The Private Club 3(20)

I decided to walk to his private living room to see if he was there. As I walked, I thought about the evening Greyson had sung to me and how we had danced around the room. It had reminded me of a scene from a movie. An old romantic movie. A movie where the men were still men and knew how to treat a lady.

I arrived at Greyson’s study and paused as I looked through the window. Greyson was lying down on the couch, and he appeared to be reading a book. I stood there and watched him for a few minutes. He looked so peaceful and so handsome. My heart ached for myself and for Greyson. What demons were eating him up inside?

“He’s very handsome, isn’t he?” Patsy’s voice surprised me as she stood next to me. I looked at her with wide eyes, but she wasn’t looking at me as she spoke. “He’s a wonderful man, Greyson is.”

“I don’t really know him,” I mumbled.

“No, you don’t. I’ve known him a long time.” Her voice sounded wistful. “I was his first employee here at the club.”

“Oh.” I looked at her in surprise. “I didn’t know that.”

“Why would you?” she said dismissively as she looked at me with a slight sneer.

“You must know a lot of what goes on here?”

“I do.” She nodded and stepped back. “I know everything.”

“And you still work here?” I asked softly, hoping to get more information.

“Of course I still work here. Greyson knows he can trust me.” She made a face. “I love him, you know.” She looked back through the window at Greyson. “And love means loving someone no matter who they are.”

“Oh.” I stared at her carefully then. “I didn’t know.”

“I’ve loved him from the beginning. I thought at one point that my love could change him. Or at least save him.” She sighed. “You can’t help who you love.”

“Does he love you?”

“He doesn’t do love.” She shook her head and then looked at me with a mean expression. “What are you even doing here? You should be in a test room.”

“I was just walking around.”

“I already told you that could get you in trouble.”

“I should get going,” I said reluctantly and she nodded.

I walked away quickly and slowed as I rounded the corner. I peeked back and watched as Patsy knocked on the door and entered the room. I quickly returned to the doorway and held my ear up against the door. At first, the sounds were muffled, but I realized that was due to the loud beating of my heart. I took a couple of deep gulps of air to control my breathing and tried listening again.

“Greyson, it’s for the best.” I could hear Patsy’s voice clearly now, and it sounded like she was pleading. “We should leave. We can start over. You know I’ll always support you.”

“No, Patsy. I’m not going to leave.”

“But you have to. She knows what happened and now—”

He cut her off angrily. “How do you know she knows?”

“She told me.” Her voice was tight. “And there are others.”

“There are others who want to do what?”

“They want to take you down, Greyson.” Her voice was frightened. “It’s not safe here anymore.”

“I don’t run from the truth, Patsy. This is my club.”

“But, Greyson,” she pleaded.

“You need to leave now.” His voice was curt.

“Okay.” She bit back a sob. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. She will be the undoing of you and me.”

I ran back around the corridor quickly, opened the door to a room, and slipped in to hide. I watched Patsy leave Greyson’s room with a dejected face and tried not to feel emotional.

I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t realized just how in love with Greyson she was. Did he love her? Had he ever loved her? Had they ever been intimate? I cringed at the thought and ignored the sick feeling that was building up in the pit of my stomach.

I left the room and ran back to Greyson’s study. I was about to knock on the door when I realized it was still slightly ajar and he was on a call.

“Brandon, it’s Greyson.” His voice was smooth as he spoke. I peeked an eye through the opening to spy at him as he talked on the phone. His features looked hard and his body looked tense. “We have a big problem. No, I don’t want you coming and bringing your girlfriend with you again.” He paused, and I could see him pacing back and forth. “Look, Brandon, I need your advice. We have a Maria problem going on right now.”

I fell backwards then and clasped my hand over my mouth. The blood drained from my face as I walked quickly back to my room. Was that the real reason why Maria was dead? Had she found too much information about the club? Had she threatened to tell the police? Had she been murdered? My footsteps increased as a flash of pure worry and fear hit me. Was I going to be the next Maria?