“What did you want to talk about, Ezra? I can’t stay all night.”
“Oh, I know. You’ve already made it clear how busy you are and that you have a much more important, relevant job than mine.” I sipped my drink.
He pushed aside the half-empty beer. The shot glass the bartender had given him remained full. “Are you denying it?”
“Hell yeah, I am. I serve an extremely important role in people’s lives.”
Scorn curled his lips. “Not regular people. Movie stars. People who think nothing of dropping thousands of dollars on their clothes yet turn up their noses and pass right by a person down on his luck who might need help. People who have no idea about real struggles.”
If you only touched the surface, Monroe wasn’t necessarily wrong. Many of my clients were privileged beyond belief. A number of them had come from poor backgrounds and chose to forget. Some gave back. But there were others, young men and women I took a personal interest in, who had no idea how cutthroat the business could be. Potential victims waiting to be eaten alive by unsavory predators clothed in thousand-dollar suits and false smiles, who thought nothing of promising naïve young hopefuls the moon and stars while all along planning to use them until they served no further purpose.
Those young people were the ones I considered my most important clients. I found them, signed them, and made sure they’d never be taken advantage of again. Sunny, my assistant, had been one of them, as well as Drey, who was now on his way to Rome for his first modeling job.
“And you know this, how? Have you seen my client list? Do you know their net worth?” With each word my voice rose. “My clients are more than a percentage to me and are mostly unknowns when I sign them. I take a personal interest in everyone I work with and make sure they’re treated well. On every shoot, I send a chaperone with each young model who doesn’t have a parent with them, and even sometimes if they do, to protect them from unscrupulous people. I make sure they’re tested yearly and all have medical coverage.” By this time, I was shaking with anger. “You sit there with your books, hiding in your classroom, while looking down your nose at everyone and passing judgment. Is that what you’ve been doing all these years?” I tossed back my drink and pushed up from my chair. “I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough for you, Roe. I didn’t go to grad school, didn’t get a professional degree. I never was as smart as you. I should’ve known.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel, and head down, barreled toward the door. I ran full tilt into the sexy bartender, who wrapped his arms around me to keep from getting knocked down.
“Mmm. If he doesn’t want you, come home with me, Daddy. I’ll even let you tie me up and spank me if it’ll make you feel better.” His mouth hovered inches from my lips, and his slim body pressed against me, the thrust of his surprisingly thick erection leaving no doubt of his interest.
Annoyed over losing control of my temper and once again not talking the past out with Roe, I patted the young man’s cheek. “Sorry, but you’re not the right guy for me.”
He jerked his head toward Monroe. “And he is?” he said petulantly, still grasping me around the waist.
I glanced over at Roe, who watched me from across the bar, a humorless smile thinning his lips. I was sure he expected me to take this kid home and fuck him senseless. Why the hell did I lose my head around him the moment we got within breathing distance?
“I don’t know anymore.”
Chapter Four
“So, are you seeing that Ezra?” Grandma Nettie asked and picked a card. On Sundays, I brought in bagels and lox, and we played poker. My mother and I had mimosas, and my grandmother was given one whiskey on the rocks, which she savored for hours. “Ha.” She placed her cards face up. “Three sevens.” She reached for the pile of pennies.
“Not so fast, young lady.” I showed her my hand, fanning it out. “Full house. I believe the pot is mine.” I brushed the coins to my side of the table. My mother had tossed in her hand earlier and was in the kitchen making coffee.
“Hmph.” Her bright-eyed gaze swept over the table. “If you weren’t my grandson, I’d accuse you of cheating. I could swear I saw that queen already.” She handed me her cards. “Another hand? And you didn’t answer my question. Are you?”
Stalling, I gathered the deck and began to shuffle. “Am I what?”
“I see. Don’t think because I’m old that you can fool me. I’m no dope.”
“Grandma, you’re sharper than most people I know. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Before answering, she picked up her tumbler and swallowed a healthy gulp. Smacking her lips, she set the glass on the table with athump. “You don’t? And here I’m always bragging about my brilliant grandson the professor who helps people.”
“Thank you, Grandma, that’s sweet.”
“You cut me off before I could finish. Don’t thank me yet; you’re probably going to get angry.” Her fingers tightened around her glass. “I wanted to say you help people, yet when it comes to your life, you can’t help yourself and you shut everyone out. You think we haven’t noticed that since Ezra showed up last month you’re worse than ever? You know, you were named for my father, Menachem, may he rest in peace. Also a brilliant, good man but stubborn like a donkey.Ai yi yi.” She shook her head and took another drink.
It could’ve been worse. She might’ve called me an ass.
“Grandma, you’re talking in circles.”
“I am? Let me set you straight, then.”
Trapped, I wondered how quickly I could escape.
“I know what you’re thinking. You wish you never came over today, and you know what? Maybe you shouldn’t have. Your mother and I were talking about it the other night, and we agreed we place too much of a burden on you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I come to see you because I love you both.”
