“Maybe you need to go.” I was feeling more and more confident, without really understanding why. I didn’t want to be angry any more.
“I’ll go. But you’re going to need me. Eventually. Trust me on that.”
He’d said something similar before. His certainty began to worry me. It wasn’t like he was trying to convince me. He was warning me. That was it. He made it exceptionally hard to ignore.
“Okay,” I said. “I hear you.” I didn’t say anything else. I had nothing more to say. I wasn’t sure I believed this man. It seemed unfair to trust him over Hale.
Ezra started to walk back inside. Just as he reached the glass, he stopped and turned back to me. I realized I was holding my breath, afraid of what he would say. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
“Be careful. Pay attention. Don’t assume that anything is a gift.”
He then went through the entry and closed it behind him without waiting for my rebuttal, any question I might have had. I didn’t follow Ezra. I stood there replaying his words in my head, again and again, over and over, like a recorder was lodged in my brain. I was careful and did pay attention. It was his comment on the gifts that bothered me. I wasn’t comfortable with what Hale had bought. If Ezra was being honest, if there’d been a string of women, then what, what would I do? Do I stay here or go back to Moulton? This remained an opportunity. A chance I’d never had.
That evening my mind ran through its scenarios until I couldn’t imagine another. Some were terrifying, while others made good sense. By the time I closed my eyes, I was sure I was overreacting. Time with Hale would ease my mind.
Chapter Seven
When my eyes opened it was dark outside. I rarely woke up in the middle of the night, even when my sisters kneed me. I was a heavy sleeper. Frowning, I rose to check the time, the bedside clock dimly glowing. It was a little after two in the morning. I considered going back to sleep, but wanted to check the apartment. Something must’ve awakened me. A sound, maybe some street noise?
Slipping out of the satiny sheets I walked to the bedroom door. Opening it slowly, things seemed quiet and then I heard the feminine giggle, followed by Hale’s deep voice. It was coming from his bedroom. There was a bump, then another laugh. I stood there wondering if this was real or was I asleep and dreaming. Would Hale bring a woman into the penthouse where I was sleeping to have… what? What was I thinking? To screw while I was present? To have sex right down the hall?
There was a moan and the woman cried “Hale!” which was met by a muffled “take it!” I froze with my head craned staring at his door, awake and aware and angry. This was awkward and confusing. Especially after what Ezra had shared and the way Hale had kissed me.
I listened as the moans grew louder, her cries increasing and when I couldn’t stand it I reentered my room, sliding my feet, the door blocking the noise. It must’ve been their walk down the hallway that opened my eyes to begin with.
Sleep wasn’t going to come now. My mind was too busy spinning. Was she the friend in town for the night he had to so urgently meet with? Why hadn’t he said “I have a date,” and then it would’ve been clear. But he chose to overwhelm and groom me with the shopping, which I thought meant something else. His signals made no sense. He did whatever he wanted.
Ezra was right about one thing. If I pretended it was something else, I was being naïve and stupid. He’d spent thousands of dollars on my wardrobe and purses, but exactly for what and why? To have the proper appearance when we dated? Was that really what I’d be doing? My job in New York City?
A loud female cry made it through the walls, followed by an extended groan. Great, they were getting louder. Just what I wanted to hear. I covered my ears with the extra pillow and closed my eyes till they finished. Hopefully, it wouldn’t last long. Tomorrow I would address this with Hale. He needed to return the clothing or at least take back the purses. He didn’t need me to go to parties. I was here to work for him. If he was planning on having sex with others, in his room so I could hear it, then this wasn’t a relationship. We weren’t headed in a romantic direction. Even the wealthy and the privileged had to have scruples and morals.
It wasn’t until the penthouse quieted that I finally fell back to sleep. It was a fitful sleep with dreams of Moulton, Hale, and oddly Ezra.
I stood in the kitchen wondering what to do about breakfast for the two. I hadn’t heard Hale’s guest leave. I supposed she’d be eating as well. There were no directions from Felicity on how to handle overnight guests. It was left to me to figure this out and to be really uncomfortable while doing it.
My best assumption would be to prepare enough for both when they awakened. If she didn’t stay I’d put the extra away and eat it later myself. That sounded better than pretending like I didn’t know she was here. I began washing and slicing the fruit.
Once his guest left we were going to discuss this. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but we had to talk this through. To come to some agreement. I didn’t intend to “date” him if he was going to bring other women up to the penthouse to screw. That was mean and rude.
I prepared a fresh fruit tray then began making the crepes. Felicity left me a recipe. It wasn’t until I had the turkey bacon cooked that I heard the footsteps behind me. Turning, I saw her there. She was tall and blonde and the towel she was wrapped in barely covered her body. Her exposed skin was tan. She was a model, obviously a model. A gigantic, perfect woman. I wanted to stab her with my fork.
“I thought I smelled food,” she said, with a delicate childish yawn. “Could you bring it to the bedroom in fifteen minutes? I need to wake Hale up first.”
I would be delivering breakfast in bed. Awesome. What a fun morning.
“Sure,” I responded to the woman. I could’ve caved in her head with that vase.
Without another word she turned to leave, then paused to spin on her runway. “I don’t drink coffee either. I’ll need green tea without sweetener. Not too warm. Do you hear me?”
Before I could respond she was gone.
I knew there was an extensive selection of teas in the walk in pantry. I’d seen them there arranged. Apparently she also knew he’d have what she wanted to drink.
I started for the pantry when his bedroom door opened for heavier footsteps, headed in my direction. “I have appointments India. I told you last night.” Hale’s voice sounded annoyed.
“So you’re going to fuck me for hours, then send me packing like a whore?”
“You stayed the night. Jesus, what more did you want?”