[ON GOING] All Of Me 18+ Only (Book 3 of Lastor series) #Wattys2020

Chapter 12

Dinner with the family at the rooftop restaurant of Hôtel de Paris was filled with tension and pretenses. Mother had come with her new lover, a business man who owned a string of Michelin starred restaurants all over Europe and was also a British Earl on his own right. Grandpapá and Grandmaman brought their paramours as well, albeit seated away from them. Rick was evidently struggling to keep up his conversation with Rafael as the more wine he drank, the more often he slipped back into French and his accent grew thicker, while I just kept to myself, dutifully avoiding eye contact with Mother from the next table while I ate. She's been giving me the evil eye all throughout the meal.

"You must come to Amber Lounge with us," Rafael was insisting when he realized this was Rick's first time spectating the Monaco Grand Prix. "Your Grand Prix experience is not complete unless you've partied at Amber!"

"Uhm... I don't know," Rick said dubiously, glancing at me. "If Angel wants to go, sure."

"Can't," I said, taking a sip of my sparkling cider. "I'm banned from stepping foot in Amber."

"Ah, oui. She nearly killed someone last time," Rafael added flippantly.

I rolled my eyes. "It was just assault."

Rafael snorted, leaning closer to Rick. "She beat a poor man with a bar stool and cracked his skull," he said conspiratorially.

Rick was staring wide eyed at me and I shrugged, picking at my food. "He wouldn't stop talking to me and I got pissed off."

Rafael threw his head back, laughing. "Quelle nuit!" (What a night it was!)

I tossed one of my forks at him, glancing at Rick. "You can go if you want. I have a bunch of meetings anyway and it might go on till late."

"You have meetings?" He frowned, glancing at his watch. "It's almost ten."

I shrugged. "I didn't want it to take time off our day so I had Kat schedule them late."

"You will go with us," Rafael interjected in a demanding tone, grasping Rick's shoulder. "Oui?"

Rick glanced at me and I shrugged. "I guess," he relented, chuckling.

Rafael snapped his fingers at me, holding out his palm. I took out my black Amex from my clutch, handing it to him and he kissed it, murmuring sweet nothings to the card.

Rafael went on telling Rick all about the night he had in stow for them as the dessert course was served. I was finishing off my coffee when I caught Leonardo approach us and come to my side, leaning down to my ear.

"Mr. Hagen is at the lobby with your guest," he informed me.

"Send them up to the suite," I ordered, taking my napkin off my lap and setting it on the table. "I gotta go," I said to Rick, kissing his jaw. "Don't take anything Raf gives you." I sent Rafael a glare. "Essaye quoi que ce soit sur lui et je t'enterrerai à la mer." (Try anything on him and I'll bury you at sea.)

"Ne t'inquiètes pas." (Do not worry,) he assured me, slinging an arm around Rick's shoulder. "Sa pureté ne sera pas corrompu." (His purity will not be corrupted.) He grinned wickedly. "Beaucoup." (Much.)

I rolled my eyes, going to the rest of the family's table and bidding them a goodnight before heading out of the restaurant. I undid the chignon I had put my hair up in as we entered the elevator, consciously bringing out the character I relied on for business.

I took in my reflection on the elevator doors, my eyes becoming shadowed by a veil of menace. I pulled my shoulders back, elongating my neck to give off an aura of condescension as my face became a blank mask, remedied by just a hint of a curl on the corner of my lips. As we walked out of the elevator, I brought subjugation at every careful step as I embodied the ruler of underworld where my empire dwelled in.