“Frankie, please let me handle it. I’m the employee of Discrete Encounters.” Gently, I put my hand on top of his to stop the dialing. I’d be horrified if they contacted Bane for more money. It was hard enough being okay with sleeping with him while I knew money exchanged hands.
He gave me a non-committal smile. “What does he talk to you about? Why is he so hung up on you?”
Good question. I wasn’t sure why Bane picked me. Answering, I followed a version of Bane’s advice. “We don’t talk. He doesn’t say much.”
“So, all you do is fuck?”
I shrugged. “Frankie, I’m trying to get through this, okay?”
Cocking his head to the side he watched me, I tried to remain passive. Even if Bane affected me on a fundamental level, I didn’t want Frankie to know.
“Okay, sis. No more questions. Just do your thing and get us out of this mess. I’ll keep working my luck to help anyway I can.” Coming to kiss me on the forehead, I wanted to cry. Our days of seeing each other were numbered. When I disappeared, I was vanishing so as not to be sucked back in. Regardless of what he’d done, I loved him. And I knew he’d end up in this situation all over again.
Frankie strolled toward the door. Laying a hundred-dollar bill on the window sill, he called, “Buy something nice to keep him interested. He may pay off my debt for me … and more. I got a feeling.”
There was always a feeling. A feeling that ended up with me working more hours. Not saying a word, I stared at the hundred dollars. It took me so long to earn that kind of money and Frankie was casually throwing it around. He should be the one stressed about paying Tommy Tricks back. This was on him, but he knew I’d do whatever I could out of the false sense of debt I felt.
“Keep smiling, sunshine.” Cringing again at the nickname, I gave a weak smile.
Finally, I was alone. Everything I owned was in my two suitcases. Anything I left would be ruined or stolen. Still, I left the place as clean as it could be as I rolled my functioning suitcase while carrying the broken one. It was only a few blocks to the bus stop.
An hour and a half later, I walked up the drive to the five-star hotel. The water fountain in the middle gave a magical ambiance to the white palatial hotel with gold trim. It was a place you only read about with how elegant it was.
A black shiny SUV drove past me. My fingers were cold having been exposed while carrying my luggage for the six blocks I’d walked from the bus stop. Resting, I flexed my fingers to get the blood flowing again and turned toward the street for a second. The sun set and the glow of the city street lights turned on as people milled about. Dusk was my favorite time of night. It meant the end of a day and the hope for a new one tomorrow.
“Maren, the bellboy’s going to take your bags to our room. Let’s get you inside.”
Startled by the voice, I turned to face Bane. A bellboy with a cart was not far behind. Bane looked good in his black turtleneck and jeans. Mouthwatering good. My hormones were in overdrive as my senses came alive around him.
“Thank you, Bane, but I don’t mind taking them to my room.” The offer was sweet.
He shook his head minutely. “No, they’ll handle it. Let’s get some food. Are you hungry?”
My stomach growled at the mention of food. I was hungry almost all of the time, but I always made sure to have two meals a day. So far today, I’d only managed one with everything going on. “Food sounds good. Thank you.” The hundred dollars would help feed me while I was here. I knew how to eat cheap and save.
Placing his hand along the lower part of my back, Bane guided me in to the hotel. Instead of going to the elevators, we made a left for the elegant restaurant. A faint rose smell permeated the hotel air, adding to the luxury feeling. As we approached the large mahogany doors, I remembered underneath my coat I wore jeans and a sweater. For this restaurant, I knew I was underdressed as women approached wearing their elegant dresses bordering on evening wear.
A sneer from another one stopped me. “Bane, I’m not dressed properly.” Though it shouldn’t bother me what people thought, I wouldn’t be able to eat with everyone staring, wondering why I was in a place that nice.
Assessing, Bane watched me for a second. “What are you hungry for?”
“A salad is fine.” That was always a cheap option on the menu that I knew I could afford. More people in dressy clothes walked by as they engaged in polite conversation.
Adding pressure to my back, Bane got my attention. “What else would you like besides a salad? Do you like steak? The
y’re known for their steaks. My treat.”
Another woman walked by and couldn’t keep her eyes off Bane, while his eyes never left me. Ignoring her, I protested, “Bane—”
“Maren, it’s a steak. Let me treat you.”
I nodded and gave an appreciative smile. “Steak sounds great.”
“Okay, give me a second.”
Confidently, Bane strode to the hostess and spoke to her. Being underdressed didn’t seem to bother Bane. I was afraid they’d think I was a hooker and with the current arrangements, I didn’t want to deal with any of it. This was still the oddest situation—one I wasn’t able to classify.
He knew how to read people and I was grateful for not pushing me to go into the restaurant. With Bane, a complete stranger, I felt like I had choices opposed to my life with Frankie, my own family.