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“Greyson,” she began, as she took a sip of her wine. “It’s just some personal stuff. Really, it’s nothing for you to concern yourself over.”
I nodded as I finished a bite of my perfectly salted, rare, filet mignon. After swallowing it, I glanced at Maddie for a moment and then picked up my own wine glass. Deep red, near crimson, liquid streaked along the interior of the glass as I swirled before I took a sip. I rolled the heady mix across my tongue and allowed the oak notes to permeate my senses as I contemplated a response.
My study of her didn’t go unnoticed.
“What?” she said. “Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you believe me?”
After placing my wine glass back on the table, I leaned back in my chair a bit and looked at her without a response. Maddie held my gaze for a few seconds and then shifted in her seat before attempting to match my posture by leaning back in her chair as well.
“Greyson. What is going on? Do you think I’m lying to you?”
I winced a little at the question.
“Lying?” I said, as I folded my hands on the edge of the table. “No, I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re lying, Maddie, no.”
“Thank you,” she said with a sincere tone to her voice. “Well, I’m glad to hear that at least.”
“Hang on,” I interrupted. “I said I didn’t think you were lying to me. That’s doesn’t mean I think you’re being truthful, however.”
“You’re talking in circles, Greyson. Either I’m telling you the truth or I’m not. Which is it?”
Sensing a change in her negotiating tactics, I decided to make my suspicions plain. I leaned forward, brought my hands together and tapped my index fingers against one another.
“Okay,” I began, as I studied her. “I think you’re covering up the real issue by claiming it’s a personal problem and hoping I’ll drop it because of that.”
Maddie’s eyes widened a fraction and a hint of bright red flashed across her chest.
“I… that is not true, Greyson. If you must know, I had a fight with my ex-boyfriend, okay?”
As I listened to her, I realized this was the first time I’d considered her relationship status. Based on the way she’d flirted, I naturally assumed she was single. And now, hearing that was indeed the case, it pleased me. On the other hand, and I couldn't explain it, but the idea of her with someone else, even talking to her ex on the phone, I didn’t like it--not one goddamn bit.
As I ruminated, the incessant sounds of the busy restaurant — knives and forks hitting plates, bottles being uncorked and the occasional blowhard recounting the success of his big business deal--all faded away into nothing as I looked at her.
I felt my jaw flex as I began to speak. “What did he say, Maddie? Did he threaten you in some way?”
“What? Threaten me?” she replied almost instantly. “No, he didn’t threaten me. Don’t get the wrong idea, Greyson. It’s nothing like that at all.”
Her tone conveyed sincerity, at least on this issue. I relaxed a bit but I still didn’t like the notion of her in harm’s way. There was nothing to do about it now however, so I accepted her statement as fact.
“Very well,” I replied. After I spoke, I looked past her for the waiter and motioned for him to come over.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “You haven't finished your meal.”
“We’re done. I’m getting the check. Get your things. We’re leaving.”
MADDIE
The limo ride back to the hotel couldn’t have been more awkward.
What the hell was going on with Greyson all of a sudden? There was no way I could tell him the truth about running out of money. He’d think I was probably the biggest idiot he’d ever met and certainly the worst business woman.
And, uh, he would tell Katy and then that would be a whole thing.
Remaining as still as possible, I kept my gaze focused beyond the tinted glass window in the back of the limousine and hoped I could get through the rest of the evening, and the rest of his trip, unscathed and out of bankruptcy court.
After only another five merciful minutes, the vehicle pulled back into the parking lot of his hotel and as it did, Greyson reached over and grabbed my arm at my wrist. Startled by the firmness of his grip, I snapped my head in his direction.
“When we stop, get out and follow me,” he said, without a trace of emotion. “Understood?”
I swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
The car’s brakes squeaked a fraction as we rounded the entrance to the hotel lobby. Seconds later, Armando appeared and stepped aside as we exited the vehicle. Right away, Greyson snatched the same wrist he’d grabbed moments earlier. Part of me wanted to protest; the other part of me thought better of it. I chose the latter and did my best not to trip as he tugged me along until, at last, we rounded a corner to the right of the lobby. After he stopped, Greyson grabbed me by both shoulders and spun me around to face him.
“I’ll give you one chance, Maddie,” he began. “Let me say that this evening had better not end with deception on your part or it will be the end of our time together and of your fledging enterprise as well. That much I promise you.”
Flustered, I fired back. “Greyson, I don’t know what you want from me. I told you I had a fight with my ex.”
“I want the truth, Maddie. Stop. Fucking. Lying to me.”
I leaned away from him. His pupils held a dangerous glint as he stared into my eyes. I didn’t feel threatened. No, I felt something far worse — found out. I hated lying to him but what choice did I have?
“Grey…” I started, but right away he interrupted me.
“Maddie, so help me to Christ, the next words that come out of your mouth better be the truth. Got me?”
I nodded, feeling stupid and insulted at the same time. But, it didn’t matter any longer. If I expected to work for this man even for one more minute, I had to tell him.
I looked down at the pavement and dragged the toe of my shoe across it. Without meeting his eyes, I exhaled and said, “This seems so stupid now, I…”
“Out with it, Maddie. You’ve got fifteen seconds or I walk back in that hotel and out of your life for good.”
Without wasting a second, I blurted out my reply.
“Greyson, I need to know what you want me to do about an escort for you the rest of the time you are here. I know that in the limo earlier today, you said you wanted me to accompany you but…”
Greyson leaned back, let out a deep belly laugh and clapped his hands together in front of his face.
“Seriously? That’s what this is all about?”
“What?” I said as I drew my eyes up to meet his. He continued to laugh though, at least it had morphed into a chuckle by that time. Seeing he had no intention of relieving me of my discomfort, I continued. “Well, it’s just that you haven’t exactly been thrilled with anything I’ve planned for you so far. None of the activities, Lynne the escort and well, pretty much all of it.”
If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn he wiped tears from his eyes as he looked at me once again.
“Okay, okay, so…” he began in between breaths. “I’m not happy with those things you mentioned. So what? What’s your point?”
“Well, all of ‘those things’ aren’t free, Greyson. They cost money and it’s money I can’t get back simply because you decide you aren’t interested.”
As his amusement slowed, he paused and asked, “So this is my fault? The fact that you can’t run your business. You’re blaming that on me?”
“What? No. And I can too run my business. I just happened to get the world’s most demanding client as my first customer!”
“Glad you noticed.” He smirked.
“Hah, hah. No what I’m saying to you is that you can’t expect me to just spend time with you and get nothing out of it.”
“Ohhh, okay, all right. I see now.” He leaned away from me and pinching his chin between his thumb and index finger, he pointed back at me. “So you’d like to receive payment for your escort services. Correct?”
The question slash accusation caused a lump to form in my throat. As best I could, I tried to swallow it down with a subtle, smooth motion before I answered. Tugging a strand of hair behind my ear, I cleared my airway.
“Yes. I do. I mean, so long as you think it’s fair. What do you think is reasonable?”
Clearly enjoying the turn of events, Greyson leaned back against a nearby wall. Slipping his hand into his pants pocket he nodded in my direction.
“Depends,” he said.
“On what?”
“On what your escort service involves. You know, the value proposition. Why should I buy from you?”
“What do you mean?”
Greyson shook his head.
