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“Perhaps. However, I firmly believe you would find it less refreshing if I didn’t look the way I do.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No it isn’t. I have personal experience on this. Just… don’t argue with me.” She thought of her sister Anita, and her sense of righteousness increased. For Anita had been identical to Jane, in her first two years of life. Then, a careless accident had permanently disfigured her face. Though she had the same proportions, men did not beat a path to her door. She was intelligent and fascinating, and yet she was left almost completely alone. Because society saw her as physically flawed, and somewhat repulsive. “The sad truth of our culture is that people have more currency when they’re attractive.”
“No. You could have gone to college. You could have made your brain your asset. You chose to pursue your looks. To sell your body.”
She stood up, her body rigid with the force of her anger. “I have never sold my body. At least, not until I met you. And what the hell do you know about my choices?” She shook her head from side to side. “You judge everyone by the same opportunities you had available to you, but most of us never got that.”
“We live in America. Not Afghanistan. What prevented you from pursuing a tertiary education?”
Responsibilities. Dedication. Love and loyalty. “You’ll never understand. And I’m not here to educate you on how the masses live.” She rubbed her temples. “Do you mind if I go inside?”
“Please yourself.”
She stormed back into the apartment, her whole soul tormented by what she felt and what she wanted. He was from another world. He lived in a different universe. He was practically American royalty. She was nothing. A child that had been abandoned, to raise another child. How could he ever get it?
The door opened inwards as she was standing in the kitchen, her hands pressed against the marble bench top. She startled and looked up.
“I beg your pardon, ma’am,” the tall, wiry man said. Dressed in a suit, with a slight dip to his head, she picked him as staff instantly.
“Please, don’t ‘ma’am’ me,” she requested instantly. “I’m Jane. Just call me that when you see me.”
The man seemed to look at her for a beat longer than she’d expected, before nodding. “I’m Martins.”
“Martins?” She glared at him, her anger still a throbbing beast in her breast. “First name?”
“Surname, but it’s what I’m known as.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “What do you do for Carter?”
Both of them looked towards the balcony, where Carter was staring out at the glittering skyline. “I’m his principle security. I drive him. I fly with him. I get him burgers.”
She winced. “The burgers were my idea. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s a refreshing change from paleo salad,” he whispered conspiratorially, having no idea how his reference to Carter’s previous lovers’ tastes would wound her.
When she spoke, her voice was a little strained. “What can I say
? I’m a burger girl.” The last thing she needed was another person pointing out how poorly suited she was to Carter’s rarefied world.
He seemed to sense a shift in mood, and placed the brown bags on the counter with a small nod. “Excuse me, ma’am. I just need a word with Carter.”
He slipped onto the terrace, leaving Jane with bags of take out she wasn’t sure she had any stomach for.
Their argument had upset her. She banged through the kitchen until she found some plates for their burgers, and laid them out.
Martins and Carter walked into the lounge area a short while later. Carter’s eyes immediately landed on Jane, propped up on the same stool she’d perched on when he’d made love to her earlier. He felt a kick in his gut and a race in his pulse. Her dark hair formed a curtain and she’d hooked it over one shoulder to keep it out of her face. She was concentrating on something. A notebook. His curiosity leaped.
“That will be all. Thank you.” He dismissed Martins without looking at him. Hell, he wasn’t simply curious. He was completely fascinated.
“Busy?” He asked, stalking towards her with an appearance of casualness. She snapped the pages closed, almost guiltily, and dredged a smile up with effort.
“Just killing time until you decided to come back in.” She gestured to the plates. “Dinner is here.”
“Great.” He stood in front of her and lifted her hair from her face. “What’s that?” He nodded towards the notebook.
Her eyes were loaded with something he didn’t understand, but her expression was blank. “A notepad.”
