A Life Like This (Life #1) (17 page)

The cabbie drops me off on the corner across from the club. I can tell it’s still too early to go in, so I decide I’ll find somewhere to sit and eat until the line starts to form. I turn to head into the other direction when I lose my balance and nearly fall flat on my ass. Luckily, solid arms catch me before I fall.

“Angelica?” I look up into the eyes of Jon Harper. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, sorry. I’m a klutz. I didn’t realize how early I was. I’m going to go find somewhere to chill until its time.” I smile at him, and I realize I’m still in his arms and I’m not trying to pull out of them. My body is too loose. I don’t think I could get out of his arms if I tried.

“Don’t be stupid, come in. Are you hungry? I can have food ordered for you.”

“Actually, I am. I haven’t eaten since noon.”

“Perfect, come in I’ll order us some really good fish from a restaurant nearby.”

“Sounds perfect.” He holds out his hand for me to take as he leads the way into his club.

“You look amazing by the way, Angelica. Stunning.”

“Thank you.” The club is quiet, although there is a lot of hustle and bustle with people setting up for the evening. I sway a little as I walk.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks me.

“I may have had a few shots before coming here. It’s been a rough day.”

“Hmm, pre-drinking I see. Come on. Let’s get some food in you then. Wouldn’t want you to pass out on me. Tonight is going to be a lot of fun.” The way he whispers the last part of that in my ear gives me the chills. I follow him through the club, getting stares along the way. He takes me to his office in the back, one I have very vivid memories of, just not ones involving him. I make myself comfortable on his couch as he heads to his desk to order our food.

Fifteen minutes later, food is delivered to his office door by one of the VIP hosts. I can tell by the getup she is wearing. She eyes me angrily. I wonder if she is fucking Jon. I sure as hell am not! I start to giggle uncontrollably when she stares at me. She shakes her head and walks back to where she came from.

“What was so funny?”

“Her, do you fuck her? Is that why she was giving me the stink eye?” I ask him bluntly. He laughs at me.

“No, Angelica, I don’t fuck her. I don’t fuck anyone I employ.” He stares at me, and I know he wants to say more, but he doesn’t.

I eat some of my food, but not all of it. The pills haven’t knocked me on my ass like I thought they would. Instead, I feel like I’m in a perpetual fog. I’m here, but not here. I feel so out of it. Maybe more liquor would help.

“Don’t you have to get out there?”

“Yeah, you ready to head out? I have to talk to a few people, but I won’t be long. Wait for me at the VIP bar. Come on, I’ll walk you there.” He grabs my hand again and helps me out of my seat. He pulls me flush to his chest and just stares at me. I smile at him then pull away.

“I’m going to leave my clutch on your desk. Is that cool?” I ask.

“It will be safe.” I walk to his desk and place my clutch on top, and then head back to him. He shakes his head before grabbing my hand again. “I can’t promise that purse won’t end up on the floor after we get back here tonight.” He puts his fingers under my chin and lifts my face to his. “You are so Goddamn hot. I want to rip that dress off you and fuck you while you’re still wearing those killer heels.” I have to hold back my laugh. I know Blake doesn’t like Jon, but they are more similar than he thinks. I shake my head.

“Let’s get out there. I’ll be waiting for you at the bar. Lead the way.” We walk hand in hand out of his office. The club has more people than it did the first time I came through, but it’s all employees and staff setting up for the I.P. Vodka launch. The I.P. logo is being projected all over the walls. All the waitresses and hosts are wearing shirts with the logo on them. You can’t come in here and not know what the theme is. We reach the VIP section and Jon walks behind the bar and talks to the bartender. They both turn and look at me and the bartender nods as if understanding what Jon is telling him. They both walk over to me.

“Angelica, this is Finn. He is our best bartender. Anything you want, you just ask him, okay? You’re on me tonight.” He winks at me, clearly hinting at the double meaning of his words. Jesus, does this work on other women?

“Hi, Finn, can I have a patron shot, then a vodka cran?”

“Coming right up.” Finn busies himself in prepping my drinks as Jon walks back out to me.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, enjoy yourself.” With that, he walks away.

“Lime in your vodka cran?”

“God yes! Thank you for asking. It’s the only way I drink it.” I smile at him. He’s a cute boy, but he is just that, a boy.

“Thought so.” He slides me my shot and I toss it back quickly. He laughs and then hands me another. I tilt my head and stare at him. What’s his deal? He trying to get me drunk for the boss? Lucky for him, I’m not going to try and hold back tonight. I toss the second shot back just as he hands me my mixed drink. The music starts to pick up and people start to trickle in. Soon, I’m surrounded by people. My drink never empties. Finn has my refill before I even realize I’m low. He throws a shot in here and there. By this point, I know I should stop, but I can’t. The more I drink, the less I feel. The music starts to pick up and I can’t help my body from swaying to the beat.

Eventually, a guy asks me to dance and I accept because I need to move my body. I chug the rest of my drink then let him lead me to the VIP dance floor on wobbly feet. A remix of the song “Fancy” is playing loudly. My hips are swaying before we reach the dance floor. He’s an okay dancer, and I make up for where he slacks. I sway my hips into his pelvis and can feel his dick on my ass, making me smile. It’s nice to have the power to do that to a man. He grabs my hips and pulls me closer to him. I can hardly stand on my own two feet so I let him, happy to have the help. He turns me around and puts his hands on my ass. I try to push him off, but my attempts are weak. I feel as if I have no muscles on my body. I see him tilt his head and come at me for a kiss, and before I can pull away, Jon is pulling the stranger away from me.

“Fuck off,” Jon growls at him. The guy turns to say something, but when he sees Jon, he raises his hands in surrender and walks away. “Looks to me like someone has had a bit too much to drink.” He grabs my arms to steady me as I’ve started swaying. “Let’s go back to my office.” I know this is a horrible idea. Even in the state I am, I know I will regret this one, but I just can’t help it. I wobbly follow him to his office. I think I’m doing fine, but I’m obviously more gone than I thought. Jon stands beside me and holds me at the waist. We walk side by side to his office.

Once the door closes behind us, he is on me. He lifts me up off the ground like I weigh nothing. I wrap my legs around his waist and grab his shoulders. He forces his tongue into my mouth. The kiss is sloppy and I know I’m not making it better, but I can barely feel my lips. I feel his erection growing beneath me and I can’t help but shiver. I know I am going to fuck Jon. I wish I weren’t, but I can’t even articulate the words to stop him. He carries me to the couch and sits me down gently as he shrugs out of his dress jacket and places it on the desk. That’s the last clear picture I remember before his office door is kicked in.

The commotion that follows happens all too quickly. Blake bursts into the room and takes one look at me then tackles his brother to the ground. Jon barely has time to brace himself for Blake’s fist. I hear a loud thump, and then Jon is down on the ground fighting his brother. Joey sprints into the room next and looks horrible. Even with blurry vision, I can tell he looks like shit. He rushes to my side.

“Are you okay, baby girl?” He pulls my dress down. I hadn’t even realized it was above my waist.

“Hi, JoJo. I’m tired.” I hear more commotion as both Blake and Jon’s security enter the room. Joey is just holding my hands as I watch Blake and Jon get pulled off one another.

“I swear to God, Jon, if you fucking touch her again, I will kill you. I will fucking ruin you.” He spits blood onto the floor. Where did the blood come from I wonder? Blake heads toward me and kneels down in front of me. “Angelica, are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?” He sounds so concerned. He looks like shit too. Damn.

“I’m tired. Can I go to sleep?” That’s what I mean to say, but my words are so slurred I’m not sure what they understood. Joey shakes his head. I try to reach out to Joey to touch his cheek, but I can’t lift up my arm. Joey gets up from in front of me and rushes Jon.

“How can you try to have sex with her when she is this fucking drunk, you sick fuck?” He shoves Jon hard in the chest. “She’s practically comatose, you asshole.” Joey stands nose to nose with Jon and points a finger to his chest. “This isn’t over. I am going to wreak havoc on your world, Jon.” His voice is deadly. I’ve never heard him speak like that before. Joey walks back toward us.

Blake slips one arm under my legs and the other behind my neck and he lifts me in his arms. I rest my head on his chest and let him carry me. Joey is behind us – I think. It sounds like he is on his phone, but I can’t make it out. The music gets louder as he walks out of the office. I moan into his chest. My head is going to explode all over Blake’s nice suit. I moan and burrow deeper into Blake’s chest. He pulls me tighter to him then starts to speed walk out of the club. A minute later, the cold air hits me like a brick wall and it feels amazing. I can barely open my eyes by this point. It takes too much effort, so I don’t. I feel Blake get into a car still with me in his arms. I hear doors open and close, and then we are driving.

“To the penthouse, Joe,” Blake says urgently to his driver. “I’m not letting her go home, Joey. Edward probably knows where she lives and I’m not letting him get fucking near her again. I’m going to kill that fucker.”

“If you get to him before I do.” Joey is whispering. He sounds so far away. “I called Timothy. He’s prepping the jet and will be here in a few hours. I wish I didn’t have to fucking call him. He sounded devastated. Betty is coming with him.” After that, the ride is quiet. I no longer have control of my head and it bobbles along with the car. “Goddamn it, she is fucking wasted. How much did your asshole brother give her?”

“Don’t refer to him as my brother. He is nothing to me now. She is going to feel miserable in the morning. She didn’t fucking need this.”

Joey is running his fingers through my hair. “Baby girl, why the fuck did you go tonight? You told me you wouldn’t.” I want to respond, to tell him I don’t know why I went, but I can’t. I’m too far gone. “Why won’t she fucking answer me anymore?” His voice cracks. Damn it, I need to talk to him.
What’s happening to me?

I feel the car stop then more cold air is on my skin. I can no longer hold my head to Blake’s chest and I hang in his arms like a limp noodle. Words are being said, but by this point, I can’t make them out. I can’t even open my eyes to see who is saying them. A short time later, I feel cool sheets beneath me. I must be on Blake’s bed. Well, this wasn’t how I wanted to experience my first time here. I feel my shoes being taken off then my dress. A shirt is replacing it. The whole time I am limp. The fog that had taken over my brain is now gone and all there is, is black. Nothing. Then like lightning hitting, I feel myself start to shake, uncontrollable shaking that I can’t stop. God, it hurts. What’s happening? What’s the warm foam I feel on my face? What the fuck is going on with my body? Is someone screaming? Is it Blake? Is it Joey? Is it me? I can hear nothing but the rattling of my body. God, it hurts so bad. The shaking stops, my breathing slows, and a blanket of quiet darkness takes me under.