Brooklyn hugged me. “Have fun. Be good.” She giggled. “I can’t believe you. And you didn’t even want to do this. Of all the members, you got him.”
“But I didn’t. I don’t,” I whispered.
“Come now. You must.”
I waved at Brooklyn, trying to steady my erratic pulse.
I was escorted through a dark passage. Luc’s headset crackled and sputtered the farther we walked.
“Careful, cher.” He guided me to a door. I may have tripped without his help.
My heart beat wildly. I felt frantic. Nervous.
“Do not forget your contract.”
I nodded. I couldn’t remember what was in it. Something about no pictures. No social media posts. I didn’t know the rest. My phone was at the apartment. I wasn’t allowed to bring it to the club.
“But what if—” I looked down to ask a question, but the funny man was gone. The hallway was black. I could hear my heart beating in my ears. My head was swimming. I tried to concentrate on breathing slowly. I was in too deep to back out now. I had to get it together.
I tried to retrace the chain of events that brought me here. One thing was certain. I never expected here to be a dark hallway, alone, waiting to be escorted to a contractually bound evening with His Royal freaking Highness. For the first time tonight, the shiver that ran up my spine might be excitement rather than panic.
My thoughts were interrupted when a green light flashed on the wall. Did that mean I was supposed to go through the door? I waited until finally it seemed ludicrous to stand in the hall any longer.
I took one last deep breath and twisted the knob in my palm. With a gentle push, the door swung open.
I expected a room. Maybe something with red velvety drapes and blue elephant paintings like in the Moulin Rouge. But there was nothing exotic or seductive about what was on the other side. The door was an exit to the back of the parking lot. I was met with dim street lights.
A long black car was parked a few feet in front of me. A driver stood, holding the rear door.
“Mademoiselle,” he greeted me quietly.
I stepped forward.
“This way.”
I eyed him. There was nothing distinguishable about his face. Brown hair. Brown eyes. A round chin. He wore a cap. Was I doing this? Getting into a car behind The Titan?
“His Majesty waits,” he urged me.
“Yes, I know.” I stopped just shy of the door and glanced inside.
From where I stood I could see his arm. I followed the lines of a crisp white shirt to the cuff at his wrist. I couldn’t make out the letters monogrammed on his cufflinks. His watch caught the small bit of light coming off the building. He had large hands. I also noticed his legs were long and muscular in a pair of fitted dark pants.
He strummed his fingers. He was waiting.
“Mademoiselle,” the driver urged.
“Right. Yes.”
I ducked, climbing into the backseat. The door closed behind me. And I came face to face with His Royal Highness.
5
Damon
I had waited longer than I should have. I checked my watch again. I had paid out the highest tender of my life. I wasn’t leaving here without her. I reminded myself she wasn’t a regular tally. There had never been another woman like her at The Titan before. I wouldn’t have paid half a million otherwise.
Georgan closed the car door as she slid into the leather seat next to me. Finally.