For The Win (Gamer Girls, #6) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,98
reached her feet, Braden cupped her jaw and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. "And have fun. I'll be up in a bit."
"Penthouse," Riley told him. "It's where all the fun's at."
Chapter 33
Knock was waiting for Riley outside the booth, proving she really wasn't alone. Together, the three of them headed up to the ninth floor. The room beside Rhaven's was bustling. Not only was the door open, but there was a stream of hotel employees making their way through it in both directions. Rhaven could see trays and boxes being carried in.
"Excuse us," Riley said as she slipped through a gap in the people.
Rhaven followed and Knock trailed after her. Inside, Kate was pointing and directing where things should go in the living room. Adam was in the kitchen checking the boxes and pulling out bottles of expensive liquor. He noticed their presence immediately.
"Hey!" he called, grabbing something from the counter. "This was the good one, right?"
Riley just tossed up her hands. "You do not need to buy me five-hundred-dollar bottles of tequila at each event! I like Patron and Cuervo too!"
"Kinda do," Adam said. "Got a single malt for you, Knock. Kate said Irish for you, Rhaven. She'll be sharing, though. And let's see, I have vodka, brandy, and a few other things to sample."
"Beer, sir," one of the employees said, passing him another crate.
"Thanks," Adam told him, pointing to an open space on the counter. "Did I ask for water?"
"There's a crate of that at the bottom of the cart, Mr. Degrass," the guy assured him. "Food has to be offloaded first, sir."
"Shit," Knock breathed. "What are you doing, Adam?"
He grinned. "So, the chef here is amazing," Adam explained. "I asked him to make party foods. Things for drunks to eat. All of you are serving as my test subjects. Anything you like, we'll put on the room service options."
"I feel used," Rhaven gasped playfully.
"Heard that was last night," Adam teased. "I got in around midnight, thought about saying hi, but Kate said you had company."
Knock's head whipped around. "Braden or Psyc?"
"Braden," she said - then paused. "Psyc's just a friend!"
"Keep telling yourself that," Knock assured her. "And I need one of those beers, Adam."
"Cold ones are in the fridge," Adam said.
But one of the staff heard. "Um, Mr. Degrass?"
Adam pointed at Riley. "That's his legal guardian, Knock's eighteen, and Riley lets him drink at these things so long as she knows where he is. It's legal."
"Yes, sir," the woman muttered.
After that, it was a bit of chaos while everything was set up. Evidently, Adam's idea of a few things to try included an entire buffet at the side, a fully-stocked wet bar, and extra seating. Riley said Dez might come, so a smaller couch was set to the side where she wouldn't get bumped. Kate directed most of it, going so far as to request additional furniture, and the staff all made it happen.
Rhaven was in awe. She knew Adam was rich in theory, but seeing this gave it a whole new perspective. Riley and Knock acted like this was nothing new, and considering how much time they spent in the man's hotels, it probably wasn't, but for her, it was making a little idea form.
When the convention was over, maybe she could get a job at one of Adam's hotels? He had one in the same town Braden lived in. It wasn't as big as the Clairmont they used for the Columbus Expo, but it was nice, and would be a much better job than the gas station. Rhaven could work the front desk. She was pretty sure she could handle that. Or maybe she'd be one of those people who carried up the luggage?
Either way, it was worth asking, because she had no intention of living off charity for more than this one weekend. In truth, she hated even that, but she wasn't so proud that she'd turn it down. The truth was that she knew she'd needed the help. She still did, actually, but she kinda wanted to earn it, not just be given it.
Then, just as the sun started going down, more people began arriving. First, it was Void and Murder. They were barely inside before PsychoCut tapped at the open door and made his way in.
"Rhaven!" he said, hurrying over to hug her so hard he lifted her feet from the ground.
"Psyc," she gasped.
"Damn," he breathed, looking her over. "You look good. Being outed seems to work for you."