I blink. “Mr Bancroft?”
His mouth twitches. “You might know him as Julian.”
“Oh yes. The Lord of Snark.” I shake my head. “Someone’s really going to paymorethan Julian’s set amount?” I whisper.
He nods. “Yes, the gentleman has offered seventy thousand pounds.”
The room seems to dip and sway, and I wonder if I’m going to faint. “Bloody hell,” I breathe.
The man kindly ignores my outburst and proffers his tray. I take the envelope which has my name on it. When I tear it open I find a small room card. “If you’re amenable to the offer, Mr Walker will take care of the transaction and put the money into your account. The customer will see you upstairs, in Room Fifteen.”
I hesitate and instinctively look over at the card table, but my mystery man, Cormac Reilly, isn’t there. His chair is empty, and his glass has been whisked away. He’s gone.
Swallowing my irrational disappointment, I drag my attention back to where it should always have been—securing my incredibly shaky future.
“Shall I tell Mr Walker that the deal is done?” Fox’s assistant asks.
I take a deep breath. This is it—the point of no return. “Yes, the deal is done.”
four
I take the stairs at a fast clip and then slow my steps when I reach the second floor. I don’t need to meet this bloke as a sweaty mess.
Thoughts of the mystery man Cormac swim into my head. I sort of wish he’d be on the other side of the door, which is ridiculous because I don’t know him any better than I know any of the men here. It’s just that I felt a spark of attraction towards him that would be helpful in the situation I’m about to walk into.
For a moment, I contemplate the horrific thought that I might not be able to get it up, but I dismiss that almost instantly. I’ve never had that happen in sex before, and I’ve got enough problems in life without talking myself into another one.
I think of all the advice Julian has given me this week, but my brain starts to spin. Douche regularly. Always make sure my body looks its best. Waxing is imperative. I shudder when I remember my waxing appointment. Best not to remember the pain, or my penis will shrivel like a cocktail sausage.
I’d be standing here for the rest of the night if I tried to remember everything Julian told me, but one bit stands out at the moment—don’t initiate conversation until you knowwhether the man wants it, because some just want a hole to come in.
When Julian told me this particular rule, I’d asked whether a sex doll would be a better companion for these men. He’d given me a narrow-eyed warning not to attempt humour.
Pushing the thoughts away, I turn right down a long corridor. It’s carpeted in rich reds and blues, and doors lead off it. The soundproofing is excellent because there’s only a hushed quiet, and the rustling of my clothes as I walk along. I wonder if people are fucking behind all these doors and have a sudden image of this house opened up like an advent calendar with different sex acts happening behind every door.
Holding the card, I look at the door numbers as I pass. Finally, I arrive at Room Fifteen. I stop dead, swallowing hard. This is it. I look back down the corridor towards the staircase. I could go now—leave, find some temporary digs, and see if I can find a job. I think of leaving uni and long years of a job I don’t want, and my insides shrivel. I’ve worked so hard and sacrificed so much. I can’t stand the idea that it might all have been for nothing.
I raise the keycard and let myself into the room.
I’m dimly aware of a big room with a high ceiling and an enormous four-poster bed, but my attention is on the man in a dark suit, his back to me as he stares at a painting on the wall. He’s taller than me with broad shoulders, long legs, and a pert bum all set off by the expensive pinstriped suit.
He turns slowly at the sound of my entrance, and I go completely still. “You.”
The man called Cormac raises one eyebrow. “Do we know each other?”
His voice is lovely—low and very posh with an intriguing hint of huskiness. His face is even more stunning close up, and his eyes glow blue in the room’s low light.
His brow furrows, and I remember I’m supposed to be answering his question. “Oh no. It’s just that I noticed you earlier downstairs.”
He shrugs. “Well, I obviously noticed you too.” He spreads out his hands in a graceful gesture. “And here we are. Voila.”
I stand still, and the silence holds for an uncomfortable beat too long. All Julian’s advice has gone completely out of my brain, and I’m unsure what to do now. “What do you like about that picture?” I blurt out instead of doing any of the essential things I’m no doubt supposed to be doing.
He blinks and looks in the direction of my pointing finger. “I’m not sure there is anything to like,” he says offhandedly.
I cock my head. “You were staring at it, so there must be something.”
“Maybe I was occupying my time waiting for the young man who is not behaving as expected.” There’s a slight hint of amusement in his voice.
