Page 22 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis (In The Heart of A Valentine #17)

Chapter

Fourteen

NAOMI

The raspberry rose silk shined off the light as I lifted it from the rack, holding it against my body in the three-way mirror at Saks.

The dress was stunning, off-the-shoulder with a fitted bodice that would hug every curve before flowing into an elegant train.

It was exquisite for the Children’s Hospital benefit.

And would make me look divine on Nathan’s arm as he tried to impress donors.

I tried to stay focus on that train of thought but my mind continued drive back the fact that I had spent the last three days falling deeper in love with another man entirely.

“That color is divine on you,” the sales associate gushed, appearing beside me. He had to say that. He was working on commission, but still, he was right.

“It brings out the richness in your skin tone.”

I nodded, turning sideways to study the fit. The dress would shine in photos. Nathan would be pleased. The other wives and girlfriends at the gala would hate me in the best possible way.

So why did I feel indifferent looking at my reflection? Especially when Christian’s hands would be unzipping this dress at the end of the night .

I knew what it was, however. I wanted Christian’s eyes watching me get ready and standing beside me, proud to have me on his arm .

But Christian wouldn’t be there. Nathan would. And I’d play the role I’d perfected over the years—sophisticated, charming, just attentive enough to make my date look desirable without being so captivating that I upstaged him.

“Would you like to try it on?” the sales associate asked.

“Please.”

In the fitting room, I slipped out of my jeans and sweater, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

My body still conveyed traces of Italy. My melanin was a bit darker from our truffle hunting adventure.

There was a small scratch on my forearm from when I’d climbed that tree escaping the wild boar.

It was evidence of the most perfect weekend of my life.

“Stop it, Naomi. That weekend is over,” I murmured.

The dress slid over my hips easy, the silk cool against my heated skin. I reached behind to zip it, but my fingers struggled with the hidden closure. For a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined Christian’s hands there instead, warm and caressing, taking his time.

“Is everything okay in there?” the associate asked.

“I’m okay,” I said, getting the zipper up.

The dress fit like it had been tailored for me. The raspberry rose complemented my dark skin, and the cut emphasized my waist while the skirt flowed down my legs. I looked elegant.

It was what Nathan Bullard was paying for.

My phone buzzed against the bench where I’d left my purse. I glanced at the screen, expecting Journey or Frankie checking in about lunch plans.

Instead, it was Tamara, probably checking in to make sure I was good.

“Hey, Tamara. I am back in the city in case you were wondering.”

“Ms. Blackford, I’m sorry to bother you, but we have a situation with Christina. She’s pretty shaken up, and I think you need to know what happened.”

Christina was one of my newest girls, twenty-four years old and still learning the rules of this business. “What kind of situation?”

“She had a client Saturday night while you were away. Clarence Sinclair. He...”Tamara’s voice wavered.

“He tried to get her to go back to his hotel room after the dinner event. When she reminded him, she was hired only for the business dinner, he got aggressive. Started grabbing at her, trying to kiss her, saying he’d paid good money. ”

Heat flooded my veins as the protective fury ripped through me. “Is she hurt?”

“Not physically. She managed to get away and called hotel security. But she’s pretty traumatized. She’s been crying on and off since she got here.”

“Where is she now?”

“In your office. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did right. I’m on my way.”

I ended the call, my hands shaking with rage as I started unzipping the dress.

Clarence Sinclair. I knew that name, remembered his application, and his references.

He was a married investment banker with a clean background and always paid promptly.

But obviously, money and respectability meant nothing when it came to his character.

The sales associate knocked. “How’s the fit?”

“Excellent. I’ll take it.”I was already reaching for my jeans, my mind spinning with everything I needed to do. “Can you have it sent to my office?”

“Of course! And the shoes we discussed?”

“Send those too.”

I was dressed and out of the fitting room in under two minutes with my credit card in hand. The associate processed the sale while I mentally prepared for damage control. First, Christina, then Clarence Sinclair, then whatever legal steps I needed to take to make sure this never happened again.

“Thank you so much for choosing us,”the associate bubbled as I signed the receipt. “You’re going to look absolutely stunning.”

“Thank you,” I said, walking away.

My mind was no longer on the gala. One of my girls was hurting, and that took priority over everything else.

Traffic was light for a Monday afternoon, but the drive seemed as if it took forever. I kept thinking about Christina’s face when I’d hired her, hopeful and determined, maybe a little na?ve, but we all were at one point in life.

The truth was, this business attracted predators. Some men thought paying for a woman’s time meant owning her completely. They didn’t believe the rules applied to them, especially when they had money and power.

Men like Clarence Sinclair. I tried to flush these men out, and usually I did.

But every once in a while, one would slip in.

Next on my list was absolutely banning married men from applying.

If they were dishonest in their marriage, the likelihood of them becoming a problem for my girls was high, and honestly, I should’ve gone with my gut when I decided earlier on to let them apply and see how it worked out. So much for that.

I parked in the garage and took the elevator to my floor, my heels clicking sharply against the marble as I strode through the reception area. Tamara looked up from her desk and relief flooded her face.

“She’s still in your office. I made her some tea, but she hasn’t touched it.”

“Thank you. Hold my calls.”

I knocked softly on my own office door before entering. Christina sat curled in one of my leather chairs with her knees drawn up to her chest, and a tissue box empty on the side table beside her. When she looked up, her eyes were red and swollen.

“Christina, honey.”I moved to her immediately, kneeling beside the chair. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “I did everything right, Ms. Blackford. I followed all the rules we talked about. I was clear about my boundaries from the beginning.”

“I know you did. This is not your fault.”

“But maybe I should have seen the signs? Maybe I missed something?”

I reached for her hands, linking her fingers with mine. “Listen to me. What Clarence Sinclair did was assault. It was criminal. And it has nothing to do with anything you did or didn’t do.”

“He said...”She hiccupped through her tears. “He said he was paying for a full evening and expected me to be more accommodating. When I reminded him our contract was clear about the boundaries, he grabbed my arm and said all escort girls were just playing hard to get.”

My jaw clenched so tightly it ached. “Clarence Sinclair is a predator who thinks money gives him the right to hurt women. He’s wrong.”

“I was so scared. If hotel security hadn’t come when they did...”

“But they did come. You’re safe now.”

“Idon’t think I can do this job anymore.”Her voice was barely a whisper. “I thought I was strong enough, but maybe I’m not.”

“Hey.”I squeezed her hands. “You are strong enough. What happened Saturday night has nothing to do with your strength and everything to do with one man’s sickness.”

“But what if it happens again?”

“You are right to be apprehensive. And I can’t promise it won’t happen again.

But I do my best to vet our clients and for the most part, they are upstanding individuals.

Unfortunately, every once and a while a bad apple gets through.

But this is not an often occurrence.”I stood, moving to my desk where I kept a bottle of water and a box of tissues.

“With that being said, I encourage you to take time off. And if you decide once you’ve been able to process this, that you don’t want the job anymore, I understand.

I’ll write you a letter of recommendation for the next employer who will be lucky to have you. ”

I handed her the water and sat on the edge of my desk, close enough to maintain connection but giving her space to process.

“I can’t afford to take too much time off.”

“Then take all the time you need. With full pay. Take two weeks, a month, whatever you need to feel centered again.”

Her eyes widened. “You’d do that?”

“Of course I would. You’re not just an employee, Christina. You’re family. And nobody hurts my family.”

She started crying again, but these tears were relief and gratitude.

“I want to report him,”she said suddenly. “To the police. I want there to be a record so he can’t do this to someone else.”

Pride swelled in my chest. “We can do that right now if you want. I’ll go with you.”

“You would?”

“I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

She nodded, wiping her eyes with a fresh tissue. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

I reached for my phone, scrolling to the number I’d hoped never to need. “I’m going to call my attorney first and have her meet us at the station. Then we’re going to make sure Clarence Sinclair faces consequences for what he did.”

“What about the business? Would this cause problems?”

“Let me worry about the business. Your safety and well-being are more important than any reputation or client.”

After I’d arranged for my attorney to meet us, I excused myself from the room and made one more call at Tamara’s desk. I kept personal numbers in my files for all clients.

He answered on the second ring with confidence in his smooth tone. “Naomi, sweetheart. I was hoping you’d call.”

“This isn’t a social call, Clarence.”

“Oh? Then what can I do for you?”

“You can listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you. You assaulted one of my girls Saturday night.”

Silence. Then: “I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“There’s no misunderstanding. Christina told you the boundaries of your arrangement, and you tried to force her into more anyway. That’s assault, Clarence. Criminal assault.”

“Now, Naomi, let’s not be hasty. I’m sure we can work something out.”

“We’re filing a police report this afternoon. Your name is being added to every blacklist in the city. And if you ever so much as look at another woman in my employment, I will personally make sure you regret it.”

“You can’t prove anything,” he hissed.

“Idon’t have to prove anything. The police will handle that part.

What I can prove is that you will no longer be welcomed to do business with any reputable service in St. Louis.

It doesn’t take camera footage for that to happen.

All it takes is an accusation of this magnitude and no one will touch you with a ten-foot pole. But you already know that, don’t you?”

I could hear his breathing change, could practically feel his panic through the phone.

“This is a mistake, Naomi. I’m a respected member of this community. I have connections.”

“So do I. And mine won’t appreciate hearing about investment bankers who assault young women.”

“Listen, maybe we got our wires crossed.”

“No, Clarence. You got your wires crossed when you thought money gave you the right to hurt someone under my protection.”

I ended the call before he could respond, my hands shaking as adrenaline and fury rushed through me.

A sound at my office door grabbed my attention and I turned to see Christina watching me with wide eyes. “You really did that.”

“I really did that.”

“I’ve never had anyone fight for me like that.”

“Well, you do now.”

I helped her gather her things with my mind already working through the next steps. A police report, blacklist notifications, and enhanced security protocols for future appointments. Whatever it took to keep this from happening again.

As we left my office, Christina grabbed my arm. “Ms. Blackford? Thank you. For believing and protecting me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“You would have survived, Christina. Because you’re stronger than you know.”

Christina slid into the passenger seat, and for the first time since this started, she almost smiled. “You’re scary when you’re mad.”

“Clarence Sinclair is about to find out just how scary.”