Chapter 3 Three

ARIA

On our way home, I kept staring at Ignatius, anxiety pulling at my life source. Looking out the window only helped to remind me how close I was to seeing my father. My only hope was that he wasn't home or he had not heard. Iggy might have already told him, his loyalty as pure as his heart.

"You know it wasn't my fault, right? I didn't know who he was," I suggested, looking straight ahead. I needed his understanding, his sympathy if possible because if I was not convincing enough, he would rat me out for sure. When he said nothing, I continued pleading my case.

"You won't tell my father, right? This will just be between us, yes?"

He hung his head, refusing to look me in the eye, his reaction putting me on alert. I sat up at once, awaiting his response.

"I'm sorry but it's too late..." Oh, no..

"Él ya sabe." He already knows.

The force of the news hit me hard and just like that, all hope was lost. I closed my eyes, mentally preparing myself for what punishment he would mete out to me for my insolence towards his biggest partner. Iggy was not done though.

"No, you misunderstand me, miss. I only told him that Mr Walters had met with you as he earlier requested."

"And?" I pressed on.

"He asked about the outcome of the meeting but I told him that it was so brief that you two didn't have the time to get to know each other better. He was pleased or so it seemed."

"Iggy! How could you do this to me? You could have just told me all that before!" The bastard, I fumed.

"I have your back, kid. Never doubt that," he announced boldly, displaying a grin for my benefit that lasted for just a second. I wasn't a kid, being a model at 24 but compared to his age, I had seen nothing of the world.

"I'm sorry for yelling," I apologized after a brief period of silence. He squeezed my palm to signify that he understood and had given his forgiveness. I felt much better about going home then than moments before.

CALVIN

I rolled from my side of the bed to catch my breath. Perspiration spilled down my back, my exertions telling on me. The lady in my bed moaned and reached out her hands in front of her, her eyes still closed. When she realized that I was nowhere near her, she blinked her eyes, finally awake and pouted at my distance from her.

"Come back to bed, baby," she cajoled in a honeyed, thick voice. She drew the blanket off her bosom, licking her lips suggestively. I was totally disgusted by her show of supposed seduction and I increased the distance between us with a leisured stride towards my bar. I longed for something to absolve me of the memory of her body underneath mine. Bourbon would do the trick, I agreed and selected a red bottle full of it. She was a screamer, my ears still ringing from the high decibels that had emanated out of her when I had finally penetrated her. Personally, I was aware that I packed a lot of meat down there but she seemed to be exaggerating the effect.

"Sir?" she pleaded, her voice vibrating with the hint of tears. Shameless. I slammed my glass down on the counter to cut through her bullshit.

"Get dressed, Nancy. Now!" Her shocked face was the last thing I saw before I deserted her for my bathroom. I could hear her sobbing but it only infuriated me the more. Twisting the knob of the shower, humid water descended, cooling my mind. Nancy had been a person of convenience, a pawn on my chessboard.

When Harris had called her the previous night to inform her that her services were required, she had sped into his car, eager to milk the privileges of a free ride in a limo. She had been dropped off at one of my apartments where I had gone to meet her. I had not slept with her because I was attracted to her but she was there, like a foolish lamb drawn to the sharp canines of a wolf. I was restless after my trip home, she was lusting after me and she had an orifice I could use at that time. One could say it was a win-win situation.

I wrapped my furry towel around my waist when I was done and shrugged into my black robe though I left the belts undone. She was already in her skimpy dress when I came into the bedroom again, struggling with the straps of her heels. Noticing my presence, she straightened up and ran both hands down her dress in an inefficient attempt to smoothen out the wrinkles.

"I'm ready to leave," was all she said, her eyes trailing the beads of water running down my chest. She jammed her legs together, squeezing side by side and I tried to hold back the vomit churning in my stomach.

"Harris will drop you off as soon as you tell him where you want to go."

A frown fell on her forehead and her shivering stopped. "My money..."

"...will be given to you the minute you walk out this door, Nancy."

The scowl fell and she managed a little smile.

I pushed a button on the telecom on my desk. Within seconds, the door opened to reveal Harris.

"It was nice knowing you, Nancy. See you never," I air-toasted to her departure with my glass of bourbon. Harris whisked her away, closing the door behind him. I assumed my place behind the desk in the room, draining the remaining contents of the fiery liquor. Putting the glass away safely on the carpet floor which still bore the imprints of Nancy's knees, a strange smile tugged on my lips at the memory. She had done a terrible job at her first go but with my guidance, she had managed to deliver a half-decent fellatio, not like I hadn't had better.

Suddenly, my phone beeped twice, meaning that a notification had come in. I turned it over in my hands; it was a text from Harris. Duty calls.