Luna smiles and points to Garcia. “Mr. Smith.”
Shit.
He runs his tongue over his teeth and tilts his jaw to the ceiling.
“Mr. Smith.” Porsha smiles. “You are one lucky man tonight.”
Sebastian slowly stands and then comes and takes Luna’s hand. He leads her from the stage, and I drop my head in dismay. What?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“May I introduce Cartier!” Porsha calls. “This is only her second shift. Who will be her second date?”
The men move and stand in a line in front of me.
“Fifty thousand!” a man calls.
“Sixty-five!” another man calls.
I glance toward the door to see Sebastian leaving with Luna. He’s holding her hand. He says something to her, and she laughs in response as they continue to leave.
He didn’t even stay to see who I chose, I taste the bile of my stomach as it turns.
God, I read this all wrong.
He doesn’t care that I work here. He just doesn’t give a fuck.
I go through the introductions with the men one by one, and they all seem nice.
But none are who I want.
“Who will it be, Cartier? Who will be your date for tonight?”
I look between them. I want to go for the kindest looking man—the one I know will handle my sexual rejection.
“Mr. Stevenson,” I say softly.
He’s blonde and sweet looking. He walks over and takes my hand to kiss the back of it. “Hello, Cartier.”
“Hi.” I force a smile.
He leads me down the catwalk and we walk toward the exit.
Is Sebastian kissing her right now? Is he grabbing her face and licking it?
God, it’s one thing to never experience a man like Mr. Garcia, but to know what he’s like and not be able to have him… to know that someone else is having it in your place… that’s another level of torture.
Mr. Stevenson and I make it into the elevator, and I stare at the back of the doors.
He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it.
“I can’t wait to get you alone, Cartier. I bid for you last week, too.”
I force a smile and, unable to think of a reply, remain silent.
The elevator doors open and we walk down to the room where he opens the door and lets me inside.
Should I just leave? Fuck, this is a mess.
“Champagne?” he asks.
“Please.” I cross my arms and walk over to the window to stare out at the city of London below. The heavy flow of traffic lights up the streets.
So, this is what it feels like to hate yourself.
No money is worth this.
Stop it.
Moments later, Mr. Stevenson passes me a glass of champagne.
“Thank you.” I take a tentative sip as his eyes hold mine. “Do you come here often?”
“When I need to.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “You mean… when you need sex?”
“Among other things.”
God.
There’s a knock at the door. “Are you expecting someone?” I ask.
“No.” He frowns, walks to the door and opens it.
Mr. Garcia stands in the corridor.
“Can I come in?” he asks.
“What do you want?” Mr. Stevenson responds.
Sebastian walks past him and into the apartment. He closes the door behind him, and his eyes find mine across the room before he turns his attention back to Mr. Stevenson.
“We’re swapping partners,” Garcia announces.
“Over my dead body.”
“Don’t fucking test me.”
“I said no.” Mr. Stevenson pushes Sebastian, and then Sebastian pushes him back. “Leave. Your new room is 121. Luna is waiting for you. I’ve made it worth her while, and she’s excited for the swap,” Sebastian tells him.
“She didn’t pick me first, asshole. I want Cartier.” He shoves him again.
“You can’t have her,” Sebastian growls.
“Stop it!” I snap. “I’m not an object you can just have! Neither of you can fucking have me.” I walk over to the door and open it in a rush. “Get out. The both of you. I’m not having sex with either of you idiots, so just leave.”
Sebastian tilts his chin, clearly happy with my outburst.
“See?” he gestures to me with his hand. “She’s not having sex with anybody. You may as well take Luna up on her offer. We both know she’s a sure thing.”
I stare at Sebastian for a moment as I process his words, and an angry haze begins to cloud my vision. Just how many fucking times has Sebastian been with Luna?
“You know what? Just get out.” I’m going to get fired for this, but I don’t give a crap. I’m too angry to care anymore.
“Me?” Sebastian scoffs.
“Yes, you! What makes you think I want Luna’s sloppy seconds? Anyone’s sloppy seconds, actually. This place, as well as you, insults my intelligence.” I push him out the door, and then I turn to Mr. Stevenson. “This is your last chance: Luna or the spare room?”
His eyes hold mine. “You’re actually serious?”
“Yes. I’m fucking serious.” I march up the hallway toward the bedroom. “Having sex with you is the last thing I want to do, so I know what offer I would take if I were you.” I call as I slam the bedroom door shut behind me.
My heart is beating hard in my chest, and I take a deep breath to try calm myself down.
Damn it, I’m going to get fired.
Ten thousand pounds is better than nothing, though. It’s a start.
But will I even get paid for tonight?
I needed twenty thousand, but I don’t care anymore. No amount of money is worth degrading myself to this level.
I walk into the bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror. All dressed up with nowhere to go. What a joke.
I hear the door slam, and I put my ear to the back of my door and listen carefully.
I think Mr. Stevenson has gone.
I walk back up the hallway, and I see the key to the apartment on the kitchen counter, I exhale with relief.
Thank God for Luna. I wonder if she will be with both of them now. Is that even a thing?
For fuck’s sake… just yuck.
I can’t believe I’m being forced to even think about that.
Champagne. I need all the champagne.
I take the bottle and fill my flute to the top. I take a sip. It’s crisp, refreshing, and tastes delicious.
“Are you going to offer me a glass?” a deep voice asks behind me.
I spin to see Sebastian sitting back with his arms stretched out across the back of the couch, his leg crossed at the ankle.
I didn’t see him when I came in, was he there the whole time?
“I told you to leave,” I say.
“And I told you that I wanted to spend the night with you,” he replies calmly.
“Well, you can’t,” I snap, I drain my glass and refill it.
“What’s wrong with you tonight?”
My eyes widen. “You have to ask? You can’t be that stupid.”
He gives me a slow sexy smile. “Try me.”
I roll my eyes. “Go away, Sebastian. I’m not interested.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re fucking with my head!” I snap. “And I don’t even know you.”