Where Exactly Are We Going Tonight?
Where Exactly Are We Going Tonight?
“We’re sorry, ma’am,” one of the agents said quickly.
“Stupid is what you are,” Maggie cut him off at once, her voice slicing through the air. “And if you try this next time— barging into my room without me answering you from within first— you will be punished.”
“We’re sorry, ma’am,” both agents said in unison, their heads lowered.
Maggie inhaled slowly, then straightened. Her tone softened slightly, though her eyes remained sharp.
“And what message do you bring from my son?” she asked.
The agents looked at each other again, discomfort written all over their faces. The silence returned, heavier this time, before one finally spoke.
“Mr. Governor was just checking up on you,” he said.
“Just checking up on me?” Maggie repeated slowly. Suspicion crept into her eyes. “And he sent you two? That’s weird.”
She studied them for a brief moment longer, then rolled her eyes.
Turning toward her door, she pushed it open and walked inside without another word, leaving the two agents standing in the hallway.
The door closed behind her.
One of the agents released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That was close, man,” he muttered.
“It was,” the other agreed quietly.
Without lingering, the two SS agents turned and walked away down the hallway, their footsteps fading into the silence of the estate.
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'BACK TO A YEAR AGO— SUSAN’S POV. THE EVENING AFTER JOSEPH HAD MADE A DATE ARRANGEMENT WITH HER'
The 2024 Cadillac SUV glided through the dusky streets of Los Angeles, its engine purring with quiet authority. Streetlights cast fleeting ribbons of gold across the tinted windows as the city’s pulse slowed, traffic thinning block by block. Behind the wheel, Eric sat upright, both hands steady on the leather grip, his gaze fixed ahead with the intensity of a man who approached every drive not as routine, but as a calculated pursuit.
In the backseat, Susan sat comfortably, her legs crossed neatly, the soft fabric of her elegant blue flowery dress settling around her thighs. The dress hugged her body in a way that felt deliberate, graceful, almost powerful. The color brought out the warmth in her skin, and the delicate floral patterns seemed to glow faintly under the interior lights of the SUV. Her makeup was flawless— subtle yet striking, blended perfectly to match her skin tone. Glossed lips curved into a quiet smile as her thumb scrolled lazily across her phone screen.
But her mind wasn’t on whatever she was scrolling through.
Not even close.
Her thoughts were loud, crowded, racing ahead of the moving car. Joseph. The date. Tonight.
Her smile deepened as her eyes softened, the memory of their last date replaying vividly in her mind. The underwater building. The way her breath had caught when she realized where he had taken her. The way he had watched her, calm and confident, like he already knew she would be overwhelmed. Magical didn’t even begin to cover it.
Her chest rose slowly as she inhaled, anticipation tightening around her ribs. It felt like excitement had wrapped its fingers around her throat, squeezing gently but relentlessly.
Six hours. That’s how long she’d taken to get ready.
Six hours of second-guessing, changing outfits, fixing her hair, redoing her makeup, pacing her room, sitting down, standing up again.
She wanted tonight to be perfect.
“You look very beautiful tonight.”
Eric’s voice broke the silence gently, steady and calm, without turning his head. His eyes remained on the road, but the sincerity in his tone was unmistakable.
Susan blinked, then laughed softly, almost bashfully. “Thank you,” she said, her voice light and warm. She lifted her gaze from her phone and leaned forward slightly, peeking toward him from the backseat. “That’s really sweet of you.”
Eric smiled, professional but genuine. “The dress is magical,” he continued. “I’m a hundred percent sure Mr. Hudson is going to be completely blown away tonight.”
Susan’s laughter came again, a little louder this time. “Really?” she asked, her eyes brightening. “That’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
She glanced down at herself briefly, smoothing the fabric over her lap with both hands. “I spent six hours getting ready,” she added, shaking her head with a soft laugh. “Six whole hours. This dress— Oscar de la Renta. I got it the last time we went shopping. I was saving it for this.”
Eric let out a low chuckle. “Then let me say this,” he said smoothly. “You didn’t just kill it. You overkilled it. There’s no man alive who will see you tonight and not be stunned.”
Susan felt warmth rush to her cheeks. She bit her lower lip lightly, her smile widening. “I hope so,” she said quietly.
“Trust me,” Eric replied without hesitation. “He will.”
Her shoulders relaxed a little at his reassurance. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice almost a whisper now, joy settling deep in her chest like a calm glow.
For a brief moment, silence returned to the SUV. The city moved around them— cars passing, lights flashing— but inside the vehicle, everything felt contained, focused, intimate.
Susan stared out the window, watching buildings blur past, her reflection faintly visible against the glass. Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Curiosity finally won.
“So,” she said, breaking the silence again, turning slightly toward the front seat, “where exactly are we going tonight?”