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“No worries,” Alex said, her mind racing. She intentionally slowed her breath and kept eye contact. “It takes more than that to offend me.”
Travis clinked his glass to Alex’s, then leaned back. “Now that we’ve gotten security out of the way, let’s get a little bit more specific about what you’re looking for.”
Alex took a slow sip of her drink. Travis believed she was Alejandro, that was clear, but she’d also just watched her phone power off, so anything Travis said from this point on wouldn’t be recorded. Alex cleared her throat and looked down as if she was thinking about the question, but she was really fighting off a sudden, maddening urge to cry. Her only chance to help these girls was gone. In a single split second.
“Well, I’m looking for something a little different than what I’ve gone for in the past,” Alex said, steeling herself and pushing emotion aside. The only choice she had was to play it out. “I’ve gotten to a point in my career where I’ve accumulated a fair amount of success. I have plenty of choices when it comes to women, but let’s just say my tastes have…shifted in the last few years.”
Travis nodded, ice clinking in his glass. “Go on.”
“I’m looking for someone younger to put on my payroll. I’m tired of having to be in a relationship in order to get my needs met, and several of my friends feel the same way.”
“I can understand that,” Travis said. “It’s not worth the hassle, so to speak. I came to that conclusion myself a few years back.”
“Exactly.” Alex paused, running her hand through her hair. “I hired a personal massage therapist last year, but she was in her early twenties and didn’t quite grasp what the job entailed. I’d like to go with someone younger so that’s not an issue.”
“You know my girls are not actual massage therapists, right?”
“I don’t give a shit whether they can even spell massage.” Alex’s words started to show an edge like torn metal. “I want someone I can train to do the job properly. And the job has nothing to do with massage therapy.”
“I like a man who knows what he wants.” Travis smiled as he swilled the remaining vodka. “And you’ve come to the right place.”
???“I hope so.” Alex let the anger simmering just under the surface seep into her voice. “I’m sick of dealing with girls who don’t understand the assignment.”
Travis pulled a pad of paper out of his desk. “Tell me a little about what you’re looking for in terms of appearance and age.”
Alex’s mind spun. She was bluffing; she had no idea what to say. “I’m looking for a girl between thirteen and fifteen, and I’m assuming that all your girls are attractive, so her looks matter less than her motivation to please her new boss.”
“That narrows it down a bit. I think I have a couple of girls you might like.” He pressed the intercom button again. “Miranda, will you please send Kylie and Katie to my office?” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “If you like what you see, we’ll talk money and delivery to Miami within the week. I can have Miranda escort her directly to your residence.”
Alex cleared her throat. “I’m sure you know that discretion is of the utmost importance here. But if this goes well, I have a very wealthy circle of friends in Miami who will be interested in the same services.” She paused. “May I ask how you source your inventory?”
“Trust me on this,” Travis said, tapping his pen on the pad of paper, each word slow and deliberate. “No one will miss these girls.”
There was a soft knock at the door, and Miranda stuck her head in and waited for a nod from Travis before she opened it wider and ushered in two girls wearing bikinis. Alex felt physically sick as Travis introduced them.
“Katie and Kylie, this is Alejandro. He’s a very important client.”
Both looked to be about fourteen, and neither knew where to look except the floor. Alex’s heart broke when Katie, a slight, quiet girl with freckles, started to unhook her bikini top. Kylie, a taller blond, looked instantly frightened and crossed her arms over her chest.
“That won’t be necessary.” The words came out in a rush, and Alex consciously slowed her speech. “I’ve seen what I need to see. I prefer that the rest is left for a more private setting.” Alex forced herself to look Travis in the eye. “I don’t like to stop the ball once it gets rolling, if you know what I mean.”
Travis’s face reflected understanding and a hint of admiration as he held Alex’s gaze. He nodded slowly, then said, “I do indeed.” Both girls looked to Travis, who ignored them, then to Miranda as she motioned for them to follow her out.
A deep wave of nausea roiled in Alex’s gut, threatening to explode, but she stalled by fiddling with the Rolex while she regained control. It was only a few seconds before she looked up at Travis. “I like the smaller one. Katie. How old is she?”
“They are both fourteen, but Katie is an excellent choice. More compliant. Kylie has just joined us, so this is her first foray into our world. She may need some initial training.”
“Perfect.” Alex shifted in her chair and crossed her legs. “Not to put a rush on things, but I leave tomorrow to go back to Miami, and I’d like to get the details tied up before I go. I’ll need to know the finder’s fee, which I assume you do by wire transfer?”
“Wire is always more discreet, and the fee will be in the forty-thousand-dollar range.” A tinge of excitement pinged in Travis’s voice. “I’ll text you the exact price, including delivery, within just a few hours, along with the bank information you’ll need to do the transfer. Once it’s complete, I’ll be in touch with details of her arrival.”
“This was far easier than I imagined.” Alex stood and offered Travis her hand. “I appreciate your professionalism.”
Travis smiled, his excitement flooding the air in the room. “And I can count on your recommendation to your inner circle in Miami?”
Alex nodded. “Absolutely. Good help is hard to find, and I just found the guy with the golden ticket.”
Travis laughed, then walked Alex to the door and said good-bye, handing her over to Miranda, who was already waiting in the hall. His office door closed, and the air was suddenly different, heavy, their footsteps loud and foreboding as they walked down the hallway and winding staircase to the front door.
