Dear Agony, Page 4

  “Spending one night on the arm of a man you don’t like is much different than living with him for six months or a year or maybe longer.”

  I see her point. “Does she have other stipulations I should be aware of?”

  “Initial approval and abstinence are the two big ones with her. The other conditions are typical things: respect and dignity. No form of physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.”

  Piece of cake. “Understood. I’d like to meet her as soon as possible.”

  “Why the rush?”

  The sand in my hourglass is falling.

  “You know me. I’m impatient once I decide I want something.” That isn’t a lie. I want what I want when I want it. Period. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m accustomed to having my way. V knows how relentless I am. In some respects, we’re very much alike in that way.

  “She’s tied up with finals at school this week. Friday night is the earliest I can arrange a meeting.”

  Dammit. I have a business dinner with a client. “Friday’s no good. Saturday night?”

  “I’ll need to verify it with her, but Saturday night should work.”

  “She won’t have a date?” She may be a Duet but she’s still a single woman.

  “Rose doesn’t date.” What?

  “Ever?”

  “No. Never.”

  Why not? Is she unattractive? Awkward? Difficult to speak to? Vale wouldn’t have chosen a woman with those characteristics to be her prodigy.

  I’ve heard for years what a beauty Rose is, inside and out. I must admit that Vale’s description has surprisingly piqued my curiosity and desire to meet her.

  I’m intrigued by the mystery of this woman.

  “What are your thoughts on inviting her to dinner at my house?” Vale knows I’m a homebody who prefers to cook rather than dine out.

  I want to gain Rose’s approval. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping to do that by impressing her with my house—the place she’ll call home if she agrees.

  “Your house alone is enough to sway anyone’s decision.” She laughs lightly.

  “Good. Because I want her to live with me.”

  “That won’t be a problem. I trained her from the start to expect her companion to want her living in his home.”

  I don’t want her to mistake living with me for something it’s not. “This won’t be a romantic relationship. If either of us wishes to date outside of the companionship, we are free to do so.”

  “She won’t object to you dating.”

  I have one vital stipulation and there’s no room for negotiation. “When I say it’s time for the relationship to end, it’s over. She leaves without question.”

  “Rose understands that the client determines when she’s fulfilled her obligation. When you decide it’s time for her to go, she won’t give you an argument.”

  “I have to know that she understands my terms and swears she’ll comply with them or I won’t go forward with this.” It’s of the upmost importance.

  “Now, you’re just being weird.” I wish I could tell Vale the truth. “I assure you Rose won’t give you problems about leaving. You have my word.”

  “All right. I’m putting my faith in your word.”

  As much as I regret leaving this life without having known the love of a woman, I can’t let anything beyond a friendship grow between us. If Rose gives me a problem about leaving, then that means feelings have developed.

  And that can’t happen.

  Chapter Five

  __________________________________

  Rose Middleton

  ∞

  Winter break. Final exams behind me. Four weeks of freedom ahead.

  Life is good.

  Vale and I haven’t made the final decision on our Christmas break trip this year but I’m shooting for a warm, sunny destination where I can soak up some rays. I’m not much of a cold weather fan. Still haven’t forgotten what it felt like to be homeless in December.

  I’m surfing potential beach destinations when Vale appears in my bedroom’s doorway. “Hey. Perfect timing. Come here and look at these magnificent resorts with me.”

  I spin my laptop around to display the beautiful white beaches and turquoise waters of a private resort in Jamaica. “This place looks absolutely amazing.”

  “It’s beautiful.” She doesn’t like it. There’s no excitement in her voice.

  I click on the other tab to show her the second resort I’m looking at. “Or maybe this place. An all-inclusive in Cancun. The ratings are really good and they have vacancies for the days we plan to travel.”

  “That one looks great, too.”

  Her words say one thing but the lack of happiness in her voice and expression tells me something entirely different. “We don’t have to go to the beach. I’m up for whatever you have in mind.”

  She inhales deeply and slowly releases the breath. Uh oh. The foreshadowing inhale/exhale. That’s never a good sign with Vale. Difficult words always follow.

  “Can you come with me to the office? There’s something we need to discuss.”

  Vale’s demeanor is off. And she never asks me to come to the office to discuss anything. If she wants to talk, we talk. But she’s wearing her let’s get down to business face.

  What is going on?

  “O . . . K.”

  She takes her place behind the desk as soon as we enter the office and wakes her computer from the sleep mode.

  “Everything all right?” I ask the question but my gut already fears the answer.

  “All is well, but I had an unexpected proposition today.” Vale removes her reading glasses from the top of her head and puts them on her nose as she strains to read her computer screen. “We need to go over a few things concerning your conditions.”

  My conditions? Oh, shit.

  A sheet of paper is sucked into the printer and rhythmically inked before jutting out onto the paper tray.

  “Someone has expressed interest in taking you as his companion.”

  How can that be? I haven’t attended any of the masquerade parties. And I’m not listed on the website. How would anyone know I’m a Duet? “I wasn’t aware that you’d officially announced my availability.”

  “I made no announcement. B has known about you since you joined me three years ago.”

  B. He’s the man who invested in Duets Foundation. Made all this possible. Aside from that, I don’t know much about him. Vale keeps her friends and her personal life separate from Duets, so the two never cross paths.

  “I met with B for our quarterly business meeting earlier this week. He had a lot of questions concerning my prodigy. I thought he was curious about my investment in you. Turns out he wants to make a trade.”

  Vale is business savvy. She wouldn’t be entertaining this idea unless it is beneficial for her. “What kind of trade?”

  “He’ll clear my debt in exchange for you as his companion.” What?

  Vale told me how much she owed this man. The amount was astronomical two years ago. There’s no way she has even made a dent in the remainder. He isn’t going to clear that kind of remaining balance for a six-month deal.

  I’m going to be stuck with this man for a long time.

  “We haven’t discussed your stipulations for the companionship in a while. Has anything changed?”

  “No.” I’m too stunned to say anything else.

  “He has some conditions as well but no worries. They’re very general. Nothing you won’t be happy to comply with.”

  My first two years with Vale consisted of training me to become an elegant, articulate, engaging woman for my future companion. After that, there’s been no more mention of it. Not once. Vale made me her assistant. I’ve been helping her train the new Duets. I thought becoming someone’s long-term companion was off the table. I thought I had proven I could be so much more for Vale. For this company. At least, I hoped.

  I was wrong. Was I not what she wanted after all?

  “You’
ll be meeting him tomorrow night at his house.”

  “Oh.” One word. It’s still all I can manage to choke out around the pumping heart that has leaped into my throat.

  Vale rescued me off the streets. Can’t lie. Our relationship had a rocky beginning. It took every minute of that first year but she eventually made me see my own self-worth. Helped me down the path to find the self-respect I’d been lacking my entire life. Showed me how to love myself. Gave me the skills and confidence I lacked so I could become a desirable, respectable woman any man would be proud to have on his arm.

  Our relationship has been ever changing. Once student, then friend, and now confidant. She knows everything about my life.

  Every. Filthy. Thing.

  I’ve never been so close to anyone in my entire life. Maybe that’s why I’m so shocked this companion offer is on the table, completely coming out of the blue. Guess I thought she’d want to keep me around.

  There’s no denying it. Vale gave me the world and now it’s time for me to do my part. Repay her. Show her gratitude for her kindness.

  “Tell me about B.”

  “His name is Bastien Pascal. He’s a good man. Kind. Gentle. No need for you to worry; he’ll treat you right.”

  “You know him well?”

  “Very well. He’s my best friend. I’ve known him going on thirty-four years.” Oh, God. He must be ancient if she met him that long ago.

  I was trained for this—a connection with a man. Successful. Older. Unattractive. Those expectations have been drilled into my head since day one.

  I thought I was prepared. But I’m not.

  Sleeping on the streets used to terrify me. And I swear this is no less frightening.

  “You’re joining Bastien at his house tomorrow night for dinner at seven. Wear the black Dolce & Gabbana lace dress with your red Louboutins. The ones that tie in bows around the ankles. He’ll like those.”

  Oh, God. She wants him to find me desirable. That’s the only reason she would ask me to wear something so sexy.

  “Are you going with me?” Please, please, please say yes. I’ll be a nervous wreck if you don’t.

  “No. This time is for you and Bastien to get acquainted.”

  I look down because I don’t want Vale to see the tears pooling in my eyes. “He understands that I have to approve of the companionship or it’s a no-go?”

  “Yes.”

  “And also that I won’t have sex with him?”

  “He knows.”

  This man’s willing to clear Vale’s huge debt in exchange for a sexless companionship with me? Doesn’t seem likely. Has to be old and impotent. Or gay? Maybe he’s gay. It’s the only explanation. And that’s who I’m going to be stuck with for only God knows how long.

  I always thought in the back of my mind that the no-sex rule would prevent any man from wanting to buy my companionship. It was sort of my default way of getting out of this.

  Epic fail.

  I don’t want to do this.

  I don’t want to leave the life I have here with Vale.

  But it’s my duty.

  This is what I promised her. And I won’t let her down. Not after everything she’s done for me.

  Ten minutes ago I was ecstatic about the next four weeks. I was trying to choose the tropical beach where I’d spend winter break working on my tan. Now, I’m sick with worry over the next six to twelve months of my life. Maybe longer depending on the arrangement between Vale and this man.

  Congratulations, Agony. You’ve managed to worm your way back into my life.

  ***

  I ring the doorbell at seven sharp—not one minute before, not one minute after. Vale says Bastien likes punctuality. Expects it. Demands it. And I want to start out on the right foot with him.

  I’m promptly greeted at the door by the steward—a very handsome steward. “Hello. I’m Rose Middleton. Mr. Pascal is expecting me.”

  The man offers his hand for a shake. “I’m Bastien. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  This is Vale’s best friend, B? Bastien Pascal? My potential companion? This man isn’t old. Sure, he’s obviously older than me but not ancient as I had imagined.

  He’s tall and fit. Very fit. Not the out of shape, humped-over grandfatherly figure I was picturing in my head. He’s . . . not anything like what I imagined. And it’s a very pleasant surprise.

  Oh, God. I snap back into the present and realize I’m still holding his hand, staring at his face, and I’ve yet to reply. I must look like a total fool. Not the first impression I wanted to make.

  I sort of feel like I should apologize but there is no tactful way of telling him I’m dumbfounded because he isn’t the ogre I had imagined in my mind.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Pascal.”

  “Please, call me Bastien.” He steps back and opens the door widely. “Come in.”

  I step into the posh home, but I’m too captivated by its owner to take notice of my surroundings. I don’t get it. Why in the world would this man need a paid companion? I’d expect women to be flocking to him.

  Then I remember why most of our clients use our services. They’re busy businessman. Too engaged in their jobs to have time for dating. That must be it; there’s no way this man would have a hard time finding a woman, or man, interested in him.

  “May I take your coat?”

  “Uh . . . yes. Thank you.”

  I turn and shrug out of my jacket as Bastien takes it from my shoulders. I’m suddenly very thankful to be wearing this sexy and elegant dress.

  “A little colder out there tonight than I expected,” he says.

  He’s bringing up the weather. Always a safe and neutral topic for discussion.

  “Yes. I heard the weatherman say that we could expect it to drop into the low forties after midnight.” Not freezing, but all of those poor people on the streets tonight will be so cold. I still haven’t forgotten what a low forties night in New Orleans feels like.

  Bastien hangs my coat on a rack in the foyer. “Dinner is ready, but I thought we might take a few minutes to talk before we jump straight into eating.”

  “Yes. I’d like that.” My stomach is nervous. So queasy. I don’t feel it’s wise to put anything in my mouth right now.

  Bastien leads me into the living room, and I’m surprised to see an enormous flat-screen over the fireplace. I expected something much grander in a house like this. Maybe a priceless painting by a famous artist or something of that nature. But then I remember that this is a bachelor pad.

  He gestures toward the television. “Saints and Buccaneers are playing tonight. You a fan?”

  Vale made sure I could discuss sports with clients, at least on a minimal level, but I’ve never sat down and watched an entire football game. It’s not something I understand. “I’ve never had much interest.”

  “Football is my sport. Huge fan of the Saints and LSU Tigers.”

  The girls in my classes talk about going to games but I’m under the impression it’s all about dressing up, being social, and being seen. “I go to Tulane but I’ve never been to any of the football games.”

  “Tulane is part of the AAC. I mostly follow SEC and NFL.”

  Vale never went into much detail about the different types so I’m a little lost. “I know about the NFL but I’m not familiar with the differences between AAC and SEC.”

  “AAC and SEC are different college football leagues. Think of it like this: the AAC is made up of the little brother teams of the SEC.”

  I get it. It’s like a tier. “Then the NFL must be the dad teams?”

  He chuckles. “I guess you’re right.”

  I sit in the middle of the sofa and smile when my eyes meet Bastien’s. Such a rich brown. Like warm chocolate. So different from my hazel ones, always dependent upon the color I’m wearing before they decide which color they’ll be.

  He has kind eyes.

  I’m convinced that you can see into the soul of a person through his or her eyes. Th
oughts. Intent. Opinion. The simplicity in their expression tells a story. It says more than any words they could possibly speak.

  I note the lines around the corners of his eyes, the creases around his mouth beneath his facial scruff, and the furrows across his forehead. He smiles often, and when he does, it spreads over his entire face.

  I’ve decided Bastien is a happy person.

  Happy people are nice.

  “Do you know much about me?” he asks.

  “You’re best friends with Vale. You financed Duets. And you’re going to clear her debt if I become your companion.” I shrug. “That’s all she told me.”

  “I asked her to only tell you the necessities. I wanted a clean slate without expectations on your part.”

  I wondered why Vale was being so vague about her best friend. Guess I have my answer now.

  “Honestly, not knowing made it worse. I’ve imagined some pretty horrid things since she told me about our meeting.”

  “I’m a little afraid to ask what those were.”

  I grin and lower my head. I can’t look at him when I make my confession. “I thought you’d be old and gray and saggy.”

  Bastien chuckles. “Well, I’m not as young as you. And I did find a few gray strays recently. But I’m not saggy yet.”

  I’m pretty sure saggy will not be a part of his physical description any time soon based on the way that Givenchy sweater stretches across his chest and upper arms.

  “Do you mind me asking how old you are?”

  “I’ll be thirty-six next month.” Thirteen years older than me. He could pass for younger.

  He grins. “I hope thirty-six is okay.”

  Thirty-six completely works for me. “Absolutely. It’s so much younger than I expected.” By almost half.

  “Not in dentures or diapers yet. That’s a plus in this companionship thing, right?”

  I don’t know if he’s cracking jokes to ease the tension or if he’s like this all the time. Either way, I like it. “Yeah. Dentures and diapers put a huge damper on the companionship thing.”

  “How old are you?”

  Odd. I would have expected Vale to have told him that already. “I’ll be twenty-three next month.”