An hour or so passes by. We eat our meal, some kindof posh chicken dish followed by a delicious chocolate dessert. I’ve had three beers and started to relax. The conversation has been awkward on my part, not really adding anything to it. Even if I wanted to it would be impossible as Sarah has not shut the fuck up, talking about everything and anything, while looking at Ethan like he has hung the moon. But Ethan looks indifferent, his face gives nothing away. I question if he has actually listened to a word she has said.
“Wow. What an amazing meal, Ethan. I could get used to this,” Sarah says, grinning from ear to ear, one hundred percent focused on our host.
Ethan doesn’t acknowledge her, but I note the tightening of his jaw, which is the most interaction we have had out of him this evening. He is holding back. Sarah is pissing him off and I'm not sure if it’s the alcohol, but that pleases me. But the beer has also loosened my tongue, as I now have the courage to speak up. Boss or not.
“So Ethan. You said you lied to get us here, why? What is the real reason you invited me here?” I ask, and I am proud of the confident way in which I asked. Not sure Ethan is impressed, but he always looks at me with that vacant stare so I guess I'll never know.
“Ethan!” Sarah gasps. “Don’t be rude. I’m so sorry, Ethan. He’s had too much to drink,” she says, talking about me again like I’m an annoying child.
“Don’t speak for him. It’s a fair question,” Ethan says, as Sarah’s eyes widen at the harsh response. I take more pleasure than I should at his curt response.
“I like someone who gets straight down to business, Leo. So I will be direct with you both.”
My stomach churns with the meal and beer swirling around like a washing machine. The nerves make the nausea give me heartburn. Why did I say anything? I’m scared of the response. But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for what he was about to say.
“I’d like to offer you one million dollars.”
The words fall softly. Casually.
Sarah lets out a sharp, breathless laugh. “Oh —”
“For one night,” Ethan continues.
You could hear a pin drop from the quiet that fills this expansive room. The meaning settles into the room like smoke. Sarah’s face changes into stages of confusion, calculation, then a sudden understanding that lands crooked and ugly.
“With… me?” she asks and the glee in her voice confirms the state of our marriage. We have no fucking marriage. The lust in her eyes tells me she would fuck him right now on this very table in front of me.
“You want to fuck my wife? Are you insane?” I snarl in disbelief. How fucking dare this arrogant fucker think he can buy people.
I watch Ethan, when he finally looks at her. It’s the kind of glance someone gives to furniture that’s in the way.
“No,” he says. The word is flat and final.
“I don’t understand,” Sarah starts to say before Ethan cuts her off.
“I want Leo.”
The room tilts. He wants what now? Me? Am I alive right now as I’m pretty sure my heart has just stopped.
“What?” I ask, completely shocked and thrown off balance. The nausea I felt before has tripled. I look over at Sarah whose mouth is open so wide, you can see her tonsils. So it’s true. He did just offer money, for a night with me like I’m some kind of whore. I’m horrified, embarrassed and so uncomfortable that if there were an open window, I would jump.
I look back at Ethan who turns fully toward me, slow and deliberate. His attention is physical and heavy. I want to run.
“I want you,” he says quietly. “For one night.”
Sarah stands halfway from her chair.
“This is sick. You inviteushere and…”
“I invited you because he belongs to you,” Ethan interrupts, irritation flashing for the first time. “Legally, socially, and that complicates acquisition.”
I’ve frozen in time. Is this actually happening right now?
Sarah laughs again, and it’s brittle in delivery.
“Acquisition? Do you hear yourself? You’re insane.”
“Possibly. But you were not this offended when you thought the proposal was for your body.”
