His Escort

Chapter 8

Meg is in the kitchen when I wake up. I perch on the counter as she prepares a cup of tea for herself. We rarely cook in this house. Everyone is busy doing nothing and we rarely see each other. When we do not have clients to attend to, we stay in our respective bedrooms.

She looks at me over the rim of her cup as she takes a sip.

"Did you call Jesse?"

"Yup."

"What did he say?"

I shrug.

"Nothing. I didn't give him a chance to talk. I hung up as soon as I passed my message."

"He didn't call back?"

"Nope "

She smirks knowingly.

"I bet he is either trying to make amends with his fiancée after the madness of the last two days, or he is busy looking for another girl to sink his claws into."

"Jesse didn't appear to be that kind of a person."

She sneers at me.

"Your naivety puts me off. You are twenty two Ava. Stop reasoning like a six year old.

I roll my eyes before jumping off the counter. Meg is too blunt for my liking sometimes. I walk back to my bedroom and I check the time on my phone. It's still early but I can visit my Mom right now.

I shower quickly, my mind on Jesse the entire time. Why would he lie to me about Kate cheating on him? It doesn't make sense. I push him from my mind. He should be the least or my concerns right now.

I get into my rickety car and drive to the hospital. I'm lucky that I didn't encounter any paps today and I hope it remains that way for the rest of my life. They really do creep me out.

My mom is lying in the same position she has been in for the last two years. Her eyes remain unblinking, her mouth not moving, her face pale and lifeless. Her head which was once swathed in bandages is now healed and her brow is creased.

I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. I did this to my mother. She is here because of me. A sob catches in my throat as I take her delicate hand in mine.

I kiss her cool knuckles before clutching her palm to my cheek. I'd do anything to see her back on her feet.

Anything.

The door opens with a slight creak but I do not turn around. My tears are overflowing and I'm feeling helpless as I always do whenever I come here; which happens to be every single day.

"I was about to call you." The doctor speaks and I recognize his voice. I have seen him and talked to him every single day for the last two years so I know his voice all too well.

"I'm here now."

He steps into my line of sight and I sniffle, fighting back the tears.

"We seriously need to talk about this situation Ava."

"What situation?'

He sighs.

"Your mother. "

Panic starts to creep in.

"What about my mom?"

"She has been here for two years."

"I know."

"The bills have been accruing."

"But I'm paying. I have been paying. " I am almost yelling and I'm dreading his next words.

"True, you have been paying but you know that is not enough. We owe you close to half a million dollars. How will you raise that?"

Fresh tears spill down my cheeks.

"I'll get the money."

He looks me over.

"How? You've been saying that for way too long. We need the money, Ava."

I wipe my tears, reaching into my bag for my credit card. I know Jesse deposited some money so I'm hoping that will help for now. I also have a few savings.

The doctor looks at me pitifully. He has been too patient with me for those two years. He leads the way to the cashier and I hand in the card. They withdraw the entire amount I have and I realize that Jesse had deposited all the money I owed him, including the time I spend with him over lunch hour yesterday. And he did pay double.

I guess he is done with me now.

The doctor looks at the receipts before handing them back to me.

"You still owe us four hundred thousand dollars."

"I'll get the money. That's a promise."

"You have a week."

I turn to stare at him.

"A week? Are you kidding me? How do I raise such cash in a week?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Stop saying that!! I need more time."

"A week, Ava." He turns on his heel and walks out of the room.

I want to scream and pull out my hair. I wipe my tears angrily before storming out of the hospital. I sit in my car for an hour trying to brainstorm. At the end of it all, all I have is a head ache and swollen eyes.

I can't go to a bank for a loan because I have nothing to offer as security. All I have is my dilapidated car, nothing else.

My mom's life is at stake and I'm very desperate so I do the only thing I can do right now, I drive to Jesse's office.

I don't know what I'm doing. This is wrong; so f*****g wrong but I can't help it. If moving in with Jesse will get my mom's hospital bills paid, then I'm moving in with him.

I don't want to think about Meg's words right now. I won't allow myself to feel guilty. Jesse is the one who is engaged; not me so he should be the one bearing the guilt.

I park in the only vacant space in the parking lot and I sit there for another minute trying to get my s**t together. I dab my cheeks with powder and I reapply my lipstick. My eyes are smudged with mascara and I do a very poor job at wiping it.

The receptionist looks up when I walk in and she immediately jumps to her feet. I say a quick hi accompanied by a forced smile before I walk to the elevator. I keep my eyes closed, my back leaning on the elevator wall as it does it's upward plunge.

I try to pull my too short dress down without much success and I know Jesse won't approve it. That's just too bad. I don't own any long clothes.

The PA looks up when I walk into the foyer and when recognition floods into her eyes, her jaw twitches. She gives me a once over and her eyes fleet for a moment to my short dress.

"Mr Anderson is not expecting you." She announces smugly and I fight he urge to roll my eyes.

"I know. I have to see him though."

"He is busy."

"How long is he going to be busy?"

She shrugs innocently.

"I can't tell. He is in a meeting with the board. That might take a while."

"I will wait."

"You can't get wait here. You have to go to the reception on the ground floor. Mr Anderson has three meetings lined up before lunch."

Her hatred for me is blazing in her eyes and I take a deep calming breath.

"You don't understand. I have to see Jesse right now."

"Sorry."

Then she goes back to her computer.

I swallow dryly and blow out my breath. Throwing all caution to the wind, I take my phone out of my bag and dial Jesse's number. It rings for a long moment and just when I'm about to give up, his calm voice flows to my ear.

"Ava." The way my name rolls off his tongue makes me gulp and I sigh in relief.

"Jesse, can I please talk to you?"

"We are talking right now."

"Look, I'm in your office's lobby and I need to see you."

"I'm in the middle of a meeting. Just go to my office and I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you."

I hang up and I spare Kaila a sarcastic smile.

"Thank you for your help."

She smiles back.

"Don't mention it."

I step inside Jesse's office and I sit on the couch which is placed against the wall opposite a glass wall. I'm so freaking nervous.

Why didn't he call me back after I turned his offer down last night? Does that mean his offer is not valid anymore? Maybe he made up with Kate...

I pace the office in an attempt to calm my nervousness. I walk to the window and gaze down at the city below. It's an amazing sight and the view takes my breath away.

I glance at Jesse's desk then I walk to it when I notice the picture standing proudly on the corner of the plush desk. I pick it from the stand and I stare at it for a moment.

It's a picture of Jesse and Kate. They look so happy together and she's gazing up at him.

What the hell happened between them? Why is Jesse so adamant on making her jealous?

"What are you doing?" Jesse's cold voice stops me in my tracks and I look at him. He is standing at the door, his eyes fixed on me.

"I'm sorry I..."

"Give me that." He outstretches his hand and I place the photo in it. "I don't appreciate you snooping on my stuff. Step away."

I take two steps backwards. His tone is different and the glint in his eye is frightening. He looks cold and ruthless and the friendly Jesse I was dealing with yesterday is long gone.

"Are you okay?" I ask cautiously and he lifts his eyes to look at me.

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About?"

"You asked me to move in with you yesterday."

He looks at me, his eyes roaming on my face for a second before he leans casually one the wall.

"If I remember correctly, you said no."

"I changed my mind, Jesse."

He lifts that dark eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I need the money badly."

He scoffs and takes a step towards me.

"Really? So you think you can change your mind about me as soon as you realize you have debts to pay?"

I stay quiet. Arguing with him won't be helping my desperate ass at all.

"Ava,,I'm an honorable man. You can't do whatever you want when it comes to me. You don't just make a decision today then change your mind whenever you feel like and still expect me to be here waiting on you."

"Jesse, I'm desperate. I need money badly."

He takes off his suit jacket and tosses it carelessly over his chair.

"How much?"

"I need four hundred thousand dollars within a week."

He creases he brows.

"And you think you can make that much through being my escort?"

"No. I know it's impossible but I'm willing to do anything for the money."

"Anything?"

I sigh desperately.

"Yes. Anything."

"So you will do whatever I ask you to do?"

I hesitate for a brief second before nodding.

"Yes."

"Good. You are moving in tonight."

"Okay."

I watch as his brows crease together.

"Are you really that desperate for the money? Are you in debt?"

"Sort of. Trust me I'll do anything. I'll obey you, I'll drive you around, I'll even cook if you want me to."

He smirks arrogantly.

"You'd drive me around?"

"If that's what you want."

"Seems like I'll be having a lot of fun."

I swallow dryly.

"How long will I do this for you?"

"You mean being my escort?"

"Yes."

"I don't know. I guess that depends on how much money you want from me."

"Will you still double the amount?"

"How about I get you the whole amount."

I gasp loudly.

"You'd give me four hundred thousand dollars?"

"Yes but it comes with a price."

"Name it."

"I'll tell you over dinner tonight. We have a few things we should put clear before you move in though."

"Yeah?"

"First of all, you need clothes. Shopping will take forever so I'll have a designer come home tomorrow. You need decent stuff."

"Jesse, I can't afford a designer."

"Don't worry about that. Second, you need a job. You can't just stay at home all day doing nothing now that you won't be escorting anymore."

"You mean for as long as I'm doing this for you?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"I thought you only wanted me for a day or two!'"

He c***s an arrogant eyebrow.

"For four hundred thousand dollars?"

I sigh soundly.

"Fine. I'll look for a job."

"You don't have to. I'll get you a job here. I understand that you graduated early this year with a degree in finance."

"Right. I keep forgetting that you are a stalker."

"You would be surprised at how big of a stalker I am. Anyway, you will start working on Thursday since you will be busy with the designer tomorrow."

The door opens and Kaila pokes her head inside.

"Mr Anderson, you mext meeting is starting in two minutes."

Jesse dismisses her with a wave of his hand and she walks out. He takes his phone from the desk before turning to me.

"David will pick you upfront in ten minutes. There are three furnished bedrooms on the first floor so feel free to choose whichever you want."

"I should go to my apartment and get my things first."

"There's no need for that. You will get new stuff. You can do without those flimsy dresses."

"Meg will be pissed off."

"Ask me if I care about that."

He glances at his watch.

"I'm getting late for my meeting. I'll see you at home."

Then he turns on his heel and leaves the office.