Stalker Girl: The Pretender

Five: Yes, Sir

Lorenzo- Gute Nacht

X

After breakfast, Kaylee and I head back to Grimace. Jason, Volt's manager is already waiting for me. The venue is clean and everything is being re-stocked for the Mayor's son on Saturday and it's not even noon yet.

"We have to talk about last night, Little Sister," Jason sneers at me. Crown is standing right behind me and growls at him. I left the girls home not wanting to put Cha-cha at risk and she's really attached to Donut. "You killed one of my guys,"

"Yeah, I did. What the f**k is wrong with you?" I ask him without looking up from my phone. When he steps to me Crown jumps up at him barking. I look up this time to see him backing away from him. "Don't touch me. We don't like it," I warn him. "Your guy sent three men to tranq Wraith in his suite, Jason. What did you think was going to happen? Hmm? Three guys dressed incognito in my f*****g venue. You're lucky I didn't kill all of you,"

"You didn't have to shoot him. He had a family. To little girls and a wife. A mom," he shouts.

"And what is it you want me to do about that? He came into my house and fired off on my guests. On Frankie. Frankie has six kids. Three baby mommas, seven siblings, and a very sick grandmother. I don't give a f**k about you. You know that the only reason I brought your guy here was because I wanted him to get his ass beat. You are no longer welcome in any Hale venue. If any of your friends worked for us, consider them fired. You're a f*****g i***t and I want you to get the f**k off my property before I let Crown take a bite,"

Hearing his name Crown growls at him again. I snap my fingers and motion for him to be escorted out of my Grimace. The f*****g audacity of this guy. Can you believe this s**t, Jenny? This f*****g guy. I swear. What a loser.

"What a d**k," Kaylee shakes her head and hands me my tablet.

"Right. You know this is the first time I have had someone escorted out like that. I'm usually the one doing the escorting," I laugh. She grins. "It feels kind of good,"

"And that is how Super Villains are born," she laughs.

Crown gets really excited when he spots Elizabeth coming over to us. She crouches down next to him holding up a treat. She taps her cheek and he excitedly gives her a lick and sits down for his snack. She gives it to him and then stands up to greet me.

"Frankie is in the hospital. He got really sick from whatever they used. The two guards are fine. Sonny sent them home. I took the liberty to assign Kevin and Robby to them for their press s**t later,"

"Perfect. I was going to ask you to send them over anyway. Is the tunnel clean?"

"Brand new. Not a single trace of blood. The venue has been completely wiped down and cleaned. The tech guys are setting up for the Mayor's son on Saturday. They will be here at four. The party coordinator is out there with his wife now. Would you like to meet her?"

"We've met. Is her daughter Willow with them?"

"Yes," she nods.

"Then I don't want to see them. Tell them I'm busy. Kay and I are going to be in my office. Let me know if you need anything,"

"Yes, ma'am," she bows her head and excuses herself.

By the time noon comes around, Kaylee and I are finished. I sit back and finally allow myself to think about Wednesday night. Out of all the things we did the only one that matters is the moment my eyes met his hazel ones. The feeling of my skin brushing up against his. The way he looked wrapped in my sheets.

"What are you thinking about?" Kaylee asks.

"What does your sister do for Mrs. Esteban?" I ask not wanting to voice these intrusive thoughts.

"She's her personal assistant. Hates it. Gets paid s**t and is always working," she shakes her head.

"You're always working," I remind her.

"Yeah, but I get three-day weekends and holidays off. I also get paid a s**t ton of money," she shrugs. "I have really good benefits and we're always on the move. I love my job,"

"Why don't you give me her resume and set up an interview for us? Lance is right, you're his assistant and if your sister is anywhere near as good as you, I could use the extra set of hands. I have to go down to Dallas next week. Elizabeth and Frankie have got s**t handled here. Will and Lance have a full schedule so they can't come with me,"

"Uh," she looks down at her hands.

I understand the hesitation. Kaylee knows who we are outside of the press. She's been with Lance for three years now. She's seen me walk into his apartment covered in blood. She can see my guns tucked into their holsters under my hoodie.

"I see. I understand," I nod.

"X, I don't mean-"

"I'm not dumb, Kay. I get it. Why don't you put together a list for me then? Pick someone. I do need extra help. Now that Will is going international. I can't let my s**t fall behind," I stand up.

"I'll have it ready tonight," she nods.

"Thank you,"

The two of us walk back up to the gym to find Mrs. Reiner and her f*****g daughter standing at the entrance. I groan and let out a whistle. Crown rushes over to me as we walk toward the doors.

"Miss Hale," Mrs. Reiner calls out to me. I pause with my hand on the door. I look over at the two of them. Willow looks exactly like her mother. They could be twins. That says more about the way Mrs. Reiner's daughter is aging worse than her.

"Mrs. Reiner," I greet her and turn to face her as if I didn't just try to escape. "I hope everything is up to your standards,"

"I was wondering if we could have a word?" she asks. My eyes move over to Elizabeth who looks as annoyed as I feel. "In private?"

"I'm on my way out. You have until I reach my car in the parking lot. That's as private as it'll get," I motion to the door. Elizabeth sighs.

"I tried to tell her you were busy, X," she shakes her head.

"Thank you, Ellie. I want to see the membership contracts when I get back. Get me that list we talked about. How is the new trainer doing?"

"Good. He's got moves and the girls love him,"

"Great. Mrs. Reiner," I open the door. She walks out ahead of me with Willow on her heels. She doesn't look up at me when she passes by. Kaylee stays back to give us space.

"Miss Hale," she begins.

"You can call me X," I scoff. Miss Hale? Eww.

"X, right. Well, I wanted to talk to you about the ban you put on Willow and her friends from Anarchy and every other Hale establishment," she says. I laugh looking back at her.

"You want me to lift the ban on your daughter after she got me kicked out of AKA and almost got me kicked out of school for something she did?" I ask her.

"She was a kid, X," she looks up at me.

"I was a kid. She almost ruined my life. I wasn't even eighteen yet. Did you know that? How old is she now?"

"Twenty-six,"

"What do you do for a living, Willow?" I ask. She looks up at me and then at her mom without answering. "I turned twenty-three this year. I own six clubs and run the entire tech board for Hale Enterprises, and this venue now. I mean sure my last name opens doors for me but I know how to walk through them. I earned my seat at the table. Can you say that for your daughter, Mrs. Reiner?" she doesn't answer me. "I'm not lifting the ban. I don't know how to forgive, Mrs. Reiner. It's not in my nature,"

"It seems a little ridiculous to hold on to a grudge for someone you seem to think is beneath you," she says. I press the button on my key fob and stop before getting in my car. "Given the circumstances,"

"What circumstances?" I turn back to look at her.

"You're not exactly pure of heart, X," she says. I laugh as I open the back door to let Crown in.

"I see where your daughter gets her stupidity from, Mrs. Reiner. I've always wondered how someone like her could come from someone as intelligent as the Mayor of Muse. I'll be sure to finish this discussion with him at our next gathering.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. Those of us contributing to women's rights properly have s**t to do. You and your useless daughter can go back to planning your little charity events with the other trophy wives. Your forehead wrinkles are showing. You might want to ask your husband to give you some money to fix that,"

I can hear her teeth grinding as I get into my car. The two of them stand there looking at me as I pull out of the parking spot. I flip them both off as I turn into the road. The f*****g nerve of that woman and her stupid ass daughter. The only reason she's still breathing is because the Mayor is deep in Will's pocket. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to hear about this from my brother later. I'm sure she's got her husband on her phone right now crying about how the mafia b***h was mean to her. She's lucky I didn't slap the f**k out of her. Not exactly pure of heart. What a f*****g cunt. Pure hearts are a luxury reserved for children. I haven't been a child since Jenny was taken from me.

When I get to the house, Crown jumps out and prances over to the girls. They welcome him excitedly as I make my way inside to change out of these clothes. Sonny and Nick are still here. I stop by the family room to see him standing in front of the huge mirror by the piano. He's trying to fix his tie and is failing miserably.

Nicolas Cirillo is drop-dead gorgeous. His dark gray slacks hug his powerful legs beautifully. The vest he's wearing over his black button-up frames his glorious body to perfection. His hair isn't messy anymore. It's styled to give his fro-hawk some volume. I don't miss the wolf tattoo on his neck. It's the Cirillo assassin mark. Interesting. Didn't think him a soldier but we all have to start somewhere, right?

"f**k this," he tosses the black satin tie. I smile to myself going over to pick it off the floor. He looks over at me a little startled.

"You need this if you want to keep up appearances," I hold it up. "May I?"

"Uh," he swallows hard and nods.

I slide the tie over his shoulders careful not to touch him. I force myself to keep breathing this time and my god it's worth it. He smells amazing. The scent of his luxury aftershave fills my lungs and I can't get enough. His tie is a little long so I give it a little double cross knot and then step back. When he looks down again, I laugh and tuck it into his vest—this time feeling the warmth coming off his body against my fingertips. I take a step back to make sure nothing is out of place.

"Do you have cufflinks?" I ask him.

"I must have forgotten them," he shakes his head. I turn around going over to the side table by the couches and pull out the ones I was going to gift Lance last year for Christmas but decided he didn't deserve them after he screamed at me.

"You can have these," I hold the white gold cufflinks with black onyx gems on them. "They match your suit,"

"Thank you," he accepts them. "For everything. You've been very accommodating since we arrived,"

"Well, you gave me what I wanted. You treat me right and I'll do the same," I give him a nod and turn around to leave.

"Are you busy?" he asks stopping me from walking out.

"Not at the moment. I'm actually going to clean up to head over to Hale Tower," I lie. I actually have a pending errand at the hotel he's headed to.

"I see. Uh, forget it then,"

"Did you need something?" I ask anyway.

"I was just wondering if you'd like to accompany me to my press conference in the city. Seeing as it is your city. I thought it would be cool if you showed me around,"

"I think that's a great idea," Lance walks over to me with my brother behind him. My stomach twists in a knot.

"You went behind my back and got that f*****g deal in Korea over the phone?" Will asks me with a glare.

"I got you a better one," I hold his business phone out for him to take. "I told you I wanted to see the Temples next year,"

"You did," he rolls his eyes smacking the phone in the palm of his hand. "Fine. I'll head back to the tower. You show Cirillo around," I give him a nod and as I move to leave he grips my wrist and leans into me. "I don't have to tell you how important it is for him to be comfortable here, right?"

"No, sir," I shake my head. He lets me go and gives me a nod.

"Wear something a little less uptight, Little Sister. No one wants a stick in a pantsuit," he growls in my ear and gives me a light shove to prove his point.

"Yes, sir," I give him another nod.

He and Lance walk into the family room leaving me standing here feeling embarrassed as s**t in front of Nicolas. I don't look back at him this time. I wait for the ringing in my ears to fade before I move. It takes everything in my power to not swing at him. I hate it when he does that. It's not the first time he has asked me to entertain the visiting Dons. I've never had to do anything I'm uncomfortable with but not all of them are as pretty as Nick or anywhere near my age.

After a quick body rinse I do my makeup and pick out one of my favorite dark gray Valentino Mini dresses to go with Nicolas's suit. I accessorize black and take my copper-red hair out of the braid before styling it. A couple of perfume sprays and I'm done. There's a knock on my door as I slip into my red bottom pumps. I open the door grabbing my clutch to find Nicolas standing there. His lips part to say something as his eyes skim my body.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks.

"Yeah," I nod.

"Do you want to drive?" he asks meeting my eyes.

"I'll have the car brought out. Will Sonny be joining us?"

"No, Sonny rides with Security," he shakes his head. "Just you and me. You look like a completely different person,"

"Is that a compliment?" I ask. He looks me over, his jaw flexing. He doesn't like my outfit.

"You look amazing," he says tightly. "We should go," he steps aside. "But next time, wear what you want,"