The Homecoming Masquerade (Girls Wearing Black: Book One)
Chapter 23
Rockwell Transport had assigned a man named Julien to be the driver of Nicky’s limo. Julien was well-mannered, impeccably dressed, well-trained for his job, and a little bit short. It was that last part, his height, that made Julien of interest to Nicky as she pondered ways she might quickly turn Art Tremblay from foe into friend, and before intermission had ended, Nicky ran out into the parking lot and had a brief conversation with Julien. She outlined a plan to him, a plan where Julien, of all people, had a role to play in Nicky’s mission tonight.
Now, as Nicky stepped in front of Art, putting her hand in his and beginning the dance, she thought about Julien, and hoped he was in position. Nicky had told him to line up at 10:15. It was 10:20 already, and Nicky’s dance with Art was just beginning. Hopefully Julien would be patient, as Nicky’s plan for him didn’t start until her dance with Art was over.
Nicky pulled close to Art, creating points of contact between them at the chest and hips. It was a much friendlier posture than she took with him on their last dance. Art’s white shirt was meant to have a tuxedo jacket on top of it. Without that jacket, only a few millimeters of cloth separated Art’s skin from Nicky’s. Her hand on the small of his back, Nicky allowed her fingertips to dance ever so slightly. When she spoke, she did it in a quiet voice, close to his ear, so her breath tickled his cheek.
“I’m guessing Jill was sharing my little story,” she said.
“She was.”
“It benefits both of us. You understand that, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. It’s a lot to process. Are you really telling everyone that it was my idea to crash into Rosalyn?”
“I’ve only told a few people. A few well-placed people. I’m letting them do the rest. By the end of the night, everyone will think one of Kim’s most trusted allies has left her for me.”
“You might have signed my death warrant.”
“Only if Kim wins. I don’t intend to let that happen. With your help, I can jump way out in front on this one. The minute people think Kim might lose, they’ll leave her in droves. She doesn’t have any real friends, Art.”
The music was heavier on this dance, with a rhythm that landed hard on the downbeats. It was mesmerizing, even a little erotic.
“Do you think you might be a bit overconfident?” Art said. “The contest is about more than the school. Kim’s family is so connected in this town.”
“So is yours,” Nicky said. She put some force into the words. It was time for Art to grow a pair and realize that he didn’t have to be Kim’s whipping boy. As she spoke, she moved her hand up his back, allowed it to rest on the nape of his neck.
“My dad is friends with Galen Renwick,” he said. “This is going to get tricky for me.”
“You father’s friendship with the Renwicks ended the moment I pushed you into Rosalyn. Kim was so disgusted with you. That girl’s temper is short and she holds a grudge like you wouldn’t believe.”
“I know all about it,” Art said. “You totally screwed me.”
“No. You were trying to screw me. I was just looking out for myself. Now I’m looking out for you too. You know the part of the story Jill and Annika liked the best?”
“The part where you told Kim she missed.”
“Yes, and I told them it was your idea. Art, if we were telling people the truth about what happened, then you would be the guy who got pushed around by a girl. You would be the guy who spends hours and hours in the gym but still wasn’t strong enough to push me into Rosalyn. But we’re not telling that story. Now the story is that you are the guy who had the courage to pull one over on Kim Renwick. And, like it or not, there’s no stopping it now. The story is out. Why even try to deny it? The minute people hear that it was your idea, they think you’re a badass.”
“All of that is for nothing if Kim wins.”
“She’s not going to win. You and I can make sure of that. Quit thinking about her and look at what’s right in front of you, Art. Kim wants to use you. I want to partner with you. I was sad when you tried to push me into Rosalyn. I was hoping you and I could work together.”
She pulled even closer, pressing her cheek onto his.
“I want you to come to my party tonight,” she said, allowing a hint of weakness in her voice, a hint of begging.
“I don’t even know you,” Art said.
“But I want to know you. I was excited about getting to know you before our little incident tonight. I saw you at school – it’s clear that you take care of your body. I like that. I like that a lot.”
“It’s not that easy. Kim is going to be so pissed. People don’t do well when Kim is pissed at them.”
“Those days can be over tonight. You and I can end the Renwick reign of terror over this school, over this whole town. Art, you should see the look on people’s faces when I tell them you betrayed her. They’ve been under her thumb forever, and your bold move tonight has given them hope. Kim is only as powerful as we allow her to be. People are ready to leave her, but they’re scared, just like you. Someone has to stand up to that bitch. I think you’re the one to do it. You’re popular, you’re rich, your family is one of the most respected in town, and you’re smoking hot. Art, you’re the one they’ve been waiting for.”
Nicky could tell that the ‘smoking hot’ line had worked. Art’s whole body seemed to expand upon hearing it, like he was a flower and Nicky’s words were the morning sun. Art had worked and worked in the weight room so he could hear compliments like this, and Nicky imagined he rarely got them, if ever.
Because the truth was, Art was not smoking hot. Sure, he had a great body, and his face was handsome enough, but underneath it all was a frightened little boy. Art’s father had so thoroughly screwed him up, Nicky doubted he could ever recover.
Whatever. Not her business. She was working him right now for one reason and one reason only. His money. Art Tremblay was rich enough to be a big player, and Kim had taken him for granted. Kim had grown too accustomed to pushing Art around. She never thought in a million years Art would have the courage to leave her.
“This all sounds great, but what happens when Kim’s dad comes to my house for one of his infamous little talks?” Art asked.
“Your family has nothing to hide, and if there is any family that could stand up to the Renwicks, it’s yours. Kim’s dad thrives on messing with people’s personal info, but do you honestly think he could mess with your father? Your father is a security expert for the immortals. He hasn’t left anything to chance.”
“Yeah, I guess so. But my dad--”
“Your father will understand. He doesn’t want you to support Kim, he wants you to support the winner.”
“He doesn’t even know who you are.”
“I’ll come to your house tomorrow and introduce myself.”
On that line, Art shut up. Having a girl wearing black come to his house, by herself – for once, Merv Tremblay would be impressed with his son. Nicky had him now. She just needed to reel him in.
As the music came to an end, Nicky sped up their dancing, moving with intent towards the door.
“What are you doing?” Art asked.
“Relax,” Nicky said. “I’m not going to push you into anybody this time. I have a friend waiting just outside. I’ve asked him to help us with something.”
When the music finished, Art and Nicky were right by the front door. As Art gave Nicky his concluding bow, Nicky opened the door, and found her driver, Julien, waiting patiently outside. He had removed his black coat and now held it out for Nicky to take.
“Thanks,” Nicky said, taking the coat from Julien and immediately closing the door behind her.
Nicky put a flirtatious smirk on her face and went back to Art.
“Hold out your arms,” she said.
Aware that she had drawn the attention of the ballroom, Nicky slid Julien’s jacket over Art’s shoulders. It was such a little thing, but she could tell it meant so much to him. Fully dre
ssed again, Art could rejoin the party with confidence. He was no longer the lone white shirt in a room full of black jackets, and perhaps he was beginning to understand that his life didn’t have to be over just because he had angered Kim Renwick. Perhaps he was coming to see that he didn’t have to be Kim’s little toady, that this was a moment in his life where he could choose to be something better.
But even with all this opportunity in front of his face, Art was the sort of guy so driven by fear he might let it all slip away and go crawling back to Kim, begging for forgiveness. Nicky had to make sure he got it, and if he didn’t get it, that everyone else in the ballroom got it for him. Before they parted ways, with the whole class still looking at them after Nicky’s little jacket delivery stunt, she leaned in close and gave Art a kiss on the cheek.
“Now everyone knows you’re with me,” she whispered to him. “My party’s at the Hamilton. See you there.”