Page 20 of King of Clubs

He gave no visible reaction to my admission. No scrunch of his brows in judgement or scoff to humiliate me.

“You can use my laptop. Andy and Arna aren’t home until tomorrow and I live alone so you won’t be disturbed. I leave for work soon and you can call me if you need anything. Does that work for you? If it doesn’t, I can take you home, I just don’t want Arna coming after me. She has made multiple threats against my life so I assume you must be an important commodity.” He smiled kindly, the right side of his mouth lifting that little bit higher.

“Hardly. I’m more of a burden,” I whispered more to myself than him. I wanted to argue, bolster more of a fight, the idea that I would stay here again was ridiculous. There was no need. I would be fine, and his insistence made no sense as he didn’t even know the history I had with Lucas. I should probably just cut my losses and go, the idea of troubling him any further making me twitchy. But the fear which accompanied seeing them still loitered, making me genuinely consider his offer.

Arns’ words from earlier replayed in my mind,Andy will vouch for Seb – If you don't look after her I will put you in a bodybag. Typical outrageously supportive behaviour from my firecracker bestie and it cemented my reply even if I wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Okay. I’ll stay another night,” I agreed, knowing as soon as he left I was going to call Arna to make sure this was the right decision and if there was even a hint of hesitation, I was hightailing it back to the confines of her apartment and they were unknowingly agreeing to a permanent roommate.

Sebastian

Chapter Seven

Alifeorderedwasa life controlled.

A life controlled did not allow for disappointment because there was nothing unexpected. There was nothing I couldn’t plan, no creases I couldn’t iron out.

Impulsiveness and spontaneity were overrated and neither were something I felt accustomed to undertake.

Which was why I was currently pondering when I became the person who brought intoxicated women home, gave them clean clothes to wear, let them sleep in my bed and then practically begged them to stay another night. As I sat in my office, I also wasn’t sure why this one in particular had all of a sudden taken first place in my list of priorities, when I had a pile of inventory to do longer than my fucking arm.

In the space of twenty-four hours, my long lived routine was discarded and all I wanted was to get home from the club and to make sure Marlee was okay. That she slept in my bed again. Even without me there.

What the absolute fuckery was I on?

When we got to my apartment late last night she was sleepy and upset and it had been an easy decision to give her my room. It was more comfortable and had a better view, plus I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d been in the spare room and while the sheets would be clean, she deserved better especially after the shit show she’d been thrown into.

I’d spent the entire elevator looking at her side profile as she stared at her feet lost in her thoughts and when we silently walked towards my room, part of me wasn’t even sure if she was entirely awake with how docile and quiet she was.

Yet, like a little lap dog, I headed to the spare room, which was actually immaculate and fresh, and spent a restless night tossing and turning, overthinking the entire evening.

And today was no different. My routine was already out of order, spending longer at home than I normally would and arriving after most of my staff.

Upon seeing me Wayne only raised his brows, wisely choosing not to crack a joke or ask questions, before I headed up to my office. I sorted through the information covering details of last night’s close and replied to vendors requiring payment before moving to the grocery list of stock needing my attention. Although, despite the looming deadlines even that wasn’t enough to keep me from re-watching the security feed from the previous evening.

From what I could determine after scouring the footage more times than I could count, she spent time talking to a woman while she waited for the bathrooms, returned to dance with Arna for a while and had a few more drinks before everything went to shit. The guy had gotten to her pretty quickly from the entry, almost as if he knew exactly where she was, and even through the screens, the change in her demeanour was perspicuously clear. Her once fluid body turned stiff and her face lost any form of joy the second she spotted him. Arna had also responded immediately with her hands slicing through the air and her mouth moving rapidly in his direction.

The replay was paused on Marlee when Wayne appeared looking over my shoulder.

When I didn’t provide an explanation, he broke the silence. “You good today, boss?” I knew he was prying and I wasn’t sure where to start.

“Yeah. I want to know who this is though,” I said, pointing to the screen where I’d now stopped it on the deadbeat’s face. The footage was paused mere seconds after I'd clocked him and I revelled in the sick sense of satisfaction it brought as I opened and closed my fist.

“Thought you might. His name is Lucas Smith. He dated the woman in the purple dress apparently and seems to think they’re still together. Boys said it took them a while to get rid of him, adamant he wasn’t leaving without her. They said he was definitely high. I’ll get them to do some more digging and get back to you. Looked like a piece of shit if you ask me.” Wayne kept his eyes on the screen as I did my best to hide my disgust.

“Tell the team that Lucas and this one –” I moved the footage to highlight the only other person he spoke with, the same woman Marlee spoke to outside the bathrooms, “are not to be granted entrance again. No excuses. Don’t even know how he was allowed in last night given the fucking state of him. Remind them of our standards too.” I snapped, shutting off the screen.

My concentration was shot now I was back to thinking about how this was able to happen in my establishment.

“Copy, boss. How is she?” He asked genuinely and it reminded me why I appreciated him so much. He knew me better than I gave him credit for and was likely just as curious about how last night panned out once we got back to my place.

“She’s staying at my house until Andy’s back tomorrow. After last night, it’s obvious this guy scares her, so I didn’t want to leave her alone. Andy’s missus has threatened both my life and my dick if I mistreat her.”

“She's fiesty, that one. Told me it was partially my fault that Lucas prick got in when I wasn’t even there,” he said before chuckling. “She’d keep the Captain on his toes for sure.”

I laughed knowingly. “She does. Which is why I need to make sure Marlee is okay until they return.”

“Make sure she's okay for Arna?” He asked condescendingly before adding, “She didn’t even have to use bait and she caught you.”

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