“Fucking shit!” I yelped, almost jumping off the bed. I glanced at the trout pout, who twirled a piece of hair, frantically batting her eyelashes as if that would make up for the shitty sex. “Watch your fucking teeth. Are you trying to bite it off?” I scoffed, running my hands through my hair.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. There it was. The pout, a nipple reveal, and some pussy rubbing.
“Get up, love. Let’s go to the restaurant,” I said.
“Are you sure you don’t want more?”
I shook my head.
“Will you let me drive your Porsche?”
What the heck? Was she mad?I shook my head again. “Nope.”
“Aww, c’mon, Scotty. Pretty please? Puh-lease?” Vanessa whined.
“No. Let’s get this bloody date over and done with,” I muttered under my breath.
I got up to get dressed and shooed Vanessa toward the living room. Just as I reached the knob of the walk-in wardrobe, I noticed my phone buzzed. Hoping it was Vera, I checked my messages. It was a missed call from Erin. Didn’t the woman understand she needed to leave me alone? Shaking my head, I threw the phone on my bed.
THE HUNTRESS
Vera
Nine p.m.
“So, do I get to meet this new guy?” Saph asked, sitting on the sofa in the apartment we shared. An old episode ofThe Apprenticeaired on the television screen in the background.
“Umm, no. It’s nothing serious.” I tucked my chin in and avoided eye contact, letting the loose hair fall on my face. “He rang me this morning, but it was more of a courtesy call after our date last week.”
“As long as he’s treating you well,” Saph replied, swirling her wine glass.
“Yes, Mom,” I replied sardonically, sipping my glass of red wine. It was a middle-of-the-range Merlot, perfect for a night-in on a Saturday evening. “Why aren’t you and Jules hanging out tonight?”
“He’s, umm, occupied.”
“Oh?”
“Uh, yeah. We decided to try an open relationship, and he’s seeing someone tonight,” Saph replied. I noticed the prickles of pain in her gem-like eyes and wondered how long their relationship would last if my brother continued sleeping with other people.
“Are you keeping your options open since Jules is seeing other people?” I asked her. I suspected he was with his mystery woman, who’d pay him for whatever tricks he performed for her.
“I’m open to all options,” Saph replied. “Vera, I hear your phone ringing from your room. It’s rung several times.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I think someone wants you badly tonight. Could it be Mister X? Or Mister Y? Or the mysteriousMister Z?” Saph chuckled.
“Alright, hun. I’ll check who’s calling,” I chirped. Removing my butt from the sofa, I kissed Saph’s pretty forehead and strolled into my bedroom. I snatched the phone from my bed and saw three missed calls from Alistair Scott.
Alistair
Eleven p.m.
Vera, Vera. Where are you, sweetheart?
I drank my malt whiskey to pass the time as I lazed on the leather sofa at Paulo’s Bar. My right foot had a life of its own, tapping to the jazzy music at the upmarket club. Glancing at my reflection in the window, I saw a nervous man with taut cheeks. I looked around and noticed two women, absolute dolls, rolling their hips and shoulders as they eyed me from top to toe. No doubt, their eyes caught the shine of my Cartier Trinity bracelet,a symbol of men’s style and elegance, and, of course, my Rolex watch.
What happened to Vanessa? Well, let’s just say I cut dinner short and told my driver to take her home. Vanessa lied to me about her age. I thought she was twenty-one, but she didn’t have a legitimate ID card when I ordered wine. She had just turned eighteen, barely legal.
