Buying Love

“Did you finish all of your work?” Jack mutters as he sits upright in his chair.

“Yes. I have to contact our lawyer, and then I should have everything squared away for the weekend.”

“Great. You need to lighten up—even just a little.”

“I’ll try,” I mutter as we jump into the limo scheduled for our arrival.

The ride to the hotel is uneventful until we stop at a light. I have this strange need to look at the bus alongside me, and when I do, I’m stunned by pure beauty. My heart’s thumping like it’s never done before. Not even when we were kids, living in a shelter, and I was frightened. I lower my window to get a better look. She has tiger-shaped eyes, but I can’t make out the color through the dirty bus windows. The limo drives away before I can get my thoughts in order to stop it.

I know that I have to find this woman. Something about her draws me in without a single word. I have plans for us that I need to get in order. I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll find her. If there’s such a thing as love at first sight, I’ve been one of its victims.

Chapter Two

Jenna

“Jenna,” my landlord calls out. I close my eyes and come to a complete stop. This can’t be good. I owe rent in two days, and I’m not sure I’ll make it. I get my paycheck tonight, but I’ll have to cash it because it’s Saturday, and the bank will be closed tomorrow. I don’t have direct deposit because I over drafted one time too many.

Spinning on my heels, I face him and squeak out, “Yes, Mr. Novak?” His jaw tightens because he hates when I don’t call him Dennis. I don’t want to be familiar with him in any way, so I always keep it professional. He’s as disgusting as the slum I live in. I can’t afford a better place with a decent owner, so this piece of shit will have to do for now.

He moves toward me, so I slink around him to avoid his body grazing mine, leaving him between me and the exit. Somehow, I’ve managed to trap myself. “Rent is due in two days, Jenna.” He says my name with a creepiness that has me rocking on my foot—ready to run. The man is in his late forties and chases any female tenant under thirty. It’s disgusting, but no one can report it because we won’t have any other place to stay.

“And you’ll have it,” I tell him, trying to leave.

I shimmy past him only for him to reach out with a firm hold on my wrist, making his threat. “Or you will be out. Unless…”

I yank my wrist away from his grubby hand, and bite out, “Excuse me, Mr. Novak. I can’t be late for work.”

I rush out to catch the bus to work. Once I’m at the bus stop, I see it coming. Thankfully I’m not missing the damn thing. It’s about an hour to the strip, but there’s not much else I can do for work. I can’t dance, so being a showgirl is out of the question. I’m about one more late payment away from going down the dark road of becoming a stripper…or even an escort.

How had my dreams fallen apart so quickly?

I get on the bus, giving Hank a weak smile. He’s my usual driver for the route and a lovely man. “Jenna, don’t look so down. You’re gonna catch a break soon.”

“I’m lucky I manage to catch the bus, but thanks anyway, Hank.” I clap his shoulder and take my seat in the middle of the bus with my book in my hand. It’s a medical textbook that I picked up in a secondhand store. I’m not a medical student or anything, but I like to learn.

I can’t afford much, so the thrift store is where I go for entertainment. My collection of books is downright obscene. I have more in my apartment than I have room for, and all different genres as well. I’d love to have a vast library like the ones only seen in old mansions.

It’s all a dream. For now, the only books I can buy are ones at the thrift stores. I’m nineteen and broke, but that’s what happens when your mom takes your social security number and destroys your credit history which stupid employers look at. I’ve been denied financial aid for college, and I can’t seem to make ends meet. I’m lucky I have a job and a cheap apartment. If I could move out of Vegas, I would.

The ride seems to last forever. I can’t be late, or I’ll lose my job. I check my time, and I still have plenty, so I go back to my book.