Chapter 1 #2
Some people are so clumsy. She lifts her head, and her hair drops away from her face. Hmm, she is cute. She stands up and looks down at her dress, and it’s covered in champagne. Someone hands her a towel. I almost laugh at how absurd this woman is.
“Hello?”
“Shit, sorry. I am watching, I think, the world’s clumsiest woman. Shit, she almost hit the bellboy.”
Cole snickers. “See anyone tall, blonde, and breathtakingly beautiful yet?”
My gaze searches the room. “Nope.”
As Cole continues talking, I see the tornado in the green dress walking toward me.
“Anushka is blonde, correct?” I ask. My heart beats faster. No, please don’t let it be her.
“Yup, the lightest blue eyes you would ever see.”
Just as I am about to ask more, the tornado stops in front of me. “Roman Voss?”
She has an accent. She called my name. She’s singing it.
“Who is that you’re talking to?” Cole asks.
“A mistake. Let me call you back.” I hang up and stand to have a better look at this woman.
I look down at her outstretched hands. “You’re late, and you are not Anushka.”
She smiles tightly and pushes her hair behind her ear. “Apologies. I agreed, but I am her stand-in only for the night. Hi, I am Noelle. I know I am—”
“That’s not what I asked for. You are not what I asked for.” Rage feels like it’s bubbling up inside of me. This was a fucking mistake. Telling a lie as big as this. What the hell do I do? I already told my family I am engaged. Fuck Liam for egging me, and now…
I feel a soft hand touch my arm. Its warmth penetrates my blazer. The smell of warm honey and vanilla surrounds me. I almost groan in delight.
“Hey there. You are mumbling to yourself,” Noelle says. I look down at her palm on my jacket, and everything in me feels…calm. What the hell?
I pull away and sit in the chair. She follows and sits in the chair in front of me. Thankfully, there is a table separating us.
“Okay, so I know I am not your choice. I am here to take notes for Anushka,” she says and pulls out her leather-bound folder and opens it. There is no pen in the little pen holder.
“Shit, where is my pen?” Noelle mumbles as she digs in her bag.
God, she was a mess. I could offer her the pen in my jacket, but what sense would that make?
Everything about this situation is annoying the hell out of me.
I am annoyed that she is late. I hate that she is not the woman I asked for.
And I fucking hate that I am here like a pathetic loser paying for an escort to act as my date.
She holds up a gold pen in the air. “Ha! I found it. Let’s go. Tell me about yourself.”
Her eyes are large and clear, almost cartoon-like. Cute nose, thick puckered lips. She is beautiful; she just needs fixing. Maybe she can work instead of Anushka. What am I even thinking?
“Would you like anything to drink? Madame? Sir?” The waiter stands beside us. I gesture for her to go first.
She reaches across the table, takes my empty glass, and brings it to her nose. With her eyes closed, she inhale.
“Right, we’d like to have another glass of Macallan Whiskey.” She sniffs again. “It smells like the Harmony collection. And water for me.”
Both the waiter and I stare at her in amazement.
“Sir?”
I nod to the waiter. “What she said.”
“How did you do that?” I was curious; she guessed my drink by smelling an empty glass.
She shrugs casually. “It’s a family thing. Now let’s get down to business.”
I exhale. “I don’t like it when someone takes my time for granted. Rules must be followed.”
NOELLE
He is stiffer than a starched shirt. “You’re late,” “you’re not what I wanted,” or “Rules must be followed.” I want to say shut up. But for Anushka’s sake, I smile through it.
Roman Voss, unfortunately, is Ralph-Lauren-rich-boy-on-the-coast pretty. You know, that classic-Americana-old-money-great-DNA look.
When I saw him from a distance, my jaw dropped, and I didn’t see the waiter, and well, the rest is history.
Champagne glasses were flying all because of the man sitting spread eagle with a phone by his ear.
He didn’t even look welcoming. Dark brown hair combs away from his face, a straight nose holds up thin gold-frame glasses, which in turn, highlights his deep green eyes.
It doesn’t help that he has pussy lips. At least that’s what my cousin calls men with a thick bottom lip and bow-like top lip. All in all, Roman “Stick-Up-His-Ass” Voss was unfortunately a gorgeous man.
He is the kind of man that makes me want to choke him when he talks and climb him when he is silent.
“Noelle, is it? Are you even paying attention?” He asks. His nose flares, but his eyes rove my body, and there is heat in them.
I swallow. “Sorry, yes. Anushka will be available to you in two days—” Before I can continue, he chimes in.
“That can’t do. I need someone from tomorrow night until Christmas, so two weeks,” Roman says, his hand gripping the side of the table. Without thinking, I reach over the table and ease his hand off.
I hold it for a couple of seconds, looking at him in his emerald eyes as I say, “Listen, whatever the problem is, I am here to help you take care of it. Now, tell me the problem.”
He looks down at my fingers, and he takes them into his palm. Slowly, he lets it go and leans back in his chair.
Roman’s touch leaves my fingers tingling. I pull it away quickly and clear my throat.
“Tessa has always been in my life. She is a childhood friend, and when we got older, she became my girlfriend. Then we broke up, and now my little brother is marrying her.” His face remains unreadable.
“What the hell? Your brother is marrying your ex? Your brother sounds shady as hell.” I cover my mouth. “I am so sorry.”
Roman shrugs, and his shoulders look wider than before. Jesus, he is fine.
“There is nothing to apologize for. Anyway, I needed an escort to…” He breaks off as the waiter places our drinks on the table and leaves. “To act as my fake fiancée.”
I feel my jaw slacken and squint. “Why do you need an escort for that, though? Get a friend.”
“Do you truly work for Prestige Partners? You are not doing a good job at trying to attain me.” He lifts the glass and sips his drink.
Shit, my mouth is running away again. I fold my lips, trying to regain my sensibility.
“Prestige Partners is a great choice, we are the best companion service. Anushka will be able to fulfill your request; she will be available the day after tomorrow. She—”
“Again that can’t do. I need someone from tomorrow evening, so we can arrive at the house looking happy.”
Shit, shit. “Um, why? I mean, she can meet you there. Create a backstory. She’s a model, and she is out of town.”
He shakes his head. “I already said no.”
“Right.” I look down at my page and begin to scribble, trying to formulate an idea.
“What about you?”
My body becomes alert. “What about me?”
“Stand,” he commands, flicking his fingers.
“No. I am not an escort. I am a coordinator. I am not the girl for the job,” I state.
“And I said ‘stand.’ Again, you are wasting time. You do work for Prestige Partners, do you not?”
“True—”
“I am a well-paying client. You can lose your job because of me.” He shrugs like he didn’t just threaten my job. A job that treats and pays me well.
“You’re a jackass,” I reply, gripping the side of my seat.
“What I am shouldn’t be your concern. Stand.” He flicks two fingers when he says the word “stand.”
This motherfu— No. I have to keep this job. I push back my chair and stand. There is something irritating about having a man command you. I have no idea how the girls do it.
He swirls his finger in a circle. “Turn around.”
“There is something humiliating about having a man tell me to stand in the middle of a bar and then twirl.” Shit, I close my eyes, trying to remain calm. “I’m going to the bathroom and—”
I hear a chuckle, and I open my eyes. Lia is going to kill me.
“You will do.” He stands and drops some money on the table.
“Excuse me?” I clutch my neck.
Roman stops at my side, shifts my arm, and pulls hard at my dress.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I screech. Roman takes my hand and places a white and blue Ross tag in my hand.
“I will contact Lia. I will see you tomorrow.” Then he leaves, just like that. Leaving me standing and squeezing the crap out of the tag.
“My flabber have never been this much gasted.” I turn just in time to see him leave through the crowded lobby.
***
I storm into my apartment, still both embarrassed and upset. My green dress still has splotches of dried champagne on it, and the cheap scent of Donovan is still on my body.
My phone buzzes in my bag. It doesn’t take me long to retrieve it. Of course it’s Lia.
“Lia.”
“So, you met Mr. Voss. He was impressed. So impressed that he doesn’t want Anushka.”
I drop my bag on the mustard sofa and begin to pace. “Met him? More like I endured him. Don’t get me wrong, he is fine. Like, fine. But he had me stand in the middle of a bar, which I can’t believe that I did, like I was auditioning for a reality TV show.”
Lia chuckles. “Kukolka.”
“Yeah, then he stands and says ‘You’ll do.’ Excuse me? I’ll do? Lia, I am not a side dish.”
“I agree. You are a whole delicious meal,” Lia says. Her Russian accent is thicker tonight. “This man is important to me, kukolka. Plus, he pays very well.”
Pays well? Lia is kidding, right?
“Lia, I don’t care if he shits gold bricks out of his platinum asshole. I’m not the girl for him. Have Anushka be at his side tomorrow.”
“She cannot.”
I stop pacing. “Lia, I have seen you pull off the impossible. Come on.”
“Malishka, my hands are tied.” Lia pauses. “He needs a fiancée by tomorrow evening. Just think, two weeks in luxury for Christmas.”
I don’t answer because I am not going.
“You owe student loans, yes?”
I sit up. “Wow, you really are going there.”
I hear a small snicker.
“I will pay off your student loans and down-payment the luxury condo in Lakeshore.”
I shake my head. “No, Lia.”
Lia huffs. “Fine, I will pay for the condo and your loans, and I will give you fifty percent of the money Roman is paying. Think of it: other than sitting in that box apartment for the holidays, you can be smiling, eating cookies, and wearing a beautiful red dress for Christmas. Think of it as…community service. You will be helping poor Roman’s pride as he saves your bank account. ”
“Save my ass,” I mutter.
“Or you can always go back to Trinidad and talk to your father.”
I press the heel of my hand into my eye. I hated her logic and that she knew so much. I hate that she was making sense.
“Sixty, and I would say yes.”
Lia cackles over the phone. “Deal. You should have gone for eighty.”
“I’m going to regret this,” I mutter.
“No, kukolka,” Lia purred. “You’re going to be fabulous. Now let me send you the money and details.”