Lou and everything that I want from her is going to cost me close to a half-million pounds.
Do I want this? Is she worth that kind of money?
There’s only one answer: abso-fucking-lutely.
“How much will Lou get?”
Cora’s expression is deadpan. “I don’t disclose that kind of information to clients.”
“You will disclose it to me if you want my money.”
Cora breathes in deeply, releasing the breath slowly. “I take 50 percent of their earnings until my investment is recouped. After that, I keep 25 percent. The girls retain 100 percent of any monies or gifts outside of the brokered agreement. I’m more than fair with my girls.”
Lou is the one who will be playing the role of girlfriend to me for the next eighty-something days. I think that we can do better than 75 percent.
“This is a one-time broker deal. Your work will be finished as soon as our arrangement is finalized. I’d like to encourage you to take your investment in Lou off the top and allow her to retain 85 percent of the remaining balance.”
“You’re negotiating on her behalf instead of your own?”
“Aye.”
“Well, Mr. Hutcheson. I can’t say that I’ve ever encountered a client quite like you. I don’t typically entertain the idea of negotiation, but I like Lou, and I like you, so I’ll agree to your proposal.”
“I expected a counter from a savvy businesswoman like you. Perhaps I should have asked for ninety.”
She smiles. “I think that you’ve pushed your luck enough, Mr. Hutcheson.”
Fair enough.
“When can we finalize everything?”
“Are you available Friday evening? Say five o’clock?”
Five is a wee tight for me. “Can we schedule for six?”
“Six o’clock works for me.”
Another hurdle behind me. One more to go and Lou will be mine for the next three months.
7
Caitriona Louden
“Maxwell Hutcheson negotiated on your behalf. You’ll be receiving 85 percent after I recoup my investment.”
Wait… what? “Why would he do that?”
“I learned a long time ago to not ask why, Cait. Simply say thank you and move on when a man does something nice for you.”
“Is 85 percent all right with you?” Our agreement is seventy-five.
“Your arrangement with Mr. Hutcheson is a one-time broker deal. I get the return of my investment in you plus a very nice incentive for a few hours of my time. I’m more than all right with that, doll.”
“I didn’t know that you negotiate with clients.”
“I don’t. This is a first for me. And the only reason that I agreed was because his requests benefit you and not him.”
Hutch is too good to be true. Men aren’t this selfless.
Cora picks up a stack of papers lying on her desk. “Mr. Hutcheson has many expectations. That’s to be expected for the premium price that he’s paying, but if there are any terms that you don’t wish to fulfill, this is your chance to speak up and amend the agreement.”
“I understand.”
I jump when Cora’s office phone rings. “Yes, Raith. Send Mr. Hutcheson back.”
I hear that Hutch is here and I instantly have butterflies in my stomach. I hold out my hand and look at it trembling. I try to steady it, but I’m unsuccessful.
“It’s normal to be nervous—the first client is always the most daunting.”
Hutch is my first and last. There’ll be no need to continue working as an inamorata when this job is over. I’ll have plenty of money to pay for college. Or at least I think I will.
“How much money will I be getting when this job is done?” I can’t believe that I haven’t asked that question before now.
Cora picks up a notepad from her desk and looks at it. “Your portion will be £340,000.”
Three hundred, forty thousand and what the actual fuck?
Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
Did I hear that number correctly?
Cora smiles when Hutch comes through her office door. “Mr. Hutcheson. So good to see you again. Come in and join Lou and me.”
I turn and smile at Hutch. “Hi.”
“Hello. How are you?”
“I’m fine.” Nervous as fuck, actually. “And you?”
“I’m well, thank you.”
“Lovely. Everyone is well. Shall we begin?” Cora hands over a printed copy of our agreement to each of us. “This part is somewhat uncomfortable, but trust me when I say that it will prevent problems down the road.”
Cora pushes her reading glasses up her nose. “Now is the time that we make any amendments, so stop me if there is something that you don’t understand or wish to change. The hard copy of your companion agreement will include formal terminology, but we’ll use lay terms during this meeting.”
We simultaneously voice our understanding.
“This arrangement, also known as the girlfriend experience, is between Maxwell Hutcheson and the inamorata known as Lou. The duration of this arrangement will end on August 31. Because the initial meeting was on Monday, he has paid for the duration of eighty-five days, although technically we’re at eighty-one remaining days.”
Eighty-one days.
Eighty-one nights.
Let me say that again. Eighty-one nights.
Cora looks up and we both nod.
“During the duration of your arrangement, Maxwell Hutcheson will be your only client. You will make yourself available to him at all times during the eighty-one-day period with these limited exceptions: severe illness or injury, death of an immediate family member or friend, or predetermined personal time off. Do you understand and agree to those terms?”
I turn to Hutch. “Can you expand a little more on predetermined personal time off?”
“There will be periods of time when I won’t require your availability. An example would be when I’m tied up at the office or I’ve gone out of town. You’d be free to do as you wish during those times.”
That’s such a relief. The thought of making myself available to anyone twenty-four-seven is intimidating.
“Next are Mr. Hutcheson’s expectations in regard to sex.”
I squirm in my seat, my fingers fidgeting on my lap. I’m so damn uncomfortable having this conversation.
“Mr. Hutcheson has paid in advance for sex.”
What the actual fuck?
“That isn’t what we discussed.”
“I don’t expect to have sex every day for the next eighty-whatever days. Please get that thought out of your head right now.”
That thought is in my head because that’s what you’ve paid for. “I’m confused.”
“After today, I don’t want to talk about money again. The only way to ensure that is to pay upfront for everything that might happen. The money changes nothing. I still want to pursue an emotional connection with you, and if the physical connection happens, great. If it doesn’t, I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll understand.”
He says that the money changes nothing. I hope he means that because I won’t sleep with him out of obligation.