by Jessie Cooke
“Carrie told me about the escort thing.”
“What exactly did she tell you?”
“She told me you’ve been doing it for months now. She and I didn’t start sleeping together until you started doing that. I mean really…you can fuck other men and that’s okay as long as it’s for money?”
My hand was shaking. I wanted to hit someone so badly. “I wasn’t fucking them, you idiot! Carrie told you that so you’d sleep with her. I went to concerts and parties with withered up old men. That was it. I had a strict no fucking policy…until recently. Carrie set us up you moron. She wanted to sleep with you and she told you what she needed to in order to ease your conscience. She told me I was looking old, and fat. She convinced me that what I was doing was for you.”
He glanced over at Carrie. He must have had quite a look on his face because the smug one fell off hers and her eyes widened. He turned back to me and said, “Can we fly back together and talk?”
My head was pounding. “I don’t know what we have to talk about Michael. Either way we slice it…you slept with my best friend…and I’m no angel myself these days.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what it sounds like. I didn’t sleep with my clients until recently. One of them promised me two million dollars for a week of wild sex. He was dying. Carrie talked me into saying yes. He died after three days and I didn’t get a dime.” Michael looked like he had no idea what to say to that. While his mouth was still hanging open, I walked away. I found a rental car agency. A road trip might have just been what the doctor ordered.
15
Ryan
“So let me get this straight…your father offered to pay a hooker…”
“Not a hooker, an escort.”
“There’s a difference?” Axel made a face like he’d never considered the possibility. He’d noticed that I wasn’t in my usual cheerful mood lately and he insisted I had a drink with him.
“Yes, escorts don’t have sex with their clients. They just act as their dates. Trust me, I made the same mistake. It royally pissed her off.”
“But yet your father offered this “escort” two-million dollars to spend the week having kinky sex with him in my dungeon, and she accepted. Is that right so far?”
“Mm hmm,” I took a drink of my beer. I knew better than to try and hurry Axel. If he wanted to drag this out all night long, he would, and there wouldn’t be much I could do about it.
“Okay, so then he died in the middle of one of their games?”
“Yes.”
“Man that sucks…but I guess if you have to go…” He had a sick little smile on his face. He’s truly messed up. “Anyways, did the autopsy say it was natural causes?”
I smiled and shook my head at him, but I simply said, “Yes. A blood clot blocked off the supply of blood to his heart.”
“Okay, so she didn’t kill him, that’s good. But you…holy shit! You walk in on all of that! Naked girl tied to a post and your father dead at her feet. That had to be abso-fuckin--lutely crazy!” He was up off the bar stool, throwing his hands around animatedly while he talked and changing the pitch and timbre of his voice dramatically. He missed his calling. He should have been an actor.
“Yeah, it was. I mean it wasn’t like I didn’t know Dad was dying, but I sure as hell never expected to find him like that.”
“Of course not. So, you see this girl, your cock gets hard and…what does this girl look like by the way?”
“She’s hot Axel…I mean drop-dead gorgeous hot. She’s got long dark hair and these giant hazel eyes…”
“I fucking know her!”
“You know her?”
“Yeah well, I met her. She was with your father at the benefit at my home a few days before he
died. You’re not kidding…that chick is hot. She reminds me of Holly.”
“She kind of does favor Holly…”
“You don’t secretly want to fuck my wife, do you?”
“No Axel, I do not want to fuck your wife.”
“Why not?” Now he acted insulted. “She’s fucking hot.” I saw the side of his mouth twitch and I knew he was kidding.
“Okay, I….”
“Don’t fucking say it! Not even kidding,” he said. “Let’s get back to your problems. You see this
girl, you want this girl and the first thing you do is tell your lawyer not to pay her? What the fuck? Why didn’t you just fuck her for a couple of days and give her the money?”
“I didn’t think of that until later. By that time she assumed I was calling her a whore again and she was pissed. She told me what to do with the money…and she punched me.” Axel threw his head back and laughed like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
“I like the spunky ones. Weren’t you dating little Samantha Daniels? Will there be a punch in your future there? Because I’d like to see that.”
“You want me to brawl with my women in front of you for your own, perverse sexual pleasure?”
“Yes…Yes I do,” he said with a grin. “Now…shit…Where were we going with all of this again?”
“We had sex, after she punched me…”
“See! Foreplay,” he said with eyebrows raised. I ignored him and said,
“I haven’t seen her in almost two months. It wasn’t just sex Axel. It was the best sex that I’ve ever had in my life. I can’t stop thinking about it or her. I completely quit seeing Samantha right afterwards as a matter of fact. My balls are getting blue…not that Sam would have helped with that anyways. I’m getting off track there though. That morning when I woke up, she was gone…”
“Maybe it was the best you ever had, but…”
“It was great for both of us, trust me.”
He laughed and said, “Okay,” I don’t think he trusted me. “So you want my advice, this is why you came to me right?”
“Well, to be honest, you asked me out for a drink to pry into my business…”
“I hate it when you bring that honesty shit into our conversations. Holly does that. But she at least lets me fuck her.”
“Well, if you ask nicely…”
He laughed again and said, “You wish. So have you tried calling her?”
“Yes, I called her. She told me she was looking for a job and that she was leaving her husband. I made the mistake of offering her money again. She went ballistic and hung up on me. I gave her some time to cool down and tried again a few days later. Her number was disconnected and there was no forwarding one. Apparently she changed her number.”
“To keep you away? Are you stalking her?” I stood up and grabbed the keys to my bike off the bar. “I’m kidding, can’t you take a joke?”
“I know you’re kidding and I appreciate you listening to me…but we’re not really getting anywhere.”
“Give me a minute,” he said. “What about her old work?”
“That was the escort service and they said she quit right after my dad died, they haven’t heard from her and they don’t have her new number. I paid a fortune for that tid-bit of information.”
“Address?”
“I did manage to get that, but her husband answered the door and told me to go fuck myself. I guess I’m lucky he didn’t punch me too.”
He laughed again. “Man you sure do know how to pick them!” I was thinking, “Look who’s talking,” but I didn’t say it. I didn’t want to push my luck and lose my job. “If she left her husband and she doesn’t want your money, then maybe the job is the key…I’ll offer her a job.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Working for me, Holly’s pregnant!”
Dear God, I shuddered as I thought about little Axel mini-me’s running around. That would be like a Chucky doll on crack. I forced a smile and tried not to look afraid. Maybe they’ll be like Holly. “Congratulations man! That’s awesome!”
“It is, isn’t it? I never thought I wanted a kid before…Holly’s so excited. She even gives me more sex now that I
knocked her up.”
I shook my head again. I wondered if Holly would appreciate him telling people things like that. He has no filters. “That’s great…so you’re thinking about Olivia for the assistant job?” I couldn’t tell him but that worried me a little bit. I knew that he was crazy about Holly and I’d never seen him so dedicated to a woman before…but I’d been around long enough to watch him screw every single assistant that he’d ever had. I guess I didn’t need to say it. He must have seen it on my face.
“I’m insulted Ryan.”
“About?”
“What you’re thinking. I don’t cheat on my wife.”
“I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Liar. Anyways, I will offer your lady the job of my assistant.”
“How do you know that she’s qualified? Or that you’ll even be able to get ahold of her?”
“Holly will train her…and I will get ahold of her, please! No one hides from me.”
I didn’t doubt that he could find her. When it came to resources where finding people and investigating their backgrounds were concerned, Axel could run the National Defense Program. “That would be awesome, Axel! But do you mind if I ask why? Why are you going through all of this trouble for me?”
“I’m a romantic at heart,” he said.
“Really?”
“No, not really,” he made a sour face. “Your father was one of the biggest reasons I’m where I am today. I didn’t have enough time before he died to really pay him back for that. I’ll pay it forward to you.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I get a new assistant out of this. You’re the one who has to convince her you’re all that.” I didn’t think that would be a problem. After all, she already met Little Rye.
16
Olivia
“I’m really okay, Mom. I found a nice apartment in a SoHo…”
“And how will you pay for it? You quit working and quit school to help that cheating bastard get his business off the ground…” My mother was in New Jersey but I almost didn’t need the phone to hear her. She was shouting. I’d told her I left Michael and I told her it was because he had an affair. Those were all the details she needed to know.
“I have some money of my own, Mom. I’ll find a job before it runs out. I’ll be okay.”
There was some mumbling in the background and then she said, “What?”
“I said…”
“Not you! Your sister just came in. What did you say Macy?” I rolled my eyes as my mother had a conversation with my little sister. Of course what she had to say was more important than me.
I interrupted her, “Hey mom! I’m sorry, but I really have a lot to do…”
“Shh! Axel who?”
“Axel Maxwell?” I asked.
“I’m talking to your sister!” she snapped at me again.
“I know Mom. Is she talking about Axel Maxwell? What is she saying about him?”
“He’s looking for you. He apparently called here earlier while I was out and Macy took the message. Who is this man?” I heard talking in the background and then, “Shh! Macy! I’m talking to your sister!” I laughed. I guess it was my turn.
“He’s a music producer. He’s really wealthy. I went to a charity dinner/dance at his home a couple of months ago. I don’t know why he would be looking for me.”
“He probably heard you were getting a divorce and he’s going to try and move in on you. You’re beautiful and you’re tiny honey. Men are going to try and take advantage now that you’re single.” I laughed inwardly at the “tiny.” Since I left Michael my hips seemed to be spreading more by the day. It must be stress because I wasn’t really doing anything differently, as a matter of fact, I’d been eating less. The stress was also causing me to be sick to my stomach every morning. Mom didn’t need to know any of that. It would just make her worry more.
“Thanks Mom. I’ll be careful. Axel is happily married though. I’m positive it’s not that. I met him through one of his business associates…maybe it’s about that. I should call him, Mom. Will you tell Macy to text me that number and I’ll call him now? I’ll check back in with you later.”
She sighed. “I hate this, you know. Your father and I…”
“Are special, Mom. You and Daddy are the exception, not the rule. I wish I could find a love like the two of you have but I don’t think I’ll ever be so lucky.”
“I love you. You call me if you need money.”
“I will. I love you too. Tell Macy I said bye and thank you!” I put down the phone and stared at it. What the hell did Axel Maxwell want with me? I’d never heard of him before the night of the benefit. I saw him again at the funeral from a distance, but that was it. Maybe it was about Harold…or maybe it was about Ryan. Ryan works for him. I changed my number because Michael wouldn’t stop calling me, but I never called Ryan back after the last time we talked. I didn’t believe this hot guy really cared. Besides, he thought I was a damned prostitute. It had been a couple of months since our one night stand. It was best forgotten. I was sure he was way over it. I hadn’t been able to forget about that night…and it pissed me off. I didn’t need a man like him. I didn’t need a man period. I needed to start taking care of myself.
So, it couldn’t be about Ryan. It just didn’t make sense. I thought it must have been to do with the time I spent at the penthouse with his dad. My luck, there was something missing from the penthouse, or he wanted me to pay for the restraints that Ryan cut. I shuddered as I thought about that day. The text message from my sister said,
“Axel Maxwell? Have you ever seen this guy? He’s so hot!”
I laughed and text back, “Yes, he is. So is his wife. Where’s the number?”
She text it to me and I picked up the phone. I wasn’t sure why, but I had butterflies in my belly. Axel picked it up on the first ring. “Axel Maxwell. Who is this?”
“Um, hi…this is Olivia…”
“Olivia! Good, you got my message. I heard you were looking for a job.”
“Um…where did you hear that?”
“Are you looking for a job or not?”
“Yes, I’m looking for a job.”
“Good. My lovely wife is expecting a child. My child. Anyhoo, I need an assistant while she’s out.” He’s rich and he’s hot…but he’s really weird.
“Oh, um…I’m not sure that I’m qualified…”
“It’s not that hard. My business practically runs itself. Do you want the job?”
“Wouldn’t you like me to interview for it, or something?”
“No, I’d just like for you to show up and do it. Can you be here tomorrow morning at nine a.m.?”
“Yes…where’s here?”
“Maxwell Studios on Broadway. Come up to the tenth floor. Holly will be waiting for you.”
“Okay, thank you!”
“Sure, sure. Is this your cell phone number?”
“Yes…”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hung up the phone and I stood there and stared at mine for the longest time. I wasn’t sure what to think about any of it. I was about to go unpack my bedroom so that I could find something to wear to a new job when my phone rang again. I didn’t recognize the number, but thinking it might be Axel calling back, I answered it.
“Hello?”
“Olivia?”
“Who is this?”
“It’s Ryan Golden.” Shit! Axel must have hung up and given him the number.
“How did you get this number?”
“Axel gave it to me. Olivia, we need to talk.”
“What do we need to talk about, Ryan?”
“We spent the night together and it was great, and then you just left.”
“Ryan, it was a one-night stand. That’s what you expected from me right? Besides, it was a fluke. I was angry with my husband…We had both been drinking…”
“You were sober and now you’re divorcing your husband. Can I please just come over there and talk to you? I�
��m near SoHo; I can be there in ten minutes…”
“How do you know I’m in SoHo? Are you stalking me or what?”
“No, of course not. But you disappeared off the face of the earth. I did some checking…”
“Damn it! You have no right! Did Axel offer me a job just to help you find me?” Maybe I should be flattered, but I really wasn’t. It gave me the creeps. It was weird.
“Yes…I mean, not just so I could find you. He really needs an assistant…”
“Shit! You men with money think that you own the world and women in particular. I’m sick of all of you! I’m sick of men who cheat on their wives with their best friend and I’m sick of men who pay for dates and I’m sick of men who offer me money to sleep with them and I’m sick of men who offer me a job so that other men can stalk me! Leave me alone, Ryan, okay? Tell your friend Axel that I said thanks but no thanks about the job. I don’t need it.” He was saying something else when I hung up. I didn’t care. I was pissed! They all acted like I was so cheap they could just flash a little bit of money around and I’d be impressed. It made me want to kill them all. Where the hell did that come from?
I suddenly needed a drink. I looked down at myself in my yoga pants and tank and decided against going to a bar. Even my belly looked bloated. I certainly hoped I wouldn’t run into Carrie. It would make her way too happy to see me in such bad shape. Instead of a bar, I grabbed my purse and my phone and headed out to walk down to the liquor store at the corner. I hadn’t had anything to drink since the night I slept with Ryan. I didn’t think anything else was going to calm my nerves. I picked up a bottle of tequila and a handful of limes and took them up to the counter. The kid ringing me up only looked about fifteen. He still had acne. “I’m going to need to see your I.D.” he said to me in a voice that didn’t sound like it had even changed yet. I sat my phone down on the counter and pulled out my I.D. I almost threw it at him. What the hell was wrong with me? I had all these crazy emotions surging through me. I’m really not an angry person…as I had that thought, my eye caught sight of an EPT box out of the corner of my eye. Shit! No fucking way. I am not pregnant! I carefully handed my I.D. to him and he looked at it. Satisfied, he handed it back and before I finished paying, I impulsively picked up one of the tests and tossed it onto the counter. I was sure the bottle of tequila and the pregnancy test together made me look like less of a whore than I’d felt like lately. Fuck them, I didn’t care. I took my purchases and I headed back home. As soon as I got there I tossed the pregnancy test aside and fished a shot glass out of one of the boxes and the salt. I had a fleeting thought that maybe I should take the test first…but it was going to be negative anyways. I poured the salt on a napkin and dipped the shot glass in it before pouring the shot. I sliced up the limes and sucked hard on one and just before I drank the damned tequila, there was a knock on the door. Shit! Who was bothering me? I went over and looked out through the peephole. I’ll be damned! This man has some nerve! And does he have to look so damned sexy all the time?
