I rolled over, looking for Sebastian, and immediately opened my eyes when his side of the bed was cold. I hastily blinked, trying to shake off the sleep and it took me a few minutes to realize where I was. I hadn’t dreamt everything and I really was back at The Cathouse. I ignored the migraine that was looming and took a shower and dressed. I let Chance out in the backyard and then found Brooke in the kitchen, pouring coffee.
“What are you wearing?” she asked, eyeing my outfit up and down.
I followed her eyes and looked down at my outfit. “Jeans, a tank top, and sandals,” I replied, confused.
“Bella, no offense, but maybe you should change into something more…less…I don’t know…what you’re wearing,” she casually replied.
“Brooke, I don’t have any of my old clothes. This is what I wear now.”
“No, I understand.” She sipped her coffee. “I dig it. Sort of…you have this whole comfortable thing going on. But you’re back, for now. Maybe you should dress the part; I mean, we are taking over VIP for a bit. It would probably make sense to wear some heels or run a brush through your crazy ass hair.” She shrugged. “Just saying.”
I frowned. “I don’t have time to go shopping and it’s the last thing I want to do right now. And there’s nothing wrong with my hair,” I stated, pulling it out of my face.
She rolled her eyes. “Do you forget where you are? Madam has three rooms full of clothes. She has her own boutique upstairs for us. Come on.”
“Ugh!” I followed behind her.
An hour later and she was grinning all the way up to her ears. “See…don’t you feel better? Your hair is straight, you got on some red soles, and you’re not wearing something off the rack. You look like Bella again. You can’t tell me you don’t feel like a million bucks because you sure do look it.”
I looked at Brooke’s perfect reflection in the mirror and then at mine. She was absolutely right, I did look like Bella, and it was as if I had never left. Except this time, these clothes, this image, this persona standing before me didn’t look like anyone I recognized anymore. I didn’t know who this flawless woman with the expensive outfit on was. She was a stranger. I left everything behind for a reason, and there it was, staring me in the face.
The dream.
The illusion.
The fantasy.
VIP.
I rode in Brooke’s car with her, seeing as I didn’t have a vehicle. We walked into Madam’s room and there was an older man dressed in ripped jeans and a motorcycle jacket sitting with her. He had long blond hair tied in a ponytail and intense hazel eyes. He was breathtakingly handsome. They looked like they were having a heated argument or discussion. When our eyes locked, I swear his appeared to desperately want to say something. They were screaming at me and I had just met him.
“Bella Rosa,” Madam announced, taking me away from his frantic trance. “Darling, come here.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me, Angel?” he asked, making her eyes glare at him.
Angel? I had never heard anyone call her anything other than Madam.
She turned to Brooke, not paying him any mind. “Brooke baby, can you please tell security that this gentleman is no longer allowed to visit with me. I want him out, permanently,” she emphasized.
He laughed, not cowering down. “And you think that’s going to stop me? Come on, Lilith, at least let me stay and watch the show.”
No one disrespected Madam. Ever. It was the first time that I ever saw real fear pass through her face and something came over me to want to help. I didn’t like seeing her as anyone other than Madam; it hurt me for some reason. It pained me to watch the woman who controls everything, vulnerable and exposed.
It was too real.
I turned to him and our eyes caught. “I’m sorry, I think she asked you to leave. There’s the door, you could leave on your own or I could call security. The choice is yours.” I sneered.
The fucker smiled. “Wow.” He folded his arms on his chest. “Hmmm…” He looked at Madam. “Looks like you’ve made quite a little soldier. You should be proud, Angel, she’s everything you wanted her to be. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, just like you.”
She breathed out and grinned. “That’s where you’re wrong, darling…I’m the wolf. Always the motherfucking wolf, dressed in nothing but a pantsuit and fuck-me heels.”
He shook his head. “I’ll leave, for now. Have fun with your reunion.” He looked back at me. “Till next time, Ysa.”
I jerked back. No one called me that other than Sebastian.
What the fuck is going on?
“Ignore him, darling. What do I always tell you about men? Give them your pussy and they’ll want your heart. That’s what makes VIP one of a kind. Pay him no mind. Now come here, let me see you. You’re glowing. Nice to see you dressed in real clothes again.”
I half-smiled, trying to shake his presence and attitude.
“My girls. We’re all together, like one big happy family. Just as it’s meant to be.” She glanced behind me. “Is Sebastian here?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Is he at The Cathouse?”
I peeked up at Brooke and she reassuringly smiled.
“He’s not here, Madam.”
“Why is that?”
“I left.”
Her eyes widened and there was a glimmer of…hope…maybe?
“No…I mean…not like that. At least…I don’t even know. I just need some space and you need help. So I’m here.”
“What’s going on?” she eagerly questioned.
I grabbed a chair and placed it by the bed. Brooke followed suit.
“It’s been hard since I last saw you. I love him, Madam. I love him so much that I can’t even begin to describe the feeling because it’s so powerful. However, we want different things. He asked me to marry him.”
“Oh my God, Bella! You didn’t tell me! Are you engaged?” Brooke excitingly shouted while Madam lay still, almost like she had stopped breathing.
“I’m not engaged. I said no,” I whispered, looking down at my lap. “I don’t even know if I believe in marriage. He wants kids and…” I shrugged.
“Bella Rosa, look at me, my beautiful girl.”
I did.
“You’re a VIP. You’re made for more. That’s why you can’t live a normal life. You’re not made like that. You’re the elite, darling. Sebastian was standing in your way. Men do that. They’re selfish. He doesn’t want you to shine, so he thinks he can take that away by making you a wife and mother.” She shook her head. “Tsk…tsk…tsk…shame on him. You’re perfect the way you are. Why ruin it with a child and a ring? That will wear you down. Don’t you see?”
I took in her words.
“VIP is your home. I want you to own it.”
Brooke and I both looked at Madam like she had lost her mind.
“What?” I jumbled.
“You heard me. It’s yours. It always has been. You’re here to prove to yourself that you can do this. I already know the answer. This isn’t a test for me, it’s a test for you.”
“Madam, you don’t know what you’re saying. I’m here to help, with Brooke. I’m not here to take over. You don’t want to step down; you’ll be fine after this. Stop worrying,” I nervously said.
“You’ll see. Once you step into my heels, there’s no going back.”
“I—”
“All right, ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. We need to run more tests and scans,” the nurse said, walking in.
Brooke and I nodded, obviously baffled and stunned by Madam’s assumptions.
“You’ll find everything you need in my office. I know you will make me proud, both of you,” she alleged, only looking at me.
We kissed her goodbye and were quiet for most of the car ride to The Cathouse.
“Did you know?” I blurted, breaking the silence in the car.
My head was spinning; there was no peace and quiet in my mind.
“Of course not. I’m just as puzzled as you are. But you know Madam; she’s impulsive. She may not mean anything by it.”
I glanced over at her, angling my head on the headrest. “When does she ever not mean what she says?” I justified.
“Is that something that you would want?” she replied, ignoring my statement.
“No…I don’t think so. Who was that guy in the room?”
She shrugged. “I think his name is Mika. I’ve seen him around a few times, every time it’s been secretive and random. I don’t think he’s a client.”
“A lover?”
She laughed. “Really? Madam? I don’t think so, probably just a partner or a fuck buddy. Lover has way too much meaning for her.”
We pulled into Madam’s driveway and she put the car in park. I grabbed her arm, stopping her from exiting the vehicle. “Brooke…”
“What?” she answered, knowing what I was about to ask.
“Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I arched an eyebrow. “Brooke…”
She sighed. “I’m fine. Am I a little hurt that it wasn’t me that she offered it to? Of course. You’ve always been her favorite, we all know it.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“That’s like asking why the sky is blue and the sun is bright. We won’t ever get answers, Bella. She does what she wants, that’s what makes her The Madam.”
I nodded, she was right.
Except, for the first time…
I wanted answers.
We spent the rest of the morning getting everything in order, making phone calls, scheduling appointments, and responding to RSVPs. I never realized how much work actually went into running VIP. Madam had everything organized in perfect order and it made it easier on us trying to make sense of it all. Brooke left around noon, saying she needed to run some errands, and I had the chef bring me some lunch. I was starving.
I kept my mind busy for as long as I could, but the second I let my mind wander to Sebastian, I swear to God, my heart called him.
Not even five minutes later…
I watched him barge through the office doors.