I caressed my wrist as though feeling the sting of the brand I was being threatened with. “Chastain promised.”
She reached for her handbag. “I’ll give your regards to Zie.”
I followed her along the hallway until she reached the top of the stairs. A young man wearing a tuxedo was standing at the bottom of the steps staring up at us. “Go back to your room, Mia.”
I ignored him. “Please, tell Cameron I’m here, Galina. I’m begging you.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I’m not quite sure what I was expecting here.”
“Mia,” shouted the man. “Do you want me to come up there?”
“Galina?” I pleaded.
She’d made it halfway down when she stopped, turning to taunt me with a smirk.
“I forgive you,” I called out.
Her frown deepened and a rash of conflicted emotions flashed over her face.
“Mia!” the man yelled.
Turning sharply, I headed back to my room.
I didn’t know why I’d said that, maybe hoping she’d find it in her heart to tell Cameron I was here.
In a daze, I walked into the bedroom and crumpled on the bed.
Had Cameron found someone new?
No, don’t doubt him.
With these thoughts burning in my brain, I tossed and turned late into the night.
I awoke in a sweat-drenched panic.
Not caring about my skimpy attire, I climbed off the bed and pushed open my door. Tiptoeing toward the staircase, I felt a draft blow over my skin, giving me gooseflesh.
Oh, no…
Pascal was sleeping in the foyer.
I moved slowly down the steps.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, he raised his head. I carefully turned and walked in the opposite direction toward the kitchen.
The pots and pans and dirty plates were now gone. Everything from last night had been cleaned away…everything except the memory.
A flash of inspiration hit me and I hurried over to the refrigerator. In the back on the lowest shelf was a stack of beef labeled as Kobe. This shit was expensive. Like hundreds of dollars a pound expensive.
Pascal was about to be spoiled.
With my bribe carried in its paper wrapping, having just pulled it apart into several bite size pieces, I checked to make sure the way was clear and then headed into the foyer.
“Pascal,” I whispered, throwing a chunk down.
He had the look in his eyes of an animal that knew it was about to get duped, but was too interested in the scent of delicious meat to make a good decision.
“Come on, boy.” I threw down another chunk.