“Um,” he began. “That depends on you, Maddie.”
Confused, I removed my hand from his face and folded both of them in my lap.
“Me? What do you mean? Why does it depend on me?”
“Well, do you want my help with your business or not? If so, I’ll make arrangements to come back to Los Angeles again.”
Confusion gave way to concern. I stood from the mattress. “And if not?”
Without hesitation he replied, “I suppose I pay you for your time tonight and we part ways. Pretty simple.”
Okay, wait a second, what just happened right there?
Isn’t that how this works with a hooker? Was I, in fact, what I’d been accused of being that night in line outside the club?
Where seconds before I felt warm all over in the aftermath of what happened between us, now a sudden chill permeated me. Grey kept his icy promise and, true to his word, offered me nothing other than what he’d proposed. I glanced around for the rest of my things and moved quickly to grab them and get the hell out of there.
Noticing my haste, Grey sat up in the bed.
“What’s the rush?”
I shook my head as I pulled a strand of hair behind my ear and grabbed my clutch from the floor where I’d tossed it and stuffed his check inside.
“Nothing, I’m gonna go,” I said, as I rushed out of the bedroom.
“Go?” he asked. I heard his feet hit the floor as he jumped out of the bed in pursuit of me. “Why are you leaving?”
I stopped for a split second to pick up my shoes and before I realized it, he’d closed on me. As he did, he grabbed my arm at the wrist like he did outside of the hotel the other night. It surprised, scared and angered me all at the same time.
“Let…” I snapped at him as I yanked my arm free of his grip. “Go!”
He raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. “Hey, take it easy. What the hell’s the problem?”
“You really don’t know?” I asked, as I put on my left shoe and then picked up my right one from the floor nearby.
“No.”
“Uh! Well here it is, plain and simple. In so many words, you just treated me like a call girl.”
“What?” he leaned away and let out deep laugh. Clapping his hands together, he looked back at me. “You can’t be serious right?”
Chewing my lip, I nodded and stared him the eye. “I am. Quite.”
Grey shook his head. “Maddie, one has nothing to do with the other. I explained that to you. I’m not doing anything to lead you to believe the contrary. You know the terms of my offer.”
“Oh my God!” I yelled as I spun away from him after putting on my right shoe. I stormed away from him. “Would you please, for a second, not talk to me like I’m a real estate agent or something?”
His footsteps closed fast on me again. I stopped and turned around, quick to claim my space before he tried to invade it once more.
“Maddie,” he said after I turned back to face him. “Look, I don’t think of you like that. Okay?”
“Well you may not, but I cannot pretend my feelings don’t exist or aren’t real. I mean, I’m no better than a common whore. I can’t get past that sensation no matter how you attempt to justify it. I don’t expect you to understand.”
“I see. You’re wrong though.”
“I don’t have any hard feelings, all right? I know you are the way you are. I’m not holding it against you.”
“Oh thanks,” he replied. His tone darkened. “Really fucking appreciate you being so tolerant of me.”
“What?” I began as I fought to get myself together at last and get the hell out of there. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I thought that’s what you want. You know, from me… from women.”
Scowling at me, he shook his head. “You are calling my character into question with accusations like that, Maddie.”
“How, Grey?”
“Well if you don’t know then it really is best if you go. And as far as any business deal goes, you can forget about that as well. I have no interest in being partners with someone who doesn’t trust me and it’s clear you don’t.”
“What? When did I say I didn’t trust you, Grey?”
“I’ve misjudged you, Maddie. I apologize for offering to help you. It was a mistake.”
“No, no, no…” I said, as I slammed my clutch down on the table. I tossed my hair aside with a swift motion of my head and glaring at Grey, I said, “I have done nothing to give you the right to back out on the deal. And anyway, why do you care what I think about where you put your cock? I don’t!”