The Velvet Room Conspiracy: Chapter Thirteen
Playing With Fire
Charlie
An unexpected knock at the door sends a ripple through the stillness. Wes answers, but the woman on the other side strides in before he can say anything. She’s tall, sharp in every sense of the word. She wears a razor-sharp pantsuit with striking red lipstick. She has a gaze that slices through the room like a scalpel.
“Wesley, you’re a hard man to get a hold of.”
“Katherine, you know you have to make an appointment with my assistant.”
She ignores him, and her attention locks onto me almost immediately. “And who’s this?” she asks.
Wes glances my way but doesn’t rush to answer. I step forward instead, offering my hand. “Charlotte Winslow.”
Her eyebrows arch delicately, and her lips curve into a knowing smirk. “And what do you do, Charlotte?”
“I bartend,” I reply.
She lets out a soft laugh that feels more like a jab than genuine amusement. “You bartend?” Her gaze flicks to Wes, her smirk widening. “Wesley, what exactly have you been up to? She’s not one of my girls, that’s for sure.”
Wes stiffens slightly. “No, she’s not, and it’s a welcomed change.”
Katherine’s eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I can see the gears turning in her mind. “So you’ve been going behind my back. Not using my girls anymore? And instead…” She looks me over again, her smile turning sly. “You’ve found yourself a fresh face.”
Her words hang heavy with implication, but I can’t pinpoint her meaning. I glance at Wes, hoping for clarity, but his expression doesn’t give anything away.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I say carefully.
Katherine waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t play coy. I’m Katherine. I manage events at The Velvet Room—the ones that matter, where the real money is. Wes knows I handpick the best, and I keep things exclusive. So imagine my surprise when I find someone like you… fresh-faced, untrained, and clearly not one of my girls.”
“She’s a bartender,” Wes cuts in, his voice harder now.
Katherine’s smile doesn’t waver. “And I’m saying she could be more. Don’t you see it, Wesley? She has the look, the energy. She’d fit right in.” She turns back to me, ignoring his glare. “What do you say, Charlotte? It pays far better than bartending, and you’d be working directly with me. Exclusive events, high-profile clients—nothing too strenuous. Just charm, polish, and a little finesse.”
I hesitate as my mind races. Katherine’s offer is dripping with ulterior motives, but it’s also a golden opportunity. If I can get closer to her and these so-called “exclusive events,” I might be able to find out what happened to Bianca.
“I… guess I could give it a shot,” I say cautiously.
Wes’s head snaps toward me, his jaw tightening. “Charlotte—”
“I’ll take care of her,” Katherine cuts him off smoothly, her smile widening. “You know I always do.” She reaches into her pocket and hands me a sleek business card. “Come by the lounge tomorrow at six, and we’ll get you started.”
She turns back to Wes, her expression sharpening. “You should’ve told me you were stepping on my toes. But I’ll forgive you this time.”
“I’m not stepping on anything. She’s not yours.”
“Not yet,” Katherine says, as she pats his arm lightly as if to placate him. “Relax, Wesley. I’m taking her off your hands. She’ll be in better ones.”
With that, she strides out. The moment the door shuts, Wes turns around on me. “What the hell was that?”
“It sounded like a good opportunity,” I say, slipping Katherine’s card into my pocket.
“You have no idea what you just signed up for.” His voice is low, almost a growl, but there’s something else there too—concern?
“I’ll be fine. Katherine seems… interesting.”
“She’s dangerous. And this isn’t some game, Charlotte. If you think you can play her, you’ll lose.”
I meet his gaze, my heart racing but my voice steady. “We’ll see.”
His frustration is palpable, but he says nothing more, running a hand through his hair as he turns away. I leave the room, my resolve hardening with every step.
Whatever Katherine has planned for me, I’ll be ready. This is my chance to uncover the truth about Bianca, and I won’t let it slip through my fingers.
The tension follows me as I retreat to the bedroom: I sit on the edge of the bed, trying to shake off the unease from Katherine’s visit, but it lingers like a bad taste in my mouth.
Later that evening the soft creak of the bedroom door draws my attention. Wes steps in, closing the door behind him. He leans against it for a moment, arms crossed, but his blue eyes burn with frustration.
“You’re really going through with this?” he asks, his voice calm, but the tension in it is unmistakable.
I glance at him, keeping my tone light. “Katherine made a good point. It’s an opportunity.”
He pushes off the door, taking a slow step into the room. “Katherine is good at making things sound like they’re in your best interest. That’s how she works.”
“You let her run events here,” I counter, watching his every move. “You clearly trust her.”
His lips twitch into something that isn’t quite a smile. “I trust Katherine to do what’s best for Katherine. Always have and always will. You don’t belong in her world.”
“And why not?”
His jaw tightens, and I can see the frustration in the way he sets his shoulders. “Because you don’t know what you’re getting into. Katherine doesn’t bring people in unless she sees a way to use them, and she won’t let you go once she has you.”
There’s a sharpness in his words, an anger that feels too personal, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Why do you care so much?”
For a moment, his gaze flickers, something unguarded flashing in his eyes, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
“You think this is just some job. A way to make more money or play dress-up at fancy events. But it’s not. Katherine’s world is fire. If you step into it, you’ll burn.”
I force myself to hold his gaze, even as my heart races. “You’re one to talk about fire. Why should I trust you? You’re just as dangerous as she is, maybe worse.”
His expression darkens, but he doesn’t deny it. Wes isn’t the kind of man who hides what he is.
“You don’t have to trust me. But at least listen when I tell you not to be stupid.”
“Right,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because you have my best interests at heart. You just want to keep an eye on me, where you can use me for whatever agenda you’re running.”
His jaw clenches, and for a split second, I think he might argue. But then he exhales sharply and shakes his head, stepping back. “Think what you want, Charlotte. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I watch as he turns away, moving toward the door, but the tightness in my chest doesn’t ease. I want to ask why does he even care. But the words stick in my throat.
“You’re playing with fire, Charlotte. Don’t forget that.”
He leaves without another word, the soft click of the door closing behind him is louder than it should be.
I let out a shaky breath. He’s fire. Everything about him radiates danger. And if I’ve learned anything about fire, it doesn’t protect—it consumes.
Still, I can’t ignore how my pulse jumps whenever he looks at me. It’s intoxicating in the worst way. It’s like touching a flame to see if it really burns. I’m not just playing with fire. I’m living with it, and eventually, it will burn me. But not before I see what Katherine is all about, because she knows something about Bianca, I can feel it.
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© 2024 Scarlett Witherspoon. All rights reserved. This story is protected under copyright law.