“Are you sure, Lola? I don’t want to interrupt your night or invade—”
“Nonsense,” she blurted out, then snickered. “Matter of fact, if you’re staying, join me for another glass by the pool.”
“Oh-kay,” Corey intercepted, moving between me and Lola. “I think you’ve had enough to drink tonight, Lola. Let me get you upstairs and to bed.” Lola pouted as Corey grabbed her hand. “Ivy, I’ll have Georgia show you to the guest room.”
“That’s okay,” I said as Corey started down the corridor with his wife. “Lola showed me where one is. If it’s okay with her, I’ll just go to that one, sleep for a few hours.”
“That’s my favorite guest room!” Lola exclaimed. “Just don’t vomit on anything and you’re good. I’m teasing! Seriously! There are pajamas and nightgowns in there, but you aren’t sleepy, are you, Ivy? Corey, come on! Just one more glass by the pool,” Lola pleaded, tugging on Corey’s hand to stop him as he started leading the way to the staircase.
“Lola, enough.” Corey’s voice was firm but low. He was facing her now, brows drawn together. I supposed he’d had enough. I guess Dr. Maxwell could see his wife’s flaws just as well as I could.
Lola narrowed her eyes at him for a brief moment. Tension sparked between them as they stared each other down. It was so quiet that we could hear the dining room being cleared, the dishes clinking and being stacked.
Lola looked away and put her focus on me, giving me a grin that must have required all her willpower. “Good night, Ivy. Stick around until morning. I’ll have a nice breakfast ready.”
“Thanks, Lo.” Lo? I’d never called her that one. Maybe I did have one too many drinks. By the way she winked, I assumed she liked the new nickname.
Lola took off, leaving Corey behind. He huffed and trailed after her, and I watched them disappear around a corner, heading for the marble staircase.
I waited a moment before going in the same direction, taking each step slowly to make it up to the second level. I knew exactly where the guest room was. Lola’s favorite.
I stepped right into it, closing the door behind me and kicking out of my heels. I stripped out of my dress and was left standing in only my nude bra and panties. It was a matching set. I always made sure to match sets now that I was visiting Lola’s mansion so much. I never knew when I’d bump into Corey, or get the chance to be alone with him, so I was always prepared.
I moseyed to the closet and spotted the silky pearl robe I’d had my eye on many times before. Whenever I visited Lola, I’d make at least one trip to this room, pretending it was mine, dreaming of this exact moment—the moment when I’d be able to lie in the bed, soak in the tub, shower beneath the rain-forest showerhead. Tonight was going to be the first night of many, and I’d worked hard for it.
I took out the robe and slid my arms into it. Then I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror I’d grown to love, with the gold-and-pearl frame, and studied my body in the robe. I tied it at the waist, and it accentuated my curves—my new breasts, my hips.
I heard something rattle outside and walked to one of the windows in the room to look out. From the window I could make out the Miami skyline and Lola’s pools and, right below, there were the pool chairs and umbrellas.
The lights were out by the pool, so only a blue light illuminated the area. The water shimmered like turquoise crystals, and standing in front of the larger pool, holding a glass of liquor, was none other than Corey Maxwell himself.
My heart beat a little faster.
I supposed the shower could wait.
Now was the time to make my first move.
I left the bedroom as quietly as I could and clicked the door shut behind me. I didn’t need anyone noticing I wasn’t inside.
The lights in the dining room were out now, as well as the lights in the kitchen. Everyone was in bed. Lola didn’t have cameras inside her home, only on the outside. The camera recorded the perimeter of the bay and the pools. Not much past the umbrellas.
She valued her privacy and was very adamant about the way hackers could get into the camera systems inside houses and share the content.
As I entered the kitchen, the rippling blue light from the pool poured on me. Corey was standing right there, casually sipping a drink he’d most likely made himself. Thinking, it appeared.
Thinking about what, Corey? Your drunk wife? Me?
To my luck, the sliding doors were already open. I walked out, and as if he heard me, Corey turned his head and spotted me.