Page 20 of Total Exposure

“Sure,” he says. “Whatever. I’ll call tomorrow afternoon to check in. Stay in that fucking room.”

I hang up on him. He’s told me that like five times already. He can fuck off. I have no intention of interacting with the boring ex-child prodigy. But if I did intend to, I would.

Because Jordan Wells does not get to make rules for me.

Not after he broke them all and ruined my life.

In fact… this girl might be good for something after all. I don’t need the money, but I could use another game.

How about it, Miss Rolaine?

Would you like to play a game?

Chapter Five - Jordan

I tap Chella’s contact on my phone. She picks up immediately. “Hello,” she sings. She’s always in a good mood, like perpetually happy. Even though I love Chella best, sometimes her eternal optimism grates my nerves. I prefer the Rochelles of this world. The Nadias. If Ix likes the mean ones, the wasted ones, and the easy ones, then I like the broken ones. The falling-apart ones. The lost-in-the-dark ones.

“What did he do?” I ask her.

“Nothing really. You know, you’re a strange guy, Jordan.”

“How so?” I ask.

“Why do you do this shit? Why can’t you just settle down?”

“Like Bric? And Smith? And Quin?”

“And Lucinda. She’s out as well. But you? You keep playing. Don’t you get tired of these games?”

“It’s not a game, it’s a business.”

“Right. Smith has told me all about your new business. So is that what you’re doing with Ixion Vanir? Giving him a business experience?”

“He’s just an employee,” I say.

“Really?” she asks.

“Really.”

“So no hard feelings between the two of you?”

“What’s that mean?”

“I know about you. I looked you up before I went grocery-shopping for the house this morning.”

“So?”

“So I didn’t find anything.”

I laugh. “What’s your point?”

“On you, at least. But I did find something interesting about Ixion.”

“He’s an interesting guy.”

“Yes,” she says. “I think you’re right. He is. And he’s connected to you. And you’re quite interesting, in a missing-information kind of way.”

“Anything else, Chella? I’m due in court.”