Finding Beauty in the Darkness

Texting Cecilia, I ask her to send up Natalie. She’s close in age to Aria and one of the sweetest women I know. After Celia asks why, I tell her to just do it. She and I are going to need to have a conversation soon. I text Rome and tell him he needs to stand guard outside Aria’s room to ensure she doesn’t run.

“I’m going to unlock your cuffs so you can shower. Rome will be standing guard, so it wouldn’t be wise to try to run.” Aria gives me another death glare, mumbling what sounds like swear words under her breath. There’s a soft knock on the door and when I open it, Natalie is waiting timidly on the other side.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Valentino. How may I help you?”

“Natalie, thank you for coming up. My guest, Aria, is in pain but needs to shower. Would you be willing to help her?” I hear Aria grumble something about not being a guest, which causes me to chuckle, only for her to shoot daggers at me in return, which has me laughing harder. Natalie eyes me, confused as to what is happening. That makes two of us, sweetheart.

Natalie smiles warmly at Aria, then says, “Absolutely, sir. My first date isn’t for a couple hours.”

Natalie and I walk over to the bed, and after I unlatch the handcuffs—Natalie pretending like she isn’t seeing any of this—we each take one of Aria’s arms and slowly raise her until she’s on her feet. Aria tries to shake my hand off her arm, which only makes me hold on to her tighter.

“Do you think I could borrow another shirt and boxers?” she quietly asks, reminding me that I ordered her some clothes.

“I have some clothes for you. I wasn’t sure of your size so I had a couple different sizes delivered. I’ll place them in the bathroom. Just let me know which sizes fit best and I can order you more. I also had the housekeeper put some toiletries in the shower for you. Shaving cream, a razor, shampoo…If you prefer any certain brand just let me know and I’ll have her pick them up.”

Aria stares at me for a moment like she’s trying to figure out my motive. Then she shakes her head and mumbles out a “thanks.”

After both women are inside the bathroom, I head out to give them some space. Rome, who is guarding the door, gives me a curt nod as I walk downstairs.

“Emilio, my usual.” The bartender goes about making me a whiskey neat and places it on the bar top with a napkin.

“Grazie.”

Sitting at the bar, I sip my drink and scroll through emails and texts on my phone. Several men come and go. Some stop to say hello and others just nod. I spot Cecilia speaking to one of the members while tapping away on her iPad, most likely scheduling him in. Several women who work for me smile at me as they meet with the men they are scheduled to escort, either to bed or out somewhere.

One of the women sits on a gentleman’s lap in the common room. She’s laughing at whatever he’s saying and I recognize him immediately. He gave a hefty sum to one of the organizations Weston took part in. Now that I think about it, I remember seeing them at several dinners together.

I walk over and stop in front of them. “Kelly, would you mind giving Mr. Wentworth and me a moment?”

“Yes, Sir.” She gets off Phillip Wentworth’s lap and makes herself scarce.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Valentino?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt your time with Kelly. I’m hoping you can help me locate someone. I have some unfinished business with Senator Hightower but it seems we keep missing each other. It’s an urgent sensitive matter.”

Phillip frowns. “The last I heard, he was looking for his stepdaughter. He wasn’t sure when he would be returning. Apparently, he’s concerned because he hasn’t heard from her since she took off after her mom died.” So that’s what that fucker is saying…

“You wouldn’t happen to have a way to contact him, would you? I have his business number on file, but it seems he didn’t leave me his personal one. Must have been an oversight on one of our parts.” I’ve spoken to Cecilia about this. I don’t give a shit how powerful the man is, she needs to get every damn number available in the future.

Pulling out his cell phone, he gives me the senator’s personal number and I program it into my phone. “I appreciate it. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, Kelly is such a delight. It’s too bad my wife can’t be more like her.” It no longer shocks me when I hear comments like this. What I don’t understand is why when a man isn’t happy in his marriage, instead of trying harder to make it work, he would rather stray with new pussy. If that’s the case, why get married at all? Just stay single and fuck anyone you want.