Chapter 48
Back at her apartment, Emma changed out of the white dress.
She'd deliberately left the tag on, and she still had the receipt. Tomorrow, she planned to return it along with the rest of the clothes Lawrence had bought her.
What was she supposed to do with dresses like these in Hollow Creek?
Wear them to the grocery store?
Half the town would think she'd finally lost her mind.
Not long after, Client L sent her the hotel address.
Emma checked the distance, calculated how much time she'd need, then headed downstairs to get a ride. She reached the hotel room one minute before their scheduled time.
Perfect.
The routine was the same as always. No knocking. She used the key card to let herself in, changed clothes, then went into the bedroom.
Client L was waiting for her.
He wore his usual mask, his upper body bare.
Emma didn't pay much attention.
She was here to work.
What she didn't notice was that Leo was watching her differently tonight.
The session went smoothly, just like all the others.
Until the end.
Leo suddenly caught her wrist.
Emma frowned and immediately pulled free.
"What are you doing?" Her voice went cold. "Who gave you permission to touch me?"
Sweat slipped from beneath Leo's mask and traced a path down his throat. Red marks from her heels stood out against the pale skin of his chest.
"Master." His voice was hoarse. "Please. Let me."
"No."
Emma's answer was immediate, her tone even colder than before.
Their agreement explicitly prohibited intimate contact.
So what exactly did he think he was doing?
Leo swallowed and looked up at the woman standing over him.
The black butterfly mask covered part of her face, but somehow only made her more striking. Her lashes lifted as she looked down at him, and that single glance sent a jolt through him.
Without warning, his mind returned to the graduation performance.
Princess Vivienne.
Emma standing over the prince.
Her heel against his throat.
Before Leo could stop himself, he dropped to both knees. His hand closed around Emma's ankle as he reached for the strap of her heel, the image from the stage still burning in his mind.
This time, he wanted to be the one beneath her foot.
Emma felt the warmth of his hand around her ankle, and her expression hardened.
For one sharp second, she almost kicked him.
She stopped herself.
Barely.
Then she yanked her foot free.
"We're done."
Leo froze.
"What?"
Emma tossed the riding crop aside and headed for the door.
"Our arrangement is over."
Leo's eyes widened behind the mask.
"No."
Emma was already at the bedroom door. She opened it, stepped into the living room, and shut it behind her.
A moment later, the door opened again.
Emma turned.
The living room was brightly lit.
They had never faced each other somewhere this bright before. The dim bedroom had always been their safe zone, where masks and shadows protected both of their identities.
"Emma."
She stopped.
Then she looked back at him and gave a small smile.
"So you know my name."
The website had promised mutual anonymity, but Emma had never really believed that part.
Client L was paying far too much money and had put her through far too many screening steps to protect his identity. There was no way someone that cautious would meet a stranger alone in a hotel room without finding out who she was first.
A flicker of guilt crossed Leo's eyes, though his voice remained controlled.
"Are you sure you want to end this?"
"Yes."
Emma didn't hesitate.
He had crossed the line she'd set.
That was enough.
This arrangement wasn't like her other jobs. They met alone, behind locked doors, with no one else around. If a client decided her boundaries no longer mattered, there was no guarantee she'd be able to get out safely.
No amount of money made that risk worthwhile.
Besides, even if nothing had gone wrong tonight, this arrangement wouldn't have lasted beyond the month anyway. She was graduating soon.
Then she was going home.
Leo took a step toward her.
Under the bright lights, his shadow stretched across the floor and reached her first.
"Why?"
"Because you broke the rules."
Emma paused.
Now that she could hear him more clearly, something about his voice seemed familiar.
She just couldn't remember where she'd heard it.
Leo's jaw tightened. "You really don't want anything more with me?"
Emma shook her head.
"No."
A client was a client.
Keeping that line clear was always safer.
Leo went still. The muscles in his forearms tightened as his hands curled slightly at his sides. For a moment, it looked as though he wanted to say something else.
He didn't.
His pride wouldn't let him.
Emma left him there and went into the bathroom to change.
When she came out again, she wasn't wearing the butterfly mask.
For the first time, her face was completely uncovered in front of him.
"I assume you already know what I look like," she said. "So there's not much point in wearing this anymore."
She picked up her bag.
"And don't forget tonight's payment. You're the one who violated the agreement."
Emma smiled.
It wasn't a particularly warm smile.
She knew she was at a disadvantage in a lot of the arrangements she took. Her clients had money, influence, and resources she couldn't compete with.
That was exactly why the rules mattered.
Once a client stopped respecting them, she walked.
Fortunately, this one was over now too.
Finally.
Off the clock.
That was enough suffering for one day.
The door closed behind her.
Leo stood there for a while before sinking onto the sofa.
He reached up and removed his mask, revealing the face Emma had failed to recognize.
Leo Fontaine.
He stared at the closed door.
She really had no interest in him at all?
No.
She just didn't know who he was.
That had to be it.
If she knew the man behind the mask was Leo Fontaine, would she really walk away this easily?
He could tell her.
The thought came almost immediately.
His jaw tightened.
No.
Revealing his identity would be too risky.
He couldn't do that.
Not yet.
At his villa, Lawrence was still awake.
He lay there for a while before finally reaching for his phone.
He wanted to text Emma.
His thumb hovered over her number.
Then he frowned.
A text suddenly felt too casual. After everything he'd meant to say tonight, he didn't want their first conversation after the contract ended to happen through a screen.
Fine.
He'd call her.
Lawrence dialed her number.
The call connected for only a moment before an automated message came through.
"The person you're trying to reach is currently unavailable."
Lawrence's faint smile disappeared.