Destructive Luxe-A Luxe Novel: Book 2 Page 7

"I just dropped him at the airport." Annoyed by her fascination with Shaun, Lilith didn't so much as offer Karen a smirk, but turning to Tash she smiled. "Hi."

  "H—"

  "How does that work? That's gotta be hard having a long distance relationship."

  Looking from Tash's annoyed face due to Karen's interruption, Lilith focused on Karen again and shrugged. "We call a lot, video chat. It's rough sometimes. Oh, here." Remembering she needed to be at Luxe for some other reason than seeing Ian, she held out her cellphone so Karen could download the new app.

  While the phone was at Karen's fingertips it began to ring. Immediately seeing the picture of herself and Ian, Lilith yanked it back.

  "My cousin." She smiled, hoping Karen didn't notice. "Excuse me." Rolling her eyes, Lilith walked toward the elevators. Disguising her fear that Karen saw the picture, she cheerfully answered, "Hi."

  "I thought you were going to come see me?"

  "You should really get some video surveillance," Lilith quietly snarled. "I can't meet for lunch right now, Richie. I'm at work."

  "Oh, shit." Ian started to laugh.

  "Bye, Richie. Love you."

  "Lily, I can't wait to be buried inside your soaked pussy."

  "Mmhmm," she squeaked and hung up, turning to smile at Karen. She deleted the call from her call list, that she had already cleared prior to arriving. "He's in town." Casually shrugging, she handed her phone over again.

  "Where's he live?" Karen cluelessly asked.

  "Princeton. That's where I'm from."

  "We should all get together sometime."

  "Sounds good. Anyway, you want to download that app?"

  "I was wondering why you were giving me your phone." Karen chuckled.

  "I figured I'd stop in after the airport. I've barely been here and I kind of feel excluded from all of you."

  "Oh no, don't say that." Tash's genuine smile was sweet. "You don't have to be working to come see us. There's always stuff for the girls to do."

  Trying to seem interested, Lilith asked, "Like what?"

  "Putting together outfits, catalog shopping, shit Ian's supposed to do but doesn't." Karen chuckled. "You really should come in more. I know you don't work often, but we'd love to get to know you better."

  "I will." Lilith lied so believably when wearing that smile.

  Karen's voice lowered. "Oh hey." She glanced at Tash before leaning into the desk to get closer to Lilith. "I heard you declined a date Friday?"

  "Yeah." Taken aback, she quickly explained, "My mom is having surgery."

  "Oh! Oh my god! Ian didn't tell me that." Karen's annoying laughter rang through the lobby. "I was going to say that is a stupid move because I know it was a big client that prefers to see you. Speaking of, does Shaun know what you do?" The devious grin across her face made Lilith nervous and her eyes went to her cellphone that was still in Karen's grasp.

  With a sweet smile she lied, "Yeah."

  "Her boyfriend is a specimen." Karen laughed, throwing a glance over her shoulder toward Tash.

  "Where's he from?" Tash grinned.

  "Barbados." That was not a conversation she wanted to have with those girls, but she had to play pretend to hide her double life.

  "Oh wow! Exciting!"

  "All set." Karen held the phone out. "You got pictures of him on there?"

  Showing a picture of Shaun, Lilith smiled while Tash giggled and bit her fingertip. "Oh yes. That is a nice looking man."

  "Mmm-mmm," Karen inappropriately moaned followed by laughter.

  "Karen's in love with him." Lilith forced a smile.

  "I can't help it. He's a hot man! When you get finished with him, send him my way. I could use a nice cup of hot cocoa." She laughed harder.

  "Karen!" Tash playfully hit her. "I'm sure Mr. J would really like that."

  "What he doesn't know." Lilith winked at Karen and the girls laughed louder.

  Settling down, Karen said, "Let me show you how the app works, Lily."

  While Karen explained, Ian rounded the corner wondering where the hell Lilith was. When he saw her, he straightened his tie and slowed his determined pace. "Lily, you're in work today?"

  "I came so Karen could upload an app." Her eyes took in his light gray, fitted suit. The one most women couldn't keep their eyes off him when he wore. And like it did to most women, it had the same effect on her.

  "You could help out in the vanity room."

  "We were just telling her there's always things to do," Tash spoke.

  Lilith didn't acknowledge Ian's comment and turned back to the app as Karen continued to explain.

  "Tash, has my father called?" Ian asked going to the water cooler.

  "Um, no." She shrugged.

  "Oh, Lily, my dad said he saw you out Saturday night. You piss him off? He didn't seem too happy." He smirked, knowing damn well why Ed was up in arms.

  Lilith gave him a bitter grin. "Not me. That was Ashley. She embarrassed him in front of a friend of mine, who just so happens to be a friend of his. Small world, Mr. Jacks." She glowered at him.

  "Not small enough. Stick around, do some work around the office." He started heading toward the hallway but turned back. "Unless you're busy today?"

  Giving him the same smile she'd been giving Karen, she said, "I'm actually not."

  He saw right through that smile and it amused him.

  "Babe." Karen looked up. "You know her mom's having surgery tomorrow? That's why she can't work." Karen's demeaning tone directed at Ian only seemed to irk Lilith.

  "I didn't know that. I think I misunderstood." His intense gaze locked on Lilith. "So then you won't be attending the Halloween party here?"

  "Nope. Busy." Lilith turned back to the phone in Karen's hand.

  Ian headed toward his office with hesitance; he didn't like her around Karen when he wasn't there to monitor.

  What IAN captured got away

  She's in the fucking building and I'm not with her. This pisses me off that I can smell her in the hallway, but I can't force my nose into her hair and openly smell the only thing I've wanted all week.

  Karen has her in the vanity room and they're talking clothes and makeup and all things I don't give a shit about when I want to fuck my fiancée. I keep fidgeting at my desk because I can't stop thinking about the time she came in here and sat across from me, rubbing her clit to orgasm.

  My office door is open and I can hear her and Karen giggling like they're actually friends.

  If you were to dissect this, Lily is a sadistic little bitch, but she's also so sweet and caring, but for her to be able to hide all of this so well…it's really deceitful. Almost makes me wonder if she could or would do something like this to me. When she lied to me about being with Borg the other day she couldn't even look at me. So I'd like to think she wouldn't be able to.

  There are more girls in the Vanity room now. I'm not sure who, but I can hear boisterous women. The only voice that piques my interest is Lily's.

  "Mr. J?" Tash buzzes into my office, scaring the shit out of me.

  "Yeah?" I bark, annoyed by the startle.

  "Your sister is here."

  "Here?" I ask confused. Ashley never comes here because she doesn't want to be so close to Karen. Maybe she knows Lily's here? "Send her in."

  It only takes Ashley a few seconds to get in here; she had to have been running. The door slams behind her and she sits down. I'm staring at her like she's insane, but I can see she's upset about something. She isn't saying anything and she's panting like she ran a marathon.

  "Lily's here," I say hoping this will deter her from involving me in her drama. Lily can make her feel better about whatever this may be.

  "You're sick in the fucking head." She scowls at me.

  Okay, that didn't go as planned. Looks like I'm stuck listening to her crisis.

  "So what's up?" I'm trying not to look as annoyed as I am by her presence.

  "Bryan's having a baby," she blurts. Not giving a shit about the problems she's ha
ving with Bryan, I roll my eyes, but she doesn't see. She continues by saying, "With one of your girls."

  That, I give a shit about and sit up straighter in my chair. I had no idea one of my girls was pregnant.

  "Who?"

  "Tanya," she sobs and I reel back because she's fucking crying! Ashley never cries.

  Goddammit, this is nerve-racking. I don't want my sister crying in my office. I don't want my sister crying over a man. I don't want my sister crying over my best security guard knocking up one of my best girls. Also, I don't want Tanya knocked up! Luxe needs her.

  Fuck me.

  I have no idea what to say. I don't really know the extent of Ashley and Bryan's relationship. I know they have a thing, sort of, but she fucks whoever she wants, or so I thought. Well she has to, she's fucked Lily for Christ's sake.

  There's a soft knock on the door.

  "What?" I bark and Lily opens it.

  My beautiful Freyja brightens up the room and thank god Ashley runs to her, saving me from this cluster fuck I have no idea how to comfort her through.

  With a muddled expression, Lilith wrapped her arms around Ashley and looked to Ian for explanation. He stood and before he could leave the office so Lilith and Ashley could talk while he brought Tanya into the building, Ashley stopped him.

  "There's more." Ashley sniffled and pushed the office door closed. "Sit down."

  This behavior wasn't like Ashley. He hadn't seen that sad girl since they were kids. Anything different than Ashley's usual crass, belligerent behavior scared him.

  Lilith ran her fingers through her hair with a look of concern. Ashley looked from Lilith to Ian, then back. With a box of tissues, Ian approached her, waiting for the more.

  Taking a few minutes to collect herself, she looked at Lilith saying, "Can you lock it?"

  Lilith glanced at Ian before rushing to lock the door.

  "I don't want troll wench coming in," Ashley mumbled. Bringing her eyes to Ian, she said, "Mom's fucking dad again."

  "Ashley!" He was livid that was what she wanted to tell him. He didn't give a shit about that, he thought the issue was serious.

  Staring him in the eyes and with the strangest tone Ian had ever heard from her, she said, "Karen was pregnant."

  Lilith quickly sat down and Ashley sat in the chair next to her. Doubt was all over Ian's face, but before he commented, he wanted an explanation. Ashley raised a shaking hand to her nose to wipe it with the tissue. Ian's heart began to pound as he realized her mannerisms indicated there had to be validity to her words.

  She sniffled and stared at the ground while she spoke. "When she stabbed herself she was pregnant."

  When all was silent, Ashley looked up at him. With her hand to her mouth, Lilith sat back in her chair. Ian stared intently at Ashley, he wanted to scream bullshit, he was always careful with her. She was on birth control and he used condoms with her when she was ovulating because part of him didn't trust her not to try and get pregnant. After he got confirmation she cheated, he used a condom each time.

  "That's why she stabbed herself." She sniffled then wiped her nose.

  "It's not possible. I use multiple methods of protection." He sat back with his hands in his lap, able to feel Lilith's stare on him.

  Bringing an angry glare to his face, Ashley snipped, "I didn't say with your baby."

  His eyebrows raised and he almost smirked. It was getting more interesting, and more fucked up, and more unbelievable, but he'd listen.

  "Bryan." Her voice cracked and she put the tissue to her face, sobbing.

  Lilith reached out, pulling Ashley to her as she looked at Ian. Wearing an unreadable expression, Ian leaned on his propped hands.

  When a knock came across his door, he snapped, "Not now!"

  Both girls jumped. They remained silent while Ashley cried in Lilith's arms until his office phone buzzed.

  Upon picking it up he snarled, "What?"

  Lilith stared at him sadly.

  "I'm in a meeting!" He slammed the phone down.

  "How do you know all this?" Lilith softly asked.

  "Mom told me about her and dad—"

  "Fuck, Ashley!" His thunderous voice rolled through the office, vibrating off the walls. "Not that!" His face was red and a vein bulged at his temple.

  Letting Ashley go, Lilith rounded the desk to Ian and rubbed his back slowly, wanting to comfort him enough so he'd calm down some.

  "How do you know about the pregnancies?" Her voice was soft again.

  "Bryan."

  "Why wasn't I told this at the hospital that night?" Ian barked, getting to his feet.

  "Because you're only her boyfriend. They won't release information like that to you. Didn't you think it was weird Bryan showed up?"

  "No!" he snapped. "We all work together. We're a close-knit family type!" He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  "You want some water? Tea? Coffee?" Lilith didn't know what to do. For either of them.

  He looked down at her then back at Ashley. "Where is Bryan?"

  "I left him at mom's. He asked me not to tell you. He said he was going to tell you, but fuck that." Typical Ashley was starting to resurface.

  "Why'd he tell you all this?"

  "Because Tanya called me and started telling me everything—"

  "She knew about Karen?"

  "She had suspicions and he told me everything before she could. They're going to have the baby, but he wants to stay with me and do the whole step mom bullshit, and I was considering it. Maybe I could get over him knocking another girl up, but then I found out about Karen and fuck all that shit. When he told me about Karen, I wanted to pour bleach in my pussy—"

  "Ashley!" Lilith shouted.

  "Fuck." Ashley huffed, wiping tears away.

  Ian exhaled a shaky breath that Lilith wondered if it was from anger, sadness, or fear.

  "He said Karen told him she would keep the baby and she would just tell you it was your kid—"

  "I'd never believe that," he muttered.

  "And that's why she killed it. That and she's fucking crazy. You would have found out about an abortion, but almost killing herself…" She chuckled at the sick act. "You'd just think it was a typical Sunday." Ashley stood and looked at Lilith. "Can I get a minute alone with him?" The sadness was back in her eyes.

  Lilith tried not to act like the dismissal bothered her and she quickly hid her surprise, hugging Ashley who held her for a minute.

  "What do you need to say that Lily can't hear?" Ian asked with annoyance as Lilith exited his office.

  LILITH is the crack in diamond walls

  My heart is racing and I'm having a hard time breathing, but it's all laced with elation because this could be the end of Karen.

  How sick can she be!

  Tash is headed toward me and the look on her face tells me she knows something is going on.

  I try and smile while she touches my shoulder and whispers, "You okay?" She must have heard Ian screaming.

  I nod and keep walking, not stopping until I'm on the elevator and riding it down because I need out of here. I need a fresh breath. Obviously things don't concern me if Ashley's asked for me to leave the room, so I'm going to go home and wait. Ian may be upset I've left, but he's got a lot to deal with right now and me having an anxiety attack over Karen's sick ways is only going to stress him more.

  The entire drive home I leave the windows down, trying to feel like my lungs are taking in a sufficient amount of oxygen. It's not abating the suffocation I not only feel in my lungs but in my head.

  One slash doesn't do it, so I go for a second one, penetrating my flesh deeper, pushing until my skin is spreading apart and letting free a red river that jolts me back to comprehension. That was too much! The faster I move to find something to stop the bleeding, the more my blood flows from this nasty gash I've caused. Pain hasn't caught up yet because I'm panicked. There's no hiding this from Ian.

  My shirt is ruined, blood is dripping to the floor, the counter,
onto my jeans all while I frantically, stupidly, look for a towel Ian won't notice has gone missing. That is not something I have time to worry about if I don't want my bathroom to look like there's been a bloodbath.

  Not until I get my arm wrapped and the blood cleaned up do I realize I've listened to Ian's ringtone play on my phone at least a dozen times. I run to the living room where I haphazardly dropped my things and fish through my coat pockets then purse for my phone. As I retrieve it from my purse it starts to ring again. Ashley.

  "Hey," I say meekly.

  "The fuck, Lilith?" she barks at me. "Where are you?"

  "Home. I went home."

  The silence has me checking if the call dropped.

  "You okay?"

  "Yes." I chuckle because she shouldn't be asking me that, I should be asking her. "Are you okay, Ley?"

  "I'm on my way to your place." There are tears in her voice before she hangs up; she's not okay.

  I'm in the bathroom doing a once over to make sure I've gotten all the blood cleaned up when I hear the door open a few minutes later.

  "Lily?" Ashley calls out.

  "In here!"

  When she enters the bathroom she wraps me in her arms like she knows. She can't possibly know. That's why I left. This cannot be about me. They're dealing with something tragic and she's treating me like I'm the fragile one.

  "Ashley!" I yelp when she unintentionally squeezes my arms.

  Jumping back, her gaze shoots to my arm I'm clutching and she swiftly lifts my t-shirt sleeve seeing the gauze. The sadness on her face makes a sickness roll through me, slowly creeping, taunting me before it strikes as a panic attack.

  "You're okay." The resolution in her tone while she grabs my face makes tears fill my eyes while I nod, trying to fight my quivering lip. "Lilith," she sighs while pulling me into a hug.

  "Lilith!" Ian's voice booms through the condo and I jump with a whimper.

  "You want me to stay in here?" Ashley whispered.

  "Lilith?" Ian pounded on the now closed bathroom door.

  "No," she whispered.

  "Open the fucking door!" He knew. He knew the second he went looking for her and she wasn't there, then wouldn't answer her phone.

  "I'll be in the dining room getting trashed." Ashley weakly smiled then kissed her forehead. Pushing open the door a crack, she slipped around Ian's menacing stature.