The corner of his mouth tips up. He thinks I’m funny. “I’d hardly consider you trash, Destiny, in fact, I find you quite pleasant to look at.”
Widening my eyes in shock, my jaw drops. He reaches between us and puts his pointer finger under my chin, then closes my slack jaw. I merely stare like a moron.Well, you are pretty stupid,I think. “That’s why you… you’re doing this for me? You think I’m pleasant to look at?” It has to be a lie. When I was growing up, my grandma always told me I hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down. My body is decent, but my face isn’t anything to write home about. His statement is so preposterous it forces me to be even more wary of him.
It almost burns where his finger touched my skin. “Of course not, I know a worthwhile investment when I see one. I’m a businessman. Something about this, about you, feels right. Stop questioning why.” He leans over and whispers into my ear, “And just do what I say.”
The lump in my throat turns into lead that slides down to my stomach. “I can show up. I can clean. Play waitress. Whatever it is you need.”
Jesse’s lips form an actual smile. “Don’t say that. You’ll regret that last part.”
I furrow my brow. “Do you want to fuck? Is that what this is about? You said it wasn’t, but that’s the impression I’m getting.” I motion between our bodies and pray he’s feeling the gravitational pull like I am. “Be honest with me.” This I know. This I can do without trying. If he wants an easy fuck, we can be done with this and I can be back to the life I know. Money to cover what I promised Callie, and money to cover living for longer than I need. I can play this game. I know who wins in this situation.
“Honest, huh? You’ve only given me reasons to not be honest with you… Melissa.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s in the past. If we’re going to have a working relationship, one that requires me to drop my entire life, I think we should start over, and the start should be with honesty.”
“I’m a guy. I always want to fuck,” he replies. “That’s not why I hired you though.” He pauses. “I need to hang the rest of these.”
I can’t tell if he wants me to leave or if he wants me to help, so I wait for him to tell me. “Well then, it was nice to meet you. I’ll see you on Saturday.”
My other sneaker is on, and my hand is on the doorknob when he calls out, “Remember our deal. You’re on my payroll now.”
I hesitate only a second before I leave without saying another word. I should be used to people talking down to me and telling me what to do, but it stings when Jesse does it. I think it’s because I’m attracted to him and that’s not a normal occurrence. Not after years and years of pushing that side of my libido to the business side to honor the blank space where I exist for my customers. It means nothing to me, and I don’t remember the last time I made love, or even had sex for pleasure. The fact that being in Jesse’s presence even made me think about it for a fraction of a second is shocking.
He is your boss,I remind myself. A well-paying boss. As I walk to the store to buy the mop head and then back to my room at the motel, I’ve already decided I’ll fire all Johns but one. I’ll ease him off my schedule like a baby bird who needs gentle jostling. I lied to Jesse because I am a little afraid of one. Matteo. I know he has ties to Dirt Downs, and the prevalent gang there. He comes to the city forbusinessand stops by my room every single time. I know Callie would take him, I’m not sure if he’d take Callie. There’s a possessive nature to men in the gangs. Even though he’d slit my throat himself, I’m still property in his mind. It’s messed up, but I’ll see him next week and tell him I got an honest job or a boyfriend who is going to take care of me. I’ll lie about where the job is and what I’m actually doing, but I’ll have to come up with something believable. Hookers don’t stop hooking to work retail.
The tiredness hits me like a tsunami the moment I unlock my door and step into the familiar room. It smells like the air freshener I sprayed this morning, a mask to hide the scent that won’t scrub off the walls. It was a long day of cleaning, and I crash into my bed, heavy limbs and eyes that refuse to open. I groan a little as I roll to my side. No, I don’t feel right at all. This isn’t normal tired. I’ve been drugged, and the terrifying truth settles in my chest and sits there like an elephant. The last thing I see before my eyes close for good is Jesse. Sitting on the end of my bed, going through my phone.
***
When I come to, I’m in the hospital. White sterile walls with disinfectant clinging to the air. I blink a few times to clear my hazy vision and there is a doctor. “You were lucky your husband, Mr. Astor, found you when he did, or this would have been a very different outcome.”Husband? What?
Jesse is sitting in a chair across the room. A small smirk on his lips. I don’t say anything, no, that would be stupid, so I nod, intent on preserving my life. “What happened?” I ask.
“You were drugged at the bar, and he found you passed out in the bathroom hallway. We’ve hydrated you to flush your system. We took blood samples, and we’ll do an exam to make sure nothing, or no one, happened to you while you were unconscious.”
“Myhusbandordered those things?” I’m starting to understand the lengths he’ll go to get what he wants.
“Standard procedure for situations like this. Is there another test you’d like as well?”
I get a free yearly physical at the health department for my birth control, but if he’s willing to drug me to get me STD tested, which I’m certain is why he did this, then I might as well make him pay for it.
“Now that you mention it, my head hurts.” Rubbing the side of my skull, I wince. “Let’s do an MRI to rule out anything.” I’ve always wondered if there was something wrong with my brain that would explain why words are my enemy. I know what they are because I’ve watchedGrey’s Anatomy.
He nods and is tapping quickly on his tablet. “Do you think an MRI is appropriate?” Jesse says.
“Of course. We want to make sure she gets the best care and leaves without any questions.” Jesus, is this how the rest of the world lives? I imagine people with money treat the hospital like a spa—lingering until there’s nothing left to test. “Mrs. Astor, may I call you Drew?” he asks.
My real name.My real fucking name. “My first name is fine,” I choke out. Jesse leaves the room at the mention of the exam. The doctor tells me what he’s doing as he does the exam and the pap smear, and I’m too stunned to tell him the truth about what’s unfolded. What if I’m tagged as crazy? In a hospital, that probably wouldn’t go well. The story sounds implausible even as I think of my afternoon with Jesse in his apartment. I stay silent and only answer questions when he asks, and even then, it’s yes or no.My husbandmight be listening.
“A nurse will be back to get you for the scan shortly. Please just ring the call button if you need anything at all.”
Jesse swings into the room when I’m alone. I want to hurl him across the room, better yet, feed him to sharks, then take what’s left after and turn it into a burger to feed him to the devil himself. “Wife?” I hiss.
He lifts and lowers one shoulder. “It was easiest.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say after you drugged me, broke into my place, and forced me into medical tests while I was unconscious?” My chest is heaving. “Lying to medical staff, making me trust you by paying me so much damn money. Actually, that didn’t make me trust you, it made me wary of you. I should have known better.”
He walks over to the bed and takes my hand. I hate that my body responds to his touch. “Drew.” His voice lilts on the end. “Very classy real name. You should have given that to begin with.”