He played with my emotions, and I let him.
I. Let. Him.
That’s the completely fucked-up part of all this.
“You’re lost in your head,” Nicholas says, making me snap my attention back to him.
“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind, and a lot to work out.”
“Yes, the job. Well, if you’re interested when this is over, come visit me. I’m always looking for staff.”
“I may just hold you to that.”
“Nicholas.” We both look up as Benji stands above us with a drink in his hand. “You two look comfortable,” he says, offering me a smile.
“You two know each other?” Nicholas asks, sitting up.
Benji brings his drink to his lips and looks at me.
“We do, don’t we?” His eyes lock on me before he looks to Nicholas. “I need you to leave, so I can chat with Thea here.”
Nicholas stands and looks down at me. “I can walk you back?” he offers.
“It’s okay. Thank you anyway.”
Nicholas nods before he starts to walk away. I sit up as Benji walks over and takes the spot Nicholas was in. He puts his drink to his lips, then wipes his mouth on his sleeve before leaning on his arm as he looks at me. “You two look nothing alike,” he says while eyeing me. “But if I look hard enough, I guess I can see it. Maybe.” He looks away, breaking eye contact.
“Who?”
“Lucy.” He says her name as easily as I do. As if he knows her more so than anyone else. More than even me.
“You know Lucy?”
He nods. “And you, Theadora Fitzgerald, are her sister, and you’re here to work off her debt,” he states what I didn’t know was public knowledge.
“How do you know, Lucy?” I ask, confused. “And have you seen her? She rang me and told me to stay away from Atlas. But I can’t until I know she’s safe.” I shake my head, “Lucy is always putting herself in situations where she shouldn’t be, and I am always there to bail her out. It’s tiring being her sister.”
“I bet,” is all he replies as if he doesn’t care.
“Do you play as well?” I ask, changing the conversation. I am going to owe Atlas forever. I suck at making money. Am I meant to be a prostitute and sell myself? I don’t even know, because he sucks with his instructions.
“I used, too,” Benji says, throwing his glass. I look at it and shake my head. I’ll have to pick that up before I go to bed.
“So, why are you here,” I ask him.
“Same reason you are, sweetheart.” He smiles, looking at me, giving me his full attention.
“And why’s that?”
“To get my wife back.”
I instantly feel bad for him. “I’m sorry. Does he have your wife?”
Benji nods. “You know her, my wife.” He stands and looks down at me. “It’s your sister, so don’t fuck this up.” Then he turns and walks off, leaving me wide-eyed at his words.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Theadora
I stay on that beach for what feels like hours, the sun starts to rise by the time I finally move.
My sister is married.
That revelation is not something I expected to be hit with.
And how didn’t I know?
Isn’t that something you tell your sister, your only family you have left?
And why the fuck did Atlas take me if Lucy has a husband to pay her shit back?
My anger reaches a new boiling point.
Who the fuck does she think she is?
I’ve lost my job. Possibly my home, now that I am not there to look for work, and all because she is a selfish, inconsiderate bitch.
Our parents would be so proud of her.
Not.
Tearing off my heels, I start to make my way back to the cottage, even though I have no idea where the fuck I’m going. This place is beautiful, I will give it that much. The paths are lined with fairy lights and white sand. Palm trees are positioned everywhere, and the gardens are immaculate.
“Lost?” I look for the sound of that voice and watch as he emerges from the darkness like a true fucking viper. He’s still wearing that same singlet, and I want to tear it off of him and then scratch my nails down his chest in protest.
“No,” I lie, anger dripping from my voice.
“Seems you suck at lying.”
“Seems you suck at a lot of things, but let’s not go tit-for-tat, shall we?” I raise an eyebrow at him and walk past, hoping I’m going the way I’m meant to.
“Wrong way, Theadora.”
I flip him off and keep going. Hearing his chuckle behind me, I keep on walking the path that should eventually take me to my cottage. Hopefully. I walk for over ten minutes, and my outcome is I’m lost. Very lost.
Sitting down on the ground, I throw the heels somewhere out into the dark. I don’t care that they’re designer. Fuck them and fuck him.