Billionaire’s Pursuit(19)
“Hello?”
“Hey Madds.”
God, I hated that nickname. I didn’t use to, of course. You know, when I was ‘in love’. But now ugh, it was like he used it like I was his friend.
A buddy!
“Hey,” I deadpanned.
“I saw you called me earlier. What’s up, babe?”
Taking measured steps out of the kitchen towards the living room, I fought the urge to curse him out. I had to, because I didn’t know another person in town who could come up with the money I needed. It was Trevor and his big time studio executive’s salary, or nothing.
“I… I didn’t call you,” I replied.
“Um, yeah, ya did. I’ve got your number in my missed calls.”
“It was an accident. A butt dial.”
“Okay, whatever Madds. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t in any trouble.”
“Bullshit. And, don’t call me that.”
“Hey, what is your problem? I don’t understand why you are acting like this.”
“Uh! I don’t understand why you need me to explain it to you, Trevor. Why do you care so much anyway? You sure didn’t when you dumped me.”
Trevor exhaled into the receiver. “I’ll always care about you, Maddie.”
In the early stages of the battle between my bank account’s need for money and my heart’s need for justice, the latter had the upper hand as I squeezed the phone in my palm.
“Well, you know what irks me the most Trevor? Hmm? It’s that I stood by you while you were making your way out here for five years and as soon as you start doing well, you break it off. Once you knew my acting wasn’t going anywhere, you dropped me for Tammy.”
“Tanya.”
“Whatever!” I yelled. “Not the point, Trevor.”
“What is the point then?”
“You owe me.”
As I finished speaking, Trevor laughed so hard into the phone I pulled it away from my ear.
“I owe you?” he said with incredulity.
By this point, I’d assumed a half-seated position on the arm of the couch.
“Yes,” I replied.
“What do you mean? Like money?”
I’d swerved right into getting out of the situation I was in, but it wouldn’t be a cheap fix. We’re talking a good chunk of cash here and Trevor wasn't the generous type. I started to open my mouth with the hope that whatever came out would be persuasive enough for him to consider doing it. But, before I could utter a single word, he interrupted me.
“I want to know who the guy is.”
“Who? What guy?” I said, dumbfounded.
“The guy you are riding all over town with in the limo. I heard about what happened on line at the club last night. You’re not the only one with connections you know.”
“It’s no one,” I lied. “Anyway, don’t change the subject on me, Trevor.”
“I’m not,” he said. “You want something from me, presumably money, and I want something from you--his name. In a negotiation, which is what we’re doing right now, both parties have to give a little to get what they want. I have something you want and you have something I want, Madds.”
“I told you to quit calling me that damn it!” I exclaimed. “And why would you want information about him? I started a new business and he's my first client. Not that it matters.”
“You started a business?”
“Yes, I had to, after you left me. Don’t sound so surprised. I’m doing well.”
“Yeah,” he scoffed. “Sure sounds like it.”
I almost, almost, almost lost it when he said that to me. Instead, I managed to hold my tongue long enough for him to get the enjoyment he wanted before he spoke up once more.
“It’s real simple. You tell me who he is or I hang up right now.”
Without any hesitation, I replied, “Fine. Hang up then. The only thing I’ll tell you is he is rich. A million, no a billion, times richer than you could ever hope to be.”
Trevor roared with laughter again and like before, I pulled the phone away from my ear for a second or two. As I returned it to the side of my head, he asked, “Wait, so your client is a millionaire, no wait, a freakin’ billionaire?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, so you’re telling me you’re working for a man who has more money than God and you need to borrow some from me because you screwed up? This is rich.”
“It’s not that simple,” I sighed. “You don't understand how my client is. Look, I don’t have time to explain any of this to you right now, Trevor, okay? I’ll get my money from him and pay you back. I don’t understand what the problem is here.”