The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (good novels to read TXT) 📕

By the time Amberleigh and Leo rolled back into the penthouse that evening, the party planner and her crew were already there beginning set up for tomorrow night’s masquerade. Grayson was out of his lair and overseeing the preparations. While he looked less like a corpse, he was still sporting a decent sized knot on his noggin.

Grayson didn’t greet her as usual, as she came in carrying a black garment bag carefully. He was standing in the archway to the sitting room overseeing the crew emptying it of furniture. He was imposing for someone so young and gave off that don’t fuck with me peasant vibe. Leo reminded his pal to take it easy and no heavy lifting. Then with a devilish smirk, Leo patted Grayson on the shoulder and announced he was going to go prepare his dinner. Grayson did not look pleased to say the least by Leo’s enthusiasm.

 It seemed the large space in the sitting room was to be the pinnacle of the masquerade ball. It could easy contain it in the mammoth space and a long table had already been set up near the back wall. Several workers were in the process of hanging several dark curtains in the space as well.

After Amberleigh hung her dress up in her closet, she approached the party planner to ask if she could be of any assistance. The party planner was polite in her rejection at least, but was excited to show Amberleigh her vision for the party from her sample portfolio. The theme was dark fairytale. Even Amberleigh couldn’t help but catch the woman’s excitement for the event after looking over the plans.

Those dark curtains would make a dozen alcoves where partygoers could go for some privacy and relaxation, to lounge on plush, blood red cushions. So to fuck pretty much, when you closed the curtains. The center focal point of the room was a dark stone fountain, where a dragon would breathe fuckin fire out of its mouth every fifteen minutes, and the base would waft up smoke. Party goers would be kept at a safe distance thanks to a wrought iron cemetery- ish barrier encircling the fountain.

The centerpieces of the table were black roses and candelabras filled with black candles.  The chairs along the massive table resembled gnarled old tree stumps. Black iron cages would contain a variety of deadly and beautiful interactive CGI creatures. The beautiful enchantress beckoned you closer holding her poisoned apple, perhaps the most deadly creature of all. That pale bitch looked so real as fuck, Amberleigh had to swipe her hand through the hologram to convince herself after the crew set it up. But she enjoyed the larger, antique mirror the most. When you stepped in front of it, a face appeared like in the Disney fairytale, before your own image became ghastly distorted. It was fuckin amazing and trippy technology.

Fuck, rich people knew how to throw great fuckin parties. Well, hire people who did anyway. She couldn’t wait to see the finished product all together tomorrow night. She was curious as to what the partygoers would show up wearing, no doubt all lavish and designer numbers.

Leo had to drag her away from the set-up to eat. Grayson was noticeably absent and Leo explained he’d already sent his ass to bed for the night. Awaiting her at the small table in the breakfast nook, set a decadent plate of filet minion, with steamed garlic asparagus, and loaded, creamy mashed potatoes. Also a bowl of salad greens, drizzled with vinaigrette oil, all paired with a glass of red wine. And after only a few hours of making her vow to fast, before the party, to hell with that shit.

As he pulled out a chair for her, she couldn’t help but ask him, “Leo, will you marry me?”

“You’ll have to take a number,” he smiled, “But you can be my number three?”

“I’ll take it I guess. This looks amazing. My compliments to the chef. I’m going to get fat living here for a year.”

She patted her stomach before she placed the cloth napkin over her lap. Leo got himself settled into his own chair and took a sip of wine.

“You look perfect to me,” he said finally.

An awkward sort of silence fell then, broken by the sounds of them beginning to eat their meal. Amberleigh’s cheeks were already warm before she even made it half way through her wine. Leo seemed ultra-focused on his food and avoiding eye contact, as if he knew he had fucked up a bit by his comment. Desperate to lighten the mood, she broke out in a grin, and inquired just what Leo had fed Grayson for dinner.

Leo chuckled and wiped his mouth, “Glad you should ask. A lovely casserole of my own creation consisting of beet root, liver, onions, tuna, sardines, and a dash of cod liver oil.”

“You sir are barbaric. Don’t change. Cheers.”

She clinked her wine glass against his before she finished off her glass. She ate her whole fuckin plate of food too. Leo looked impressed and pulled out some crème brulee for dessert. Leo was going to be the death of her good body for sure.

Later that night, after a carb coma lasting a couple hours, when Amberleigh came too, she was feeling guilty about looking like she was carrying a food baby in the conforming dress Angelique had worked so hard on. Even though she had no will power to even get her TV remote off the nightstand, she shamed herself into getting her ass up and heading for a quick work out. She doubted that Grayson would show for their nightly appointment anyway. And if he did, she would happily inform him she was bleeding like Carrie in the locker room.

As she moseyed on to the gym at midnight, she would be a dirty liar if she denied hoping to run into a certain chef also partaking in his steps toward physical peakness. And also naked as the day he was born and covered in sweat too. Even a girl on her period could dream and it really wasn’t asking too much anyway.  She’d been granted that wish once before after all.

But it was not Leo whom she stumbled upon during the witching hour, but rather the man of the penthouse himself. Grayson in a sleeveless, moisture wicking shirt, was running on the treadmill wearing one of those health devices strapped to his arm tracking his steps and heart rate and shit. He had earbuds in, clearly unware of her presence. So she took a moment or two to admire the view. He was an ass, but he also had a nice one too. And his biceps were pretty fuckin- salivating-worthy in their own right.