Inhale. Exhale. “I’m a high-priced call girl.”
His brows hit his hair line. “Say what, now?”
That would’ve been funny if I wasn’t so damn attracted to him. “A prostitute,” I clarified.
“I know what a call girl is, sweetheart,” he snorted.
Shit! I didn’t mean to insult him. “Sorry.” I confessed, “I had no intentions of insulting your intelligence.”
That earned me a slight curve of his lips. “I’m not insulted,” he acknowledged, “However, I am confused. What was the proposal all about?”
I stood and walked back over to grab the decanter of brandy. I was going to need more alcohol for this conversation. I returned back to the sofa and offered, “Refill?”
He nodded and held up his sifter. After I filled both glasses, I sat back down and took a healthy swallow. I continued, “I haven’t been with anyone else in six months.”
“Because he paid you to be only with him?”
“Yes. He asked me to marry him three months ago, but I refused. Obviously, he didn’t give up. He finally found a way to get me to capitulate.”
The room temperature dropped a good fifteen degrees. I hugged myself tightly, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. Then it hit me, the chill was coming from him. His gaze was hard as ice, and his voice was laced with violence. “He threatened you?”
“You could say that.”
He glared at me. “How?”
I eased away from him before I answered, “The usual. Career, family, friends—basically anything that means something to me.”
He was flabbergasted, but that didn’t stop his inquisition. “He knows your real name?”
“Yes. I never used an alias because I wasn’t living a double life. I did, however, use a different last name strictly for protection. Though, he eventually learned my real one. But how are you aware that’s common practice in my line of work?”
He dubiously replied, “I wasn’t born yesterday, Aimee.”
“Fair enough. The point is, I was trying to get out and start my career. I had a sweet job lined up in San Francisco. I never intended to do this long term. I always had a plan.”
He graced me with a genuine half-smile. Fuck. Me. It was the kind of smile that would make any woman do anything he asked of her, and she would do so just to please him. I had to wonder what kind of damage a full smile that reached his eyes would do to me, or anyone else of the female persuasion. I actually lost my train of thought. What were we talking about? “And your plan was?” he prompted.
Oh right, now I remembered what I was saying. “I’m going to own and operate at least one hotel and resort.”
He leaned back with a smug expression on his face. “Do tell.”
“My degree is in business and hotel management. Unfortunately, I need some hands on experience before I dive right in. So, I was going to work for a small five star hotel in San Fran to get my feet wet. They were fully aware of my plans, and the agreement was to meet with the silent partner at the end of the year. If all went well, I’d own my first hotel.”
“Which hotel?”
“The Fairmont.”
“You don’t say. I find this information interesting.” He steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. “You said ‘was,’ not are. What changed?”
What was that look about? I could not read his face, but I had a feeling he knew something I didn’t. Grr! “My instructions from Caleb were to cancel all of my arrangements. Therefore, I had to inform my prospective employers there had been a change in plans.”
“I see.”
“Yes, well.” I sighed heavily.
“Was he specific in what he would do to your family and friends?” he inquired.
“Not really. I mean, let’s face it; he could make their lives a living hell if he chose to. I can’t live with that. I won’t. So really, what choice did I have?”
“Is your family aware of your present job?”
“It’s not my job any longer. I’m serious about leaving it all behind and starting over, which had been my intention all along. I was only going to escort. But then my dad lost his job, and that meant no insurance to pay for his chemo. They needed money, and I wasn’t about to tell them where it was coming from. It would break their hearts.”
“Why escorting?”
“Student loans. And my dad was diagnosed with cancer.” I sighed. “My best friend talked me into it.” I hoped it didn’t sound like I had just blamed Renée for my circumstances.
He only nodded, deep in thought. “I can help you,” he declared.