Page 130 of At His Beck & Call

“In whatwedo,” she clarifies. “And you’re allowed to feel bad about the money if you like him. But it’s how you met, remember? Even if there are feelings involved now.”

I stare at the fizzing champagne, and there’s a long, weighty silence until Bethany moans.

“Oh fuck, Liss, you’re not in love, are you? Please tell me you’re not.”

I rub my nose, not able to respond, and Bethany slowly places her forehead on the table.

“Fuck me,” she says miserably. “This is my fault. I knew you were too sweet for this job. The first guy who actually treats you with a modicum of decency, and you’re head over heels in seconds. When he came to get Henry with you that day, I thought it was weird. I told myself you’d run into him after work or something. Was that it?”

I shake my head.

“Alright, well then, what the hell happened?”

I hesitate and then slowly retell the events of that night, trying my best not to look Bethany in the eye as she stiffens at every new piece of information.

“Oh my God,” she says, draining her champagne and filling the cup back up. “Oh, my God. He was actuallyjealousof Noah?”

“I don’t know.”

“Liss, of course he fucking was. You don’t drag your escort into an alley after a date and fuck her against a wall when you’re chill about her seeing other people.”

“Bethany!”I say desperately, glancing at Henry, but I’m relieved when I find him passed out on the couch, asleep.

She mimes a zip over her mouth as she sighs, scratching her head. “Jesus. Does he know how you feel?”

“No. He told me to leave.”

She goes still, leaning forward, gripping my hand. “He did what?”

“He told me today, after he negotiated the deal with James, that it was better if I didn’t work for him anymore.”

“That lowlife fuck,” Bethany says, rising to her feet as I try to pull her back down to her chair.

“He said I could stay at AGS for as long as I want, but Ichoseto go today. I couldn’t just… continue to stay there with him wanting me gone.”

“Explain,” Bethany says firmly. “Explain what he actually—” she blinks, turning to stare at me. “Whoa, whoa, wait. What do you mean by ‘afterOlivernegotiated the deal with James’. Oliver represented you as your lawyer?” I nod as she shakes her head, leaning back in her chair. “You’re kidding.”

“Why would I joke about something like that?”

“I know you wanted James out of your life, but Oliver is one of the most expensive lawyers in New York. I think you could’ve gotten the divorce done without paying AGS, babe.”

“He did it pro bono.”

Bethany is silent for a few seconds, and then she snorts, finishing her champagne and pouring herself yet another.

“I love you so much, Liss, but you are fuckingcluelessabout men sometimes.” I frown at her, and she puts down the bottle. “Which is understandable, given your history, of course, but are you really telling me you think he wanted you to leave after he did that for you?”

“Yes,” I say defensively, “he doesn’t have to keep me on anymore. He solved my problem and saved Henry—all his obligations are fulfilled.”

“Liss, honey, he didn’t haveobligations. He hired you as an escort; he could have just fired you without ever thinking about you again for the rest of his life.”

“He would never do that.”

“Because helikesyou, you idiot. How does he even know about Henry?”

“He was in the hospital; I told you, he saw James there.”

“And he came over to you, defended you, and made James leave. And then afterward he left, right?”