"See, love," he says, as he opens the door for me. "You have your self-respect."
I look towards him sharply.
He continues. "If you were really into the money and wanted to strip for dollars, you'd have asked me how much per hour." His eyes glint at me. "Don't you see; you want to do this?"
I'm still angry, and my brain is processing what he's saying. Of course I have my self-respect! I'm not a real stripper!
"And, I really need your help, love," he says. "I'll pay whatever you would make were you still stripping, but I need someone like you that the public will love."
I think for a long moment. This could have potential. And it might help me smooth out my story a bit more. I'm about to say yes until I realize that I have to ask Mike first.
I want to say yes. I want to see what this bad boy prince has to offer.
Instead, I write my number down on a napkin in my purse and hand it to him.
"Call me tomorrow," I say to him. "I'll have your answer."
Derrick smiles. I smile back slightly.
"And thank you, truly, for dinner," I say. "It tasted wonderful."
He looks at me like he wants to kiss me. Okay, if he does kiss me, I wouldn't mind, you know? Like, I'm not going to reach over, but just saying if he did, it wouldn't be the worst thing.
Instead, he asks me, "What do I call you till then, love?"
I'm a bit started and he smirks. "We can't keep calling you Misty. I know that’s not your real name.” Oh crap! He figured it out! I knew this wasn’t going to work!
“I’ve been around a lot of strippers to know Misty is your stage name, love,” he says with a wink. “What’s your real name?”
Just as fast as my heart sped up, it starts to come back down to normal. He doesn’t know I’m his Alicia Bayer. He doesn’t know anything about me.
I can be anyone I want to be.
I pause to think. A giant MAC truck from Daphne Furnishings drives by.
"My name is Daphne," I tell him. "You can call me Daphne."
"Daphne it is then, love," he says, smiling and showing me his gorgeous teeth. "Would you have a last name?"
"Yeah," I say, my mind scrambling. "Daphne Apple."
Daphne Apple?
Oh my God.
It only fazes him for a second.
"Okay, Daphne Apple," he says as he walks me to the line of waiting taxicabs. "I don't suppose you're coming home with me, so I'll just call you tomorrow."
I turn to him one last time and genuinely smile at him as I get into the cab. Even if he is a major asshole, I feel kind of bad for lying to him the way I am.
But that's my assignment. Dig until I find something juicy on the billionaire bad boy prince.
Even if it breaks my heart in the process.
8
Abby Adams: A Sinful Sweetheart?