Magnate (Acquisition 2)

“We need our room,” Lucius said. “Lucius Vinemont and Stella Rousseau.”

The attendant flipped through screen after screen on his tablet. “Oh, you’re one of the competitors. Your room will be up one more flight of stairs, last door on the left. It’s one of the larger suites.”

“Key?” Lucius held his palm out.

The attendant shook his head. “No keys, sir. Trust is implicit.”

“Come on, Stella,” Lucius said.

The attendant cleared his throat. “Oh, no. I’m sorry. I didn’t make it clear. The suite is solely for you, Mr. Vinemont. She will be staying with the other Acquisitions.”

“What?” Lucius turned back to the attendant. “No, she stays with me.”

“Those are my instructions from Mr. Oakman. I’m sorry if they aren’t palatable, sir.” He didn’t seem the least bit sorry.

“But one of the other Acquisitions has a dick.” Lucius was fuming.

“No need to worry about that. She won’t be sullied until it’s time.”

Sullied? I tried to stay calm, to keep up what little barrier I had to these people and their minions. But this was already too much. I snatched the tablet from his hands and tossed it over the rail. Someone below yelped but the sound was quickly drowned out by the clamor of voices.

The attendant’s nostrils flared and he scowled at me. “You can’t do that.”

“I just did.” I may not have been able to stand up to anyone else here, but this guy? I was more than happy to grind him under my heel and piss on the dust that was left.

The attendant’s eyes narrowed. “Michael,” he called over his shoulder, “please escort the Acquisition to her quarters and hand me your tablet.”

One of the other attendants, a younger man, stepped forward and handed his computer over before looking at me.

Lucius pulled me aside and spoke in my ear. “You have to go with them, but if you need me, you heard what he said. My room’s up the stairs, last door on the left. Come find me if anything happens, okay?”

“This way, Acquisition.” Michael grabbed my elbow.

“Back the fuck off, asshole,” Lucius said. “And address her as Ms. Rousseau or I’ll rip your goddamn tongue out, you fucking prick.”

Michael stepped away in a hurry.

Lucius reached up as if to touch my cheek but glanced around and thought better of it. “Just tell me you’ll come to me, okay?”

“I will.” I wouldn’t. He couldn’t help me.

“All right. Go with him, but don’t take any shit.” Lucius took my hand and squeezed my fingers. “I’ll see you soon.”

His words were like a judge pronouncing a sentence. He was right that he would see me soon. I pulled my hand away from his and followed Michael down the hall.

“Where are we going?” I asked Michael’s retreating back.

“As was already clearly stated to you, to the Acquisition quarters, Ms. Rousseau.”

This kid was getting under my skin almost as badly as Mr. Tablet Overboard. “I have another question.”

“What?” He let out an exasperated sigh.

“Why are you such a douche?”

He stiffened, but kept walking. Score one for Stella.

He led me around a few more corners before coming to a set of oaken double doors. He pushed through and we entered a room with three twin beds and an en suite bathroom. It was small, but not cramped. A tiny window in the upper rafter let in natural light, and high track lighting shined down from the wooden beams.

“These will be your quarters for the duration of your stay with us. Don’t leave until someone comes for you.” He backed out of the room, smirking at me and closing the doors as he went.

Brianne stepped out of the bathroom. She was in a cutoff t-shirt and shorty shorts.

I panicked. “Why are you dressed for spring break? You need to be warm.”

“Why, we’re going to be inside, right?” She plopped onto the nearest bed.

“No. Well, I mean, I don’t know, but—”

“Red said not to worry about it. That it wasn’t a big deal.” She stared at the small window. “It’s just supposed to be a little fun for them.”

Red was an even bigger piece of shit than I’d ever imagined. I sank down next to Brianne and took one of her hands. “We have to get you dressed warmer. Did you bring any clothes?”

She finally looked at me and her eyes had the same glassy quality as they did at the party in New Orleans.

“Did you take something?” I asked.

“No. What do you mean?” She pulled her hand away from mine.

“I mean, are you high?” I had no idea what having drugs in your system would do when faced with hypothermia or worse.

She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. Red told me this was a competition between you and me and that powder puff Gavin. You aren’t going to beat me.”

My eyes rounded in disbelief. “You think we’re competing against each other?”