“When we get back to my place,” Athena told the bunch, “I’d like to speak to you all. We have a special guest coming and I need to explain some things before she arrives.”
Briggs’s curiosity was certainly piqued, but he didn’t dare ask more questions with Mr. Carver standing within earshot.
Right now, it was best to get moving before Mr. Carver exploded from anger—and took all of them with him in the blast!
Chapter Five
Riley was beyond nervous.
She’d always dreamed of having friends who were like her. But that was tough in her line of work. It made her feel arrogant to acknowledge, but she was a high-profile individual. Meaning, she was easily recognizable. If she went to just any ol’ ageplay community event, there might be someone there eager to sell a piece of hot gossip to TMZ or another outlet.
Or someone might snap a pic with their cell—even though phones were supposedly against the rules at such events—and the photo would leak and…
There were endless possibilities about how this could hurt her career. Even visiting the Hollywood Haven wasn’t completely risk-free. But the variables were a lot more controlled.
She’d discreetly done some research on the woman who ran the place, known affectionately in the community as Auntie Athena. Her reputation was stellar. The place itself had glowing reviews! But still—there was a risk here.
Her loneliness had grown so much, though, that she couldn’t stand it any longer. Riley had to make Little friends! And maybe she’d also find her Daddy.
Just thinking about finding a Daddy of her own made her sigh as she pulled her car up to the gate that stretched across the driveway. The property was lined with an off-white stucco fence, and another black iron gate was set directly in the middle of the yard, just big enough for someone to walk through.
Okay, so the place was private. That was good. But of course, it shielded any Littles inside from casual passerbys, but what about dedicated paparazzi? They were known to do more extreme things than scale a fence!
They’d have to know she was there first. And she’d been very careful, making sure she wasn’t followed.
After drawing a deep breath and holding it for a moment, she exhaled slowly and said, “You’re going to be all right. This might be the time of your life. Just have fun.”
The pep-talk she gave herself eased those nerves just a bit, but they were still frayed. Hoping they’d even out as the night went along, she pulled up to the call box and rolled her window down.
Even this was risky.
There was a chance someone walking down the sidewalk would recognize her and wonder who she was visiting. A little bit of research would quickly reveal it was a place that catered to Littles.
But with her ball cap and sunglasses, the odds of anyone realizing it was even her were slim. Plus, the sidewalks were clear in both directions. Across the street was a couple pushing a stroller, but they couldn’t see her.
“You can do this,” she whispered.
While she was still debating on whether or not to actually push the call button or just drive away and try again another day, a voice said, “Hello and welcome. Please wait until the gate is all the way back so you don’t scratch your car.”
The callbox chirped, signaling the end of the one-sided conversation and then a motor’s hum told her the gate was in motion.
Well, that was decided for her, she thought as she watched the gate retract.
A moment later, she carefully rolled her car up the rising driveway, having to give it just a little gas to get up the hill.
It leveled out and widened beside the old mansion, extending all the way to a detached garage toward the rear of the property.
She parked near it and slowly got out, silently willing her legs to work.
This was more nerve-racking than her first audition!
“Hello, Riley.”
The Little instantly felt calmer as she eyed a pretty, slightly vampish dark-haired woman stepping off the back deck and walking toward the side of the house. Beside her was a giant bald Black man who had muscles on top of muscles and looked as if he could lift a car. When he spoke, the deepness of his voice perfectly matched his appearance. “Good evening. We’re glad you’re here.”
“I’m Auntie Athena.”
“And I’m Trevon.”