“I’m going to start working on some fake identities for us, myself, just in case this contact of Jack's doesn’t come through. He’s done a good job of making you a perfect duchess, but we have to have a plan B. Once we leave, we don’t want there to be any possible way of Jonah finding us.” Selena proves she’s not been getting much rest when she stretches out her arms and yawns
“I have a plan in place to ensure he won’t be looking for us,” I promise.
“Yeah, well, I’d like to hear it; you know that son of a bitch will be gunning for all of us the second he gets out.” Selena sits back up like she’s intrigued.
“Not if we’re all dead.” I watch her and Sophia’s eyes widen in shock, and their open mouths morph into a smile.
“I like your way of thinking, Mrs. Ravenshaw.” Selena reaches over the coffee table to fist pump me. “Hey, maybe we could all crash in your husband's private jet.”
“My husband has a private jet?” NowI’mthe one who’s shocked.
“Your husband has to access his own island somehow,” she tells me cleverly. “Are you sure you’re going to want to leave him when the time comes?”
“Trust me, leaving Jack won’t be a problem,” I lie to them, and to myself, as I help myself to a custard cream.
JACK
“You're doing a good thing here, Jack.” Bea swivels on the desk chair, like a boss. “The girls are all really grateful.”
“I’m grateful to you for overseeing it all. I’ve been a little preoccupied at home,” I admit. Having Gracie so close but untouchable is proving to be a challenge, but I’m determined to respect her wishes. It’s just hard to do when all I want is to put my fucking hands on her. I miss our intimacy; I miss that sense of ease we used to have around each other. Now it feels as if we spend all our time avoiding one another.
The woman is carrying my child. It’s natural for me to want to be close to her; I want to protect her, care for her, but at the same time, I'm petrified that I’ll push things too far and scare her further away.
“I totally get it. I swear, Alex and Olivia are still in their honeymoon period.” She rolls her eyes but smiles fondly.
“I just need someone I can trust; someone who the girls can relate to until I find someone suitable to run this place. The guy Alex recommended was good, but I thought the girls would feel more comfortable talking to you.” I look down at the list she’s made of the things the girls told her would make their lives here easier.
“I much prefer these kick-ass women to the ones I have to hang around with at all those fancy-assed parties. Did you know Elizabeth is havinganothergarden party next month?” She shakes her head and rests back in the chair.
“And what does your brother think about your new role?” I ask, hoping that he wasn’t offended that I asked her for help over his recommendation.
“He said he would never have sold to your father if he knew it was a business I wanted to be in…which it isn’t, by the way,” she points out before I get any ideas.
“So why are you here?” I ask curiously.
“Your speech was compelling, and after speaking to the girls, I’ve learnt it was accurate. Most of them are just trying to earn the best they can to get by. If I can help them do that safely, then I’m all in. Though you still have to convince your financial advisor of the new rules, he’s an arrogant prick,” she tells me.
“The club already charges the client a room fee; the bar sales alone cover the overheads on this place. Those girls deserve to get every penny they earn and be able to do it safely.” I like to think I’m playing a small part in fixing my father’s mistakes.
“Your mum would be proud of you.” Bea smiles, surprising me by turning unexpectedly sentimental.
“You didn’t know my mother.” I let her see how confused I am.
“I know, but I can see she did her best to raise you into a good person, and I get the sense her opinion is the only one that would ever really matter to you, except, of course, your wife, who, by the way, is disgustingly beautiful.” She sniggers.
“I don’t think my mum would be proud of the fact I’ve taken over the family sex club.” I shake my head and laugh, refusing to let this turn into a deep and meaningful conversation about her.
“You're being accountable, Jack. Alex regrets selling the place to your dad; he didn’t do his due diligence, and he basedhis decision on trust. He had no idea how it was going to turn out, and if you had closed the club, these girls would have nowhere to go. They’d have to work the street. You're fixing what your father broke and, for that, she’d be proud of you.”
“Yeah, well, let's hope so.” I place the list back in front of her. “Hire yourself a manager to see that all this gets sorted,” I tell her, checking the time. It’s been two hours since I dropped Gracie off at the apartment, and that, in my opinion, was far too long ago.
“Tell Grace I said hi, and congratulations.” Bea winks.
“How did yo–”
“I overheard her and Olivia talking on the phone a few weeks ago; you really didn’t waste any time, did you?” she laughs.
“Gracie doesn't want anyone to know just yet, so we’d appreciate your discretion.”
