Chapter 3 Sweet Revenge

Sweet Revenge

If there was one thing Emma had to give this stranger credit for, it was his brutal honesty. Most men would have lied and promised her the world.

Emma looked around quickly and saw that Reagan's back was turned to her. "Thank God," she whispered. Her hands were shaking from everything Alexander had just said, and from the panic of almost being caught talking to another man.

If Reagan reported this back to the agency, she would be fired for sure. And she couldn't afford to lose this job.

Where else could she find work like this? Elite Companions was different from other escort agencies. They had one iron rule - no sex between clients and staff. Ever. It was what made Emma feel safe taking these jobs without worrying that some creepy guy would expect extra services at the end of the night. And it paid ten times more than anything else she was qualified to do.

"I can't go home with you," Emma said, and her voice was full of sadness because part of her really wanted to. "Please just forget we ever met. I have to go back to my date."

She turned and walked straight back to Reagan, trying to ignore the way Alexander's eyes followed her every step.

Ten minutes later, Reagan waved her over. "Emma, be a doll and get drinks for me and the guys," he said without even looking at her, like she was some kind of servant.

Emma's jaw tightened, but she forced a smile. "Of course. What would you like?"

As she made her way back to the bar, she could feel Alexander watching her again. Sure enough, he appeared beside her like a shadow.

"Is this what you think a date should be like?" Alexander asked, his voice full of disapproval. "What kind of men have you been wasting your time with?"

"You don't know the half of it," Emma muttered before she could stop herself.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Then let tonight be the night you stop settling for less."

"We already talked about this. I'm not going anywhere with you, Alexander."

"Is it because you'd rather stay with him?" Alexander gestured toward Reagan's table. "Or because I was honest about what would happen the morning after?"

Emma felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. "A little of both," she admitted.

"I don't believe you. Not about the first part." Alexander's voice was low and intense. "I've been watching you all night. There's no spark between you two. Nothing like what happened when I touch you."

Emma swallowed hard. She had never felt anything like what she felt when Alexander touched her. It was like electricity running through her whole body.

"I wish you would stop watching me," she said quietly, though that was a complete lie. Even from across the room, his gaze made her feel like she was on fire.

"I can't stop watching you as long as you're in this room," Alexander said simply. "I will watch you, and I will want you. All I'm asking for is tonight."

His directness took Emma's breath away. "Alexander," she said weakly, "you have to stop this."

"When it's so obvious that we both want the same thing?"

She couldn't deny that, so she stuck to her original excuse. "I'm here on a date, and I'm not going to ditch him for someone I just met. That's not the kind of person I am."

Instead of arguing, Alexander simply put his arm around her waist and guided her away from the bar.

"Hey!" Emma protested. "I have to order their drinks!"

"Their drinks?" Alexander's voice was sharp with anger. "You're fetching drinks for his entire group?"

"It's just a few drinks. No big deal." Emma tried to sound casual. "I offered to help."

Alexander clearly didn't believe her lie. He called over a waitress and had Emma tell her what drinks to bring to Reagan's table.

Then he led Emma further away from the crowd, toward the edge of the room where floor-to-ceiling windows lined the wall. Thick gold curtains framed each window. As they approached, a security guard bowed and stepped aside.

Another guard pressed something, and Emma realized the windows were actually French doors. They opened onto a narrow balcony that wrapped around the Manhattan high-rise. The view was breathtaking.

Emma felt overwhelmed by the beauty spread out before her. The city lights twinkled like stars below them.

"I can't stay out here long," she said, even though she was fighting a losing battle. Part of her really did want to go home with him, even if it would only be for one night.

"Why are you so determined to stay with him?" Alexander asked. "Is it serious between you two?"

Emma hesitated. "No, it's not serious."

"Then why waste your time with someone who treats you like hired help?"

"That's none of your business." Emma's voice was pleading now. "Alexander, we just met, and here you are talking about... about sleeping together."

Alexander laughed, a warm sound that made her heart skip. "I'm talking about spending a beautiful night together."

Desire shot through Emma like lightning. She wanted that more than she had ever wanted anything in her life. But how could she?

"What about tomorrow night?" she asked breathlessly. "We could have a proper date."

"No. It has to be tonight."

"Why does it have to be tonight?" Emma asked firmly.

Alexander's eyes grew dark and possessive. "Do you think I could stand watching you go home with another man? You'll be mine tonight, Emma. Not his."

Emma knew she should tell him that she wasn't anyone's property. She was her own person with her own choices. But the way he said it made her stomach flutter with excitement.

"I don't want to upset Reagan," she said, shaking her head.

Alexander's eyes flashed with anger. "A man who treats you like a waitress deserves to be upset."

"I'm serious," Emma said. "We can't be seen leaving together."

"Tell him you're not feeling well and need to leave. I'll follow later. Go outside - my car will be waiting out front. I'll tell my driver to expect you."

Emma felt a shiver run down her spine. This was really happening. There was no going back now.

She pulled out her phone and found Reagan's number. Her fingers shook as she typed: "I'm so sorry, but I'm not feeling well. I didn't want to interrupt your conversation or risk making you sick. Thank you for a lovely evening."

She hit send and looked up at Alexander. "Done."

"Good girl," he said with a smile that made her knees weak.

As Emma headed for the exit, she didn't see Alexander's expression change completely when he spotted Reagan across the room.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Alexander muttered to himself, his voice turning cold as ice.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The perfect opportunity to make Reagan pay for what he had done to Sophie. Alexander had fantasized about punching that pretty boy face. But now, seeing how Reagan had treated Emma like some kind of servant, Alexander wanted to do much worse.

This was going to be even sweeter than he had imagined.