“We already talked about this. I’m doing everything I can to keep you happy.”
I chuckled at his nonsense.
“I really am. How many other partners would allow the person they love to be with someone else?” Leandro’s voice was hushed but tense. I knew he was done with this conversation, but I wasn’t. Our talk the night before wasn’t the end of the discussion. It barely opened the door for more. “And pay for it too?”
“I wouldn’t need to pay her if you and I weren’t together. And I wouldn’t be hidden away either.”
Leandro lowered his phone again as he spoke quietly to someone else. This time, the voice was closer than before, and I could tell it was a man. A laughing man who seemed overjoyed to be seeing Leandro.
“Who is that?” I demanded he tell me the second he got back on the phone.
“Don’t be jealous,” he hushed me. “Do you really think I’d be on a date with someone in public right now? After everything we’ve been through?”
I waited a second to let his words sink in. “You’re right.”
“Yes, I am. I’m also at dinner with the chairman of the company who is willing to help me for my next gala. Fundraising is exhausting and financially taxing. I have to secure investors for the work I do. You understand that, don’t you?”
I bit my cheek. “Yeah.”
“Good. Then you focus on the girl, and I’ll focus on my company.”
“If that’s what you want, Leandro.”
“It is. We’ll talk more when I return.”
I hung up the phone and lay back on the bed. Then I grunted and cursed until I felt like I had Leandro off my mind. Well, honestly, I wouldn’t ever shake him. I could, however, do something to distract myself from the mess of a relationship we had gotten ourselves into.
I held my phone and reread Jourdanne’s message. She really was adorable and sweet. A hopeless romantic for sure. And she was a knockout. Bright blue eyes that pulled me in, honey-blonde hair that seemed to frame her delicate cheekbones. And her body was perfect. I too felt a connection to her just by looking at her pictures. So why not at least message back? Leandro wanted me to pursue her, and he was paying. But what should I say?
Part of me wanted to send back a quick reply to at least let her know I was interested in talking more. I didn’t want her to move on and find someone else just yet. She was too sweet for that. Some of the sugar daddies wouldn’t hesitate to get their hands on her, I was sure. The longer I looked at her face, though, the more I just wanted to hear her voice. What would she say? How would she sound?
I didn’t give myself time to think it over. I called her right then and waited as the phone rang three times.
“Hello?” She answered with a softness to her tone. I could tell right away that she was kind hearted.
“Jourdanne? This is Matt.” I tried to picture her on the other end. What she was wearing or how her hair was.
“Matt? Hello. It’s nice to talk to you.”
“Same.” I laughed along with her. It was an awkward greeting, like most are, but sweet no less. And she sounded just beautiful when she laughed. “I wanted to get to know you a little better.”
“Of course!” She was lively and upbeat, but best of all, she was taking my mind right off Leandro and the fight we almost had. “I’m an only child, and I work two jobs right now. My dad owns an inn, and I waitress at a café.”
“Sounds nice,” I said, though I was really thinking of how humbling it was. She was too pretty and polite to be working two jobs to make ends meet. So, I had to ask, “Why two jobs?”
“Oh,” she piped, then hummed a little. I could tell she was thinking over her words. “Well, I’m actually trying to get into Yale.”
“Yale?” I was surprised. She was ambitious for sure.
“Yeah, I mean, I did get in. I just don’t have the tuition money yet.”
“I see. Is that what made you look on the website?”
“My friend gave me the idea, actually. But, I guess that’s the real reason.”
I glanced around at the things Leandro and I had accumulated over the years. As I passed from the bedroom into the hall, I could see down the rounded staircase to the floor below. The walls were lined with priceless artwork, the furniture near the entrance was thousands of dollars. Some of the things were barely ever used; they just sat there like decorations.
“Money is of no issue for me,” I told her. “I’d be more than happy to help you realize your dreams of attending Yale.”