I sighed. “Shit. The dinner. Tell her I’ll be home Friday morning. I promise.”
“Fine,” she conceded. Her voice was weak, reminding me of all the times she spoke to my dad the same way.
“I love you,” I added, narrowing my eyes. “I’ve got to go. There’s something troubling in the car with me.”
“Okay, honey, love you too and be careful?”
“I will,” I lied and hung up the phone, laying it in the seat next to me.
I ran my hands over my hair and smoothed my pants before resting my palms on my thighs. I cut and lit the Gurkha HMR cigar, courtesy of the hotel, in the tray next to my seat. I took a long, silent drag, letting the smoke out slowly and filling the car with an intoxicating scent. At fifteen thousand dollars a box, it better taste and smell like fucking heaven.
I settled a little deeper in the leather. “Who are you?” I asked the silent girl on the bench across from me.
She cleared her throat but spoke smoothly. “I’m Piper.”
“Is that your real name?” I asked her, rolling the window down an inch to watch the lights and let a little of the smoke out.
I turned back to her. She was beautiful, without a doubt. Shiny burgundy hair curled to meet her waist, her eyes were brown and bright and her skin was flawless.
“Yes,” she told me, and I believed her.
“Piper, why are you in my car?”
“I was sent.”
“By whom?” I asked, staring straight at her.
“I’m not at liberty,” she explained.
“Ah,” I said, letting it lie. “What are you here for?” I asked, knowing full well what she was there for.
“I’m here to do whatever you want for however long you want.”
“That’s vague,” I replied.
“Consider me your own private attendant.”
“That clears it up, thank you,” I teased with a smile.
She smiled back and it wasn’t all too unpleasant a look. I decided she could stay, but I wasn’t sure what all I was going to do with her. I’d decided to play the night by ear.
“We’ll eat,” I told her.
“Naturally,” she flirted.
rsquo;s when I noticed it. She was breathtaking, yes, but if you really took stock of her, took in her little flaws, she was revolting. Nose tinged red from recently snorting. Of course, I thought, how else could you do what you did. Slight bruising expertly covered up with makeup around the throat and arms, evidence of her profession. I thought of my sister and wondered if Lola had a brother or even a father. Ribs protruding, proof to the naked eye that she starved herself to stay thin. Another product of our society. Another otherwise gorgeous girl made ugly by the pressures and influence of an L.A. life. I turned my head and observed the man sleeping in front of me.
And how are you different? I asked myself. You’d do just about anything for money. You’d risk this man’s wife and family. And for what? So that your dad can manipulate another business deal to make him even more cash than he already has? More cash to spend in places where cash needn’t be spent?
Lola crawled across the bed, yanking at Peter’s tie, and licking the side of his face, posing with her leg wrapped around his.
Click.
Another million can give you better security, ensure you can live within the lifestyle you’re accustomed, eventually give you freedom from him.
Lola switched it up. She unbuttoned his shirt and spread her lacquered nails across his chest, pressing closely to him and smiling a viper’s expression at the camera.
Click.