More Bang for His Buck(4)

He laughed. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”







He had offered to pick me up in his car, or to have me picked up - but I’d declined. I took a cab, and met him at the restaurant, which was one of the fancier ones in my part of town.

As I entered wearing my low-cut purple dress and super-high heels, I couldn’t help looking around nervously, wondering just how underdressed I was. Wealthy looking couples and groups sat at tables full of delicious looking food, lit by candlelight. They laughed and joked together. But I couldn’t see Rick.

Just as I was beginning to worry, a staff member approached me. “Jessica Adams?” He politely but neutrally inquired.

I nodded, dumbfounded. The thought occurred that I was about to be stood up.

“This way, please.” The waiter looked me up and down with an empty smile as he turned to lead me out.

Rick was seated at a table in a back room. All of the other tables were empty. He was fidgeting with his phone, brows furrowed, looking somewhat tense. The waiter walked out, and I stood watching Rick for a minute, a small smile forming on my face. He was wearing jeans and a casual shirt with his sleeves partially rolled up, and looked utterly out of place. And I had been worried about being underdressed! But then, I supposed, when you’re rich you can do whatever you want.

I cleared my throat softly.

He looked up sharply, then smiled his warm smile. “Jessica.” And he stood up, waiting for me. Hesitantly, I went to join him. He held out his hand for a handshake, and I took it. It was soft, and very warm. I smiled. “Hi Mr. Alcott.” I greeted him.

I made myself comfortable at the table, sitting down and crossing my ankles under the chair.

“Call me Rick, please,” he said. “What do you prefer - Jessie?”

“Sure, that’s what my friends call me.”

“Jessie, then. Drink?”

We sipped wine, which I wanted to say was a very nice red, but I really knew nothing about wines. Still, I enjoyed it, and welcomed the warmth that started to spread out from my belly as the alcohol took effect. Rick seemed completely at ease, and the silence was, to my surprise, not uncomfortable.

“So how do you know James?” I asked after a while, to make conversation.

“Oh-“ he seemed slightly surprised for a moment. “We uh… we run in some of the same social circles.”

“Ah.” I buried my face in my wine glass for a moment. I knew some of the clubs and activities James liked to frequent. Perhaps he was a regular at one of the gay bars. Or even one of James’ exes. I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed at the notion.

The waiter had somehow snuck into the room and was hovering as unobtrusively as possible to the side.

“What would you like?” Rick asked.

“What are you having?”

“Hmm. Probably a steak.”

“Sounds good to me. Medium rare.”

He grinned, and ordered for us.

“Well, then.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands and leaning his chin on them lightly. “I suppose we’d better talk shop.”

“Sure.” I nodded, placing my glass down, and after a moment’s hesitation, picked up the bottle to pour more. I noticed his glass was nearly empty, and topped it up too.

“Well. Where do I start… I don’t have time for much of a social life, Jessie. When I do go out, its work related.”

I nodded, listening patiently.

“I was married, for a few years. It… ended badly.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I wasn’t, entirely.

He smiled. “Never mind. Anyway, my point is - like anyone else, I’d love to have companionship. But I haven’t found time to get to that point with anyone. I’ve dated, but haven’t found anyone I clicked with, to be honest. I’m tired of it.” He looked at me, with a half-smile.

“I thought you wanted to hire me, not… date me,” I said hesitantly.

Rick chuckled to himself. “This is hard to explain. Forgive me. I do need an assistant, but its more than that. I’m looking for a companion. Not a - a girlfriend - just someone to share my time with. If that’s as far as it goes, that’s fine by me.” He picked up his wine glass, and took a long, slow drink, his eyes locked on mine.

I couldn’t hide the fact that I was taken aback. “You want to pay me to spend time with you?” My right eyebrow raised of its own accord, and all my pretence of a professional demeanour went out the window.

“Pretty much. I’ll pay for your accommodation, expenses, and provide a generous allowance. Of course, with work and - hopefully - a little social time, it may be long hours.”