Would it be completely outrageous to ask my husband to help me? Probably, but as a businessman, he could see where I was coming from. Not like we were some kind of Leave it to Beaver couple anyway. It was a business investment. A sound one at that, especially in Las Vegas.
His study door was closed as I paced back and forth, thinking about how to approach him. Since his brother and some Italian Joe Schmo cornered him three days ago, he had been on edge. Although they had not made their move yet-at least on me-it was only a matter of time before they did.
Just as I was growing the lady balls to knock on the door, it slid open, and there he stood. Glasses on, wildly messy hair, and his tie undone hanging haphazardly around his neck. He was a gorgeous, stressed disaster. But I knew I had to get it out now or forever hold my tongue on this idea.
"Everything okay, Jenny?" His voice was quiet, smooth, and loving.
It made my body vibrate with want and need for his touch more than ever.
"I wanted to talk to you about something business related." I slowly pushed him back into his office, holding on to his hand and directing him into the expensive leather chair we had the opportunity to christen last night, after a series of long and stressful phone calls he endured.
"I am not sure I like where this is going," he mumbled as I pushed him back into the chair.
"Nothing to be worried about, love. Everything is fine. I just had an idea I wanted to run by you, since of course, you are my husband. Isn't that what couples are supposed to do? I am not used to this whole marriage shit, but I am pretty sure I am right." I rambled when I got nervous. I wondered if he had picked up on that yet. I was rambling and my heart began to race.
"Spit it out, Jenny!" His tone became clipped and I knew he was in a mood. I moved backward and planted my ass on his desk, crossing my legs and anchoring my elbow on my knee. Posing with my chin in my hand, I finally just got to my point.
"I wanna become a Madame."
"You want to...what?" His voice boomed, and his eyes darkened.
Shit. I was in trouble. Maybe this was a bad idea. But damn it, I didn't want to be one of those stuffy rich housewives. This was my life too!
"Hear me out before you go all alpha fuckin' cave man on me, Mathis! It is a good fucking idea!" I wanted him to give me a fair shot, but I was wondering if that would even be an option when he rolled his eyes at me. I wanted to slap him across the face every time he did that. Maybe a good slap would fix the problem he was clearly having with his eyes. Asshat.
"Listen, I know a lot of working girls. Many still work for nasty asshole pimps. They would absolutely love to work for someone like me. I have a huge client list. You know as well as I do my client line is still blowing up. This could work out well for our favor. Our favor, Mathis. Us!"
His fingers ran through his dark hair and he let out an aggravated sigh. "Jenny, do you think this is a good idea? I mean, we would need to set up protection for them, and to cover our own asses. We would have to find girls as well. I don't want to deal with these men begging for you when they call."
I could understand his concern. "Strict rules, Mathis. The first time they ask for my service they get a warning. The second time they lose their spot on the clientele list. I know enough girls to get started and we could have Dean set up the security details." I wanted to get down on my knees and beg him, pretty please, but Jennifer Sunshine didn't beg. Well, not often.
I really needed to stop thinking of myself as Jennifer Sunshine too, because as much as I had loved and hated my name over the years...I was no longer a Sunshine. I was a Verlinden now. It may not really fit me, but I had to legally change my name. Another step to solidify our budding relationship.
"I'm gonna have to think about this, Jenny." His uncertainty bothered me. I wanted to convince him that no matter what happened, I was his girl and only his. The possessive asshole in him was exactly what was holding him back. I knew him well enough by now to figure that out.
"Mathis?"
"Hmm," he replied, looking up through his long dark eyelashes.
"I'm gonna legally change my name this week. Say goodbye to Jennifer Sunshine. Hello to Jennifer Verlinden."
He didn't want to smile, but he couldn't hold it back.
"And honey?" I asked while I slid off the desk.
"Hmmm," he replied again.
"You look stressed. Let me help you unwind a little bit." Instead of the shoulder rub I had offered so many nights this week, I dropped to my knees in front of him and pulled his soft cock out of his expensive dress pants and went to work pleasing my husband.
"Your name is?" I asked the petite brunette with huge tits sitting across from me in the spacious office Mathis had decided to provide me with.
"Leslie Brown," the sheepish girl replied. Her manicured fingernail twirled around a piece of her hair.
"Not anymore. If you are hired, you will take on a new name so you can remain safe and anonymous. I know you have been working with Jonah for a long time, but he treats his girls like shit. I am not about that."
She nodded and just listened to my speech across the table. Nora sat at my side taking notes, sizing her up because shortly after she signed on the dotted line, my blonde bestie was going to whisk her away to become Sunshined. No more cheap shitty clients. No more sleazy motels and dirty clients.
"Lori London," she quietly whispered across the table.
"What was that?" I answered and pushed the contract in her direction.
"I would like to go by Lori London." Her voice slowly got louder.
"That is fine. We need to work on your attitude, though. You are too meek. We'll get you fully ready to handle these clients, Lori. Because, honey, these aren't those junkies you were seeing before. These are real men looking for more than just a quick blow job." Her eyes opened wide and I knew I was going to love rescuing these girls from the bowels of Vegas hell. Even if they were still going to be whores.
Chapter Sixteen
Adjustment
Mathis
This was going to backfire. It just had to. Shit like this always did, but I gave my wife credit. After a week of interviewing women of all shapes and sizes, she became more and more determined to help these women. God, these women. They were dealt a shitty hand in life, and deserved better. Real jobs, but seeing as most places wouldn't hire a "whore," working for Madame Sunshine would have to do.
I just hoped in time my wife could retire. I didn't want her having any association with this lifestyle ever again, but I saw where she was coming from and had to suck it up.
After the last woman left my apartment, Jennifer said goodbye to Nora. Nora waved in my direction and I smiled as Jennifer came up to me.
She wrapped her arms around my middle and sighed. "All done."
I kissed her head. "All interviewed?"
She nodded and pulled away, stifling a yawn. "Yes. Finally. I never realized how much work it was."
"I'm glad Nora was here to help you."
Jennifer smiled and took my hand, bringing me to the couch with her. "Did Dean get the security in order?"
"Yes, he's working on it."
"Good." She yawned again.
I chuckled and moved to kiss her when my business line rang.
She sighed and got off my lap. Whoever it was, it better be damn important.
Heading into my office, I grabbed the phone before my answering machine could pick it up. "Verlinden."
"Well, well, well. I'm actually surprised I was able to reach you."
My stomach sunk. "What the hell do you want, Jude?"
"I have a proposition for you."
"I can already tell you that the answer is going to be no," I ground out.
He chuckled. "You haven't heard what I want yet."
"Don't need to. Listen, if you-"
"No. You fucking listen to me," he snarled. "How would you like it if I told your business associate about your wife, and her exploits?"
"Go ahead. I don't fucking care what anyone thinks," I growled.
Jude laughed. "You're such a fucking liar. Give me one night with Jenny, and my lips are sealed."
My eyes widened. "Excuse me?" I was going to kill this mother fucker. Gut him like a fish, and then mount him on my damn wall.
"I want one night, and then I go away."
"I don't fucking think so." Who the hell did this guy think he was?
"Are you sure? Because what kind of man would want to build a business, or a hotel in your case, with someone who has a whore of a wife?"
My grip on the phone tightened. "Do it. I can find someone else to work with if he has his head so far up his own ass that he can't see past that shit."
"Please. You're fucking bluffing. It pisses you off that I have this power, this control."
"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm when really, my insides were raging with fury.