I don’t have to ask if that’s why she’s here. I sense it from the nerves that have just filled her expression. “Will you get to finish your studies soon?”
“I hope so. It’s my dream. I’ve been working toward it for a long time.”
I lift my half-finished glass of drink and raise a toast to her. “Then here’s to your dreams coming true.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” A sweet smile lifts the corners of her doll-like mouth and she leans forward to kiss me. The kiss is too chaste for where we are and far too innocent for a man like me.
At that moment, Levi and Cristiano come back with our drinks and set them on the table.
When Levi takes Megan’s hand and leads her away to the dance floor, I think about how she looked when she spoke about her dream.
I knew there was more to her when we first met. So hearing she’s a scholar is no surprise. Being a therapist or something of that caliber suits her.
So what sent her to this club to sell her body to men like us?
As I gaze out at her on the dancefloor dancing with Levi, I note how carefree she looks amongst the other bodies clashing together. It’s her who looks like she’s escaping life. But with us.
From her personality, it’s clear she’s a good girl, and even though she has a wild side, she shouldn’t be in a place like this.
I look back at Cristiano and when I think of his marriage debacle, a very bad idea forms in my head.
What if Megan became Evelina?
We thought it would be best to pick a woman that Cristiano has known for a while and trusted. But maybe that wasn’t such a good idea because most of the women he knows can’t be trusted. That’s the reason we can’t find anyone suitable.
Maybe we’ve been looking in all the wrong places when what we’re looking for could be right here.
I think Megan would be perfect.
* * *
Cristiano stares back at me from across the table.
We’re in a booth at the back of the coffeehouse opposite the Dark Odyssey.
It’s eight in the morning and I’ve just laid my idea about Megan on the table.
At least Levi is looking at me with a spark of interest, which tells me he’s on board. Cristiano, on the other hand, not so much.
“You seriously think I should ask Megan?” He steeples his hands and glares at me, pressing his lips into a thin line.
“Yes.”
“What about the women on the list?”
“They’re still there. I just think we should consider her.”
“I kind of think she’s perfect too,” Levi adds.
“How?” Cristiano cuts him a stern glance. “She supposed to be temporary.”
“Fuck off. You and I both know you don’t want her to be fucking temporary.”
He doesn’t argue about that. Instead, he sets his hands on the table. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Why do you?”
“Because she’s not from our world and we seem to have this bond going on with her.”
I nod, agreeing. “Exactly. And we already know she needs money.”