Page 2 of The Midnight Club
Lucia hugged her. “I hoped you’d like it. Now, everything is handled. I’ve even taken the liberty of getting you a few clothes. Now, I know you hate dressing up, but believe me, try it, just for an evening. I’ve bought you plenty of jeans and T-shirts too”
Ori laughed. “I don’t know how to thank you, Luce”
“I want you to relax. Be yourself. Don’t worry about money or anything. I have too much as it is. Maceo’s a shit, but he pays exceptionally well”
Ori was curious about her friend’s boss. “Why is he a shit?’
Lucia chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. I like him a lot, but he’s a whore. A complete and utter man-slut. He’s already worked his way around my staff”
“You?”
“Hell, no. I’ve had my fill of Maceo’s kind – I’m happy with my boyfriend. And get this: Maceo has four friends, all gorgeous, all billionaires. All of them exactly like him” She told Ori about The Midnight Club and Ori laughed.
“Cavemen?”
“Some of them. A couple of them are okay … Seth and Alex. Alex just lost his fiancée a few months ago. He’s a wreck, but trying not to show it. Anyway, you’ll meet them tonight, no doubt”
Lucia left her alone to rest, and Ori walked slowly around the room, feeling the soft white voile curtains and the firm mattress of the bed. She curled up on it now, phone in hand. AJ had messaged her.
How’s Italia, sis?
She smiled.Beautiful, but wish you were here too.
She checked the clock. A quarter of two. She wondered if AJ would be in one of his group meetings about now. She didn’t hear back from him, so she assumed he was and closed her eyes. Just five minutes’ sleep. Within minutes she was dead to the world as, outside her window, Venice basked in the early afternoon sun.
* * *
Maceo Bartoli saida few words at the beginning of the reception. Then, with a flourish, he cut the ribbon and the gallery was open. He felt a certain pride as his guests chattered excitedly and sought him out to ask questions. He especially enjoyed the attentions of the beautiful women who drifted around the room. He glanced up and saw his four best friends huddled against the back wall, grinning at his easy flirtation with the guests. He managed to make his way over to them and gratefully took a glass of champagne from Seth, the tall Canadian.
“Dude, congratulations. A triumph”
Maceo raised his glass. “To us”
Lisander, the brooding Argentinian fashion designer, nodded at some of the exhibits. “Nice showing of South American art. Thank you, Maceo”
Maceo grinned. “If I could only persuade you to allow me to hang some your design sketches, Sander”
Benoit, an elegant Frenchman, flicked his dark brown eyes across the room. An architect, he nodded approvingly at the galleries design. “This is a good space, Maceo. A very good space”
Maceo grinned at him, his green eyes shining. “Enough about that.” he raised his glass. “Happy birthday, my brothers”
Later, he was talking to a local artist, assuring the man that he would champion Italian art above all else. The man, although talented, had god awful dog breath and so Maceo was edging away from him slowly. Finally, with a sigh of relief, he managed to escape to one of the balconies. He stepped out into the cool Venetian air and heaved a sigh of relief. He didn’t see the young woman sitting on one of the stone plinths until she gave a small, embarrassed cough. He turned to see a small brunette in a dark mauve cocktail dress. She had long dark brown hair pulled over one shoulder and her cheeks were adorably flushed pink.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you”
She was American, with a soft, melodic voice and eyes the color of the ocean, dark green and large. She had thick, thick dark lashes and a rosebud mouth. Maceo felt his cock twitch and he immediately went into seduction mode. He’d exhausted his supply of assistants, and he was damned if he was going to sleep alone tonight. He ran his eyes over her body, taking in the curve of her waist, full breasts, and shapely legs. He could already imagine that lush pink mouth around his cock. He smiled at the young woman.
“It is my pleasure, Miss …?”
She looked wary. “Orianthi”
“Miss Orianthi”
“No.” She chuckled slightly, “That’s my first name”
“It’s beautiful,” he said without missing a beat, his eyes locked on hers, and holding out his hand. She shook it. “Maceo Bartoli. Did you like the exhibit?”
“Very much. You have a Hopper on loan, I see. He’s my hero. I also liked theMamani Mamaniselection”
