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“No, I’m not, but that doesn’t even matter. You’re not a bad person because you’re an escort, Jenny.” Audrey’s eyes were huge in her face. “I know you used to waitress—so did I. Good luck paying rent in the city on tips. It’s not exactly like either of us had a trust fund to fall back on, or a degree, or aparent.”
“I know all that.” I blew out a deep breath. “But I got a history, Audrey. I’m no good for someone like Cole.”
“Cole’s probably got a history, too,” she quipped. “And just because he’s rich doesn’t make him any better than you.”
We stared at each other for a beat. “Rich people don’t have the same kinda problems, though, you know?” I asked.
Audrey nodded. “I know. But look at James’s mother. Is she any better than us because she was born rich? I don’t think so.”
Celia Preston had been arrested for hiring someone to get rid of a young woman James had dated when he was young. The woman, Danielle, died in a car accident after being run off the road. It was a cold case, but the Boston police department had recently reopened it. Celia had been arrested and released on bail. She hadn’t been formally indicted yet, but James believed that his mother was directly involved in Danielle’s death.
“Of course not—Celia Preston’s the devil,” I said. I shivered and crossed myself. “But that’s not even what I’m talking about. What I mean is that sometimes you do things because you’re poor that you would never do if you were rich. Like hooking. I don’t know many financially independent hookers, do you?”
“No,” Audrey said. “But just because you need money to eat and keep a roof over your head doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. You’re the one who taught me that.”
“Yeah, well, maybe stop throwing it in my face, then.” I finished my coffee. “Let’s go pet some buffalo, okay? I don’t want to argue with my BFF about the morality of being a prostitute!”
The server jerked his head in our direction, and I grimaced. “I guess I should be a little quieter,” I said.
Audrey arched an eyebrow. “Good thing we basically own the place.”
“Ha, yeah. Good thing.” We hopped up and headed to the lobby, where we were supposed to meet our guide for the day.
“I forgot my sunglasses—let me run and get them,” Audrey said. “Meet you in the lobby.”
I headed in the opposite direction, smiling when my phone buzzed. Cole must’ve finally woken up. “Hello?” I said brightly.
“Jennifer, this is Lewis Bryson.”
“I can’t talk right now?—”
“Don’t hang up,” he interrupted, sounding angry. “Where are you?”
I stopped walking. “Hold on.” I found an empty room off the hall, a study lined with books and leather chairs, and closed the door behind me. “What do you want?”
“I want to know where you are.”
“In Wyoming. At a resort with James and Audrey.” My mouth was dry, my head pounding.
“I meantwhereat the resort,” Lewis spat.
I looked around, suddenly afraid that he would jump out at me. “Why?”
“Because I have a deal that’s falling apart. My son isn’t answering his phone, and he’s on a very short leash.” He paused. “I’m rethinking our agreement. Cole hasn’t been as responsive asI’d hoped. You were supposed to help me, but you’re only being a distraction.”
“What do you mean? We went away for a couple of days, that’s all. He’s not avoiding you. I already told you about that whole conversation between him and Ramos,” I said. More than anything, I wanted to protect Cole.
“I don’t need you speaking on my son’s behalf,” Lewis seethed. “That’s not part of our agreement. I need you to get him to help me, Jennifer. I have a significant client who is about to bail on our business arrangement if Cole doesn’t come through for me this morning. So you will guide him, or I will lend your aunt my helicopter and drop her off in Wyoming at your resort.
“I know she went to see you at Fifty Liberty,” he continued. “That was also outside of our agreement. You are bringing trash into my son’s life, Jennifer. That’s not allowed. I can see I’ve made a mistake by letting you return.”
“What do you want for me? I don’t even know anything about Cole’s business. I can’t make him do anything for you,” I sputtered. “This isn’t fair. You said I could come back, and you might ask me for information. Here’s the information: my aunt showed up and surprised me, and it wasn’t a welcome surprise. You asked me to listen in on Cole’s call and tell you what he said, and I did. And then we went on this trip. There’s nothing else going on, and there’s nothing I can do.”
“That’s not true,” Cole’s father said. “I want you to tell my son to help me. Tell him you’ve been thinking about it, and you’re worried you’re distracting him from his work. Say something, anything, to get him to focus on this. I don’t care if he has to pay Ramos off; I’ll fix it all later. I need my approvals today. Otherwise, all hell is going to break loose.”
He hung up.
Fuck.I stared at the walls of the library, unseeing. I felt trapped. I didn’t know what Cole’s father would do to me if Iignored him—aside from sending Auntie Theresa to Wyoming to ruin my life. He might have some other tricks up his sleeve, too.