His Escort

Chapter 6

"How are you?'" Kate's voice is very calm. I wonder how she does that. She sounds nothing like a girl whose relationship is on the rocks.

"Peachy." Jesse says dryly. I wonder how they dated to begin with. Both are so good at controlling their emotions.

"can we talk?"

"I guess that's what we are doing right now."

"I mean, can we meet and talk?"

Jesse sighs.

"I'm busy."

"How about tomorrow?"

"Busy."

"Thursday?"

"Busy."

She sighs, exasperated.

"Our wedding is on Saturday."

"I know."

"Why are you being so weird?"

"Because like I said, I'm busy."

"I guess we'll just talk later then?"

"I guess."

"Hang up then."

He hangs up without hesitation.

I'm quiet for a long moment, just staring at the freeway. Jesse has totally reduced the speed and the car is almost crawling. He is deep in thought and I feel bad for him. I know how being cheated on feels. I totally do. And with a relative? Very very relatable.

I have the urge to reach for his hand but I don't give in to that. I don't think he wants that right now.

"You should talk to her. You'll feel better once you know why she did it." I offer for lack of something better to say.

He doesn't even look at me.

"I know you are feeling heartbroken and betrayed but you can just give her a chance to explain. Maybe she has valid reasons then you will feel better and you guys will go back together and you will be happy again. I know you are feeling like s**t and you have a lot of questions but don't let that put you down. Fight for your love and........."

I stop talking when I realize that the car is not moving anymore and Jesse is staring at me with a scowl.

"Ava?"

"Yes?"

"For the love of all that is holy, stop talking. You're rambling."

"I'm aware. Why are we stopping in the middle of the road?"

He shakes his head and gets out of the car. That's when I realize we are already in a parking lot.

I open my door and step out. The cool breeze blows my hair and I realize the weather is becoming cooler. I cross my arms over my chest as I walk to Jesse.

He easily slips an arm around my waist and we head to the restaurant. We are barely a foot away when the crazy flashes catch my eye and a mic is pushed into our faces.

"How long have you two been together?" The nosy pap asks in an urgent tone but Jesse ignores him. This is the first time I'm seeing the paparazzi in such close proximity and I'm so glad that I'm not alone.

Jesse realizes that I'm legit scared and he glances down at me, a small encouraging smile tugging the edges of his lips. I force a smile back and the cameras click like crazy. I've never been happier when we finally sit in the private dining area.

"That was traumatic. I can't believe we survived." I exclaim while putting my bag away.

Jesse doesn't say anything. He is staring at me absently and he only looks up when the waitress approaches us.

We make our orders and I keep my mind from worrying about the bill. It must be expensive as s**t.

"What's your favorite color?" Jesse asks out of nowhere.

"Purple." I reply without hesitation.

"Not that. Between black, red and silver."

I shrug carelessly.

"I don't know. Red I guess. Why?"

"This is not going the way I wanted it to."

"Are you kidding me? A swarm of paps just attacked us out front. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Are you done?''

I frown.

"I guess."

"Good. As I was saying, this is not going according to my plan. Kate is obviously not impressed by our show."

"What does that mean?"

"You heard her. She didn't even mention you. She probably knows that this whole thing is a scam. She is aware that I'm not one to sleep around when I'm in a relationship."

"So what do you think we should do?"

"We have to appear more real, more convincing."

"What do you have in mind?"

He bites his lower lip thoughtfully.

"Move in with me."

I burst out laughing thinking he's kidding until I realize that he is very serious, slightly annoyed by my laughter.

"Wait, you are actually serious."

"Do I look like I am kidding? Move in with me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Are you even listening to yourself? This is not how escorting works, Jesse."

"You are my personal escort now. I would never hurt you, Ava."

"I can't."

"Why?''

"I don't want to move in with you. What I'm doing is already wrong. I don't want to be a homewrecker. We are hurting your fiancee."

"She's not my fiancee anymore. She ceased being that the moment she started screwing my brother behind my back."

"Then stop this madness! Asking me to move in with you is just insane."

.

He regards me for a quick second.

"I'm already paying you double, not forgetting the fact that I saved your ass last night. Can't you do me such a small favor?"

"Moving in with a guy I met last night is not a small favor."

"I won't expect you to move all your belongings to my house. You won't even have to bring your clothes. I'll take care of that. Think about it."

I hesitate so he continues.

"I'll give you whatever you want. I'll buy you a car. A red one. Purple even, if that's what you want."

The offer is very tempting but I shake my head.

"No."

"I'll triple your hourly rate for every hour we spend together."

I c**k an eyebrow.

"You'd do that?"

"Anything."

I let out a long breath. I think about Kate. I could be in her position sometime in future; broken, trying to make amends after messing up...

Man is to error. Maybe she just cheated in the spur of the moment...

Would I like another woman to do to me what I'll be doing to her by moving in with her fiance? The answer is no, obviously.

Then there's the money that I need so desperately.

Morality or money?

"Can I think about it?" I ask eventually and Jesse appears to be a bit relieved.

"That's not a no, is it?"

"Well, it's not a yes either."

"I can work with that."

After the meal, Jesse leaves the waiter a hefty tip. I noticed that he did that too last night at the restaurant where he saved me and my heart glows. Nothing is sexier than a hot guy who has sense of humor and is generous to those who serve him.

Myself included.

We walk in silence to his car and I slip into the seat. Instead of driving, he leans back on his seat and closes his eyes. His breathing starts to even and I realize he is about to fall asleep.

"Jesse?" I call him quietly, shaking him by the shoulders, and he opens his eyes. I notice then that he is tired and worn out and he has a rough edge now that he is not all groomed up. He is in a black meticulous suit but very light stubble is dotting his strong jaw.

"Are you okay?" I ask him.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You didn't sleep much last night, did you?"

"Where is that coming from?'

"You practically fell asleep in a second! Did you sleep at all."

He groans.

"You are too inquisitive!"

"Just answer the question."

"Fine. I didn't, okay? I slept for like an hour before you woke up. I had a lot on my mind."

"I'm driving."

"Oh no. You're not touching my car. No one drives this, not even David."

"What's the fuss all about. It's just a car."

He leans in until our eyes are leveled.

"Ava?'

"Yes?" My voice is a squeak. He is so close.

"You're not driving this car."

"I won't ride in a car with you when you're dozing off anyhowly. My life might be shitty but I love it. I don't want to die yet."

"It's not such a big deal. Stop complicating stuff, Ava. I'm driving you home."

"You're not. I mean it."

He sighs in exasperation.

"Why are you so hardheaded?"

"Because I have responsibilities here on earth that can't be undertaken by anyone else. It's either you let me drive, or we take a cab."

He screws his nose in disgust.

"A cab?"

"That's what I said."

He shakes his head resignedly before opening the door and stepping out. I start to frown but then he walks to my side and opens the door.

"You're letting me drive?" I ask in disbelief. Is he bipolar? He just told me that he'd never let me drive this car half a minute ago.

"Yes. Only because you are so stubborn. Now get out before I change my mind."

Instead of getting out, I lift my dress clad leg and heave it over the console. I crouch and crawl to the driver's seat and when I turn to look at Jesse, he is looking like he wants to b***h slap me.

"I can't believe that you are twenty two. You are acting like a sixteen year old right now.".

"Thank you." I say to humor him before I frown real hard. "How do you know that I'm twenty two?"..

"I told you earlier. I'm good at knowing stuff."

"You as are such a weird stalker!"

"Thank you."

"That was not a compliment."

He grins and I just shake my head before turning my attention to the task at hand. The car is a real darling and I'm super excited as I pull out of the parking lot. I'm not sure why Jesse is so possessive over it. I don't question him though. It's none of my business.

"How did you find out that Kate was cheating on you?" I ask in an attempt to keep the conversation going.

Jesse gives me that bored look.

"Keep your eyes on the road."

I roll my eyes before turning back to the road. He may not be bossy but he does have recessive bossy genes in him.

I'm quiet for another moment before I turn to him.

"How will I get home after I get you to your office?"

"I'm not going to the office."

"Then where?"

He glances at his wrist watch.

"Home."

"Wait, do you live with Kate?"

"Uh huh." He replies with his eyes on me.

"Then how do you expect me to move in with you? That's crazy."

"Is that a yes?"

"No. I'm just wondering."

"I had already bought a home for us but we were yet to move in. That's where we'll live if you say yes."

"You know I can't drive you to wherever you live with Kate right now. That's disrespecting her."

"Trust me I don't even want her to find out that you drove this car. Just take me to that new house. I need to lie down for an hour."

"Just an hour? That's not enough."

He groans.

"You know you are not what I thought when I first saw you last night. You talk too much."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Mostly."

"Okay, so how will I get home?"

"For someone who doesn't want to die yet, you sure don't concentrate on the road."

I scoff before turning back to the road. The inside of the car smells like peppermint and I take deep even breaths. My car's interior always smells of old spice and diesel and I can never get the sickening smell out no matter how hard I wash and spray.

I'm worried about how I'll get home after taking Jesse to his house. He doesn't seem to care and he is typing away on his phone. I hold my breath when we get to the address and I roll my window down as I pull into the driveway.

I narrow my eyes at the magnificent building standing before us and I swallow dryly. How do people have that kind of money when I'm wallowing in debt and poverty? Why?

I don't realize I'm immobile until Jesse walks around to open the driver's door for me. I step out and he watches me as I take in the surrounding.

"You can live here if you make the right decision, you know? Just move in with me."

I shake my head.

"That's not what I'm thinking about. I'm wondering how you make that kind of money. Is it legal?"

"What do you think?" I know he is biting back a smile so I glower at him.

"That's not funny."

"It's not funny, but you are. You never cease to amuse me, Ava."

"I'm glad that you find me entertaining." I ensure that sarcasm is dripping from my tone and he laughs.

"Not as glad as I am. Let's get in. It's going to rain."

"I can't. Meg will be worried."

"Who is Meg?"

"My roommate."

"Call or text her. Let her know you'll be late."

I'm about to resist when the first raindrop hits the tip of my nose. Then another, and another. I stay quiet as Jesse leads me to the front door.