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

Over the next couple of weeks, it certainly wasn’t all rainbows and cuddles following the airing of the dirty laundry in the penthouse, but Amberleigh could definitely feel a shift in the atmosphere. No longer so tense and secretive, it just felt lighter and not so fucking stifling. There was a more openness among them which she was grateful for. Less conversations stopped when she entered the room. And in turn, she learned several things without having to resort to breaking and entering and spying.

                Well it certainly also helped when you now spent most nights in the bed of the man you once creeped on. Pillow talk and late night confession were the best she’d come to find many times over. For example, to the outside world Cole Godwin was a hardened man who carried around a black notebook to keep tabs on shit you done to use against you at some point. Also rumored among his employees to be an alcoholic who got the shakes towards the end of the day and too much of a workaholic to take time off to get knee replacements for his fucked up knees.  But truth was the Godwin Patriarch wrote meticulous notes to help with his failing memory and his shakes and balance problems were due to his disease.

                But besides late night unfiltered chats in the billionaire’s’ bed,  another perk of  Grayson  and Leo not having to keep their guards up and keep from saying shit they shouldn’t, both of them were more pleasant to be around.  Amberleigh finally got a chance to get to know them better, especially Grayson, as Leo had been Mr. Congeniality from the start. His true nature he’d shown her along, while more of Grayson’s personality was now shining through.  Even though he wasn’t spilling all his deepest, darkest secrets just yet, it turned out the billionaire had a playful side, a dirty sense of humor, and a nice competitive rivalry with his friend.

                Amberleigh loved to watch the dynamic of their friendship now that shit was out in the open. Leo was insistent on trying to bring her into the fold and bring them all closer together. Unfortunately not bring them all together into a three way, though a girl could still fantasize. Leo instituted evening walks in the park and movie nights.

                Of course, Leo tended to choose shoot em’ up action flicks, while Grayson preferred documentary or movies based on real wars and shit. Amberleigh usually made fun of Leo’s cheesy macho movies, and fell asleep during Grayson’s choices, though it still felt nice to awaken on the billionaire’s shoulder, or feel his arm around her.

                 Amberleigh chose sappy chick flicks and made it her mission to get the boys to cry. And her plan worked like a charm on more than occasion where Leo was concerned. It was funny how the kill counts in his movies were hard to tabulate, yet the death of loyal dog in her classic pick, did Leo in. Not even the darkness of the room could hide the sheen in his eyes and she and Grayson made fun of him mercilessly afterwards.  Secretly, she found it adorable and sweet, not that she’d ever tell Leo that though.

                But her all-time favorite movie night pick to date, was the night Grayson cast footage of Leo’s rap performance from their sophomore showcase. It was the best fucking thing Amberleigh ever had the pleasure to watch. Leo had never spent a day in his life in a ghetto, yet he wore a shirt with thug life, pants belted at his knees, and enough gold chains around his neck to give him neck strain.

                His scrawny fifteen-year-old ass murdered a song about how hard it was survive when bullets rained down like rain and drugs and rapping were the only way to pay.  Grayson laughed himself to tears that night and Amberleigh peed herself a little by the force of her cackling. At least Leo could laugh about it now, though he got butt hurt over it back in the day apparently.

                Buying his way into a school for dramatic arts without any actual talent, wasn’t the only time Leo used his wealth and privilege to his own gain. The chef also played his rich as fuck entitled card to rent out an entire fucking bowling alley on a Friday night. It allowed Amberleigh to see that streak of competiveness and shit talk between the friends. It seemed to be good natured, but unlike rapping, Leo made bowling his bitch, and the Godwin didn’t like to lose. Obviously, men like Grayson wanted to be on top.  And Leo was thoroughly kicking his ass.

                Amberleigh had only suffered through one game, embarrassing herself. But she wasn’t complaining the way Grayson’s body pressed against hers to give her some tips. Her ass was seated against his crotch as he helped her pull back the ball. It was certainly a distraction to them both as her ball kissed the gutter and Grayson made some adjustments to his crotch afterwards.

                His tips didn’t help her bowling game, as she was fucking hopeless, but perhaps it would help their game that night in the bedroom. She bowed out to let Leo and G-Man take the next game as she was only holding them back. She entertained herself playing the arcade games and stuffing her face at the snack bar.

                 Amberleigh knew going in, that nachos, a pretzel, two hot dogs, a cherry slushy, popcorn, and Milk Duds in one sitting was a bad idea, but she was fucking starving. And she paid the price for it when she threw it all up about an hour later in a dingy, bathroom stall. That certainly brought back lots of memories indeed.

                She didn’t tell the boys, as she didn’t want to be a buzzkill.  They were having so much fun. More accurately, Leo was gloating and shaking his ass after he bowled his third strike in a row, turkey baby. By this point Grayson was clearly pissed, red faced, and all broody.  Amberleigh just sipped on some water and sat near a fan, as she was also hot as fuck.