Page 115 of Merciless Obsession

I snorted. “C’mon. It’s obvious we’re not gonna get anything here.” I turned to the door. Lifting my eyes I noticed the blinking red light above the door and the camera attached. That must have been how Ms. Rubin knew we were here.

“What do you think?” Inaya asked when we got back in the car.

I looked at the large brick building. “I don’t know. The way she talked, it seems like she enjoys her job and cares a lot about the kids that come here. But it’s just weird she never put two and two together. I mean, almost every year, three or four girls just stop showing up at your center and you don’t get curious. And then the whole owner thing, it’s clear she was lying there.”

“Yeah, I got that too, but why? I mean… unless she’s afraid.”

“Afraid?”

Inaya nodded. “Yeah. I mean, think about it. If The Veil is connected to this somehow, then she knows if she talks too much, she’ll most likely be killed.”

I sighed.

Inaya wasn’t far off. If the rumors were true, then Ms. Rubin could’ve put a target on her back if she told us anything and someone found out.

“I’m going to do a little more digging and get with Emmet. I’m sure the two of us can find out something together.”

I started the car.

My phone vibrated on my lap and there was a notification from Ezra waiting along with some developer diagnostics from my app. Since I had been stood up at the hotel, I hadn’t been on the app to look for a hookup, instead I’d just been handling the behind-the-scenes work, recoding and updating the software.

Tossing my phone in the cup holder, I put the gear in drive and pulled off. I would worry about Ezra and his antics later.

____

Ezra leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You look beautiful tonight, you know?” A shiver shot up my spine and my eyes cut in his direction. He had just helped me out of my seat after giving the valet his keys.

Just like he promised, Ezra was at my door at five, dressed elegantly in a black tux that looked tailored to fit him. The diamond studs in his ears shone brightly along with the watch on his wrist. Ezra was a naturally handsome man, but when he was dressed like this it made my pussy pulsate.

“Thank you.”

Flashing a crooked smile, he moved in and kissed my cheek.

“Shall we?” He held his hand out for me. Placing my hand into his, we started toward the hotel. The streets were flooded with people coming and going. Flashes from cameras kept going off. Chatter scattered around us. We were downtown and the night was already in full swing.

“Are you going to tell me what this is?” I asked after Ezra opened the hotel doors.

“The Mayor’s Ball,” he mentioned.

My face balled. “The Mayor’s Ball? I don’t even like our mayor.” To me, the mayor was half of the city’s problem. He only catered to and cared about what was going on in the wealthy parts. He didn’t do things that would accommodate and protect everyone. In fact when he was elected the gentrification in The Sticks slowed down.

Ezra laughed and led me to the left. “You don’t have to like him. I’m here to network and rub shoulders and you’re here to look good on my arm.” He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes.

After walking down the hallway for a little while, we got to the ballroom where Ezra gave the guy standing outside his name. Once his attendance was confirmed, he was given a card.

“Your table number,” the woman next to him said.

Ezra thanked her and the two of us walked into the hall. I scanned the room. It was classy looking I could admit. It was decorated in gold and black and everyone was dressed as if they were headed to an adult prom. A live band played in the front of the room. Waiters walked around with flutes of champagne I assumed.

I adjusted my purse on my shoulder. These events weren’t my thing. They were always full of people wanting to show off who had the biggest wallet.

“Ezra, good to see you.” A man walked up to him.

“Gerald, how you doing?” Ezra shook the guy’s hand.

It was interesting to see Ezra flick on his professional persona.