Rook Takes Queen: A Lesbian Romance by Em Stevens & Mike Kabongo

Author:Em Stevens & Mike Kabongo
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Penelope L'Amoreaux
Published: 2017-02-11T02:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“We’ve gotta make this quick, Mike. I’ve got a hair and makeup appointment for tonight.” Carmen’s foot was jostling. She was looking forward to getting dressed up for Rook. She’d gone out of her way for her, including hiring a limo and ordering pizza for after the fundraiser. For weeks Rook had put up with Carmen’s rigid diet and exercise. Not without complaint, because there had been plenty of complaints, but she’d stuck with it. So pizza seemed like an apt treat for both of them.

“Sure, no problem.” Except Mike didn’t sound like there wasn’t a problem. In fact, Carmen’s foot stilled and she paid attention. Her manager was frowning. This on the face of a perpetually happy guy. He managed models and beauty queens, so he had to have the patience of a priest and a cheerleader’s positivity. But now he was stiff in his chair and unable to look Carmen in the eye.

“Is something wrong with the tournament?” Her worst fears began to feed and grow beneath the surface. All the work she’d been putting in started falling apart in her mind, flitting away like seeds in the wind. Carmen was so deeply invested in the tournament that Mike’s temperament had her worried to her core.

When he realized how upset she was becoming, his shoulders drooped and he gave her a gentle half-smile. “No, no. Not the way you’re thinking. No, the tournament is going great. I’ve even been able to secure a few more Grandmasters, including Petra Kline for it. And the sponsors are going crazy. The winning pot for the Grandmaster slot is fifty thousand dollars now! We’ve got ten thousand for the mid-tier and five secured for the amateur brackets. Tickets for attendees have almost sold out. It’s going to be a success and a damned fine end to your legacy as Miss United States.”

“So why do you look like someone died?”

His pencil end tap-tap-tapped the desk as he stared at her. “Okay, so here’s the deal. You’ve been spending a lot of time with the tutor, Rook Black.” If her worry over losing the tournament had been black like fear, this turn of conversation was white. Pure and horrifying in its inevitability. It peppered her like drizzle, washing away everything but the dread and the knowledge of what was coming.

“Sure,” she managed. “She’s my tutor.”

“Who has been spending the night. Often.”

“How do you know that?”

“You have to know we watch who you bring home. You have a reputation to uphold.”

Carmen was stiff, unable to move. “You waited until now to say something?”

“It was easy to spin it as friends—you’re having a friend spend the night because of your busy schedule. But I see you have her down as your guest for tonight.”

“Yes.” God, she wished it sounded more authoritative. Yes, she’s my date. No, we can’t talk about it. But instead it came out a question. Yes? She’s my guest?

Mike steepled his hands and leaned back. “Okay, here’s the deal. We went over the contract when you won.

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