She is Not Who You Thought She Was

Chapter 83/Slid A Black Card

Sunday morning I woke up with a game plan in mind. I was going to Ebony for an early morning intense workout and to finally call Frostee back. I did send him a quick text last night when I was going to call him, but I ended up staying at the Chase's longer than I intended. Flora asked me to help her with the new patterns she was creating, which intrigued me quite a bit. That led me to look through her sketchbook. All of her designs flowed from women's clothing to men's. She told me before that she tries to make her own dresses for each gala which opened me to the question: has she ever designed Rock's or her father's suits? She denied it saying her father wouldn't risk the chance of them being imperfect. However, she also told me...that I choose to believe was supposed to be a kept secret. Brandon and Rock always match. They both wear white bowties and black vest tuxedos. Yet Rock was wearing a red bowtie and red suspenders to the last gala, my signature color...coincidentally? I also caught him leaving Luxe Level the day before the gala with a small box. He said he was getting clothes resized. He must have gotten the new red bowtie and suspenders then. Not a new suit. I can't think of that small box being able to hold anything else except for that. Flora said that her mom was really confused and annoyed Rock didn't want to match. Also, he wore a black dress shirt. Wenna would never have allowed the color change if she had known that it also meant not wearing a white shirt. I related to the Chase family a lot...they have an image to keep up with Mr. Chase being a public politician. They have to wear masks...although Flora doesn't seem to hide much. That is something that makes her different from Rock. She speaks and acts freely.

I tightened my ponytail before tying it into a braid and making my way out onto the floor. I noticed Jefe entering the back room he saw me but didn't maintain eye contact which, to be honest... startled me more than him keeping eye contact.

I did cardio, box bag, and barbell squats. I didn't have a planned workout session today I just wanted to do plenty of intense exercises. When I finished I stretched out my muscles and took a long drink from my water bottle before heading back to the locker room to freshen up. I packed away my headphones and water bottle before heading out.

"Hey, you need to renew your membership for the next month." Lumberjack called after me. I turned around taking my hand off the door handle.

"Right." I walked back to the desk and opened the zipper of my bag.

"Cash or Card sweetheart?" He asked as I searched for my wallet.

"Card."

"I got it." I paused and slowly raised my head. José looked down at me with a soft expression. He slid a black card across the counter without taking his eyes off me. "You're here early?" This was a question that I wasn't sure I wanted to answer.

"Yeah." That is all I said. I would have refused his help, but I didn't want to start an argument. Something tells me he would have acted the same way that Rock did about the phone situation. Could that be where Rock got it from?

"For any particular reason Muñeca?" Oh, so he wanted to chat. I internally groaned and locked eyes with him.

"I just have a busy day ahead of me." I told him. That was an honest reason.

"Date with Thomas?" My eyes widen for a split second. José smirked, but not in a mocking way. I didn't respond and just stared at him with my heart caught in my throat. Josè tucked the card back into the inside of his suit jacket. "I'll walk you out." He gave Lumberjack a look before holding the door open for me. I did as he offered intrigued by his actions and words. "You see Escarletta, Thomas is no longer a Velvet which means I have no reason to call him anything else other than his birth name. I also know he only goes by Frostee with specific people. Others might disapprove of a nickname." He glanced down at me with a knowing look. Family. We stood outside the door under the swinging sign. "Even though it was given while he was a Velvet...it doesn't mean it is tainted. It is him." I processed his words then looked up at him he smiled at me unexpectedly which made my skin heat up in embarrassment. Having someone as attractive as Jefe smile at me made me feel sheepish. "How is everything going with him by the way? I thought you might have left him after what we did to you." He pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

"He didn't kidnap me. You did." I told him boldly. Jose grinned at me as he slipped a single cigarette out of the box.

"Ah, that was Julian," his accent thick, "But I did order it so you're not wrong." Jose paused his actions.

"I didn't leave him we actually decided to be exclusive that night."

"Ah, you pitied him." My jaw dropped.

"I-I did- did not." I stumbled.

"That's cute Muñeca." He ignored my refusal as he put the cigarette in his mouth. "By the way you should actually be thanking me."

"Excuse me?" He was starting to piss me off now. I tighten my grip of my bag strap.

"When Julian left you and Thomas in that building with those lower class velvets that I had conduct the act, they..." He cleared his throat momentarily. "They thought it would be fun to play with you." I scrunched my eyebrows for a moment then widened my blue eyes in horror.

"They what?!" I choked. José pulled the cigarette off his lips.

"No. No. No Escarletta." He came up close to me and patted the side of my head lightly with comfort. "I stopped them before they even touched you. I heard them plotting how to do it and I entered the room as they went towards you." I scrunched my eyebrows at him in confusion.

Shouldn't he not give a rat's ass about sexual assault.

"You might think I'm a monster Muñeca, but I would never allow that or do that to any woman." His hand stiffened next to my ear while he still caressed my face as if to give more assurance to his words. My breathing quickened and he released it reaching into his jacket and pulling out a lighter. "It's completely prohibited to commit any type of sexual assault, any assault towards women, or spill innocent blood." I didn't respond for a moment but decided to throw his words back in his face.

"Frostee was innocent." Jose let out a small laugh and smoke fell out of his mouth.

"Thomas was far from innocent. You should know that Muñeca, you've laid with him." I haven't... "And by 'spill blood', I mean to kill." He elaborated and I felt like an idiot. He took another drag.

I started to inch away not wanting to continue this conversation any longer. Even though he is chatting with me it doesn't mean I want to.

"Muñeca!" He stopped me with his loud voice. I thought he was angry, but his expression was soft like before when we were inside. "I'm sorry about that night. I hope you and Thomas can be happy." He flicked his cigarette onto the sidewalk and went back inside without another word or even another glance towards me.

"I hope for that too."

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P.K.