Page 89 of Shade
If you had told me a week ago I’d be on my way to California to be Shade Sawyer’s assistant, I would have said,guuuuurl, you cray cray. And then I would have been pissed my life wasn’t that cool.
Get this. . . . It.Totally. Is.
Do you see that girl with the smooth blonde hair and the perfectly manicured nails and business suit with her legs crossed sitting in a limo?
Yeah, me either. Who are you looking at?
In reality, I’m there, frizzed-out curls, mascara smeared under my eyes because it’s so fucking hot in southern California even my mascara is like fuck you, I’m out, bitch. And I can’t even cry about it. My tears would evaporate.
Anyway,thereI am, in a sundress, legs spread hoping for a breeze up there and experiencing tit sweat like you wouldn’t believe.
Do you think I’m nervous?
Ha. What an understatement. At any second I might vomit.
Remember that girl who was confident in the decision to be the personal assistant to a freestyle badass and his psychotic brothers?
Yeah. Me either. What thefuckwas I thinking?
Just as I’m about to tell the driver to turn around, I’ve changed my mind, we arrive at a gate with a large edgy “S” on the front and the words, “FUCK OFF MOTHERFUCKA” underneath it.
Welcoming, isn’t it? Just wait. Shit’s about to get real.
Without so much as a click of a button, the gate slides open to the left and the car pulls forward. I meet the driver’s eyes in the mirror, and I swear on everything that’s holy, he smirks and says, “You’re walking into the lion’s den.”
I blink. Twice. “Excuse me?”
“You’re walking into the lion’s den, ya know.”
Okay, so yeah, he said that. Down the long sweeping driveway lined with palm trees and large jagged rocks. The driver tells me the estate is situated on fifteen acres. Fixing my eyes on the horizon, the house begins to surface.
My eyes widen, trying to fully absorb the moment. I’m at Shade Sawyer’s house. Or should I say mansion? Christ almighty, it’s huge!
The driver pulls into a circular driveway. To my immediate right is a six-car garage. Beside it, another six-car garage, this time with larger doors. Cars are parked haphazardly around the drive, expensive exotic cars and motorcycles everywhere.
Do you see me there? Are you in awe too? Jesus. Impressed yet?
I’m. . . I don’t even know. Impressed doesn’t seem fitting. Wellington Suites is amazing, but this doesn’t even compare. Shit you not, it’s like Hugh Heffner’s Playboy Mansion.
Though the sun is just beginning to dip down in the valley, heat licks my face the moment I step out from the car. Willa steps outside from the double doors, one hand on her stomach, the other carrying a bottle of water.
She’s dressed in a sundress, much like myself, only she looks way hotter. And I mean,actuallyhot. With rosy cheeks, her hair’s knotted up in a bun. It’s like being pregnant has added another thirty degrees to her body heat. Poor girl.
My stare drifts around my surroundings, unable to process anything I’m seeing. It’s like I’m stepping into another world.
“How was your flight?” Willa asks, raising her hand to shade the blaring sun from her face.
I nod. I don’t think I can speak yet.
“Well, let’s get this over with.”
“What should I do with my bags?”
“Leave them. Carl will take care of them.” Willa hands me the keys to a Nissan Altima. “This is yours to drive while you’re here. There’s full coverage insurance on it but under no circumstances should you let Roan drive it.”
I stifle a laugh. “He stole Mila’s car, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, he’s a bastard. Thinks anything with wheels is his.”