Which translates to:I need a break from the clients who want to aggressively fuck me.
Thankfully, Amara understands what I’m saying. She knows everything about every client of the agency, and as someone who did this job herself, she can read between the lines and doesn’t fight me on it.
“Alright, mia cara, I’ll take care of it. Enjoy the rest of your day, okay? Maybe next time, I’ll join you on your adventure.”
I almost laugh. I feel affection toward Amara, but the idea of hanging out with her for a whole day… I’m not so sure about that.
“Thanks, Amara. I’ll talk to you later.”
After I’m done sleeping with a differentclient who isn’t as bad as my other ones but whose appointment I still need to grimace my way through.
I deboard the bus with an exhausted sigh and head home.
SEVENTEEN
NICO
Three days later, I’m still catching myself randomly smiling at the memory of my date with Scarlett.
I’m shocked she agreed to the date, especially without knowing what I had planned. Hell,Iwas nervous for what I had planned. I had no idea if she’d enjoy it or ask to leave as soon as we got there.
I don’t know which one of us was more surprised when shedidenjoy it.
I want, so badly, to know how she ended up where she is today. What scarred her so badly that she ended up as an escort in NYC? Not that you have to have trauma to be a sex worker, but hers is so obvious that it’s not a question. Was it some kind of abuse at home? Or did something happen when she got to the city?
Every time I see her, I have to fight the urge to hug her and beg her to tell me everything. Just so I can fight her demons.
I let out a shaky exhale as I turn back to the meal I’m cooking, trying to move past my troubled thoughts. I have no right to save her. No right to be worried about her. All I can do is appreciate the time I’m given with her.
Thatthought adds a little pep to my movements.
I’ve just pulled the steak off the cast iron pan when I hear my front door unlock and swing open. I turn to look, but I already know who it is.
“I gave you that key for emergencies,” I grumble at Lucas before turning back to my food.
“Trust me, this is an emergency I needed to be in-person for,” he retorts, strolling into my condo and immediately throwing himself down on my couch. I see the moment he notices the shift in my usual atmosphere because he frowns and asks, “Are you listening to jazz music?”
I don’t bother answering that. “So, what is it that couldn’t be a phone call?”
When he doesn’t answer right away, I turn to face him. He’s looking out the window, bouncing one foot that’s crossed over the other.
“I heard the most interesting thing today,” he says after a moment. Finally, he turns to look at me. “I called your PR girl to see how the foster footage turned out, and she seemed pleased with how things came out. As inverypleased.”
“So? Isn’t that what you wanted?”
He nods. “It is. But I was curious aboutwhyit was so good. So I asked her to send it to me.”
My mind starts to spin.Scarlett wasn’t in any of the videos, right?I figured she wouldn’t want to be, so I wasn’t surprised when she made the request. I’m pretty sure I kept her out of everything.
Didn’t I?
Before I panic, a video sounds from Lucas’s phone.
“It looks like Boss has a big thing for our camera girl and can’t seem to stay focused.”A loud burst of Scarlett’s laughter.“Not that I can blame him.”
Lucas puts the phone down and quirks an eyebrow at me. “Anything you’d like to tell me, little brother?”
I fidget with the salad tongs in front of me. “No,” I say gruffly.
