by Andrea Bills
“Go get yourself decent. My parents are coming over for dinner tonight, and I don’t want them to see you like that. It’s an embarrassment, Annie. You’ll receive the rest of your punishment tonight. I can’t have bruises on you.”
Annie nodded and waited for him to walk away before she stood, her legs wobbling. At the sound of someone knocking on the door, Annie wiped her cheeks and tried to look happy. As she swung the door open she was greeted by her neighbor.
“Annie, are you okay?” he said quietly, looking over her shoulder for any sign of Trey.
“I’m fine, Mr. Berkley. You know me; I’m always knocking something over.” She stuttered.
“Annie, come with me. Do it now. I can get you out of here safely.” Mr. Berkley said, his voice low, but the determination rang out loud and clear.
“I don’t understand Mr. Berkley, I’m fine.” She said, even though every fiber of her being was screaming at her to move her feet.
“It has to be now. If not now, when?” Mr. Berkley said.
Annie knew he was right. Her mom had always told her when she was young that if something felt right deep down in her bones, it was God urging her forward. Annie took a step toward Mr. Berkley, and her heart soared at the thought of freedom.
“Hello, Trey. I came over to see if I could borrow Annie for a second. I’m trying to make my late wife’s oatmeal cookies, and I can’t seem to get it to taste right. I thought maybe a woman’s opinion would help me out.” Mr. Berkley lied effortlessly.
Annie’s heart sank at Trey’s presence over her shoulder.
“Of course, Mr. Berkley. Don’t be too long, Annie; my parents will be here soon.” Trey warned.
Annie nodded. Her heart beat so forcefully in her chest she was afraid Trey would be able to hear it. Mr. Berkley took her hand when she didn’t immediately move and urged her out of the door. She followed him over to his apartment. Once the door was shut, he pushed her further back into his apartment. He held his finger in front of his face telling her to keep quiet until they were in the kitchen where he had soft music playing.
“Have a taste of this and see what you think?” He asked her, even though there was nothing to taste.
“Maybe too much salt.” She said, fear choking her.
Annie shook her head not sure what he wanted her to do. Then he moved quietly out of his kitchen and down the hallway toward his bedroom. Annie hesitated not sure what to do. Then she followed him. Once they were in the room, Annie looked around as if a secret passageway was going to open up and whisk her away to someplace happy and safe. Nothing happened though.
“I think he may have some sort of listening device in my house. After I started checking on you when I’d hear commotion, he seemed to take an interest in me and not in a good way.” Mr. Berkley said quietly.
“What am I going to do?” Annie sobbed.
“Shh, my dear. I told you I could get you out, and I will. I have a plan.”
He began moving things around in his closet, until a door appeared. Annie felt her eyes grow wide. She knew her time was running out. Trey would be looking for her any minute.
“Come on.” He said urging her through the door.
“Where does it lead?”
“I’ll explain on the way; let’s go,” he said, pulling her through the door.
They quickly emerged into the next apartment over. Annie wasn’t sure how that was going to help her.
“Years ago, when my wife first fell sick, we had a hospice nurse. My wife didn’t want her living with us full time, so we had this entrance put in to the apartment next door, so the nurse could quickly and easily get to us.”
“Mr. Berkley, I appreciate you wanting to help, but where am I going to go from here?” Annie asked, worried now that she had made the wrong decision.
She didn’t know anyone she could turn to in the city, she had no money, and no car. Mr. Berkley pulled out his wallet and handed Annie a piece of paper with a phone number scribbled on it. Then he handed her an envelope stuffed with cash and the keys to his car.
“Take this. Drive for as long as you can; get out of the city. Once you’ve found some place you feel safe, dump my car and get in a cab. Then I want you to go a little farther.”
“Mr. Berkley, I can’t accept this. He’ll kill you if he finds out you helped me.”
“Don’t worry about me. Now, go!” Mr. Berkley said, pushing her forward.
“Is this your phone number?” She asked before she walked out of the apartment.
“No, call that number. She’s an old friend of mine. Tell her I sent you, and she’ll help you. Now go! He’ll be beating on my door any minute now.”
Annie threw herself into the old man’s arms and hugged him tight. Then she ran. She was in a corner apartment, so the front door faced the opposite hallway, giving Annie coverage. She didn’t stop, and she didn’t look back as she made her way for the stairs. She raced down them and into the parking garage. She clicked the keys until the alarm went off, and she was able to find Mr. Berkley’s car. Her hands trembled as she turned the key over and threw the car into reverse. Before she knew it, she was on the road.
New York traffic was a nightmare, but with every inch forward she made, she felt safer. Once she got out of the downtown Manhattan traffic and onto the interstate, she gunned it. Annie thought about stopping somewhere and using a phone to call her parents, but she immediately dismissed the idea. Her parents would come to her rescue without a second thought; her father more than likely would have a gun in tow. The problem was that Trey was not only rich, but his family was extremely influential. They would completely destroy her and her family. Annie refused to put her parents through that.
Instead she kept driving. Adhering to Mr. Berkley’s instructions, once she was a fairly decent distance from the city, she parked his car and got a cab. When the cab driver asked her where to, she had no idea. After a disgruntled huff from him she spat out Staten Island. Annie had no idea why she had said there, but the cabby immediately took off, so Annie just sat back and tried to breathe.
She took out the piece of paper and looked over the number wondering who the mystery woman was that Mr. Berkley had faith in. Annie prayed for Mr. Berkley. She knew the things Trey was capable of and thinking that the older man could possibly be on the receiving end of even the least evil of them because of her made Annie sick. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness cascaded over her.
“Do you have a specific address in Staten Island?” The cabby asked her, dragging her from her thoughts.
“Oh, um not exactly. Do you have a cell phone I could borrow?” She asked.
“Listen lady if you’re in some kind of trouble, you need to go to the police. I’m not trying to get killed for a cab fare.”
“I’ll give you twenty dollars so that I may use your phone. Once you drop me off, you’ll never hear from me again,” she said, trying to keep the tears threatening to spill down her face at bay.
“Whatever,” he grumbled, as he tossed the phone back to her.
She frantically dialed the number, praying the woman would answer.
“This is Karen Flores.”
Chapter Three
Cole
“This better be quick.” Cole said as he paced the small office.
“It will be.” Jason said, confidently.
“How do you even know about this company?” Cole asked.
His friend never seemed to have trouble getting women when they were together. The fact that he knew about the top-secret dating service seemed odd. Jason just shrugged, which annoyed Cole even more. Jason looked at Cole and let out a sigh when he realized Cole wasn’t going to give up until he got answers.
“I’m still in the waiting period. I can’t tell you who got me in because it’s against policy, but I’m pleased with their thoroughness.”
“When did you sign up?”
“A year ago.”
“A year! Are you shitting me, Jason? I can’t wait a year for them
to pair me with someone.” Cole said, heading toward the door.
Jason stood up and blocked Cole’s retreat.
“It may not take them a year for you. Give it a month, and if they don’t pair you by then, we’ll move on.”
“A month.” Cole said sternly.
Cole stared at Jason while he thought it over. The number of women he had at his disposable to sleep with was endless, but to make help him project a family image with, was nil. Jason had convinced him that his bachelor image needed to be overhauled before anyone would take him seriously to run his grandfather’s family-based foundation. He trusted Jason, but to use a company to find him a woman seemed intolerable. He turned and walked back over to look out the window. He checked his watch again, noting that the woman was running ten minutes late. Punctuality was a major problem for Cole. He couldn’t stand for someone to be late to a meeting. He had broken contracts with some of the biggest used oil suppliers based on punctuality alone. Jason must have read his mind.
“She’s never late, there must be a reason. Do you have time to give her another five minutes?” Jason asked.
“So far I’m not pleased.” Cole bit out.
Jason just nodded, unfazed by Cole’s attitude. Just as Cole was about to leave, the door flew open, and an older woman strolled in. Cole turned and took her in. She was all business; her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and her suit was pristine.
“Mr. Bennett, Mr. Cupp, I apologize for keeping you both waiting,” she said, rounding her desk to stand in front of her chair.
“Ms. Flores.” Cole said.
“You may call me Karen. Jason, how are you?”
“I’m well, Karen. Yourself?”
“Good. I haven’t forgotten about you,” she said.
Jason dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
“So, Mr. Bennett, all of your screenings came back fine.” Karen began.
Cole nodded. There wasn’t much for him to say; he knew they would all be fine. Even though he wouldn’t admit it to Jason, he was impressed by the company’s impeccable standards. Cole had lived his entire life based on the high standards his grandpa had set. Working with other people who met those ideals, or better yet would exceed them, immediately caught Cole’s attention. Infidelity had definitely caught his attention, aside from the lady running the interview being late.
“Mr. Bennett—"
“Cole.” He interceded.
“Cole, what are you looking for in a companion?” Karen asked as she plucked the glasses off her face and set them on her desk.
“I have an agenda to see through, and I need a woman who can portray a wholesome image for me.”
“What about sex?”
Cole was taken aback for a split second at the woman’s bluntness but quickly recovered.
“I don’t plan on allowing her any other sexual partners while we’re together, as I won’t either, so sex will be inevitable.” He answered, methodically.
“Inevitable.” The woman said, her expression still neutral.
“If you’re wondering if I’ll make it pleasurable for her, have no fear. I’ve never had an unsatisfied partner.” He said with a sly smile.
“I’m not sure you understand what we’re about here at Infidelity.” Karen said a bit abrasively.
“No, I’m very aware. You offer a high-end client, such as myself, the opportunity to be paired professionally with no fear of discovery for a very high cost.”
“What we offer here at Infidelity is a process that has been proven time and time again for pairing individuals who lack the time and obscurity to otherwise find a partner. It’s not something we take lightly. This is someone’s life for the next year you’re dealing with, as well as your own. When I ask you a question it’s because it’s important; I expect an appropriate answer, or we will end this interview and part ways. Neither of us have time to waste.”
Cole looked the woman over while he quietly digested what she had said. In the oil industry, everyone was lethal; the slightest slip of the tongue could lose a multimillion dollar contract, so Cole was no stranger to being put in his place. He was usually on the other side of it now-a-days, but he had suffered through it at the beginning of his career. Having this slip of a woman put him in his place just then impressed the shit out of him. He had nothing but respect for someone who showed up to their job with their game face on ready to go to war. Karen Flores, was a fucking warrior.
Cole sat down in the seat across from her and crossed one leg over the other.
“I prefer a woman with a backbone. I don’t have time to deal with someone timid. I need her to have a strong presence. When she walks in a room all eyes need to go to her, not because of her beauty but because she carries herself like royalty. Above all else, I expect loyalty and courage. My agenda requires a heavy dose of my family, who are less than tolerable.”
Karen took him in for a minute. He could see the wheels turning. Cole had negotiated enough deals to know that Karen already had someone in mind for him. The thought perked Cole’s manhood to life. It had been a while since Cole had felt a woman underneath him. His need for revenge, and having it so near, had trumped everything else in his life for the past year. Adjusting his position on the chair, he waited for her to tell him more.
She opened up her side drawer and handed him a contract.
“Read this thoroughly, and if you’re in agreement, sign it. The basics are all in there; you will pay your partner twenty-thousand a month. The agreement is for one year; the only thing that will release you from the contract is abuse from either person. This is your card to call and report the abuse, and we’ll immediately terminate the contract.”
“Who is my partner?” Cole asked, as he skimmed the contract.
“We’ll save that for another day.” Karen responded.
“You have someone in mind though; I can tell.” Cole said, anxious to know something about the woman Karen had immediately thought of.
“You’re very shrewd, Mr. Bennett, but I’m afraid I will need to discuss the contract with her first. Please fill out your sexual limits as well.”
Cole read over his contract and signed it. Then he moved onto his sexual preferences. Just thinking about the woman filling out her own preferences excited him. There were several sections Cole found himself hoping she wouldn’t be opposed to. Once he had them both complete, he handed them back to Karen.
“I’ll be in touch.” She said before standing and extending her hand.
“Ms. Flores, it’s been a pleasure,” he said, accepting her hand and giving it a firm shake.
“Jason, it won’t be long,” she said, giving his friend a soft smile.
Jason just nodded and stepped forward to shake her hand as well. Cole was itching to find out what part of Jason’s stipulations had him waiting for a year to be paired. For as long as Cole had known the man, he knew nothing that came to mind.
As they both turned to walk out Cole stopped and turned back toward her one more time.
“If you ever want a change of scenery, I’d love to see you negotiate a used motor oil purchase agreement.” He said with a smile.
The woman smiled for the first time and laughed. Cole let out a small chuckle himself as he turned and left her office. He and Jason continued out of the building in silence. Once they were out on the street, Cole felt his anxiety over the situation wane.
“Well, I’m impressed you weren’t that big of an asshole.” Jason said.
“I tell you what: I’ll take one of that woman to five of my best men on the sales floor. She’s one hell of a businesswoman.”
“She’s a hell of a woman. How could you tell she already had someone in mind?”
Cole shrugged, reading people was how he made a living. He had grown up in a house full of Jekyll and Hydes where it had been a requirement for survival.
“I’ve got to get back to the office. Let me know how it goes man.” Jason said, his phone already ringing since he unmuted it.
Cole tugged his own phone out of his jeans and gave Jason a wave as he turned toward his truck. He had a driver and a car, but he rarely used them. After his grandpa’s old Ford had finally taken its last breath, Cole drove over to the nearest Ford dealership and bought the biggest truck they had on the lot. Then he had them add a six-inch lift kit and thirty-eight-inch wheels to it. His mom almost passed out the first time he had driven it to his childhood home to pick up the last of his belongings. Cole loved the truck even more after that.
As the motor rumbled to life, he thought about when he could finally walk in with a slew of FBI agents behind him ready to take them all to jail. Regardless of who Infidelity paired him with, if she could help him accomplish that, it would all be worth it in the end.
Chapter Four
Annie
“I’m not a slut.” Annie blurted out.
“I didn’t say you were. Should your relationship progress to a sexual level, then it’s your own business; we’re not pairing you with him to be a sexual servant.”
“What would I do?”
“Every client is different. I can’t say for sure. He may need someone to accompany him to events or just need someone to talk to when he comes home from work.”
“I don’t think I can do this.”
“The pay is twenty grand a month.”
Annie felt her jaw drop open. That kind of money would not only help her take down Trey but pay for the remainder of her college. She could help her family out as well. She was already tallying up all the things she could do. Then she shut it down. What Karen was suggesting seemed like prostitution. Annie couldn’t fathom going with some random man.
“Who on Earth would pay that kind of money to have me be their companion?”
“A very powerful man with very powerful friends; friends who could possibly run in the same circles as Trey and his family. This would be very good for you, Annie. You would also be safe. Trey can’t come after you if you’re in a very public relationship with a very powerful man. The contract is for one year; that gives you time as well.”
