Page 22 of Craving Paradise
Before I knew it, people were looking forward to the after-parties more than the original party, and that’s how my party organization skills turned into sex-party organization. And I can say they were the best fucking parties. But like a star, if you fly too close to the sun, you can burn out. That’s what happened until someone approached Eloise and me about joining The Paradise Club, where we could get paid to have fun and sex.
We went and had a look at the club, and it was fricking amazing. If I were smart enough, that would be the place I would have created. Nate Lewis is a fucking genius. Still, I wasn’t sure about having sex for money. How would I be able to keep this from my family? I didn’t need the money. My trust fund could keep me going until I died, but my bestie, Eloise, needed the money. And as she’s a sister from another mister, I couldn’t let her do this alone. She, of course, refused to let me loan her the money for her bakery. She’s so damn stubborn.
“I can’t sneak you in. I had to sign an NDA. They would sue my ass,” I tell her.
“Your job keeps getting more and more interesting. One of these days, I’ll find out what you do,” my sister says, pointing at me.
“My lips are sealed.” I motion to put a lock on my lips.
7
LAUREN
“I’m here, bitches.”
A voice echoes through the plane, pulling my sister and me from our conversation. I didn’t realize more were coming as her assistant, Joe, had gone on ahead of us to get the house ready for our arrival.
A strawberry blonde supermodel sashays into the plane like a damn goddess.
“I haven’t seen Autumn since last year,” I murmur to my sister.
“Foxy, what took you so long?” My sister squeals, jumping out of her seat and rushing toward her best friend as she pulls her into a tight hug.
Lady Autumn Fox and my sister have been friends since boarding school. They were a couple of years above Elle and me. Here I am trying to forget my night with Mr. Fox, and Autumn turns up with the same surname. Autumn doesn’t have a brother as far as I know. Is the Universe telling me something?
“Do you think I’d miss you headlining in Ibiza?” Autumn tells her. “I hope I haven’t held up the plane. I had to take some photos before boarding.”
Autumn is a vlogger with a channel dedicated to luxury travel, which is her life. She shows off all the cool places she travels to, giving people a glimpse into her privileged life. Because of who she is, she gets invited to the most spectacular parties around the world, which the public eats up. It also helps that she’s gorgeous and posts a lot of content in her bikini, looking fabulous.
“Thanks, you bitch, leaving me to carry all your shit,” Freya, Autumn’s cousin, grumbles behind her. She works as her photographer and assistant. They travel together and are like an old married couple with their bickering. Freya went to school with Autumn and Ines. She was in their grade.
“Freya, I’ve told you to come work with me. I’ll treat you better than this bitch.” My sister laughs as she hugs her.
“Never say never,” Freya jokes.
“Hey, we’re family. We stick together.” Autumn glares at her cousin.
“We’re not the mafia,” Freya teases.
“Lauren, long time no see,” Autumn gushes, spying me further down the plane.
I get up and greet her with a hug. “I know, it’s been too long.”
“We always have so much fun when you’re here,” she gushes, giving me a wink.
“Hey,” Ines calls out.
“That’s what you get for trying to steal Freya from me,” Autumn quips back.
My sister flips her off.
“Great to see you again,” Freya greets me warmly as we hug each other tightly.
These two girls were like sisters to me when I was growing up, especially when we were all at boarding school together. So far away from our families, your friends were all you had to get you through school.
“I think we should start the party off right, don’t you?” My sister beams as she holds a bottle of champagne in her hand and waves it above her head.
I hope we don’t get stung with the dry-cleaning bill if she keeps shaking the bottle.