“How much is it, again?” I asked. The fee was astronomical, if I remembered correctly.
“The total for two weeks, including the travel, is two hundred thousand dollars.” She paused for a beat. “Half paid up front. And we’re cash-only.”
“Don’t you think your services are a bit, umm…overpriced?” I asked. “I’m not prepared to pay investment prices for a rented date.”
“You’re paying for a luxury product,” Elena said, not missing a beat. She’d heard this a thousand times from rich men who doubled as cheap bastards.
“The cost breakdown, per hour, is five hundred and ninety-five dollars. You pay your lawyer more than that, I’m sure. And he doesn’t always bend over when you tell him to.”
If I’d been capable of it, I’d be mildly chastened by that. I let her continue.
“That being said,” Elena continued, “the price I’m charging you is our standard rate. I’m not gouging you just because you’re a gazillionaire. But do feel free to tip generously at the end of your arrangement.”
I snorted.
“Your escort is going to be the most beautiful woman you’ve ever met. She’s going to fulfill your every fantasy—which in your case, is being the perfect date for your brother’s wedding. If you had any other fantasies”—she paused for effect—“she could fulfill those, too.” She laughed again. “But of course, you’re not interested in that.”
“Ha ha,” I said. “For that price, I might just have to f**k her.” Six ways from Sunday. I made myself stop from forming a mental picture.
“Of course,” she said. “And once you get a taste, you’ll really understand why you’re getting your money’s worth. By the way—all of our escorts are on birth control. We test them regularly to make sure they’re in compliance. So condoms are optional. Her test results are part of the contract. We guarantee healthy, clean girls. So if you’re clean, too, you can both relax and just enjoy each other.”
She paused and I squirmed, my co**ck stiffening at her words. It had been a long time.
Down boy, I thought.
“We’ll see you soon, Mr. Preston. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
We hung up and I shook my head, laughing to myself a little. Two hundred thousand dollars. But the promise in her words would make any man’s di**ck hard. That was the point. That was why Elena’s escort service was the most successful, the most exclusive one on the East Coast. She was good at sales.
And based on the pictures she’d sent me, her employees were pretty hot.
I willed the stirring of my erection to go away. I was using Elena’s service because I was in a bind, not because I couldn’t get laid. I needed the perfect woman to bring to my brother’s perfect wedding.
So that everybody would leave me the f**k alone.
Audrey
A hot shower wasn’t going to be enough to wash the date off me, but that didn’t stop me from trying.
My skin was practically raw when I finished. I didn’t look at it closely, just like I didn’t look at the dirty clothes I’d thrown in the corner. The John had cut my bra apart.
With a switchblade.
I shut my eyes tightly and made myself block it out. It was over, and he’d managed not to cut me. He’d paid me. And that was all that mattered.
I was just drying off when my cell phone rang. “This is Dre,” I said formally, knowing full well that it was my almost-former boss, Elena.
“How are you, Dre?” She asked. She was being fake nice to me, I knew. She was still pissed about that thing I’d done.
I was pissed at her, too. Elena hadn’t been giving me any work lately. That’s why I’d spent the afternoon with Mr. Switchblade, who I’d found online.
“I have a top as**signment for you,” she said. I immediately perked up. “James Preston. The real-estate mogul. Have you heard of him? He’s been in the tabloids—one of those Hottest Bachelors lists.”
“No,” I said. I wasn’t exactly up on my real-estate moguls or my tabloids. Outside interests were luxuries I couldn’t afford.
“Even better,” Elena said. “I need someone who can be genuine with him. This is an extended as**signment, Dre. Two weeks. Incredible money.”
My mind flashed immediately to my brother, Tommy. I got a lump in my throat. “I’m listening,” I said over it.
“Mr. Preston needs a date for his brother’s wedding. There are related functions as well—including a family trip to the Caribbean the day after the wedding. He wants you to pretend to be his girlfriend. His family needs to believe that you’re a couple.”