Chapter 5 Too Good To Be True

Last night had started as a revenge plan, but it had quickly become something else entirely. Alexander no longer saw Emma as a way to get back at Reagan. Had he ever really seen her that way?

The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Alexander saw Reagan's name on the screen and felt his jaw clench.

"What do you want?" Alexander answered in his coldest voice - the tone that usually made grown men stammer and sweat.

"Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to see how your night went." Reagan sounded way too cheerful for Alexander's liking.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?"

"Sure, why not?"

But Alexander pulled back. Even though he knew the details would drive Reagan crazy, he suddenly didn't want to share anything about Emma. She deserved better than being used as ammunition in his war with this snake.

"I'm sure you can use your imagination," Alexander said coldly.

"Right. So I guess you two spent the night together then."

Alexander's hand tightened into a fist. He hated this man with every fiber of his being. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, but business is a very interesting choice of words," Reagan said, and something in his voice made Alexander's stomach twist. Something wasn't right here.

"What are you getting at, Reagan? Spit it out or get off my phone."

"I assume you know she's a prostitute."

The words hit Alexander like a punch to the gut. He could practically hear Reagan's smug smile through the phone, and could feel his delight in dropping this bomb.

"An expensive one, obviously, or I wouldn't have hired her. But she's very, very good at her job, don't you think?" Reagan continued, his voice dripping with fake sweetness.

It couldn't be true. Nothing about what Reagan was saying matched the woman Alexander had spent the night with. This had to be Reagan's way of getting revenge.

"You're a disgusting excuse for a human being," Alexander said through gritted teeth.

Reagan laughed , a horrible sound that made Alexander's blood boil. "Her name is Emma Carter, and she works for Elite Companion Escort Agency. You can look it up online. You'll find her profile there."

Alexander held the phone so tight he thought it might crack. He couldn't speak.

"And don't let that 'no sex' thing on their website fool you. I've hired plenty of their girls before - using dear Sophie's money, of course. They're always happy to provide extra services for the right price. I hope you tipped her well, Alexander. I certainly planned to." Reagan's laughter echoed as he hung up.

Alexander stared at his phone, knowing he would regret it even as he opened his internet browser. He typed in the name Reagan had given him, telling himself he was doing this to prove Reagan wrong.

Emma's face appeared on his screen immediately.

Alexander felt like the world had tilted sideways. Reagan had played him at his own game, and won.

It was just like Vivian all over again. His ex-fiancée who had lied and schemed and wrapped him around her finger for money. Cold-hearted and calculating, caring only about what she could get from him.

But Emma wasn't like that, was she? Alexander ran through the night in his mind, trying to make sense of it all. Their chemistry had been real, he was sure of that. But that didn't mean she wouldn't use it to her advantage.

He had told her he was royalty almost immediately. Had her interest been genuine after that? Or had she just seen dollar signs, like Vivian?

But suddenly Emma's relationship with Reagan made perfect sense. It wasn't a relationship at all. She was being paid to be there, to laugh at his jokes, to fetch drinks like a servant. That's why she had hesitated to leave with Alexander , Reagan was her current paycheck. That's why she had questioned Alexander only wanting one night.

Everything clicked into place. Alexander slammed his hands on the kitchen counter, fury rising in his chest. After Vivian, he thought he had learned to spot women like this. How had Emma gotten under his skin so completely?

What kind of escort agency claimed to offer dates with no sex? Alexander had never heard of such a thing. He was sure a "happy ending" was always part of the deal.

With every passing minute, he began to see Emma as Vivian's twin, beautiful, manipulative, dishonest, scheming. Old wounds tore open, bitter and raw.

Alexander stared at Emma's photo on his phone. The proof of what she really was stared back at him.

How had he been so stupid?

---

Emma woke up slowly, stretching like a cat in the huge hotel bed. Her body felt amazing, sore in all the right places, tingling with memories of the night before. She had never felt anything like what Alexander had made her feel.

She could smell coffee and hear movement in the suite's kitchen. Alexander was already awake.

Emma smiled and wrapped a hotel robe around herself, padding barefoot across the plush carpet. She felt like she was floating on air.

"Good morning," she said softly, coming up behind Alexander.

He turned around, and Emma's smile faltered. Something was wrong. His face was cold, hard, nothing like the warm, passionate man from last night.

"So," Alexander said, his voice cutting like ice. "How much do you charge?"

Emma blinked, still sleepy and confused. "For what?"

"For coffee?" she guessed, smelling the rich aroma. "I'd pay about a thousand dollars for some right now." She tried to smile, but Alexander didn't smile back.

"I meant for a night of your company."

Emma stopped breathing. Her smile died completely, and ice flooded her veins.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Oh, apologies are definitely needed," Alexander said, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.

The full horror of what he was suggesting hit Emma like a slap. She felt sick. "How dare you?" she snapped, her hand slicing through the air. "Don't you dare suggest that I slept with you for money!"

"Then why are you acting so angry when the whole world can see what you do?" Alexander held up his phone, showing her profile on the Elite Companions website.

Emma felt tears sting her eyes and throat, but she refused to cry. Not now. Not in front of him.

"That is a legitimate escort service," she said firmly, though she could see how bad it looked.

"You mean legitimate prostitution? I'm surprised you didn't negotiate your price upfront. Isn't that better business practice?"

"It's not that kind of agency!" Emma's voice rose. "We provide dates for business people who need someone presentable for events. No romantic complications, no messy feelings. That's the only reason I agreed to work there. I have never slept with a man for money. Last night had nothing to do with business!"

"That's not what Reagan told me."

Emma's eyes went wide. "You know Reagan? What did he say? How did he even know that I left with you?"

"I made sure he knew," Alexander said coldly. "Turns out you weren't the only one telling lies last night."

The words hit Emma like a physical blow. "You used me," she whispered, the words barely making it past her throat.

Alexander's expression didn't change. "Don't act so innocently. We both got what we wanted."

Emma stared at him, this stranger wearing Alexander's face. The man who had held her so tenderly just hours ago was gone, replaced by someone cruel and cold.

"You're right," Emma said quietly, forcing herself to stand tall. "We both got exactly what we deserved."

Some fairy tales, Emma thought bitterly, really were too good to be true.