16. 20K to Stop
16
20K TO STOP
REX
“Isn’t this like the fourth date you’ve been on this month with Chelsea? That has to be a record for you.” Pearl’s shit-eating grin irritated me, which was probably how she planned it. I ignored her.
“She said she misses home and wants to go dancing at a country club where a friend of hers is a DJ tonight. I don’t know. Are you sure about this?” I worried; my type of country club in high society didn’t typically involve cowboys.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror of my executive corner office. Pearl glanced over my shoulder at the clothes I had her order for me for this occasion. But Wranglers, flannel shirts, and cowboy boots? They weren’t usually my style.
“Oh yes, trust me. You’ll fit right in.” She giggled on her way out.
“Glad my dating life amuses you. But I draw the line at wearing the cowboy hat.” I smirked and tossed the hat back into the box. Shit, the lengths I went to for Chelsea…
But, if I was honest with myself, I hadn’t tired of her yet, which surprised me. Most women bored me on or right after the first date.
She dazzled my friends, too. That night at the wine bar, she was the lady in red no one could take their eyes off of. Xander, Brody, Gage all met us there, and I couldn’t help but puff out my chest with her on my arm. She kept up with the conversation, mesmerizing everyone with her bright smile, and seemed to fit in well with us.
How perfectly she fit with me later that night, too, in the bed of the penthouse suite I’d rented at the hotel next to the bar.
On two other dates, I wined and dined her at some of New York’s exclusive and finest restaurants and took her to fancy hotels after. I adjusted myself thinking of those nights in bed with her. Woke up each of the next mornings invigorated, as if the small-town girl breezed into the city and took my life hostage somehow.
I wasn’t complaining, and she’d better be impressed with me and my lifestyle by now.
I enjoyed showing her the finer side of life, watching her eyes grow wide at it all. She was suddenly occupying too many of my thoughts. Something I grew used to and especially needed for my plan to work.
After haggling with my lawyers about every detail, I finally had a prenup and a marriage contract. I even had a huge 6-carat Tiffany ring picked out. Now, I just needed to find the right time to proposition her with the idea of marrying me.
I’d had everything set, but kept putting it off. Part of it was nerves—it wasn’t everyday I asked a woman to marry me for convenience and give me what I wanted. But I wasn’t a total asshole; I had a sweet deal etched out for Chelsea in this marriage, too. She’d walk away with plenty once it was over.
Over…I’d probably miss her when she was gone, but surely I’d move on. Return to my playboy lifestyle and see this as nothing but an interesting experiment on the lengths I’d go to get everything I wanted.
Now, I’d bide my time, waiting for the right moment to bring it up. My business instincts for negotiation in my real estate deals were usually on point, but this…with Chelsea…I couldn’t get a feel yet for the right time to close this deal.
Pearl was right. My outfit blended well at the country bar among the other men. The only difference between me and them was I probably could buy the bar, pay each man and woman in here at least a year’s salary, and call it a day without blinking an eye.
I scanned the crowded bar for Chelsea, since she and her friends arrived earlier for trivia. I wasn’t about to sit in for that, and told them I’d meet up later, but I didn’t count on Brooks being here. He laughed at me as I approached.
“Well Goddamn, Rex—Buchanan Energy already owns the East. Are you looking to win the West, too?” He snickered.
“Yeah, keep laughing asshat. At least I tried to fit in.” Although eyeing his casual jeans and black t-shirt, I was a little jealous. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here with Maisy.” He took a swig of his beer.
“Does that mean you have no designs on Chelsea?”
“She’s all about you, my friend. You’re all she could talk about during trivia.” He rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer.
Smiling inwardly, I could strike Brooks off my list of competitors for Chelsea’s affection. “Look, I like her, and how many women have I said that about or gone to bed with more than once?”
He studied my face for a moment. “You serious about her?”
“Yeah. So can we put our friendship back on track then? No hard feelings?”
“Hell, Rex, you and I have a history between business and play. Not going to throw that away over a pair of sisters.”
“You and Maisy?—?”
“We’re just friends. She’s a bit younger than most women I date. But I like her. A lot. And, um…she’s a virgin.” He smiled sheepishly. My eyebrows shot up to my hairline at that news. “Yeah, so I’m not going to be that asshole who takes it from her unless it means something. I’m taking this one slow. ”
I nodded, completely understanding. “And how’s Archer?”
He blew out air while shaking his head. “Back to the same old. Brianne’s got him in her claws, and already playing her games with him. Fucking bitch.”
“Do you want me to hire someone to off her?” I joked, sort of, and Brooks laughed and slapped my back. I hated to see what this awful woman had done to one of my friends. When she and Archer first met at a sustainable building materials convention, I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but they started hot and fast. Little did Archer know then how toxic the woman was. We all could see it, but female attention blinded him.
“It’s not a bad idea, but I think Archer is tiring of her manipulations and starting to see he deserves better. I’ll keep you posted.” He lifted his chin, looking over my shoulder, and I turned with a double take, finding Chelsea coming toward me looking hotter than hell.
Her tight jeans showed off curvy hips as she sashayed toward me. In a yellow and black flannel shirt with the arms ripped off, and tied tight above her waist, showing off plenty of creamy skin at her midriff, she had my cock twitching. I had no idea how badly he wanted to ride a cowgirl.
Upon closer inspection, as she neared me, I realized she mustn’t be wearing a bra. Her erect nipples on full display, I eyed-fucked her plenty. But my jaw set because probably so did every other man in the building.
“Rex!” All smiles, she threw her arms around me. I could smell a sweet alcohol concoction on her breath. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The song changed over to something slow, and she practically leapt out before I could wrap my arms around her. “Oh, I love this song. Come on, let’s dance.”
She dragged me out, and I was never so grateful for a slow song. This I could handle; my arms circled her waist, held her close, and we swayed to the music. Anything more, like a country two-step or line dancing, was beyond me. Archer was always the one with the dance moves among my friends.
“Mm. You feel so good, sexy-Rexy-poo.”
“Been drinking already?” I asked, but knew the answer. Her half-lidded domes lazily gazed upon me, and her giggles were sweet but silly.
“I maybe had a few before you arrived. Oh, some shots, too, thanks to Brooks buying rounds for us.”
I shot daggers from my eyes at Brooks, who grinned back. It seemed he had his hands full with Maisy, at least, who also appeared drunk and draped all over him on the dance floor.
“Wish you would have waited for me to arrive before having too many,” I scowled.
“Why? Imma big girl, and I can drink without you.” Her words slurred.
“When was the last time you were this shit-faced?”
“Hm. Years ago. I’m not usually a heavy drinker.” She hiccuped .
“Just what I figured. Chelsea, this is still the city. Two drunk sisters can find themselves in some trouble with bad elements around every corner. This isn’t Heart Hills, USA, where everyone knows your name.” Just what I needed, Chelsea getting herself into trouble.
“Holly Creek, dammit. Learn the name of my hometown, will you?” She pouted and turned quiet.
Damn. Was this our first argument, right here in the middle of the dance floor, swaying to some song about making love in a hayfield?
“Sorry,” I mumbled. There weren’t many women I’d ever had to apologize to.
“I’ve worked so hard, Rex, and just wanted to have a night to let loose, you know?” Her jade-colored irises set all innocent-like upon me. It worked, and I gave in.
“Fine. I’m here now, so I’ll watch over you. Have all the drinks you want, on me.”
“Yippee.” She jumped up on me, locking her ankles behind my back. I twirled her around at first, laughing and capturing her mouth with mine. Then I carried her off the dance floor, back to where Maisy and Brooks sat at a table.
After a few more drinks—watered down as I ordered them from the bartender—and playing a round of darts and a game of pool, I went for the bathroom. Upon returning, Maisy was half asleep, swaying with Brooks on the dance floor again, but I couldn’t find Chelsea anywhere.
I finally spotted her in a flash of yellow flannel, heading out the smoking door with someone. I rushed out after them and found it was the DJ smoking and Chelsea shivering next to her in the crisp autumn night air.
I raised an eyebrow at them. “Hey. There you are.”
“Oh, Suz, this is Rex, my handsome date,” Chelsea slurred her words and hooked elbows with me. The DJ exhaled her smoke in the opposite direction from me. Good thing, because I couldn’t stand smoke.
“Hi, Rex. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Suz held out her hand.
“How long have you been smoking?” I asked, ignoring the pleasantries.
“Um…” Her eyes shifted between me and Chelsea.
“Because smoking kills half of the users who don’t quit, in case you didn’t know. Have you ever tried to quit?” I continued my line of discussion, one I was familiar with, having been in it with dozens of other people, making it my life’s mission to get people to quit.
Chelsea pushed her locks behind one ear. “Rex, sweetie, maybe this isn’t the time or the place?—”
“Would next year be better? Another year of Suz sucking on cancer sticks, and reducing her lifespan? How many packs do you smoke a day?”
Chelsea gasped, and Suz appeared incredulous.
“None of your business, man. Chelsea, I’ll see you later.” She started toward the door, but I had something that would stop her.
“Ten thousands dollars is yours if you quit in the next thirty days,” I called out. She stopped in her tracks, half-turned and scowled at me .
“What?”
“You heard me. I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars if you quit. Hell, make it twenty.” I stood my ground.
She stomped back to me. “I won’t stop just because you throw money at me.”
“Are you sure about that? Could you use twenty thou to pay off your bills, to buy new equipment for your DJ business? Hell, quit working other jobs and try doing DJ gigs full-time?” I crossed my arms and watched her face change to realize my offer would mean a world of difference to her.
She scoffed. “What’s the catch?”
“Nothing. It’s the honor system. I’ll meet you right back here in thirty days and if you tell me you’ve quit smoking, I’ll shell out twenty thousand in cash.” I took out my phone and brought up my calendar.
“I could come back and tell you I stopped just for the money. How would you know?”
“The point is,” I shook my head. “ You’ll know. Do you believe in karma?”
“Rex, what are you doing?” Chelsea asked.
“I spent years with my father smoking, and he ended up with lung cancer. The day he died, he still smoked. I made a vow to help any smokers who came within ten feet of me stop smoking. So, Suz, yes or no? Take me up on my offer—it only comes around once.”
She inhaled in and out slowly and brushed her purple hair back with one hand. “Yeah. Okay. Fine.”
“Good.” I punched in the details into my calendar and handed her a card from my wallet. “Here’s a help center I fund in Manhattan if you need resources to help you quit. See you in thirty days.” I took Chelsea’s hand and led her back inside and didn’t stop until we were out the front door.
“You-you can’t just go around offering people money to quit smoking,” she exclaimed.
“Sure can. Just did.” I texted my driver to come get us. “I do it all the time. Since watching my dad die slowly for a few years after his diagnosis. No amount of money could pay him to stop, despite having the best medical care and treatments. He was a good man, just had this one vice he could never shake.”
“I’m so sorry about your dad.” Her hand flew to her heart. “How many people have you helped like this?”
I shrugged, never kept count. “Made the offer a few dozen times. Smoking is hard to quit, though. Only half a dozen ever came back thirty days later saying they quit. But at least that’s half a dozen I saved.”
“My God. Rex, you have a good heart, you know that?”
I snorted. “Yeah.”
“You do. Maybe other people don’t see it, but…I do.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed my mouth. Just when I went to circle my arms around her, she backed off quickly.
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no.”
“Uh-oh,” I winced, observing her creamy skin turn green. Sure enough, she bent over the bushes and hurled the contents of her stomach. I rubbed her back and held her hair.
“Take me home. I don’t feel good,” she cried .
“No. I’m taking you to my place so I can take care of you.”
“Your place?” She whispered.
“Yeah, my place.” Rarely did I have women over to my place. I didn’t like them invading my space. But with Chelsea, she turned my universe upside down.