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  She pulled her hand away from her face. “My dad is coming to visit. He thinks that I don't focus enough on school and he wants to make sure that I'm not partying all the time.”

  “Oh.” Alexis's relationship with her father was a bit strained. While her mother took her on shopping trips in all the famous cities in the world her dad paid for it. But he never came along, always too wrapped up in the business world to take time to see his own daughter. And any time he did come, it was just to tell Alexis that she wasn't doing a good enough job. It always riled me up, though I never said anything to her about it.

  “I don't understand why he doesn't think I'm doing a good enough job, I mean I made Dean's list last semester. Just because I am hanging out with some guys and going to some nightclubs doesn't mean I can't keep my head on straight. Right?”

  I nodded. “Of course you're right. Your grades are fine I’m sure. When was the last time you saw him?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe Christmas? I don't really remember. Oh God that's terrible too.”

  “What's terrible?”

  “That I can't remember the last time I saw him. Like I think he was there for Christmas eve, but my mom had a huge party so I don't even remember if I saw him. Oh Calla what do I do?”

  I looked around our apartment and I knew exactly what we needed to do. “The first thing that we’re going to do is hide all the booze.” I pointed up on top of our cabinets where we had at least ten bottles of liquor and a few other bottles of wine that had been given to us as gifts.

  She made a face. “Yeah I guess that would be a good idea. And then I'm also going to have to hide my lingerie in the back of my closet in the trunk.” The trunk. It was where we hid everything we were embarrassed about when someone important was coming over. Sex toys, condoms, porn, and any lingerie that we had. The trunk was infamous. We never actually told guys about it but somehow they already knew. I think it was just that type of talk that happened in they gym when guys were showering together or doing something else equally manly. Not that a bunch of straight guys in the shower was that manly.

  “I will vacuum and dust before work tonight. I'm sure it'll be fine. How long is he staying?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean he’ll probably just come for dinner tonight and then stay for his meeting in the morning. I doubt he’ll stay any longer than that. It would definitely fill his quota for family time for the year. Wait did you just say that you have to work tonight? But it's Thursday.”

  I nodded, “Yeah I'm on tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday. Though I'm not really sure how it works if I get a date tonight and then I would see someone else tomorrow. It seems kind of weird to me.”

  She shook her head. “It's all weird to me.”

  She decided not to press any further and stood up moving over to the kitchen where she grabbed a stool so she could start to pretend to reach the bottles. After she had missed three times I offered to trade places with her. I could tell she wanted to do it on her own, but short girl problems made her realize she needed my help.

  4

  As I arrived at the club that night I felt like everyone's eyes were on me. I barely walked through the door when Monique pulled me aside by the arm.

  “Everyone is talking. They've seen it all on the news. Has anyone come to you?”

  I shook my head. “No. No cops, no reporters, no one knew I was there. I don't know how you got that detective to keep his mouth shut but thank you.” I felt like I was on pins and needles all week. Anytime someone opened the door in one of my silent midterm halls I would look up anticipating handcuffs and a news crew, but it never came. Monique had certainly done her job to keep the lid on my situation.

  “Well good. However some of the girls are little bit upset, they've known the judge for years. So just give them some space, okay?”

  “Sure. Wait like space meaning I shouldn't be here?”

  She looked me up and down. “Girl please. No one is going to stop you from making any money. Oh that's right money. Here's yours. It's just a little something but it's just a preview of what can come. Good luck tonight.” She gave me a white envelope and it felt heavy and my hands. I didn't want to open it in front of all the other girls so I stepped out into the hallway and just took a little peek. There was at least a thousand dollars in there, in all hundreds. I hadn't even done anything and I'd still made a grand. Enough to cover my rent for almost two months. I walked back into the dressing room and put my money in my bag. I grabbed the black corset and matching ruffled panties off of the rack and got dressed. A tall blonde walked up behind me.

  “Hi, I’m Vivienne. Listen I'm really sorry about what happened to you last weekend, some of us have been there before. Though it doesn't usually happen to the nice guys.” Her voice was like velvet and I couldn't tell if she was being sincere. But somehow she put some sort of trance over me and I couldn't look away. She had almost translucent skin and deep red lipstick with a shiny blonde bob. She was incredible.

  “Oh thanks. Yeah it was pretty rough.”

  She nodded. “I'm sure it was. I remember when Jimmy got whacked last year, it was terrible. News crews everywhere, cops questioning me for months afterwards…”

  I interrupted her. “Months?”

  She shrugged. “Well I mean Jimmy had a bit of the history. And I was with him through a lot of it. I hadn't been to the club in over a year when I came back single.”

  “You were with a client?”

  She put her finger up to her lips and smiled devilishly. “We're really not supposed to be but the Madame made an exception. Jimmy’s crew used to spend a lot of their money here. Of course a few of the guys were mobsters. But you don't need to worry about any of that, they have the regulars. Girls they can trust. They're definitely not going to flirt with some girl whose last client ended up dead, know what I mean?”

  Suddenly her velvety voice sounded more like poison. She was making sure that I wasn't going to get with any of her clients. “I know exactly what you mean. But I've learned pretty quickly here that the men kind of choose for themselves. Oh and I'm really sorry about Jimmy.”

  I turned around and continued to powder my face and put on my lipstick. Two could play her game, and I knew exactly how to play it.

  Just minutes later the doors opened and the girls gracefully walked down the stairs into the club. It wasn't as full tonight, the girls quickly made their matches and were sitting down in laps and getting men drinks. I stood near the back wall unsure of what to do with myself. I had such purpose last week, I picked my mate and had made the match before I even left the dressing room. But tonight I couldn't seem to hone in on anyone. I decided maybe a little liquid courage would help me and I walked over to the bar tapping on a couple men’s shoulders as I made my way past. But no one offered me a drink or raised a glass to me, by the time I got to the bar I was feeling completely defeated.

  “A glass of wine please,” I said to the bartender.

  “You’re back.” I heard the whisper in my ear as he placed his hand on my lower back.

  I turned around and was met with Hudson James's beautiful dark eyes. “I am. Are you surprised?”

  He smiled at me still not releasing his hand from my body. “A little. I thought after your run-in with the police you might take a few weeks off.”

  “Then you don't know the rules as well as you think you do. There are no weeks off.” I paused and took a drink from his hand. Smelled like scotch. I downed the whole glass in just one gulp. “Good choice of drink. I notice you don't have your group of miscreants with you tonight. Flying solo?”

  He took the glass back from me and put it on the bar behind me. “Easier to get your attention when I'm on my own. He took my hand with both of his and kissed it lightly. “What's it going to take to get you to spend the night with me?”

  I smiled. “I don't know that you have that kind of leverage.”

  “You haven't even given me the chance to show you what I have in my bag of trick
s. Request anything, and I'll make it happen.”

  I chewed on my lower lip, I had the distinct feeling that I really could ask for anything and Hudson could bring it to me in an instant. “I want to go to dinner.”

  He raised an eyebrow, “Is that all?”

  I nodded. “Dinner with no strings.”

  “That’s ballsy. Most girls here and would love some strings attached to me.”

  “Well lucky for you I'm not like most girls.”

  He smiled smugly. “No you're not.” He got close enough to me that I could feel the moisture from his lips on my ear lobe. “Tell me something you've never told anyone else. Then we go to dinner.”

  He was playing a game. But I was better at it.

  “I don't have secrets.”

  “Everyone has secrets. It's what makes them valuable.”

  “Fine. I have a tattoo. On the inside of my upper thigh. It's a star.” I tried not to laugh but the look on his face made it impossible. “I got it when I was sixteen. I thought it was a total badass until I realize that you have a lot of nerve endings at the top of your thigh, especially on the inside. I screamed the entire time it was done, it's not even colored in a result, and I cried every time I did squats for a month. And no one else knows that about me. Your turn.”

  “I don’t remember agreeing to tell you something in exchange.”

  “And I don't remember accepting your invitation to dinner.”

  He put his finger below my chin and lifted my lips up just below his but they didn't touch. I couldn't deny the heat was rising through my body like I was on fire. He was so devilish and bothersome at the same time.

  “Fine. I don't have any tattoos. But I also probably didn't go to high school like you did. So there was no peer pressure to get one. And private tutors frowned upon you leaving class to get something put on your body. Besides nothing my world is permanent, and I like it that way.”

  “Nothing?”

  He shook his head, his hand still under my chin. “Nothing.” We stayed like that for another moment before he released his hand and tilted his head at me. “Dinner?”

  I nodded mostly because I was intrigued. Something about Hudson James left me reeling every time he walked away. Something about his cocky nature made my skin feel like lava but as much as I wanted to fight with him and prove him wrong every second of the day I also wanted him to kiss me, to press his lips against mine and make me feel something so strong that it would shake me to my core. He was the type of man who could do that. “Dinner. One night.”

  He pulled his card out of his breast pocket and handed it to me. “Go discuss this with the Madame. I'll arrange everything.” He paused, “And don’t make any plans for the rest of the weekend.” He winked and then abruptly he turned and walked away. I stood awestruck watching his back. Hudson had not only given me his card but he was taking me to dinner, and possibly for the weekend, possibly forever. I felt sweat above my brow from the anxious feeling he gave me.

  “What about one night?”

  “You’ll want to be with me longer than that. I promise you that.” He called over his shoulder. Men and girls alike at the bar stared at me. I felt exposed standing alone with his card in my shaky hands.

  “But no strings attached,” I whispered knowing that he couldn’t hear me anymore. And maybe I didn’t want him to.

  I licked my lips and walked dutifully over to the Madame’s office. I was interested to see what she would have to say about my interaction with Mr. James. There was another girl finishing her session so I waited outside and handed my car to the bouncer. He raised an eyebrow at me looking clearly impressed at the whale I had bagged, on only my second night. As the other girl walked out, I walked in exchanging awkward glance. It seemed weird to know that other girls were doing regular business and I was about to go to dinner with Hudson. No sex, just a date.

  I gave the card to the Madame and she scanned it and sat back in her chair turning it over in her hands.

  “Sit dear. We have things to discuss about this card.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “A certain person holds this card. Someone who spends more money on his girls and more time here than anyone I've ever met. Please tell me how did you get Hudson James to pay attention to you?”

  I gulped. “I don't know. Ever since I’ve been here he's just seemed interested.”

  “You know he's never given his card to a girl. Not one of mine at least.”

  I was perplexed. “But you just said he spends so much money on his girls.”

  She nodded, “That I did. He likes to bring in lavish gifts for ladies that he finds attractive. But he's never given his card to anyone. Many nights he comes in here with his buddies and drinks up the tab that would cost you your rent. But he doesn't take anyone home, he's not the kind of client.”

  But he was taking me home. Me. What did that say about our relationship? Or what he wanted out of it.

  She started taping on her computer and a broad smile crossed her face. “Do you have a passport?”

  I nodded, “Yeah I went to the Bahamas a couple years ago with family, why?”

  The smile didn’t leave her lips, “Because he just booked you a flight for France. His own personal jet will be taking you there, but you'll still have to go through customs when you arrive.”

  I was flabbergasted. “France?”

  “Yes a favorite place of his. He owns a little flat there. You're going to have quite a weekend Ms. Hart. I'm very impressed.”

  So was I.

  “Can I leave the country? I mean with the investigation?”

  “Oh dear you were cleared the second you left the station. They have their murderer, they’ll have to catch us another way.”

  “Oh.” What a complete relief.

  “Yes, so it’s settled, France!”

  I took a deep breath. “France.”

  After the formalities were figured out I was sent upstairs to grab suitcase that would be packed for me with clothes appropriate to weekend getaway to France. I certainly didn't own anything that would be fitting for a trip like this. As I walked out with my Louis Vuitton luggage that didn't belong to me and into a black town car I looked like a supermodel. This wasn’t my life. It couldn’t be. I whipped out my cell phone to tell Alexis what was going on. I certainly couldn’t stay out all night again without telling her again. She might send out the National Guard this time.

  “Oh my God you cannot even believe what is happening to me right now!”

  “What? Are you okay? I swear to God, I told you not to go back there.”

  “No it's nothing like that. One of the clients is taking me away for the weekend. To France. France Alexis. Shit like this just doesn't happen to girls like me.”

  There was dead silence on the other end of the line. “Alexis? Are you there?”

  “Yeah, yeah I'm here. Oh my God Calla. Are you sure? What if this guy takes you there in his private jet and then chops you up in the little pieces? He could be a freaking serial killer Calla, you have to be careful.”

  I laughed, “Then I will have died in some sort of paradise. But really I don't think I have anything to worry about, except if he doesn't like me. I'm not really sure what the rules are about taking someone out of the country and then leaving them there.”

  “I guess someone would come get you. Probably not me though. However a trip to France would be nice.” She laughed lightly before adding, “Girl you just gotta be careful okay? Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  5

  As I arrived at the Boston International Airport I was guided through security by my own personal TSA liaison. She then took me to a private VIP section where Hudson was waiting for me. He still had on his black suit and his hands were in his pockets as he looked out over the tarmac. The woman sat my luggage down and extended her hands. “Mr. James, Calla Hart is here for you. I hope that you two have an enjoyable trip.”

  She smiled sweetly and then walked awa
y closing the door behind her. For the first time I was alone with Hudson James.

  “Nice evening to fly. I love traveling in the evenings, not as many prying eyes. People are too busy doing what they do in their own homes at this time of night.”

  He turned and looked at me. The girls had put me in a short navy dress with pockets in the front and a sash around the waist. My hair was lying gracefully around my shoulders. I had on red lipstick and I felt like I looked like I just walked out of some sort of movie from the nineteen forties. All that I needed was a hat to complete the look.

  “Yes it's really beautiful.” I had no idea what to say. Was the tarmac beautiful? No. But I didn't have any other mundane conversation to bring up.

  “You look fantastic. Do you fly often? I know small planes can be a burden to some people. My pilot is one of the best. I'm sure it will be a smooth trip.”

  “Truth is I've only flown a couple times. I went to the Bahamas with my family a couple years ago, but I haven’t been on a plane since. And certainly not a private plane.” Suddenly I was telling him real pieces of information about myself. The tattoo and now about my family. And I been so good at hiding the truth and displaying perfect confidence before, but being here in the real world suddenly I felt like I couldn't maintain the façade. And it didn't seem like he wanted to try either. He walked over to me and took one finger and drug it slowly down my exposed arm.

  “Are you scared?”

  I gulped. “Should I be?”

  “Maybe. I've never done this before either.” He moved away, “Typically I travel alone, and for business. I don't know the last time I took a vacation. And I don't know that I've ever taken a vacation with someone else.”

  “Not even your family?”

  He looked back out over the tarmac where lights are starting to come on in the night. “I don't have one of those. Definitely not like yours anyway.”

  “Every family is different. It doesn't make them good or bad, just the way they are.” My family had their fair share of issues, but when my dad got remarried his new wife was pretty awesome. She really took care of my younger brother and I visited them pretty often. She was the one who had booked the Bahamas trip, claiming that a good old family vacation would really bring us together. That was when they got married. It was the last time I'd been anywhere. And after they got married and became their own little unit they tried to help me. But I was my mother’s daughter, a bit of a mess, and couldn’t accept their help. I felt the need to do it on my own. And that was somehow how I ended up here. Getting on a private plane with a millionaire. Unbelievable.