PINK PUSSYCAT.

Emma’s POV

Adrian swerved off the main road without a single word of warning. The tires of the Rolls Royce let out a muffled protest as he took a sharp turn, the momentum throwing me against the door. My fingers dug into the leather armrest to steady myself.

"Adrian! A little heads-up before you try to flip the car would be nice," I gasped, my heart thudding against my ribs.

I looked over at him, but he didn't even look phased.

Such a dick!

His hands were relaxed on the steering wheel, looking calm like he didn’t just drive like a madman. He pulled to a stop in front of a dimly lit building with neon red letters that read:

PINK PUSSYCAT

I stared at the storefront, then back at Adrian, my face heating up instantly. "Huhhh... where are we?" I asked, even though the rows of toys in the window made it obvious.

He turned to look at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Pink Pussycat. Really, Emma? What does it look like to you?"

I looked at the store again, my cheeks burning. Several sizes of dildos and handcuffs were hanging in the window. It sat in a dark alleyway, looking exactly like what you’d expect an adult toy store to be like.

My brain stalled. "W... what are we doing here?"

"You said you wanted to get them a whip and a high-voltage vibrator, didn't you?" he asked, leaning back in his seat.

“I... I didn’t mean it! I was kidding.”

“Actually, it’s not a bad idea for a gift.”

"I think it’s a great idea for a gift," he countered. He was already opening his door. "Are you coming, or are you staying in the car?"

I glanced at the store, then back at Adrian.

Screw it.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out, awkwardly adjusting my glasses and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. I was going to find something with enough voltage to zap Allysia’s bitchy soul right off the face of the earth.

As soon as we stepped inside, a sales rep approached us. She was wearing a tight black dress that highlighted every curve and a shade of red lipstick that was almost blinding. She walked straight toward us, swaying her hips with a practiced smile on her face.

“Mr. Beaufort,” she purred, her tone way more seductive than professional.

I looked from her to Adrian. She knew him. Which meant he had definitely been here before.

“I see you’re a regular or are you a VIP?,” I murmured out of the corner of my mouth.

"Something like that," he whispered back. He turned his attention to the sales rep, who still had that wide smile on. "We're looking for a wedding gift for a... friend."

A friend? Allysia was my sworn enemy now.

He paused, his gaze sliding back to me, "We’d love to see your most... interesting collections." Then, he actually winked at me.

The sales rep’s eyes flicked to me, her smile faltering for a split second as she took me in from head to toe before finally speaking. "Of course, Mr. Beaufort. Right this way."

As we walked, I looked around at the shelves lined with several dildos, vibrators, and several other toys I didn't even recognize. I wasn't really interested in a sex store tour. I stopped in front of a display and pointed at a violet wand, a device used to deliver electrical shocks.

“What toys in here have the highest voltage?” I asked.

The sales rep blinked, looking confused. “I’m sorry, ma’am?”

I picked up the wand, examining the tip. “How dangerous is this thing?”

“In what capacity, ma'am?” she asked cautiously.

“I mean... is the highest setting enough to cause, I don’t know, a total blackout? Could it drop someone unconscious or maybe… zap their soul out of their body?”

The poor lady’s face turned pale. I could see the sweat starting to ruin her perfect makeup. She blinked rapidly, looking like my question was physically choking her. I glanced at Adrian. He was looking away, his shoulders shaking as he tried his hardest not to laugh.

“These devices are strictly built safely for... for pleasures only, ma’am,” she stammered.

I sighed, setting the wand back on the shelf. What was the point of an electrical toy if it couldn't send someone into a coma. They really needed to invent a more aggressive model.

You mean to tell me no one has invented a version that actually inflicts a little damage? That’s a real missed opportunity.

That's a bummer," I muttered. If I couldn't find something that packed a punch, how was I supposed to teach Allysia a lesson? I turned back to the rep with a dead-serious expression. "Are you sure there’s nothing actually deadly in the back?"

Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard, her gaze darting to Adrian like she was silently pleading for him to save her.

“Technically,” she stammered, “anything can be... life-threatening, right? I mean, people have died from... well, too much pleasure. Haven't they?”

I frowned. I didn't want Allysia to die feeling pleasure. I’d prefer pain or at least some stings. “So, that’s a no?”

Adrian finally stepped in, saving the lady before she actually fainted. “You can leave us, Bianca. We’ll take it from here.”

She turned and practically ran toward the back of the store.

“You’re traumatizing the lady, Em. You know if you want Allysia dead, a gun is much more efficient or better still hire an assassin,” Adrian remarked, stepping closer.

“I’d have loved that but they’d trace that crime back to me and moreover she’s still your sister, isn't she?”

Adrian didn't answer. He just kept walking.

“I think I’ll just get the whip,” I decided, trailing behind him. “It’s more symbolic anyway.”

Twenty minutes later, we were back in the Rolls Royce. The gift was tucked beautifully in a box on the backseat hiding the whip…or rather the special gift. The silence in the car was heavy, filled only by the hum of the engine as we drove back to my apartment.

“Never thought you’d be back in San Francisco after college,” Adrian’s deep voice finally broke the quiet.

I stared out the window. I hadn't expected to be back either. This city carried a specific type of pain that followed me everywhere, no matter how far I ran. But it was still home, the place where my family had been happy before the storm hit. I had dreamed of moving somewhere far away to start over, but Trevor had insisted on San Francisco. I’d followed him because I thought he was my future.

“I never thought I’d be back here either,” I admitted. “But things change.”

“It’s because of him, isn't it?” his voice was low.

I looked away from the glass. Trevor and I had our whole lives planned out.

“You know the plan was very simple,…get married, get good jobs, and live a quiet, peaceful life. Then she just…she just had to destroy it all”.

Adrian sighed, and the silence returned for a few blocks.

“You have a job now?” he asked.

“Yeah. I started at a company in mid-April. I work from home, and the pay is actually great.”

“Which company?”

“Madrix. I’m a sales rep.”

“Madrix?” Adrian repeated.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“No,” he said, his eyes fixed on the road. “It just sounds familiar.”

Of course it did. Everyone in town talked about how fast that company was growing.

A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of my apartment. I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to end the day.

“I’ll see you the day after tomorrow at the wedding, then,” I said. I reached into the back and grabbed the wedding gift.

Our eyes met in the dim light of the car. For a moment, the world outside stopped. His gaze was intense, searching my face, and for a second, I forgot all about Trevor and the wedding. My throat felt dry.

I cleared my throat, breaking the spell. “I... I should head inside now.”

Adrian simply nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. I managed a small smile and stepped out of the car. I was halfway to my door when his voice stopped me.

“Emma.”

I turned around. Adrian had gotten out of the car, holding a large, expensive shopping bag I hadn't noticed in his car before making his way toward me.

“Here." He held the bag out to me as he stood on the sidewalk.

"What’s this?" I asked, looking at the heavy paper bag.

He raised a brow. "My hand is starting to hurt, Em."

I took the bag from him. Before I could get another word out, he was back in the car. I stood on my porch, clutching the "gift" for Allysia in one hand and Adrian’s mystery bag in the other, watching his taillights bleed into the night.

So Adrian fucking Beaufort.