of the fluffy warm goodness. This wasn't healthy but it was so dang good.
"Eat up because we got us a long ass day ahead. The debutante ball is tonight and we won't be in the dining room. We'll all be sent to the ballroom and forced to walk around with trays of food and then serve them all at a sit down dinner."
Debutante ball? What the heck was that? "Is that why there are so many trucks outside with flowers and decorations?"
Jimin nodded and reached for another chocolate covered donut. "Yep. Happens every year during this week. Crazy rich mommas strut their daughters around and introduce them to society. After tonight, the girls will be considered women and treated as an adult member of the club. They can be on committees and the like. It's crazy ass bullshit is what it is. Especially since Rosé turned twenty-one a few weeks back. That means she gets to be released into mother fucking adulthood."
Rosé was a debutante. That was interesting. Her mother wasn't here. Did this mean she was returning? My heart sped up… I'd have to leave soon. Lisa hadn't told me that anything had changed about my moving out. When I left would she still see me?
"Breathe, Jennie. It's just a damn ball," Jimin said. I took a deep breath. I hadn't realized I'd started to panic. This is why I'd wanted to keep my distance. I knew this day was coming. Would my dad be home today then?
"What time does it start?" I managed to ask without a hitch in my voice.
"Seven but they will close down the dinning at five to get us ready."
I nodded and put the rest of my donut down. I couldn't finish it. Today would be a waiting game. I felt the phone in my pocket but I couldn't text Lisa. I didn't want her to tell me any bad news through a text message. I'd just wait.
"Jennie, I need to see you a moment in my office," Mino's voice broke into my thoughts. My eyes shot to Jimin's and his were wide with concern. Great. What had I done?
I stood up and turned to face Mino. He didn't look angry. He smiled at me and it gave me the courage I needed to walk toward him. He held the door open for me and I stepped out into the hall.
"Relax, Jennie. You aren't in trouble. We just need to discuss tonight."
Oh. Whew. I took a deep breath and nodded then followed him to a door at the end of the hall.
"I don't get anything glamorous. Dad believes in making me work my way to the top. Even if I'll inherit the club one day." Mino rolled his eyes while opening the office door and waved me inside. The room was as large as my bedroom at Lisa's. It had two large picture windows overlooking the eighteenth hole.
Mino walked over to sit on the edge of his desk instead of behind it. I appreciated his trying not to make this very formal. That would make me nervous.
"The Debutante Ball is tonight. It is an annual event around here. We make spoiled little rich bitches into adults. It's a stupid pain in the ass that makes the club over fifty million dollars in profits with fees, donations and the like. So we can't stop the nonsense. Not that my mother would if she could. She was a debutante once upon a time and you'd think she had been crowned queen of England to hear her talk about it."
I wasn't feeling better about tonight. This explanation was making it worse.
"Rosé is twenty- one now. So, she'll be a debutante. I looked over the line up and Lisa will be her escort; it's traditional for the girl's parents or older brother and sister to escort her. The escort must also be a member of the club. I don't know what is going on with you and Lisa but I do know that Rosé hates you. I don't need drama tonight. I do however, need you. You're one of our best. Question is, can you do this without a catfight? Because Rosé will do her best to push your buttons. It will be all on you to ignore it. You may be dating a member but you're the help. Doesn't change that. The member is always right. The club will have to side with Rosé if a fight were to break out."
What was he expecting? This wasn't high school. We were all adults. I could ignore Rosé and Lisa all night if need be.
"I can do this. No problem."
Mino gave a brisk nod. "Good, because the pay is excellent and you need the experience."
"I can do it," I reassured him.
Mino stood up. "I'm trusting that you can. You can go help Jimin with breakfast now. He is probably cursing us both."
The rest of the day flew by and I was so busy with preparations that had no time to think about Rosé or my father's return. Or Lisa. Now I was standing in the kitchen with every other server on staff. I was in a white and black server dress with my hair pulled up onto my head in a bun. I was beginning to get butterflies in my stomach.
This was the first time I'd have to face the differences between Lisa and me. Her world versus mine. They would collide tonight. I had prepared myself for any remarks Rosé might make about me. I had even spoken with Jimin about being a buffer and keeping me from having to go near Rosé. I wanted to see Lisa or even speak to her but I had a feeling that would be frowned on.
"Show time. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks people. You know your job. Let's go." Darla was running the show tonight backstage. I picked up my tray of martinis and headed for the line-up at the door. Everyone left quickly and we all made different paths through the crowd. Mine was a semicircle clockwise. Unless I saw Rosé, then I turned counterclockwise and Jimin went clockwise. It was a good plan. I just hoped it worked.
The first couple I walked up to didn't even acknowledge me as they chatted and took a drink from the tray. That was easy enough. I made it through several more groups. Some of the men and women I recognized from the golf course. They would always nod and smile when they noticed me but that was it.
Halfway through the room my tray was empty and I made a mental note of the stopping point. I hurried back to the kitchen for more drinks. Darla was waiting for me. She shoved a new tray of martinis at me and shooed me away.
I made it back to my spot only having to stop twice and allow someone to get a drink off the tray. Mr. Jenkins called out my name and waved. I smiled back at him. He played eighteen holes every Friday and Saturday. It amazed me that a ninety-year-old man could get around that well. He also came in for coffee black and two poached eggs Monday through Friday mornings.
As I turned back from smiling his way my eyes locked with Lisa's. I had tried hard not to look for her although I knew she was here. It was Rosé's big night. Lisa wouldn't miss it. No reason she should. Rosé was mean but she was her sister. It was me she detested. Not Lisa.
Her face looked pained and her small smile was forced. I smiled back at her trying really hard not to think about her weird greeting. At least she had looked my way. I hadn't known what to expect from her.
Doctor and Mrs. Wallace both greeted me and told me they missed seeing me on the golf course. I lied and told them I missed it too. Then I headed back to the kitchen for yet another tray.
Darla shoved a tray with champagne at me, "Go, go, hurry," she barked.
I walked as swiftly as I could with a tray full of champagne flutes. Once in the ballroom I started my same path again through members who were deeper in conversations and I was just a tray of drinks. I liked this better. I didn't feel on edge.
Jisoo's familiar giggle caught my attention and I turned to look for her. I hadn't seen her in the kitchen earlier. I'd assumed Darla hadn't wanted her to work this function. Or Mino's dad hadn't.
Jisoo wasn't dressed like us. She had on a clingy black chiffon dress and her long purple hair was piled up on her head with ringlets hanging down around her face. She turned her head, catching my eyes, and she broke into a huge grin. I watched as she hurried over to me. The stiletto heels she was wearing didn't even slow her down.
"Can you believe that I'm here as a guest?" Jisoo asked, looking around us in awe and then back at me. I shook my head because I couldn't.
"When Bobby came to my apartment on his knees and begging last night I told him if he wanted me he had to claim me as his girlfriend in public. He agreed and well, you get the picture. Things got real hot up in my apartment. But anyways here I am," she gushed.
Bobby had manned up. Good for him. I glanced over her shoulder to see Bobby watching us. I smiled at him and nodded my approval. He flashed me a crooked grin with a shrug.
"I'm glad to know he got some sense knocked into him," I replied.
Jisoo squeezed my arm. "Thank you," she whispered.
She didn't have anything to thank me for but I smiled. "Go have a good time. I've got to get these all passed out before your aunt comes out here and catches me talking."
"Okay. I will, I wish you could enjoy it with me, though." Her eyes glanced over my shoulder. I knew she was looking at Lisa. She was here and she was ignoring me in front of all these people. She was doing it for Rosé's sake but did that make it any better?
It slowly dawned on me. I'd become Jisoo.
"I need the money so I can get my own place," I told her with a forced smile. "Go mingle," I encouraged her and walked off to the next group of people.
The eyes following me sent a burning sensation up my neck. I knew Lisa was watching me. I didn't have to turn and see her to confirm it. Had she just had the same realization that I had? I doubted it. I had become available and easy. I was also the world's greatest hypocrite. I was now guilty of what I'd scolded and pitied Jisoo for.
The last champagne flute left my tray and I walked back through the crowd careful not to go near Lisa or Rosé. I didn't even glance their way. I had some pride left. I only had to stop three times for guests to put their empty flutes on my tray as I hurried back to the safety of the kitchen.
"Good you're back. Take this tray. We need some food out there before they all drink too much and we have a high-faluting drunken mess on our hands," Darla said, handing me a tray of things I didn't recognize. They also smelled bad. I scrunched my nose and held the tray away from me. Darla cackled with laughter.
"It's escargot, snails. They're disgusting but these people think they are a delicacy. Get over the smell and go." I felt my stomach roll. I could have done without that explanation. Escargot would have been a sufficient description.
When I reached the entrance to the ballroom I steadied myself and tried not to think about the snails I was giving people to eat or the fact that Lisa was in there acting like she didn't know me at all. After I'd spent the past two nights in her bed.
"You doing okay?" Mino asked when I walked inside the room. He was at my elbow looking concerned.
"Yes. Except for the fact I'm giving people snails to eat," I replied. Mino chuckled, took one from my tray and popped it into his mouth.
"You should try one. They're really very good. Especially soaked in garlic and butter."
My stomach rolled again and I shook my head. Mino laughed out loud this time. "You always make things more interesting, Jennie," he said, leaning down toward my ear. "I'm sorry about Lisa. Just for the record, if you'd have chosen me you wouldn't be working tonight. You'd be on my arm."
I felt my face flush. It was enough to know I was a dirty little secret but for others to realize it was humiliating. I'd wanted Lisa, though. So bad. Well, I'd got my wish alright.
"I need the money. I am very close to being able to afford a place of my own," I informed him matter of factly.
Mino gave me a brisk nod and a sympathetic smile before turning to greet an elderly guest who was passing by. I took that moment to get away. I had snails to feed people.
Jimin caught my eye and he winked at me reassuringly. He'd taken care of Lisa's side of the room brilliantly. I hadn't even gotten close to her. Jisoo smiled brightly at me when I arrived at her group. Her smile died when she looked at the food on my tray.
"What is that?" she asked in horror.
"You don't want to know," I informed her, causing Bobby and a guy I wasn't familiar with to laugh.
"Probably best that you let this pass on by," Bobby told Jisoo as he tucked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to his side affectionately.
She beamed up at him and that was all the sweet romance I could take. I hurried on to the next group. The curly red hair was familiar. It took me a second to place her. The evil venom in her smile reminded me exactly where I'd seen her before. She had been after Mino at Lisa's house the night of Rosé's party. I hadn't made a fan that night thanks to Mino.
"Isn't this fun?" she said, turning her attention away from the couple she'd been talking to and focusing on me. "Guess Mino decided you were more suited to work for him than date him." She giggled and shook her head causing the red curls to bounce around. "I swear, this makes my night." She reached up and tipped my tray.
Snails ran down the front of my shirt followed by the tray clattering loudly on the floor. I was too stunned to move or speak.
"Oh and look she's super clumsy. Mino should be pickier about his employees," the girl hissed hatefully.
"Ohmygod! Jennie, are you okay?" Jisoo's voice came from behind me snapping me out of my shock.
I managed to shake off the snails still clinging to my clothing.
L
"Isn't that right, Lisa?" Rosé said, her overly bright voice sounding too high-pitched. She was pissed. She didn't want me watching Jennie, and that made me angry. I was here with her like she wanted. I was pretty sure she was wearing about ten grand's worth of clothing and accessories I had paid for, not counting our mother's necklace. And she was going to control whom I watched and spoke to? Fuck, no. She wasn't.
"Excuse me," I said, meaning to walk away, but Rosé's nails dug into my arm.
"I was just saying that Mom and Abe should be home soon from Paris. They can't honeymoon forever," she said with a fake smile.
I didn't want them home. "I hope not," I said. Her nails dug deeper into my arm. I jerked free of her death grip.
She laughed and slapped at my arm. "She's a grouch at these things. Doesn't do tuxes well."
"She's a rock star's daughter. I doubt that requires you to wear a tux often," Mr. Drummond said in an amused tone.
I didn't point out to him that my rock-star father could buy him and his company several times over. I wasn't going to waste my breath. "No. Not a lot of reasons to wear one."
"What is Nancy saying to that server? She looks like she's about to—" Hyeri slammed her hand over her mouth, and I turned to see what was going on.
Jennie stood in the middle of the room with escargots all over the front of her clothing, and the tray she'd been carrying clattered loudly at her feet. She was frozen with shock and horror. Nancy, Rosé's friend, was cackling with laughter.
"Oh, and look, she's super clumsy. Mino should be pickier about his employees," Nancy said loudly.
Rosé's hand grabbed my arm, but I threw her off and stalked toward Jennie. That Nancy bitch would pay for this.
"Move," I roared, shoving Nancy and her friends out of my way so I could get to Jennie. Grabbing her by the waist, I stared down at her. "Are you OK?" I asked, checking for any harm done to her body other than the buttery slime all over her. She nodded, but her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and I was ready to start tearing limbs from bodies. No one was allowed to touch her. No one. I couldn't turn to look completely at Nancy. I was too close to hurting her. "Don't come near me or her again. Understood?" I said in a voice meant for her and anyone else standing around who thought messing with Jennie was acceptable.
"What are you mad at me for? She's the clumsy one. She dumped the whole tray all over herself," Nancy said in a high-pitched, annoying voice. God, she was a bitch.
"If you utter one more word, I'll threaten to remove all my contributions from this club until you are escorted out. Permanently," I warned her.
"But I'm Rosé's friend, Lisa. Her oldest friend. You wouldn't do that to me. Especially for the hired help." She sounded shocked. I was about to give her something to be shocked about.
"Test me," I said, leveling my furious glare on her so she knew not to go there with me. I turned back to Jennie. "You're coming with me," I told her.
I glanced back to see Jisoo standing there, ready to take Nancy down right in front of everyone. "I have her, Jisoo. She's OK. Go on back to Bobby," I said. Then I turned back to Jennie. "Watch out for the snails; they're slippery." I had to get her out of here. Safely. She had gotten hurt. I hadn't protected her again. I should have been here with her. I fucked up. This was my fault. I always failed her.
When we stepped out of the ballroom and into the dark hallway that led back to the kitchen and offices, Jennie broke free from my hold and moved away from me. She crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive move. She was upset. I had let this happen.
"Jennie, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting something like that to happen. I didn't even know she had issues with you. I'm going to talk to Rosé about this. I have a feeling she had something to do with it—"
"The redhead hates me because of Mino's interest in me. Rosé had nothing to do with it, and neither did you."
That didn't make sense. Why was Nancy pissed over Mino? "Is Mino still hitting on you?" Jennie's eyes went wide, and she spun around and started to leave. I reached out and grabbed her arm. That was the wrong thing to say. Damn jealousy. I had to get a grip on that. "Jennie, wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that. That isn't the issue right now. I wanted to make sure you were OK and help get you cleaned up." It sounded like I was begging, which I was, to an extent.
She let out a sigh, and her shoulders slumped. "I'm fine. I need to go to the kitchen and see if I even still have a job. I was warned by Mino this morning that something like this might happen and it would be my fault. So right now, I have bigger problems than you suddenly feeling the need to be possessive of me. Which is ridiculous. Because you were doing your best to ignore me until this incident happened. You either know me or you don't, Lisa. Pick a team." She jerked her hand from mine and started toward the kitchen again. She was mad because I had ignored her? I had watched her every move, dammit.
"You were working. What did you want me to do?" I asked her. She stopped, and I took my chance to defend my actions. "Acknowledging you would have given Rosé reason to attack you. I was protecting you."
Jennie's shoulders sagged. "You're right, Lisa. You ignoring me would keep Rosé from attacking me. I'm just the girl you fucked the past two nights. All things considered, I'm not that special. I'm one of many." Then she ran from me.
I stood there, frozen, so damn confused. The sound of the doors slamming echoed down the hallway. She was hurt. I had been doing what I thought she wanted me to do, and I'd hurt her.
Did she really think she was just some girl I fucked? God, how could she not see what she meant to me? I was so completely obsessed with her that she controlled every decision I made. What the hell did she expect from me? I loved her, dammit!
