I Survived The Brute [#2] [Follow Freelove to Read]

## Alice 4

Private Chapter 10 after.

Samson, I never saw him down there, but with his tight connection to Emelia I can only assume it was him in the box.  Seeing their story makes me shiver, it also makes me hesitate from looking at the next video, a new person who I got to know real well down there.  I look down at my watch instead, 9:53.  I don’t expect anyone to actually show up until 10:30 or later, but I guess I should get downstairs to clean up and prepare for the guests. 

I flip the TV off and slide the stacks of videos into a small drawer under the coffee table I’ve been using to hold it all.  I prefer all this to be hidden because it’s nearly guaranteed people will wonder up into my study for deep philosophical conversations, as they always do.  I swing out into the hall and walk down the staircase nearest to my study.  At the bottom of the dark entrance I open a hidden compartment and raise a few switches, turning the chandelier on dim and lightening up the stairs as well as the hall.

I move away from the front and into the back room to turn the mood lightening on in the kitchen, make the living room brighter, and turn the lights on for outside.  I then unlock and slide the glass door open.  I step outside onto the patio and admire my dark yard.  I then go down two steps and up to the grill, I remove the cover.  I don’t plan to use the grill, but having that cover on is tacky.  Under the counter next to the grill I press several more buttons lighting up the unders of the stairs and the pool.  That’s also not planned to be used, but when alcohol is flowing there’s no telling what will happen.

Once all lights are on I go back inside, right in time too as the bell is ringing.  I walk back to the front and stop under the chandelier, “Just a moment!”  I shout as I open a compartment in the wall near the hall.  Inside are four levels of shoes.  I reach right for the middle and pull a beige pair of heels out from the middle. This will match well with my blouse.  I slip the shoes on and close the compartment.  I then walk over to the door and open it.  It’s Greg, Jess, and Aldrin, the three that work for the bartending service.  Behind them are two more men who just come to help carry the bar in and out of the house.

“Hello Ma’am, you ready to party?”  Greg says as he pulls his black apron down and stands straight.

I smile, “I always am.  Thanks for being able to come on such short notice.”

“Always is,” he nods as he steps in to let his two assistances and the movers also come in.  Greg sets up the bar in its normal place out back by the barbeque.  He likes setting up right next to that counter so he gets twice as much counter space to serve drinks on.  He also absolutely loves playing with fire when serving and a grill right next to him makes that easy.

I get a shot of vodka from the bar right as the bell rings.  I take the hit and turn to meet my first guest.  I walk through the house and get to the door.  I open it, the Weasels, a couple that lives down the road.  They tend to come over often.  I greet them and let them in.  I’m guessing they saw the bar come and knew it was time to show up early before that shit gets crowded.  Once they are inside I prop the door open, most know to just walk in.

“Thanks for having us Alice sweetie,” Dean Weasel smiles as he gives me a kiss.

“Shall we get this started?  You two are the first.”

“At 10:15?”

“Does anyone come on time to these?” Dean smiles and his wife clings to his arm silent.  I don’t like how quite she is, but I guess that’s the kind of person she is.  She will get a little more vocal after a few glasses of wine, but by then what voice she does have gets blurred out by the music and the rest of the people at the party.  “I’ll give you the honors,” I say handing a remote to Dean.  He smiles and presses the digital button in the middle.  Music starts from the kitchen area, slow with a girl singing.  She sings for a good minute before the base drops and a male rapper takes over.  I didn’t get a DJ for this party; unlike the bartending service which is good at short notice the DJ needs a 48 hour notice to make it.