Living in Sin (The Escort Series) (18 page)

“You’re welcome,” he says with a smug look.

“Anyway, she’s made it clear that she’s seen me with several different women and thinks I’m a player. She refuses to be with me again, but has agreed to be friends. So that’s where that is.”

“So she doesn’t know what you do then?”

“I told her I wasn’t in a relationship with anybody, and that with the opening of the club I wouldn’t be dating around so much.”

“You’re really not gonna tell her what you’ve been doing as a career? That doesn’t seem like it’s gonna end well.”

“Thanks,” I respond blandly.

“I’m just being honest, brother. She’ll find out. Women find out everything. Then it will be ten times as bad than if you told her.”

“I don’t even know how I’m supposed to tell her something like that. She’ll go screaming for the fucking hills and I’ll never see her again.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I just feel like if we establish more of a connection, then it will be harder for her to hate me if she finds out the truth.”

Troy smiles and shakes his head. “I can kinda see what you mean, but I don’t know.”

“I don’t fuckin’ know, either.”

We stop talking when the cab pulls up to the hotel. I toss him the money and Troy and I get out. Nico and Kade are out front laughing about something, and I see Marc talking to another escort, Adrian a little further away.

“Y’all ready for this shit?” Nico asks.

“I guess,” I respond.

“Why did we have to come, exactly?” Kade asks.

“To be seen, to be eye candy, who knows?” Nico says.

“The boss says to come, we come, that’s that. Probably in hopes to pick up clients. There are gonna be some wealthy people here,” Troy answers.

Marc makes his way over to us.

“You ready, guys? Best behavior tonight, don’t forget,” he says, looking at Nico and Kade.

Kade looks around at all of us. “Why did you look at me when you said that? I’m always good.”

“Not when women and liquor are around,” Marc laughs.

“Whatever. Like I wanna get on the boss’s bad side tonight. Thanks for the advice though, dad,” Nico quips at Marc.

We all make our way into the hotel and follow the crowd to where the party is. I’m hoping to get in, be seen by the boss, and then be able to leave.

We stop along the way to talk with some of the other guys, and then finally make it to the huge ballroom where everybody is. Our first stop is the bar. Marc orders everybody some shots, and then we each get our individual drink.

As Marc is passing around shots, he stops at Nico.

“Think you can handle this?”

“As long as it isn’t that nasty shit you had at your house.”

We all laugh, down the shots, take our drinks and begin mingling with people.

After about twenty minutes, I run into Troy.

“Hey, man. Seen any hot ass tonight?” he asks quietly.

“I’ve seen old ass, but that’s about it.”

“Same here,” he responds, still looking around. “Wait. I think I see some potential.”

I turn and look where he’s facing. I only see a huge group of people dancing, but can’t really make anybody out.

“Where?”

“It was three or four women. They are on the other side of the dance floor. I can’t see them anymore.”

“Well go check it out. Maybe you’ll find
the one.”

“Maybe I will. Have you seen the boss yet?”

“Nope, but I need to so I can get out of here.”

“Alright, man. I’ll come find you soon.”

“Alright.”

As I’m at the bar getting another drink, I hear a couple high pitched laughs that make me turn around. First thing I see is Troy, he’s facing my direction but he has a couple of women in front of him. Guess he found the potential. He gives me a wink and then goes back to talking with the ladies and making them laugh. I can’t see their faces, but I’m going to assume they’re good looking or he wouldn’t be wasting his time.

I turn back towards the bar, take a sip of my drink, and listen to the conversations around me. I’m looking towards the dance floor when I hear two female voices behind me.

“What the hell is going on here? It’s like fucking hot guy central. Did all these guys just step out of a GQ ad or what? I mean, I’m about to lose my mind, and my panties. I don’t know who I want to talk to first. What do you think? Has anybody caught your eye?”

I can’t help my smile. Troy would be all over this girl. I might have to make sure I get a good look at her so I can point her out to him later.

“Ssh. You’re so loud. I haven’t been looking at anybody. I’ve been working.”

That familiar voice instantly washes over me. I turn around and see that her back is to me, and her friend is looking in my direction. It’s the same friend she was out with when I saw her at the little night club. It’s obvious she recognizes me because I see the smile begin spreading across her face. I raise a finger to my lips, letting her know not to give me away. She gets the hint and drops the smile.

“So Adrienne, what ever happened with that God-like creature?”

I can’t help the smile that crosses my face, and I have to stop myself from laughing.

“What are you talking about? I just told you about him yesterday. The lunch date.”

“Oh, that’s right. So where do you think that’s gonna go?”

“You’re being weird,” Adrienne says.

“No I’m not. I’m just curious. He’s fucking hot! I just want to know if you’re stupid enough to actually only be friends with him.”

She glances over at me with a hint of a smile. I like this girl. She’s on my team. I hear Adrienne let out a sigh.

“Em, I’ve already been over this.”

“I know, I know. He’s hot, you like him, but you don’t know if he really likes you or just wants to sleep with you. You want him
alllll
to yourself. I get it.”

Her friend glances at me, but this time with a serious look, like she’s trying to let me know that I need to do something with the information she’s giving me.

“Maybe you should just give him a chance. He seems like a nice guy, and if he’s not, I’ll chop his dick off for you.”

I raise my eyebrows at her and she just shrugs and begins looking around again.

“I don’t know. Maybe,” Adrienne answers.

I’m surprised by her response. She’s actually considering it, even if it’s only a slight chance. At least she didn’t say no fucking way.

“Gah, Em. You have no idea how much I wanted him to kiss me after lunch, like kiss me, kiss me, but at the same time I knew I shouldn’t let that happen. God only knows what else would have happened.”

“Yeah right, like you would have slept with him in the car in front of your office,” Emilie laughs. “Didn’t you say that he made you…” she trails off and wiggles her eyebrows with a devious smile.

“Sssh! I can’t tell you anything.”

Emilie laughs, and I figure I’ve had enough time to eavesdrop. I see Adrienne begin looking around; probably hoping nobody overheard her friend. Before she turns around to see me, I take a few steps closer to her and lean down over her shoulder. I put my mouth next to her ear and whisper.

“I made you what?”

I hear her gasp as she jumps. She quickly turns and faces me, her eyes wide. She looks back at her friend who’s laughing, and then back at me.

“How long have you been there?” she squeals.

“Not long,” I say with a shrug.

“Did you know he was there?” she asks Emilie.

Her friend gives her best innocent act, but I don’t think Adrienne buys it.

“What are you doing here?” she asks me.

“Saying hi to a friend,” I respond and lean down to kiss her cheek.

She smiles and before she can say anything else, I see Troy walking over with the two women he was talking to. I barely glance at them before turning back towards Adrienne.

“Adrienne? Emilie? What are you guys doing here?”

Adrienne and Emilie turn and look at the two women coming over with Troy.

“Oh, hey! Small world. What are you guys doing here?” Emilie asks. “Adrienne is working this event. I was lucky enough to be invited. Have you seen the guys here?” she says, fanning herself.

I’m watching Adrienne as she tries to act like I’m not standing right next to her. Troy looks at me and nods his head in Adrienne’s direction and mouths ‘this the one?’ I nod back in response and he smiles.

The blonde that Emilie is talking to responds to her question. “Yeah, they’re all hot, but that’s because…” she trails off as she looks back at me and Troy, and when she makes eye contact with me, I freeze.

Are you fucking kidding me?

“Jay?” she asks.

The brunette turns to look at me, along with Adrienne, Emilie and Troy. All eyes on me, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m supposed to say or do here. The brunette blushes and ducks her head. Oh great. Could this get any worse? Probably.

Adrienne looks confused; Emilie is looking between me and the blonde with a scowl on her face. Troy looks just as confused, but I think he’s starting to put it together.

“Hey,” I respond with a forced smile.

The blonde, whose name I still don’t know, looks at Adrienne and then back at me. A mischievous smile appears before she speaks again.

“Well, I think we should all get some shots. What do y’all think?”

Nobody says anything, but she orders six shots anyway and passes them out to us.

“Oh, I don’t know if I should drink. I’m working,” Adrienne says.

“Come on. Just one,” the blonde replies. “Let’s toast to reunions and…” she pauses to look at me, “to nights we’ll never forget.”

Fuck.

I drink half of my shot before putting it back onto the bar so nobody can see that I didn’t finish it. Vivian is acting strange, and does she know Jace? She called him Jay. I wonder if that’s a nickname, and then wonder just how well they know each other. Jace has gotten awfully quiet, which is unlike him.

“So, Jay, how have you been? It’s been a while, well not that long,” Vivian says with a laugh.

Jace’s face is hard, and the smile on his face couldn’t be more forced. It’s almost like he’s gritting his teeth. “I’m fine,” he responds.

“You sure are,” Vivian says in a husky voice while looking him up and down.

I’m about to beat this bitch down.

“Troy, this is Ms. Miller, she’s the one who will be working on our opening event,” Jace says, taking the attention away from Vivian. “Ms. Miller, this is Mr. Thompson, the one you were supposed to meet the other day.”

I’m realizing how much I hate that he’s referring to me as Ms. Miller like he doesn’t know me, but understanding that this is his other business partner. Troy, or Mr. Thompson as I should refer to him, extends his arm to shake my hand. He has a wonderful smile, and smooth, dark, flawless skin.

“Ms. Miller, it’s so great to finally meet you. I’m sorry I was unable to meet with you the other day, but I hear Mr. Jamison here took care of you.”

I shake his hand and can’t help but smile back. “Yes, sir, he did. It’s nice to meet you as well. “Please. Call me Troy. Mr. Thompson makes me feel old, and I’m anything but,” he responds with a cheeky grin.

Oh, he’s charming alright. Did Jace and his friends all go to a charm school together? I feel myself smile again and realize he’s still holding my hand in his. I hear Jace clear his throat and Troy looks up at him, and back at me before releasing my hand.

“I’m sorry if we interrupted anything,” Troy says. “I just wanted to come get my buddy so we could go talk with our…somebody real quick.”

“No worries. I need to get back to work and make sure everything is running smoothly. It was nice meeting you.”

I glance at Jace and give him a small nod before I walk away. I hear Vivian say something to him, but don’t bother to try to linger to hear any of it. Trying to find Mrs. Roberts, I make my way through groups of people who are standing around and drinking, or gossiping. The minute I see her, I plan to ask if she’s okay with me leaving. I’ve done my job and everything went as planned. The decorations were perfect, flowers were strategically placed, food was plentiful, centerpieces came out gorgeous, the bride had thrown her bouquet already, so there was no longer a need for me to be here.

I spot her talking with an older gentleman and a younger one, both handsome in their own right. She has a champagne glass in her hand, and her head is thrown back in laughter. At least she’s in a good mood.

When I’m a few feet away, she turns and spots me.

“Oh, Adrienne! Please come here. You’ve done a wonderful job, dear. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Roberts. I’m so glad you’re happy with it.”

She places her arm around my shoulder and brings me into the circle with the two men she was talking to.

“This is Ms. Miller; she’s responsible for putting this whole thing together. Isn’t she fabulous?” she says.

“Oh yes. You did great. It couldn’t have been easy working with this one,” the older man says playfully as he points at Mrs. Roberts with his thumb.

“Oh you shush!” she says with a gentle push.

“Adrienne, this is Benjamin Wright. My friend, financial advisor, and attorney,” she says gesturing to the older man who’s probably in his sixties. His hair is almost completely white, but he looks to be in good shape for his age. “This is his son, Mason, who also works as an attorney in his father’s firm.”