“Oh, I'm not so sure about that.” Alexis shook her head as she brought her cappuccino to her lips. Delighting in the aroma, she gave herself a moment before continuing. “I haven’t told anyone yet, because I was originally undecided, but I'm thinking of leaving the agency.”
“You won't find better elsewhere. We’re the top agency in the northwest.”
“No, I don’t plan to leave for another. I'm leaving all together.”
“Oh.” Shannon’s dark eyebrows drew together. “Why?”
“It’s just not working for me anymore. I have other commitments. Career commitments.”
“Right, okay.”
“But after taking on this new client, I'm torn.” Alexis brought her hands together on the table in front of her, clasping them. “She’s absolutely gorgeous. A wonderful person.”
“A wonderful person?” Shannon laughed. “Where has Alexis gone?”
“What?”
“You’re an escort, love.” Shannon leaned in, lowering her voice. “We don’t think about how wonderful someone is. We give them what we want and get paid.”
“You, perhaps.” Alexis narrowed her eyes. “But me? Not so much.”
“I know you hate that side of things, and that’s okay, but you're still an escort, Lex,” Shannon said. “We don’t really have the option of thinking about clients and how great they are.”
“I know, and that’s why I asked you to meet me.” Alexis nodded. “You’re the only one I feel I can trust with all of this.”
“All of what?”
“I just—”
“You got attached.” Shannon sighed. “You got attached to this new client, didn’t you?”
“I’m trying not to.” Alexis hung her head. “I’m trying so hard not to think about her, but I've already overstepped by texting her from my personal number.”
“You know what happened last time, love.” Shannon reached her hand across the table, squeezing Alexis’. “You know what happens when we let things carry away with themselves.”
“She’s different.”
“They all are…until they’re not.”
“No.” Alexis pulled her hands away. “She is. She’s completely different to anyone I've ever met.”
“Have you heard from the other one at all?” Alexis appreciated the fact that Shannon didn’t use her ex-client’s name; she knew how much it grated on her. “She’s been gone a while.”
“No, I've heard nothing and I'm praying it stays that way.”
“Me too,” Shannon agreed. “But, Lex…you have to step back from this. If you have to turn down her bookings, then so be it.”
“I don’t want to turn them down. I want there to be more of them.”
“And that’s exactly why you should stop taking her on as a client.” Shannon relaxed back in her seat. “I know you have a huge heart, but this is business. Pleasure shouldn’t be mixed with it.”
“I know, I know.” Alexis held up her hand. “I’ll see how it goes, okay?”
“Mm.” Shannon rolled her eyes. “I know exactly how it’s going to go, and you’ll be the one who gets hurt.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“If it’s not like that, why are you here discussing it with me?”
“She just…she’s married.”
“Uh, a lot of our clients are married. Why is it suddenly a concern of yours?”
“Because the others didn’t matter,” Alexis said. “I’ve never been attracted to the others, so I was just doing my job. This… I feel like everyone could get hurt if I ask her out to dinner. It would be an affair.”
“I understand what you're saying.” Shannon nodded. “I completely understand.”
“She ran out on me yesterday.” Alexis closed her eyes momentarily. “I don’t expect to see her again, so I don’t know why I'm worried about it. I'm also positive that this is all one-sided.”
“She ran out?”
“Said she had to leave.” Alexis smiled weakly. “Something came up, but I was flirtatious with her and may have scared her off.”
“You, scare someone off?” Shannon snorted. “You’re gorgeous. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
“Uh, thanks.” Alexis lowered her eyes to the table. “Thanks for listening. It was all I needed.”
“Us girls stick together, Lex.” Shannon smiled. “Plans for tonight?”
“It’s my night off.”
“Then you should relax and sleep well. Tomorrow is a new day.”
“Yeah, it is.” Alexis couldn’t help but wonder if Sam was thinking about her as much as she thought about Sam. “When we both finally get a night off together, I’ll make this up to you.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Shannon waved Alexis off. “I wasn’t busy, and we always make time for one another.”
“Still, I really appreciate it.”
***
As the day wore on, Sam found herself staring at her phone. Cheryl had been by once or twice to enquire about her plans during the week, but she had so far gotten nothing from her boss. Sam suspected Cheryl knew the truth, and while she wasn't ashamed of what she’d done twice in a matter of days, she wasn't ready to let other people know. She didn’t feel prepared for the questions that may be asked, but more than anything, she couldn’t bear the thought that perhaps Cheryl had spent the night with Alexis. Her assistant had always been very forthcoming with her sexuality and her sex life, but Sam didn’t need to know anything about her days of booking escorts. Not if one of those escorts had been the woman Sam spent the evening with.
A tinge of jealousy reverberated through Sam, shocking her. How could she be jealous of her assistant and an escort? How could she for one moment think that she had any right to be jealous regardless of who it was? Sam knew what she needed, but the thought of taking a break from work and heading off to sunny climates meant that she wouldn’t have a chance to book Alexis again if one night she felt the need. No, she didn’t need a holiday. What she needed was to focus on her work.
You pay her for her time. Stop getting hung up on something that will never be.
A light knock on her door brought Sam out of her ridiculous mindset. “Come in.”
“Mrs Phillips…”
“Sam.” The word fell from her mouth unexpectedly. If she was ever going to potentially move forward, the first thing she could do was to lessen the use of her married name. It hurt, but it wasn’t the end of the world.
“Pardon?” Cheryl’s brow knitted. “You want me to call you Sam?”
“Yes, is that a problem?”
“Well, no.” Cheryl stepped into her boss’ office. “It’s just not what I expected.”
“Feeling like a change.” Sam smiled, focusing briefly on Cheryl and the shock on her face. “Sit down, you're making me feel uncomfortable.”
“It’s just about tomorrow,” Cheryl said. “I know Friday is drinks night, but I can’t make it.”
“Standing me up?”
“I have a date.” Cheryl sighed. “I tried to change it to Saturday but my girl is out of town for the weekend and I really don't think I can wait until Tuesday to see her again.”
“Then I will grab a nice bottle of wine on the way home tomorrow and enjoy it alone…”
“We could do Saturday instead?” Cheryl suggested. “I’m free all weekend.”
“Can I get back to you?”
“Oh, you have plans?” Cheryl’s smile widened. “That’s fine. We can just skip this week.”
“I don't have plans.” The sudden surprise from Cheryl didn’t sit well with Sam. “But even if I did, why is that such a shock to you?”
“It’s not… I just—”
“What?”
“I saw you, okay?” Cheryl wrung her hands together in her lap. “A few nights ago. I saw you.”
“Saw me where?” Sam narrowed her eyes, her heart free-falling into her stomach.
“At
the restaurant. I was with my date.”
“Must have been someone else.” Sam shrugged, focusing on her work. “I have to leave at midday. I don't have anything else planned for today, do I?”
“No.” Cheryl sighed. “She seemed nice. She made you laugh…”
“I’ve been home every night this week, Cheryl.”
“Then you have a doppelganger.” Cheryl snorted. “Or you have the ability to be in two places at once.”
“Cheryl.” Sam gave her assistant a stern look.
“Why don't you want to be happy, Sam?” Cheryl cocked her head, confused by her boss’ lack of life outside the office. “And I know it’s none of my business, but I saw you. Don't deny it.”
“What the hell do you want me to say?”
“I don't know. Anything.”
“Fine. I was with an escort,” Sam said, her tone harsh. “If that is all, I'd like to finish up here.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Don't fucking push it!”
***
The sound of the TV played low in the background, Alexis’ eyes glazing over rather than watching it. She’d been home for a couple of hours, but Shannon’s advice hadn’t appeared to help as much as she thought it would. Sam, once again, was on her mind. Right at the front. Centre. Alexis knew she was a fool to even consider thinking about Sam in any other capacity than as her client, but there was something about her that she couldn’t put her finger on. Something that dragged Alexis down every time she tried to push away. She could dress and head out for the night, but even that was a non-starter. Alexis didn’t have the energy. She didn’t have the strength to look at any other women. This was an infatuation, she knew that, but it didn’t deter her from thinking about Sam.
She lifted her phone from the arm of the couch and called her mum’s number.
“Hi, love.”
“Hi, Mum. You all okay?” Alexis sunk further down into the couch and lay back. “Dad doing okay?”
“He’s out on a job. Helping Steve with some paving.”
“He’s good like that.” Alexis smiled. “You know, I have the weekend off so I thought I'd come up early Sunday and spend the day with you.”
“I’d love that.” Jackie perked up. “Should I make Sunday dinner?”
“Mm, you should. Nobody makes roasties like you do.”
“Will you be coming alone?”
“Um, why wouldn’t I be?” Alexis laughed. “Did you want me to drag someone off the street?”
“You know what I mean, love.” Jackie sighed. “What I'm asking, is if you've met anyone?”
“Since I spoke to you three nights ago? No, Mum. I haven’t.”
“That’s a shame.”
“I’m fine with how I am,” Alexis said. “I’m too busy with work anyway.”
“I know, but I hate knowing you're alone in that flat when you're not at the station.”
If only you knew the truth, Alexis thought.
“When I'm not at the station, I'm sleeping. I don’t have much time for anything else.”
“Okay, I’ll stop asking. I know you hate it.”
“I know you want what’s best, but I'm okay here in Liverpool. You also know that you can visit whenever you want to.”
“Hard to plan it when your dad has the car all the time.”
“I can come and pick you up. It’s no problem.”
“Give me a few weeks and I’ll come and stay for the weekend. When you're available.”
“That would be great, Mum.” Alexis glanced at the screen of her business phone sitting on her coffee table, lit up. “Well, I have to go and get some laundry done,” she lied. “Talk to you soon. Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye, love.”
As the call cut out, Alexis’ hand trembled, reaching for her phone.
A booking.
From Sam.
While her heart leapt out of her chest, she still had a bad feeling about this. Of course she wanted to spend the evening with Sam, but it would only complicate things further. It would only stop Alexis from forgetting this woman ever existed and getting on with her life.
“Oh, wow.” Alexis’ eyes widened. “She wants the girlfriend experience.”
***
“The girlfriend experience…” Sam clicked on the link sitting at the top of Alexis’ profile, intrigued by what that could possibly mean. “Okay, nothing too much.” She nodded, scanning the description briefly. “A night in, basically.”
An hour ago, Sam had once again found herself in a situation she couldn’t control. As she drove through the city with Cheryl’s comments playing on her mind, she made the decision to book Alexis again. She hadn’t expected her to be available at such short notice, yet here she was, waiting for her escort’s arrival. Knowing that she’d been seen in the city with a beautiful woman didn’t feel right to Sam, so the girlfriend experience was what she chose for her night ahead. Another small fortune spent on a woman who was only here for her money. Deep down, Sam wanted to believe that Alexis wasn't only in it for the money, but she knew she was being naïve.
It's her job, for the love of God!
Sam’s buzzer blared through her apartment, startling her. “Shit! I'm not ready.”
She rushed to the intercom and granted Alexis access to the building. She’d already provided her with the apartment number when she contacted her earlier in the evening, but like last night, Sam was beginning to have second thoughts. While she didn’t have any ties to her wife at this apartment, she still had her things. Pictures. Clothes. Anything she had struggled to let go of.
Sam glanced down her body, satisfied that her clothing for the night would be compatible with the girlfriend experience. After all, it was just a night in like any other. At least, that’s what she assumed it to be. The website hadn’t given her a great deal of information, but she knew Alexis would put her at ease the moment she walked through her door.
A knock on the door.
Sam froze.
Should I really have her in my home?
It was too late to back out now. Alexis was standing out in the corridor.
With shaky hands, Sam steeled herself and opened the door. “Hi,” she breathed out. “Come in.”
“Wow.” Alexis glanced around, seemingly taken aback by Sam’s apartment. “You have a beautiful home.”
This will never be home.
“Thank you.” Sam closed and locked the door, desperately praying that her sister wouldn’t turn up uninvited. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yes, thank you.” Alexis moved through Sam’s open-plan space with ease, heading straight for the large window. Her eyes widened when she spotted the Welsh mountains in the distance, the view breathtaking.
“Is red okay for you?”
“Perfect.” Alexis glanced over her shoulder, smiling. “How do you pull yourself away from this window? The view is incredible.”
“I guess it loses its effect after a while.” Sam watched Alexis, her tall, slender body resting against the wall. “But you're more than welcome to enjoy it for as long as you like.”
She took in her escort’s features from behind. How her form-fitting jeans hugged every inch of her lower body so beautifully. The deep blue blouse she wore complimented her golden hair, the transparent material leaving very little to the imagination. Stop, Sam!
“Have you lived here long?” Alexis turned to face Sam, a full smile sitting on her mouth as she took a glass of wine from her client.
“A couple of years.” Sam returned to her seat, offering the opposite end of the couch to Alexis. “Moved into the city when my business really took off.” It wasn’t the truth, but it was all Alexis needed to know.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It does the job,” Sam said, fully aware of how stunning her home was but having no interest in it. “It means my morning commute takes all of ten minutes.”
“That soun
ds ideal.” Alexis crossed her legs, her black heels catching Sam’s eye.
“Are those Louboutin?”
“They are.” Alexis gave Sam a slight nod of the head. “This season…”
“Impressive.” Sam relaxed against the couch, sitting side on with her head resting in the palm of her hand. “And here I am sitting in my office clothes.”
“You look great, I wouldn’t worry.” Alexis could spend the entire night admiring Sam, however wrong she knew it was.
Not what I expected, Sam thought, suddenly feeling a blush creep up her neck. Here she was, sitting with a twenty-five-year-old escort, and being complimented. This wasn’t Sam’s life. She made it a habit to refrain from this behaviour, but it felt good. It felt easy. She would be lying if she said she didn’t appreciate Alexis’ time and attention. After all, what woman doesn’t want to be flattered?
“So, you didn’t tell me what you do…”
“Me?” Sam’s eyebrow rose. “Nothing you’d find exciting.”
“Try me…”
“I’m a property developer,” Sam said. “There is nothing glamorous about it but I love it.”
“If you love it, that’s what matters.”
“Do you love your job?” Sam asked as Alexis’ perfume wafted her way. Something about this woman left her feeling completely open and exposed, yet safe and calm at the same time.
“Which one?”
“Um…”
“Oh, you mean the escort job?” Alexis smiled. “I believe I've already answered that. Our first night together, if you remember.”
“The other job?”
“It’s very demanding and tiring,” Alexis said. “But when I’m not working, this is the ideal way to unwind.” Alexis glanced around before facing Sam again and raising her wine glass. “I’d just come off a twelve-hour night shift the day you contacted me about dinner.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have known.” Sam cleared her throat. “You looked refreshed.”
“I’m used to it now.”
“Okay, so this other job…what is it?”
“Oh, I'm a firefighter.”
The Arrangement Page 6
