Chapter Fourteen
Lillian stepped out of the cab and looked around the dark road. She frowned slightly as she stared at the plain brick building in front of her. Many of the shops on the street had been clearly tagged by graffiti. It didn’t make her think this was a place she wanted to be during the day, much less at night.
It wasn't exactly what she had in mind when she pictured the night out, but she was certain that this was the place Gwen had told her to meet at. It wasn’t like there was another club in the area called The Garage.
Shivering, she turned around and watched as the cab rolled away. Now with no other choice but to go in, she resigned herself to her fate. Besides, it wasn't as if she could stand outside in the cold dressed like she was. Even with a coat, the icy wind still reach underneath, reaching parts that should never be cold like that.
The steady thump of music grew louder as she stepped toward the huge metal doors on the front of the building. It reminded her of some sort of underground rave she'd seen in a movie once. Not exactly the place she expected Gwen to go.
As Lillian stepped toward the club, the doors opened for her. A tall, pale man eyed her as she stepped inside. Something about the way he looked at her sent a shiver down her spine. Too hungry.
"You can check your coat over there," the man said as he continued to stare.
Lillian made her way over to the coat check. A young woman worked behind the counter and smiled sweetly as Lillian stepped over. Though her make-up was a little too out there for Lillian’s taste, she at least wasn’t staring at her like a creeper.
"Just write your name and number on the slip of paper," the woman said. "I'll just need to see your ID when you check out your coat."
Lillian glanced deeper into the club. Despite the appearance from the outside, the place was much nicer on the inside.
And warmer too. Warm enough that taking off her coat wasn't going to be a big deal even considering how little she was wearing.
Lillian had decided on the red dress her sister sent. She still wasn't certain it worked for her, but it was about the only thing she had that was even close to being club attire. It wasn’t exactly like they had many clubs back in her hometown. And she figured it was likely the most fashion forward thing she owned. Although considering many other people in the area, maybe she shouldn’t have bothered.
When she turned around, the man who had showed her in was staring at her like she was a piece of meat. He gave her a wide smile that somehow seemed odd in the low lighting.
"Maybe later I'll buy you a drink," he whispered.
Lillian could feel her heartbeat kick up a notch and took a step back. Something about the man was setting off the super-creeper alarms in her mind.
"I'm actually meeting a friend," she said quickly, offering him a forced smile.
The man sneered at her reply, clearly not happy.
Irritated with her lack of interest, the man turned back to his post at the door, where he watched her.
Lillian quickly made her way farther into the club. Anywhere away from the creepy guy was good in her eyes.
Her heels clicked on the floor as she made her way down the hall. The noise was drowned out by the music as she entered a large room.
A large ball hung from the ceiling, flashing light all around the room. There was a huge dance floor to one side and tables with chairs lining the walls of the ground floor. Each side of the room had stairs leading up. One side was blocked by a giant VIP sign. The other appeared open to everyone.
Bodies moved on the dance floor to the rhythm of the music. Before she’d been concerned she was overdressed, but seeing more people on the floor, Lillian started to wonder if she wasn’t dressed up enough.
She made her way up the open set of stairs and scanned the space. It was slightly quieter up there and dimly lit, hence all the couples making out in the corners.
Not exactly the place she would have picked to wait, but Gwen said she would meet her upstairs.
"Over here."
Lillian found Gwen seated near the rail where she could look down on the dance floor. A glass sat on the table in front of her.
"This place is so over the top." Gwen said over the thump of the music, a smile on her face. “I can’t believe people come to a place like this all the time.”
Lillian grinned, relieved that she wasn’t the only one feeling it and nodded back. She didn’t know quite was she was expecting of the evening, but it was nice to know she wasn’t the only one feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"How was your trip?" she asked.
Gwen sighed loudly. "Exhausting," she said. "Some of these buyers are just so ridiculous. They think because they have a little bit of money that somehow everything is for sale."
Lillian's eyes raised in surprise. She hadn’t really expected that sort of response. "They offered you money?"
Gwen reached out for her amber-colored drink and took a few small sips. "Not the first time," she said. "I'm sure this guy will have some choice words to say about me to the boss man."
"Are you worried?"
Gwen shook her head. "Nope," she said. "Last client that pulled that crap ended up getting dropped immediately. Erik doesn’t put up with that kind of thing.”
Lillian didn't know much about Erik other than how amazing he looked. Still, it made her glad to know that he had the backs of his employees. Most bosses didn't when it came to well-to-do clients.
"Sorry to drag you out to a place like this," Gwen said. "I had a little business I wanted to see to, and I thought we might kill two birds with one stone. I thought it would be more than this the way people are raving about it." She shrugged.
Relief flooded Lillian as she realized this wasn't normal for Gwen. Lillian was coming to the conclusion that she really wasn’t much of a club person.
"So you don't really like clubs like this?"
Gwen wrinkled her nose. "Too loud and can't really talk here," she said. "But I figure we make the most of it for tonight, and maybe we get coffee or a movie the next time."
Lillian smiled brightly. Either of those sounded fantastic. And the fact that there was going to be a next time was even better.
She chuckled to herself. She was so giddy, it was as if she was on a first date.
Gwen sat upright in her chair. Her eyes locked on something across the room. Lillian swiveled in her chair and watched as a dark-haired man made his way into the VIP section. She’d never seen the man before, but he was very handsome. Maybe it was Gwen’s boyfriend or something.
She’d always assumed that Gwen had a thing for Leif, but maybe she had been wrong.
Gwen slammed down the rest of her drink and placed the glass on the table. "What you say we get a couple of drinks and maybe hit the dance floor." She smiled.
Lillian noticed her eyes hadn’t left the man from across the way but decided against saying anything. Instead she nodded at the other woman and followed her down to the main floor. When they reached the bar, Gwen stopped and turned to her for a moment.
"Why don't you get a drink since I'm one up on you," she said. "I'm going to just check on something real quick. There’s someone I need to meet briefly. Be back in a sec.”
There was something about the way she spoke that seemed like she didn't want to answer any questions. Lillian wasn't certain that was a good thing but decided to play along either way. There wasn't much she could do.
Lillian made her way over to the bar and patiently waited for the bartender to come over. "Sex on the beach," she said to the man.
"Gladly,” someone said beside her.
The soft, smooth voice glided over her and almost instantly she knew who it was. Lillian turned to find Corso standing next to her. The swarthy man was just as handsome as she remembered him from the night before.
Lillian’s cheeks heated as his words settled over her. "What are you doing here?"
The bartender finished preparing her drink and set it down in front of her.
Corso gave a wide smile as she eyed him suspiciously. "You know there really is nothing sexier than a feisty woman," he said. "I'm here on a little business, and I know the owners."
Lillian raised a brow and took a sip of her drink. "Doctors do business in clubs? Or sort-of doctors, do?”
Corso laughed and winked at her. "This sort-of doctor does."
She wondered if maybe he was a doctor who had lost his license or something. Though she didn’t understand why Erik would bring someone like that to check on her.
Lillian scanned the room. Gwen was nowhere in sight, and she wondered with it being so crowded, if she would be able to find her way to her again.
She took another drink off her glass and could feel the alcohol already starting to set in.
"Red suits you," Corso said, his voice silky smooth.
Lillian ran a hand down the front of her dress. She still wasn't thrilled with how it fit her and pushed her breasts out farther than was comfortable, but she would admit it did look good over all. Especially with her hair swept up in a French twist.
"My sister picked it up in Milan for me," she said. As soon as the name of the city was out of her mouth, she could sense his excitement.
"Does your sister live there?"
Lillian shook her head as she took another drink. Her glass was now empty, so she set it back down on the bar.
"She's a photographer and travels all over. Every now and again she sends something fun that she thinks will look good on me or that I’ll like."
Briefly she could see a touch of sadness as it reached his eyes. She thought she noticed a slight accent before. Maybe he was from Milan originally.
"Well, your sister made a fantastic choice. The clothing of Milan is known far and wide. She couldn't have gotten a better-constructed piece anywhere else in the world."
Lillian could feel the blush as it made its way up her neck into her face. Although she realized his compliment was more to his mother city, she still couldn't help being warmed by his words.
"Come dance with me," Corso said suddenly.
Lillian started to shake her head when he took her hand into his and pulled her gently towards the dance floor.
"Please, I insist,” he said. “A dress like this deserves to be used and seen.”
Lillian nearly laughed. It was something her sister might say, and he wasn't exactly wrong.
"Okay, but just until my friend comes," she said.
Corso gave her a wide smile, his pearly white teeth shining in the light. "Whatever you say.”
They danced quietly for a bit, the current slower song somehow fitting a more formal dancing style. Still, she liked it this way. She wasn’t much for the whole grinding thing.
“So how long have you known Erik?” she asked.
Corso sighed before answering. “A few years, but he’s a hard man to know. Sort of a lone wolf.” He smirked.
Lillian snorted. The alcohol clearly was getting to her head now. “Ain’t that the truth.”
Ever since the night before, she’d had a hard time shaking the vision of him as a wolf. As crazy as it might have seemed, that’s what kept playing in her thoughts. She knew it wasn’t real. It was just some weird fantasy that had come from hitting her head, but she still couldn’t push it out of her mind.
She glanced up to Corso when he hadn’t spoken for a bit.
“Very interesting,” he said, his eyes narrowed.