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The drive to the hotel is spent with me singing at the top of my lungs to hide my jitters. I didn’t get a photo of my date, but being able to afford my apartment until I can get another job forced my decision a little. Maybe he has kind eyes and I’m worried for nothing. Or if he doesn’t, this will be the one and only time I have to break my rule. I plan to get a job and actually keep it. Guess I’ll have to attend some anger management classes or something.
In my defense, I never go out of my way to curse people out or start an argument. It seems that people like to start with me and I never back down. It would probably be beneficial for me if I just kept my fucking mouth shut sometimes, but I have a problem with people talking to me like I’m a child unless said person is my Daddy. As adults, we need to learn how to effectively communicate to get our point across.
I scoff at the absurdity of my thoughts. That’s really fucking rich, coming from me. A person that has been consistently fired for not using my words like an adult when I get angry. If I learn to take my own advice, I could probably pass the year mark at any job I have.
After a few more minutes of my wayward thoughts, I pull up to the hotel. Instead of using the valet service, I pull into the lot. I’ll be able to leave when I want and not stand awkwardly in front of the hotel with a wet ass if my date decides he wants to extend the evening. That would be embarrassing.
The inside of the hotel is beautiful. It’s large with ornate gold trimmings and fixtures adorning the walls and ceilings. Every ten feet or so is a beautiful crystal chandelier and there are fireplaces dotted here and there in the lobby or walkway or whatever it’s called. It’s like no hotel I’ve ever seen. It looks more like an extremely large banquet hall. Must cost big money to stay here for the night.
Walking over to the desk, I get the attention of one of the employees. Plastering a wide smile on, she says, “Welcome to Calla-De Ritz. I’m Abbie. Would you like a room for the evening?”
“No, thank you. I’m looking for the Houston dinner party. Am I in the right place?”
“You are, indeed, sir. Shall I walk you?” Instead of waiting for an answer, she comes around the desk and makes a gesture for me to follow her.
We start walking and I think about how my parents would love this type of treatment. They’re the type that want to be waited on hand and foot. If Abbie didn’t offer, my folks would have been all smiles in her face and reported her to her supervisor for being unprofessional behind her back. And they wonder why I want nothing to do with them. My grandfather is nothing like them, thank all that is holy, so moving out here to be near him for university was very refreshing and exactly what I needed.
Pushing away thoughts of my parents, I tune in to what Abbie is saying. “The dinner portion hasn’t started yet. There’s a cocktail hour scheduled before we start serving the guests.” She waves a hand towards a room after we turn the corner. “Here we are, sir. I hope you enjoy your evening and thank you for spending it with us.”
I watch Abbie walk away, a pep in her step. She really must love her job and I love that for her. If I had money, I’d slide her a tip before I left. In those few short moments, she made me feel seen and important. Which makes my mind wander back to Malcolm. He really made me feel seen. The entire night was one long orgasm. While I was there to provide a service, he fucked me like he owned me and treated me so well when he was done. God, I wish I could have that for longer than the few hours I got.
Getting my head in the game, I shake myself and bounce on the balls of my feet a little. I’m here for a job. My rent and other bills depend on me doing well and providing this man the best date he’s ever had. After I’ve cleared my head of the Daddy I’ll never have, I walk into the room.
Immediately, I spot two of the other models that are employed by Cara, but we don’t speak. Not that any of us are rude, but we want to build the illusion that we’re here on our own free will, not because they paid Cara’s ridiculously high—but totally worth it—rate to have good looking men and women on their arms.
My date spots me and waves me over to a small circular table at the back of the room. As I make my way over, I study him and get a bad feeling in my gut. He’s on his own, surveying the crowd gathered. I would say he looks bored, but that’s just a façade. What he really looks is calculating. His face is set in a mask, but his eyes stay on certain people for a few seconds longer than they should and it makes me uncomfortable. When his eyes drift over to me, I can’t suppress the shudder. His eyes are cold and dead. They feel clammy on me, raking over my body and leaving an awful feeling behind. I hate it. Makes me want to take a long, hot shower.
It takes everything in me not to turn around and bolt for the door. I continue walking and plaster a fake smile on my face. “Hey there, handsome,” I greet him, feeling my cheeks heat from the lie. Well, not a complete lie. He’s quite good-looking, but his fucking eyes are creeping me out.
The smile he gives me is both reptilian and wolfish, and I fight hard to keep the wince under control. “Ryan, it’s good to meet you. I see you followed instructions. That’s good.” I’m so glad Cara didn’t tell this creep my preferred name or my real name for that matter.
“Anything you need,” I respond and try to sound suggestive, but I’m not sure I pull it off. Something isn’t right about this man. I can’t put a finger on it, but I’m a little afraid of him. “What’s your name?”
“Andler.” There’s no way that’s really his fucking name. It’s awful. Even worse than my name, but at least my name can be said with some dignity. For some people, at least. I fucking hate it, which is why I go by Red, even though it doesn’t really make sense to people.
Shortly after our introductions, the host for the evening announces we’re to be seated, and Andler places his hand on the small of my back to escort me to our table. It’s a fight not to dodge from his touch.
The other models are seated at the same table and we finally greet each other, but as if we were strangers. Courtney has on this nice grey suit that makes his grey eyes pop. He’s sans a tie, but that doesn’t matter, even though everyone else has one on. He has the confidence and the looks to pull it off. His medium brown skin glows in the lights of the room, making everyone do a double take when they see him. If he weren’t a bottom too, I would have tried to saddle up to him ages ago.
Nabi, the other model, looks stunning in her red form fitting dress. The half-Korean beauty is probably the only woman that made me look twice. She’s fucking stunning and has a beautiful personality to match. Both of them look very good this evening, like they really belong amongst all this money in the room.
It doesn’t take long for dinner to be served and for everyone to branch off into their own conversations. Andler hasn’t spoken much, too intent on looking at about five different people with hungry expressions, Nabi and Courtney included. I see Nabi fidget and I’m sure she can feel his eyes on her. To help my girl out, I turn to him and ask, “So what do you do, Andler? I don’t know much about you.”
His lips turn up into what I’m sure is supposed to be an easy going smile, but it only looks sinister to me. “I’m in acquisitions. It’s my job to acquire things to keep my customers happy.”
“Oh?” I ask, sliding some chicken that’s dry as the fucking Sahara into my mouth. “What do you acquire?”
Looking at me with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, he says, “Art.” Yeah, I’m sure that’s not what he really does and the implications makes me uneasy.
We talk for about thirty minutes. Well, I try to talk tohim. My back will be in pain tomorrow from how I’ve been carrying this evening’s conversation. I’m not sure why he wanted a date if he’s not going to pretend to be entertained. I’m doing my best to make this date fun, but he doesn’t seem into it.
After the dinner is cleared from the table, Andler leans over to me and whispers, “I have to make a phone call. I’ll be right back. Don’t sneak out before I can come back for you.” He huffs a laugh and I laugh along with him, though his statement makes me feel weird. It’s not what he said, but how he said it. It sounded like a threat.
When he leaves, I look over at Courtney, who raises an eyebrow as if to say.What the fuck is that guy’s deal?Shaking my head, I shrug, communicating back that,I have no fucking idea.
Ten minutes pass with no Andler and I start to get antsy. People are breaking off to either dance or mingle and I’m sitting at the table looking like a fucking idiot. Deciding enough is enough, I walk out of the room in search of the bathroom. Hopefully by the time I clean up, he’ll be back and we can close this date out. I’ve had enough with feeling on edge around him. It’s like my heart rate hasn’t slowed down since he spotted me across the room.
The bathroom I enter looks like something out of a movie, with its large stalls that look like half baths with their own sinks inside each. I find one stall door in the middle closed with the other two next to it unoccupied. Stepping into the one closest to the door, I do my business and wash my hands. While I’m adjusting my tie, I hear my name and freeze. Well, not my name, but my name for the night. Which could only mean one thing—Andler is talking about me. He’s not speaking very loud, but the walls are thin—probably the only cheap thing in this place.
