Chapter Fourteen

Delilah

I 'd woken from a deep sleep after slumbering most of the day and all night away, just as I'd predicted. My lips quirked. I must have really needed my beauty sleep.

After dressing quickly and leaving my apartment behind, I stepped out of the elevator onto the fifth floor of the bricks and mortar part of the escort business, determined to get what I wanted.

My freedom.

The interior was discreet yet somehow intimidating with its gold leaf lettering on its interior glass doors, which subtly proclaimed New York Exclusive Inc , along with its pristine white walls and large tinted windows with gold-colored shutters.

My high-heels clicked across the mosaic floor, their height gaining me some much needed power leverage. Other than my footwear, I looked the opposite of what I did for my profession, my knee-length navy skirt, white blouse and navy jacket super conservative and my hair pulled back into bun. I could have been a lawyer or a young business executive.

Whatever . I needed my armor for the coming confrontation, and clothes had always defined the role I played.

I slowed though when Sinead came out of her office space that was set in the back behind the receptionist's desk. She looked preoccupied until her gaze settled on me, her eyes widening as she took in my outfit. "Delilah," she said faintly, as though recovering from the vision I presented. "I wasn't expecting you so early."

I shrugged, my hands tightening on my black clutch bag. "I managed to catch up on my sleep."

"Good. I'm guessing you took the sleeping tablets I gave you? We need you to stay looking your best."

I blinked. Had she already booked me in with another client? It wasn't uncommon to have reservations in advance but usually I knew beforehand. "I didn't need the tablets, I slept like the dead." I cleared my throat. "I came in early so I could speak to you."

"Oh?" Her lips tightened. She knew as well as anyone that no news was good news. "Whatever for?"

"I'm leaving." No point in beating around the bush. I needed to get it out.

Her dull brown eyes flashed, her straight blonde hair that fell to her shoulders suddenly taking on a disheveled look. "You can't," she said flatly, without even a whiff of compromise. "I only just got rid of two of my girls who refused to attend the Agostino party."

"How is that my problem?"

Her eyes narrowed and turned flinty. "Without you, I barely have a business."

I narrowed my eyes right back. "You have ten other girls." I exhaled slowly. "I appreciate you giving me this job, but you knew from day one it was only temporary until I had the funds to get out of the industry and into a new career."

She softened her voice. "There was never any denying that," she conceded, even as she nodded her head at the door she'd just walked out of. "Let's talk privately."

I glanced at the receptionist who was unabashedly eavesdropping, her tight brunette chignon doing little to smooth out the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. She might have once worked in the sex industry as an escort, but she'd yet to learn how to keep things personal and private. She'd talk a person's ear off about her past and the girls who worked here.

"Fine," I said, following Sinead into her office, which was a spacious room with the usual overlarge desk and chair, along with a corner lounge next to a gas fireplace and a huge window with views of the Hudson River.

The usual honeysuckle incense scent was diminished somewhat by the distinct Colombian cigar smoke that filled the room, a scent that made me stop in my tracks.

Sinead smiled. "I think this man here might make you change your mind."

My eyes clashed with the man sprawled out on the lounge, his gaze smoldering. I swallowed tightly, then managed weakly, "Serafino."

He cocked a dark brow, his long hair that was caught back in a cord making his face look harder, fiercer. Less forgiving. "You left without even a kiss goodbye."

"You were asleep after a rather vigorous night. I didn't want to disturb you."

He gripped the back of his hair and tugged, random strands then cascading forward from their confinement. "I though you knew me better than that," he said hoarsely, his voice an accusation.

I shrugged, though my pulse galloped. "Our time was up."

"Actually, that is why he's here," Sinead interjected with a forced smile. "He wants more time with you."

The room did a slow spin around me as my blood drained away from my face. "I-I can't," I said. "I'm leaving this profession."

The tip of his cigar burned bright. "You are?" His eyes burned almost as brightly. "You never mentioned wanting to leave?"

I lifted my chin. "You were a client. It wasn't necessary to tell you."

"You're also his employee," Sinead said archly. "He has every right to know."

I glared at her before narrowing my eyes at him. "You're not really going to use our working relationship against me, are you?"

He nodded at Sinead, his eyes hardening. "Get me her file."

She hurried to do his bidding, unlocking the bottom drawer of her desk and shuffling through some hanging folders before selecting one. She withdrew it and handed it to him.

"Thank you." He opened it and scanned one of the documents inside, then looked at me and said, "You signed a three month contract. You're contractually obligated to stay with this agency for another month."

"What?" I looked at Sinead then back to Serafino. Neither looked guilty about my situation. They looked pleased. "I never signed up for three months."

"You did," Sinead declared. "You just didn't read the fine print after your one week trial."

"You said I was signing a waiver!"

"It was that too," she conceded. "One never knows when a client might hurt one of my girls."

I stepped back, my vision misting with red. "I'll be seeing you in court."

Sinead laughed. "With the judge and jurors in Serafino's back pocket? Have fun wasting all that money you've been saving."

My bottom lip trembled and Serafino stiffened ever so slightly before I said, "That's not fair."

"You, of all people, should know life's not fair," Sinead responded.

Serafino stood. "I believe I have a solution for you."

I looked at him, my chest as tight as my breathing. "I just bet you do."

"Stay with me for the month you have left, all expenses paid along with a bonus."

I inhaled sharply. "There must be hundreds of women who'd love to fill that position."

"Maybe. But I don't want them. I want you." His eyes glittered possessively even as he added quietly, "Once the month is over, you're free to go."

I held his dark stare. "No other clients for that entire month?"

"Just me," he said in a low voice that throbbed with an intensity I couldn't read.

Sinead cleared her throat. "Serafino doesn't want to share you."

I didn't look at her. My gaze was caught and held by Serafino's as he added softly, "I want exclusive rights."

I should have been thoroughly pissed off and infuriated, but something inside my chest warmed, a part of me thrilled that I'd have a whole month with the one man I should be running from. That was despite the fact heartbreak had never been on my agenda, I didn't want to experience it—not ever—and yet something told me I was putting myself in the firing line for that exact scenario.

He sat straighter, his attention still all on me. "Deal?"

I nodded, my throat drier than dust. "Deal."