The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (books to read now .txt) 📖

All who remained behind in the room was Leo, Grayson, Viola, and Amberleigh.

“What the hell is wrong with you Leo?” demanded Grayson.

Leo shrugged out of his friends grip angrily, “This is all aristocratic bullshit. What I walked into clearly wasn’t consensual Grayson. Amber told him no, she was trying to fight that bastard off her. So I took matters into my own hands. And you want to side with them.”

Viola’s arms tightened around Amberleigh. She wasn’t entirely up for being touched at the moment, but she did appreciate the gesture nonetheless. The top of her arms were sore, and she didn’t even have to look to know bruises were forming where Jackson had pinned her arms down.

Grayson ran a hand through his hair, “How the fuck was I supposed to know any of that Leo? What I saw was you trying to kill that guy.”

                “You should have believed me man.”

                You could tell by the tone of his voice, Leo had been hurt. Leo pushed past Grayson and walked over towards Amberleigh. Up until this point, Amberleigh had been more of a silent spectator, not trusting herself to even speak.

                “Are you alright?” she asked him.

                “I was coming to ask you that,” he admitted, “I’m fine. The real question is how are you? Did that bastard hurt you?”

                Leo didn’t touch her. It was unlikely he would again, not after what had happened between them earlier. Grayson had probably already pulled him aside and had the talk with Leo about distancing himself from his hired whore. Leo knew he was getting too close to her as more than one instance tonight had proved that.

                “I’ve had worse. I’ll be fine.”

                “You shouldn’t have had worse. He shouldn’t get away with this,” said Leo through a clenched jaw.

                Grayson finally find his voice again, “What do you suggest Leo? Take this thing to the authorities? Make her tell them her story.  You and I both know nothing will come of it, besides them dragging her name through the mud.”

                “This is so fucked up!”

                Amberleigh lay her arm on Leo’s softly, “You know he’s right Leo. I saw it for myself how the justice system works for the privileged in this city. Besides, nothing happened really. You stopped him. You kicked his ass. I’m sure he’ll think twice before he tries to pull something like that again.”

                She gave him a smile. She was no fool. She knew how this would go if she pursued charges against Jackson. She worked in a sex club, had a history of drug abuse and petty crimes, whereas Jack no doubt had a clean record and the best lawyers money could buy in his favor. She’d become a laughing stock, smeared throughout the media, while everyone would sympathize with the poor, little rich boy falsely accused of attempted rape. For girls like her, there was no true justice. It had always been a broken system and not even the world nearly ending had been enough to change it.

                “Leo?” came a timid voice from the doorway, “I heard you were in a fight?”

All eyes turned to see a young woman standing there. She was tall and thin, in a simple black cocktail dress, and could by no stretch of the imagination be called classically beautiful. She had black curls smoothed into a twist at the nape of her neck, and beneath her simple lace mask, was a set of large brown eyes. She had not undergone a knife it was clear, though it was refreshing at the same time. Her nose was a bit on the large side, though the freckles smattering her cheeks were attractive. She had the type of face which seemed a bit plain at first until you studied it longer and noticed the charming details.

Leo swore under his breath before he put on a smile and turned towards the girl, “Yeah, everything’s fine Elle. No worries.”

“Well I am going to get back to the party to keep an eye on your father, dear. You may want to have a doctor look at your hands Leo darling. I trust I shall see you both later in the evening. And if you need anything Miss Dubois, please let me know.” said Viola

She gave both of the young men a kiss on the cheek and Amberleigh a hug. Amberleigh guessed this was what having a mother who cared about you was like. Not that she ever had any personal experience with that. Krystal Dupree was a real piece of work.

After Viola excused herself from the room, Elle closer into the room and looked around. Her eyes stopped on Amberleigh and no doubt the gears in her head were turning. It was clear by the way Leo spoke to her, they knew each other well. Perhaps intimately. That thought bothered her more than it should have.

“You are looking well Miss Calloway. I am so glad you could make it this evening. When do you leave for Africa?” asked Grayson.

Bingo. This woman had to be Leo’s ex-girlfriend, the one Ivanna and Peach had been talking about earlier. To be fair, she wasn’t as unattractive as those bitches made her out to be. Though this woman would never win any beauty pageants solely based on her looks.  She had barely their breasts and not much shape to her as she was model thin, but without the assets most models paid to make on their bodies.

It only made her love Amberleigh love even more to be honest, that he dated a girl most would consider far less attractive than him. A girl he loved for reasons other than her physical appearance, but more likely Elle was beautiful in his eyes. And she eyed her ex with concern at the moment, taking in his bloodied knuckles.

It was clear by the way Leo could barely remain eye contact with her, there was certainly still feeling there. And why the fuck would there not be if they had just broken up recently? Just how long had they dated?

“My flight got delayed, so I decided to just rebook it for Sunday. Ethan was insistent that I come tonight to see everyone a final time before I depart. I hope that is alright.”