“Come on, ladies. You know you can’t dance on the tables in here.” He held his arm out for one of the women to take as she stepped down off the table.
“Sorry, Dennis. We’ll behave, I promise,” a brunette with a mass of curly hair shouted over the music.
“It’s okay, Chloe. I just don’t want you hurting yourself.” Dennis gave her a warm smile. I could tell he liked her. “Now, Ryley. Anything you need, just call me or one of the other security staff. I’ll have drinks sent over for you. Just please, stay in this area and stay out of trouble.”
“I always stay out of trouble, Denn
is.”
“I highly doubt that.” He shook his head and walked away, fastening the rope closed as he did.
“So, Little Miss Ryley, spill. What’s the deal?” Lisa pushed me down into a seat and crossed her arms, standing over me like the police, ready for an interrogation.
“There’s nothing to tell, honestly.” I shrugged, hoping that would be enough to get them off my back.
“No way, Emerson. Something’s going on. Tell us.” Maddie sat in the chair next to mine. Considering we’d all been swaying and tipsy moments ago, they all looked highly alert and on the ball now.
“I just… I’ve got this… arrangement going on at the moment. It’s nothing. It’s just…”
“It’s obviously something if the owner of this place is telling everyone you’re his girlfriend,” Lisa shouted over the bass of the music.
“Excuse me. Did I hear you right? Are you Ryley?” the brunette with the curls butted in. I’d never been more relieved for someone to interrupt a conversation.
“Yeah, I’m Ryley,” I said, nervous for her reaction. I had no idea who this girl was.
“Hey, I’m Chloe. Chloe Marquez. It’s really nice to meet you. When Luca said Jackson had started seeing someone, I gotta admit, I was shocked. In all the time we’ve known Jackson, he’s never introduced any of us to a girlfriend. You must be really special.”
Oh my word, how cute was that? Chloe was sweet. I could tell straight away she was genuine and meant no ill will towards me or anyone else here. Her friends that stood beside her though, they were a different matter altogether.
“It’s really not that big a deal…” I started trying to explain my way out of all this, but it was pointless. Chloe looked excited to meet me, like I was a movie star she’d gotten access to for the night, and her friends looked like they were ready to shank me at a moment’s notice.
As for my friends, well, after a few evil eyes, they seemed content to enjoy the free champagne Dennis had brought over, and leave the interrogation until later.
“So you’re the blondie Cill talks about all the time.” The tall blonde girl looked me up and down. She wasn’t as hostile as the redhead, but she was clearly wary of me.
“This is Gina,” Chloe said, introducing the blonde. “And this is Stacey.” She pointed over to the redhead who nodded, but didn’t say a word.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I gave a wave then felt dumb for doing so, and put my hand back down, hoping my cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. The sooner we escaped this area and went back down to the main club, the better. I didn’t feel comfortable cooped up in here with Chloe and her band of assassins.
“Come on, guys. Be nice. Ryley hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s one of us now. Just trying to survive in this crazy world our men have dragged us into.” Chloe stepped closer to me and rubbed my arm in solidarity.
“I don’t think you need any help from us though. You sound like a pretty tough cookie from what I’ve heard.”
“She’d have to be dating him,” Gina spat out.
“Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I don’t know why, but that comment got my back up. What did she know about Jackson that I didn’t?
“I mean, you’ll need to keep your wits about you. From what I hear from my girls, he’s a hard-faced, ruthless asshole with zero emotions. Do you like being his doormat?”
“Gina! Don’t be rude. Ryley obviously knows another side to Jackson, otherwise she wouldn’t be with him.” I couldn’t believe that Chloe hardly knew me, yet she was coming to both our defences, mine and Jackson’s.
“I do. He only shows the world what he wants them to see. He’s a very private man. And I am no doormat.” I don’t know why I felt the need to defend him, but I did. I straightened my stance as if to show how strong and forthright I could be.
“Of course you’re not. He wouldn’t have you in his life if you were.” Chloe smiled a genuine, heart-warming smile.
“Well, it’s a good job then,” Gina bit back. “Because he’d wipe himself all over you without a second thought.” Did she have history with Jackson? Was that why she was so bitter towards me?
“Oh stop it, Gee. Just because he turned down your business doesn’t mean he’s a monster. We all know Cillian has his particular tastes, maybe Jackson does too, and that is none of our business.”