85 - Janice

"If you must die, I'll envy even the earth that wraps your body."

- Albert Camus

. . .

Olivia

I pulled at the hem of the dress. "It's too short!" "You can change," Ashton said.

"But it's pretty."

"So wear it." Xerxes shrugged. "But it's short!"

Ashton grabbed me by the waist and his hand came down harshly on my ass. I whimpered in pain while he looked at me sternly. "You want to wear it. Yes or no?"

"Yes," I mumbled.

He pressed a small kiss to my lips. "We'll be downstairs." I nodded and he and Xerxes walked out.

I walked inside the closet and stood in front of the mirror.

It was a little black dress that came down to my mid-thighs and hugged my body completely. My feet were covered in red heels, its red ribbons wrapped around my ankles. Around my neck was a diamond choker, diamond earrings dangled from my ears and my hair was up in a bun with strands framing my face.

The Valentinos had invited us over for drinks and apparently, it was a big deal. Michael and Sammy were going, along with a few more people.

I was a little nervous. The Creeds assured me that it was safe and I believed them. I knew they'd cancel if I asked but I wanted to go. Pushing through my anxiety to do anything slightly outgoing was something I was familiar with, but it was never easy.

I spent the next fifteen minutes picking out a purse I wanted to take and soon enough I was walking out of the mansion with the Creeds who were dressed in dark suits, looking sharp and deadly.

"Will the Capo be there?" I asked Ashton after the limousine started. He shook his head while handing me a glass of champagne. "No."

"Will I ever see him?" I asked, crossing my legs and sipping the bubbly champagne.

Zavier, who was sitting beside me, shook his head. "Probably not."

"Oh." I was curious about the Capo. I wondered if he was anything like the Creeds. He must be brutal. The thought of meeting the man who was one of the most dangerous men in the world was scary. I didn't want to meet him but a glance from afar would settle my curiosity.

It was a long drive to the Valentinos' penthouse and we spent it on a heated conversation with me defending Astrology from Ashton who called it a scam.

"It is stupid and has no concrete proof," he said after we stepped out of the limousine. "The celestial bodies have nothing to do with what happens to who. Astrology is nothing but people trying to connect to the universe, trying to convince themselves that everything happens for a reason."

I rolled my eyes, so done with him. "Astrology doesn't need concrete proof, like religion. It is not an exact science but what is wrong with people trying

to find comfort in the stars? People don't need concert proof. If it makes sense to them, it makes sense to them."

We entered the lift.

Ashton shook his head stubbornly. "You have to agree, my love. It's something that gives people false hope. Nothing is written in the stars."

I shrugged. "Maybe astrology is a sad attempt of people trying to connect to something out worldly. Maybe it is something that science is yet the understand, and there are many things science is yet to understand. For God's sake, you guys don't even know why people yawn!"

"You are trying to divert the whole thing."

"Maybe it is something which doesn't make sense. Maybe it is a scam, nothing but a lie built on a few coincidences." I looked up at him. "But the world is awful already, Ashton, the last thing we need is to make it make sense, only to ruin it for us in the process. Science can't explain many things. I'm sure it can't explain our love, either."

The lift opened.

Ashton grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me softly. I gasped into his mouth. "It can't," he whispered. "No one can but us."

I smiled. "Astrology is real."

"No, it's not." He pressed his lips on mine again and then we walked out of the lift.

"That argument was entertaining to go watch," Zavier said, linking his arm with mine.

"Yes, it was," Xerxes agreed.

We walked to a large door and Ashton pushed it open. Inside were people. Many people.

"My horoscope said that I would face a difficult choice today," I told Ashton. He rolled his eyes.

"Choosing your dress must be it." I shuggled. "Maybe."

Soon enough, we were in the sea of people. Giovanni had a woman with him, a woman who followed him around. There was a collar around her neck and her body was covered in a short dress, a dress which did not cover anything. There were many women like that, with collars around their necks, with men who they all followed around and their dresses were short and heels were high.

Were they all submissives to the men they were with? Some men had two or more girls, but no girl looked to be with more than one man. Dante and Fabiano had girls with them, too.

The diamond necklace around my neck was not a collar, it did not have 'Creed' written on it like other woman's collars' had last names written on them.

They had not bought me here as their sub. They had bought me here as their woman.

Still, I felt weird.

We were settled on couches with drinks in the men's hands and women sitting by their feet or standing behind them, not saying anything.

I was in Zavier's lap, quietly sitting there. Around me were no unknown men, only the Valentino triplets, a few other men I had seen at the old mansion and Samuel and Michael, both of them, too, had girls with them. There were only three unknown men who were sitting with us, many people were talking amongst themselves.

The men talked amongst themselves and with every passing second, I grew more uncomfortable.

I excused myself to go to the washroom, something Zavier nodded at and told me the directions. I followed them, only to bump into another woman who was coming out of the washroom.

"I'm sorry," I said.

She looked at me, around her neck was polar which read 'Finns'. It belonged to one of the unknown men. She was beautiful. Black hair, brown eyes, slim face and body more petite than mine.

"It's okay." She smiled. "I am Janice. You?" "Olivia." I smiled.

. . .