Hooker (21 page)

‘Brock,’ my mother says, beaming, when we reach the table. I do love her, but I don’t approve of her behaviour sometimes. I know my father intimidates her, he tries to intimidate everyone, but I wish she’d grow a backbone. Her husband is a damn snake and she deserves so much better.

‘Mother.’ I lean down and place a kiss on her cheek.

‘Who’s this lovely lady you have with you tonight?’ She’s always been polite to my dates, even if she doesn’t agree with my philandering ways.

‘This is my girlfriend, Jade. Jade this is my mother, Elaine.’ A smile spreads across her face when my words register.

‘Your girlfriend!’ Mum repeats in shock.

Yes, I have a fucking girlfriend. Maybe I should’ve put an announcement in the company newsletter in preparation for tonight.

Standing,
my mother embraces Jade with a warm hug. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you.’

‘It’s lovely to meet you too, Mrs Weston.’

‘Please, call me Elaine.’ When she finally lets go, Mum wraps her arms around me as well. This is the loving and caring mother I have missed. ‘I’m so happy for you both,’ she says. I see tears glistening in her eyes. Fuck me. By the way she’s carrying on, you’d think I’d just told her we were getting married or something.

I look at my father and immediately know he’s not impressed.
Fuming
would be a better word. Fucker. He better not start any shit tonight.

‘Father, this is Jade Davis. Jade, my father, Maxwell Weston.’

‘It’s nice to meet you, Mr Weston,’ Jade says sweetly, extending her hand to him.

Nodding his head curtly, he briefly takes her hand giving it a half-hearted shake. The rude prick doesn’t even stand. When I see Jade’s face drop, I have to control the urge to lunge at him. I hate that I have this arsehole’s blood running through my veins.

‘Ignore him,’ I whisper in her ear when Jade straightens. ‘I told you he was a prick.’ She smiles up at me when I drape my arm over her shoulder and place a soft kiss on the side of her head. I notice her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and again I want to throttle my father.

After seating Jade next to my mother—and away from that prick—I head to the bar to grab us both a drink.

I almost crash into my father when I return to the table. Lifting the drinks in the air, I come to an abrupt stop.

‘You brought that fucking whore here?’ he seethes. His words both surprise and worry me. Does he know who
Jade is, or is it just a general comment? Maybe he’s just been associating with Clarissa for too long. She always refers to my women as whores.

‘Watch it, old man, you’re already skating on thin ice.’

‘I’m just speaking the truth. I raised you better than that.’ His comment makes me laugh.

‘Like father like son,’ I retort, side-stepping him. I need to put some distance between us, and fast. ‘And if you refer to her as that again,’ I add, looking over my shoulder, ‘I won’t be held responsible for what I do. And that’s not a threat, it’s a promise.’ Because, by Christ, it is. Jade has no control over her past. I won’t stand by and let anyone disrespect her.

‘You better turn up to the office on Monday, or so help me …’

I was thinking of returning to work Monday, but not now. I’ll go back Tuesday just to spite him.

*

JADE

Thankfully, Brock stayed by my side for most of the night. His mum seems really lovely and kept making conversation with me, but unfortunately I can’t say the same about his father. I tried my best not to look at him after the unfriendly greeting he gave me. The one time I did, I found him glaring at me. I gather he doesn’t approve of me dating his son.

Meeting Elaine and Maxwell Weston made me think of my own parents. I hate that I have no family to introduce Brock to. I’ve wondered about them a lot over the years, but I try not to do it often. It hurts too much. My mother died, but my father obviously didn’t want me, because he gave me up.
That speaks volumes. He mustn’t have loved me, otherwise he never would’ve done it.

Why am I so unlovable
?

After dinner, Brock heads back to the bar and I’m left sitting with his parents again. My heart drops when his mother says, ‘I’m just going to duck to the ladies’ room.’ Everything in me wants to go with her so I’m not left here alone with Maxwell, but that’s childish. If I can live with M for years, I’m sure I can sit at the table with this man for a few minutes.

Elaine is only a few step away from the table when Maxwell strikes. ‘You know my son is only having fun with you, right?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘My son is of good breeding, but in saying that he’s also a stereotypical male. We have certain needs, you could say. Men of our standards don’t marry trash like you, so don’t get too comfortable. He’ll throw you aside when he’s had his fill, mark my words.’

I gasp at the harshness of his words, before turning away from him. Hopefully that will be enough to make him leave me alone. Briefly clenching my eyes shut, I fight back tears. I won’t give this man the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

His words swim around in my head. He’s right, Brock does deserve better than me. But I already knew that. It doesn’t seem to lessen the sting though. I’d be foolish to think I was anything more than a good time to Brock. A fool is exactly what I’ve been. I truly believed he cared.

My eyes seek out Brock, and that’s when I see him standing at the bar talking to a tall, beautiful blonde. She’s a woman of
good breeding
. A lump rises to my throat when I see her affectionately rub her hand down Brock’s arm as she smiles at
something he’s said. She turns her head slightly to look in my direction. When our eyes meet, her lips curve up. It’s not a pleasant smile;
smug
would be the best way to describe it. I’d like to march over there and tell her to get her hands off my man, but I can’t do that, because truth is, he’s not mine. He’ll never be mine.

Coming here tonight was a huge mistake.

I don’t belong with these people. All the money M spent making me so refined over the years was a waste. My training is just a mask to hide the real me. The scum, as she so rightly put it. The girl nobody has ever wanted, or loved.

Rising from my seat, I move hastily across the room. Tears rise to my eyes, but I manage to contain them. Breaking down in front of these people is the last thing I want to do. I’m already humiliated enough.

When I see Elaine exit the ladies’ room, I head in that direction.

‘Jade. Are you all right?’ she asks as I hurry past her.

‘I’m fine, Mrs Weston,’ I reply, glancing at her over my shoulder and forcing out a smile. ‘Nature calls.’

The large sitting area is empty when I enter. I cross the room, heading for the cubicles. The moment I’m locked inside, I take a few deep breaths to try to calm myself. My body is trembling. I’m not going to cry … I’m
not
going to cry. I’ve been treated a lot worse than that in my life, but Brock was right, his dad’s a prick. He’d get on famously with M.

I wait a few minutes until I’ve pulled myself together before heading back out to the sitting room to check my appearance in the mirror. I’m washing my hands when the door flies open and the blonde who was talking to Brock waltzes in like she owns the place.

Her
eyes meet mine in the mirror and she gives me another one of those smug smiles. I’d like to slap it right off her perfect face. I’m in no mood for her.

‘I don’t believe we’ve met,’ she says coming to stand beside me. ‘Although I’m not usually interested in meeting any of Brock’s whores.’

‘Excuse me?’ I gasp, turning to face her. Does he hire prostitutes on a regular basis? Does she know who I am?

‘I’m Clarissa, Brock’s fiancée.’ She extends her hand to me, but I ignore it.

She’s what? I take a few seconds to try to process what she’s just said. She’s fucking what? My erratically beating heart drops into the pit of my stomach.

‘Don’t look so shocked. You honestly didn’t think you had a chance with him, did you?’

I suddenly feel like I’m in a world of M’s. First Brock’s father, now this bitch. Her words swim around in my head as I try to make sense of it all. It can’t possibly be true. ‘I don’t think Brock would have me staying with him at his house, or would’ve introduced me to his parents as his girlfriend tonight, if he was engaged to you.’

She falters briefly as her eyes narrow at me in the mirror. ‘That’s where you’re wrong. Brock and I have an arrangement. His sexual appetite, as I’m sure you know,’ she says with an eye roll, before beginning to reapply her lipstick, ‘is insatiable. I decided to let him fulfil his needs elsewhere until we’re married, then it’s going to stop. I won’t share him after that.’ She speaks calmly, like it’s no big deal. It’s a big deal. A huge fucking deal.

I think I’m going to be sick.

‘Excuse
me,’ I say, pushing past her and accidentally knocking her arm in the process. The lipstick she was applying leaves a hot pink smudge up the side of her face. If I wasn’t on the verge of a total meltdown, I would’ve found that amusing. Crazy bitch. Who in their right mind would let their fiancé sleep with other women?

I leave the toilets and hurry towards the door that leads to the hotel foyer. The second I step out onto the street an ugly sob escapes me as a crushing feeling settles in my chest. I’m suddenly finding it hard to breathe. I wrap my arms around my body to try to comfort myself. I have nobody else to do it. Again, I’m all alone. My heart feels like it’s shattered. I’ve endured a shitload of betrayals in my life, but nothing has hurt as much as this does. I feel like a fool for letting my guard down and trusting Brock. He’s a snake just like the rest of them.

Those damn barriers were there for a reason
.

BROCK

‘Where’s
Jade?,’ I ask my mother when I arrive back at the table. After getting stuck listening to Clarissa whinge for five excruciating minutes, I was stopped by one of my clients. Normally it wouldn’t bother me, but I didn’t want to leave Jade at the table with my father for too long.

‘She went to the ladies’ room about ten minutes ago, but hasn’t returned,’ my mother tells me. For some reason, that gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. Slamming the drinks down onto the table sends the liquid flying everywhere, but that’s the least of my worries at the moment. What if something’s happened to her? Christ, M. I break into a run as I head across the room. My heart is beating so hard I can hear it thumping in my ears.

‘Jade,’ I call out, bashing on the door of the ladies’ room. I’m sure I look like a dick, but I don’t care. ‘Jade!’

Relief floods through me when the door swings open, but it doesn’t last long when I see Clarissa glaring back at me.

‘Is Jade in there?’

‘Who?’ she replies, screwing up her face.

‘Jade. My date. The one I came here with tonight.’

‘Oh,
your whore. Nope. I haven’t seen her.’

Fucking bitch
. She’s just jealous she’ll never have me. I hear her laughing as she walks away. I need to put a stop to her attending these events.

‘Jade!’ There’s still no response. I’m going in. Pushing open the door to the ladies’ room, I call out her name again. All the stalls appear to be empty. Where could she be? Turning on my heel, I head back out. I can see from here she hasn’t returned to the table. I search the room. When I can’t see her, I head towards the exit.

‘Is everything okay, Mr Weston?’ the doorman asks as I approach the front of the hotel.

‘Did you see the woman I came here with leave? She was wearing a green dress.’

‘I remember her, yes. She left a few minutes ago. She looked distressed. I hope everything is okay.’

The only words that register are ‘she looked distressed’. Fucking hell. I need to find her.

‘Was she alone?’

‘Yes, I believe she was. She asked where she could get a taxi. I had reception order one for her. You may find her waiting out front.’ I don’t even wait to hear if he has anything else to say—I’m out the door in a flash and running towards the street. It’s not safe for her to be out here alone.

‘Jade! Jade!’ I call. I get a few strange looks from people milling outside the hotel, but I don’t give a shit. All I care about is finding Jade and making sure she’s okay. My head swings from left to right as I frantically search the surrounding area. ‘Jade!’
Christ
. Where the fuck did she go?

My hands are trembling as I reach inside the breast pocket of my tux to retrieve my phone. I need to call her and find out
what the fuck’s going on. Maybe she’s tried to contact me. My heart drops when I realise I don’t have her number. I only have the number of the phone I gave her, but she didn’t bring that one to my house. Shit!

Searching through my contacts, I find Rupert’s number. It’s too late to call, so I text him on the off chance he’s still awake.

Hi Rupert, it’s Brock. Do you have Jade’s phone number?

I head towards the valet to collect my car—I can’t stay here when she’s out there all alone, anything could happen—but I only make it a few step before I see her. She’s leaning against the wall of the hotel. Her arms are wrapped protectively around her body, but her eyes are on me. She doesn’t look impressed. She looks downright pissed.

‘Jade,’ I breathe in relief as I approach her.

I’m taken aback when she pushes off the wall and starts walking in the other direction.

‘Jade, wait up.’ I’ll admit I’m perplexed by the way she’s acting. She’s never acted this cold towards me. She seemed fine when I left her sitting at the table earlier. This is exactly why I don’t get involved with women. They’re so fucking unpredictable.

I break into a jog and catch up to her in no time. Reaching out, I attempt to halt her. She abruptly swings around. Anger is rolling off her, but it’s the sadness I see in her beautiful green eyes that tugs at my heart.

‘Don’t touch me,’ she spits, ripping her arm from my grip.

‘What’s your fucking problem?’ I ask.

‘Just leave me alone.’

I don’t think so, sweetheart
. Reaching for her arm again, I gently but forcefully guide her around the side of the building.
This time she doesn’t put up a fight. The second I back her into the wall, I use my arms to cage her in. I’m not letting her go until she tells me what’s wrong. She better not say ‘nothing’, or I’ll lose my shit.