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Once he left, I headed for the shower. I was still hungover, but a plan was forming in my mind. As a venture capitalist, I always had to deal with seemingly impossible situations. I always managed to make them work. I always won.
One thing I had going for me? I was one persuasive motherfucker. Jenny had left without giving me a chance to reason with her.
I needed that chance.
She really might not want me anymore—maybe she never did. Perhaps it was all a game. I didn’t want to believe that, but I needed to see for myself before I could let her go. I needed to be sure.
Once I finished in the shower, I sent a quick text to Elena, the Madam of AccommoDating. I told her what I wanted: Jenny to be my hired date for James and Audrey’s wedding. I made an exceptionally generous offer that my escort couldn’t refuse.
I would get her back. And then I would see, once and for all if what we had was real.
If all Jenny had ever wanted was to play me? So be it.
I was first-string, varsity, first-round draft material.
So let the motherfucking games begin.
JENNY
The wine hadn’t helped,so I’d moved on to chocolate. Dark chocolate usually helped me think straight, but I felt like a robot today. Open the candy wrapper, insert the chocolate into mouth, chew, and swallow. Repeat.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Cole. I missed him so much.
I’d never wanted to fall in love. I hadn’t thought it was possible for a girl like me. I’d always wondered if the “soulmate” thing was real or nonsense. But now I knew the truth. I’d experienced it for myself—a soulmate, one person to call your own. A husband, a life partner, whatever you wanted to call it.Iwanted to call it a husband. That’s because I was traditional at heart, even though you’d never know it. After all, I was a hooker. But I wanted to get married. I wanted a family. I wanted to have one person love me and protect me.
Now I knew who that one person was, which made everything worse. I could never have Cole. We would never have a home with kids and a dog. I would never live happily ever after with the love of my life, who was also my best friend.
It felt like a knife was twisting in my heart. I mindlessly took another bite of chocolate. Chew. Swallow. Repeat.
My phone rang. It was Elena, my former boss, the Madam at AccommoDating, Inc. “Hello, Jenny,” she said briskly.
Her tone immediately had me on edge. “Hey, Elena. What’s up?”
“I need you to come to the office. As soon as possible.” She sounded tense.
“Um.” I bit my lip. “I quit, remember? I don’t want to take any more jobs.” I’d go back to waiting tables at Sizzler before I’d ever hook again!
“Oh, I remember,” the Madam said. “That’s what I need to talk to you about. There’s a problem.”
My stomach sank. “What kind of problem?”
“The kind that requires our immediate attention. I’ll be waiting for you.” She hung up before I could argue.
Sighing, I dragged myself off the bed and got dressed. I splashed cold water on my face and put on mascara for the first time in days. I might not work for Elena anymore, but I owed her. The only reason I had money in my bank account was because she’d given me a job.
What was the problem she was talking about? I didn’t need any more problems! Unease settled over me. But, as I had nowhere to go and nothing else to do, I locked up my apartment and headed back to AccommoDating, Inc.
Elena greetedme at the entrance. She wore a navy pantsuit with high heels, flawless makeup, including her signature maroon lipstick, and a frown.Uh-oh.
“Hello, Jenny,” she said.
“Hey, Elena. What’s up?”
She hustled me inside, and I was grateful for the office’s cool, dry interior. “Cole Bryson texted me earlier.”
My heart started pounding. “Oh.” I tried to sound disinterested.
“He said he’d like to hire you again.” She watched my expression carefully.