I drifted off, thinking of Jake, and didn't wake until the shrill sound of a telephone ringing jolted me out of my dream state. Confused, I sat up and looked around, half-forgetting where I was.
My gaze landed on the room's ugly beige telephone, sitting on the nearby nightstand. Should I answer it?
Before I could decide, it stopped ringing. I was glad, actually. It saved me the trouble of a decision, especially when I wasn't quite awake.
Next to the phone was a digital clock that read 9:02. So Jake had been gone how long now? An hour? Had he been the one who called? Resisting the urge to go back to sleep, I stumbled out of bed and dug through my purse in search of my cell phone.
I pulled it out and felt myself frown. It was dead, of course. What if he had tried to call my cell first, and then called the room as a last resort?
Embarrassingly, I couldn't even call him back, because I didn't know his number by heart. Mostly, I just pressed the Jake button from my contact-list. Stupid cell phone. I didn't even have a charger on me.
Too wired to sleep, I went to the bathroom to freshen up and get dressed. I was nearly done when the hotel phone rang again. This time, I dove for it and picked it up with a breathless, "Hello?"
On the other end, I heard a woman's voice that sounded vaguely familiar. "Laura? Is that you?"
"Uh, sorry," I said. "I think you have the wrong room."
She hesitated. "So this isn't Laura Moon?"
Oh crap. Laura. That was me. Damn it. Maybe Jake was right. Maybe I should go by my birth name, as weird as it was. If nothing else, it might reduce my odds of looking like an idiot. "Oh. Sorry," I said. "I must've misheard you."
"It's Suzanne." She cleared her throat. "From the front desk?"
Of course. Suzanne. I'd been her co-worker for less than a day. I could only imagine what she thought of me. I tried to keep my tone friendly. "Oh, right," I said. "Hi."
Her voice was deadpan. "Hi. You've got a visitor."
"A visitor? What do you mean?"
"Someone at the front desk."
"Who?"
"A gentleman. He says his name is Vince."
"Vince Hammond?" I asked. Vince was a hotshot sports agent – and more to the point, Jake's mortal enemy. Or at least, that was my impression.
"That's the one," she said.
I recalled the incident with Bianca just yesterday. She had tried like crazy to reach Jake in this same hotel room, with absolutely zero luck. How had Vince pulled it off?
More to the point, what on Earth was he doing here? We were on friendly enough terms, but I still didn't want to see him. The last time I'd seen him, he'd offered me a job. Jake had been livid, even more so after someone had claimed that Vince and I were playing swallow-the-salami in the elevator to Jake's building.
"So, are you coming down?" Suzanne asked.
What if I didn't? Would Vince stick around? Would Jake see him when he returned? And if he did, what would happen? The last thing I needed was another ugly scene in the hotel lobby.
"Yeah, sure," I said. I'll be down in a minute."
While I was at it, I decided, I'd need to get rid of him in half that time.
Chapter 32
When the elevator doors opened into the crowded lobby, I spotted him instantly, a good-looking blond guy in a stylish business suit. He was leaning against the front desk, chatting with Suzanne, who the way it looked, was utterly charmed.
The place was busier than I'd ever seen it, with two other hotel-employees, not including Suzanne, manning the front desk. I guess that made sense. It was nearly check-out time, after all.
I took a deep breath and moved toward the lobby's center. I'd thrown on my clothes from the previous night – the standard black skirt and white blouse. I guess they looked reasonably okay, which had to be some kind of miracle, all things considered.
Catching my eye, Vince motioned me to the lobby's main seating area. I glanced toward it and tried not to show my surprise.
It didn't look nearly as bad as I'd anticipated.
Sure, it was minus one coffee table, but all in all, the area looked nothing like the war zone I'd been expecting. I saw no broken glass, no shattered ceramic, no scattered flower arrangements, and no other sign whatsoever of last night's altercation.
Obviously, someone had been very busy during the five hours I'd been upstairs.
After we said a brief hello, Vince motioned to the nearby sofa – the same one that Chet had toppled over the previous night. "Want to have a seat?" he asked.
"Sorry," I said. "I've only got a minute, so I'd better not get too comfortable."
"What you mean to say is you don't want me to get too comfortable." Vince gave me an easy smile. "Am I right?"
I felt my cheeks grow warm. I had only met him a few times, but he had this maddening way of cutting straight to the point with an easy charm that made me feel like an oaf in comparison.
"You want the truth?" I asked.
"Sure," he said. "Hit me."
"Honestly," I said, "I really didn't want to talk to you at all, no offense." I glanced around. "But Jake will be here soon, and I figured it would be best for everyone if you guys didn't run into each other." I glanced toward the entrance. Hint, hint.
"So what you're telling me is to get to the point and get out?" Vince gave a slow nod. "I can respect that."
What did someone say to such a thing? I studied his face. He actually looked sincere.
"Alright," he continued, "I'm here to offer you a job."
I felt my brow wrinkle. "You already did that. Remember?"
He'd done this at the door to Jake's penthouse of all places. At the time, Jake hadn't been home. Jake wasn't around now either. Obviously, that was no accident. Vince either had terrific timing or inside information.
"By the way," I said, "how'd you know I was here?"
Of course, I already knew the answer to that. Bianca was working for him now. The way it looked, she was quite the blabbermouth. I was dying to see if he'd admit it.
"I have my sources," he said.
I crossed my arms. "Bianca?"
He shrugged. "She might've mentioned it."
"Right," I said. "And about the job, thanks, but the answer is still no."
"Can I ask why?"
"You already know why," I said. "One, you're not hiring me for my qualifications. And two, Jake wouldn't like it."
"Do I have time for a rebuttal?" he asked
"Not really."
"Come on," he said with a smile, "just hear me out, alright? Aren't you curious?"
In truth, I was curious. Vince was a top sports agent. His company represented some of the biggest names in sports entertainment. It did billions in revenue and had offices all over the place, including one right here in Detroit.
Into my silence, Vince said, "About your qualifications, you're selling yourself short."
I gave him a skeptical look. "Am I?'
"You are," he said. "You've got the right degree and just enough experience. Plus, I like the way you handle yourself. This business? It can get a little rough sometimes. I need someone who's not afraid to go toe-to-toe with personalities that others might find intimidating."
At this, I actually laughed. "I think you've got the wrong girl. I don't go toe-to-toe with anyone."
"Not true," he said. "I've seen the way you handle Jake."
"I don't 'handle' Jake," I said. "We've been friends a long time."
"Okay. Sorry." Vince held up his hands, palms out. "Bad choice of words. The point is, you're not afraid of him."
"Why should I be?"
"See, that's what I'm talking about," he said. "It's that kind of attitude that wins in this business. Now, as to your other objection–"
"That Jake wouldn’t like it?" I said. "Yeah, that's a pretty big one, isn't it?"
"Not as big as you'd think." Vince looked around the hotel lobby. "You think he'd like this?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You," Vinc
e said, "working nights?"
Oh God, he thought I still worked here? When I'd been fired? Well, this wasn't awkward or anything. "Actually," I said, "that's not a problem anymore."
"I know Jake, remember?"
What did he mean by that? "I guess I'm not following," I admitted.
"Knowing him, he's worried about your safety. You take the job with me, and he won't need to worry anymore."
I almost laughed. "So take the job for him? That's what you're saying? Well, I've got to give you points for creativity."
"Be honest," Vince said. "It drives him crazy, doesn't it?"
Funny, it had driven Jake crazy. But I knew what would make him a whole lot crazier – me, working for Vince. But that wasn't the topic at-hand, was it? "Actually," I said, "I think your information is a little outdated. I don't work here anymore."
"You don't?"
"No. Didn't Suzanne tell you?"
"Tell me what?" he asked.
I didn't bother to sugar-coat it. "I was fired."
"No kidding?"
"No kidding. My first night, by the way." If that didn't discourage him, nothing would.
"For what?" he asked.
"There was sort of a mini-riot in the lobby, and uh, well, the management wasn't pleased."
At this, Vince laughed. "A mini-riot, huh?" He was nodding now. "See, that's exactly the kind of experience I’m looking for."
Didn't this guy ever take no for an answer? "Well, you're going to have to look somewhere else, because as I told you, Jake wouldn't like it."
"So," Vince said, "you're going to let him dictate your career path?"
"He's not dictating anything," I said.
"But?"
"But you guys don't get along. And out of loyalty, well, let's just say I'm not going to change my mind, okay?" I glanced toward the entrance. "Now, I don't want to be rude, but you should probably get going."
"Hang on. One last thing." He reached into the inside front pocket of his sports jacket. He pulled out a folded sheet of paper and held it out toward me.
Reluctantly, I took it and opened it up. I scanned several paragraphs of typewritten text and felt my eyebrows furrow. I looked up. "You can't be serious?"
"I'm dead serious," he said. "And I've got the check to back it up."
I scanned the letter again. "A signing bonus? Of five-thousand dollars?"
"The way I see it," Vince said, "it's a good investment."
I handed the letter back. "Not for me, it isn't."
"Why not?"
"Because I’m not gonna sell my relationship to Jake for any amount of money."
"Who says you have to sell anything?" he asked. "Keep seeing him. In fact, it's better for me, if you do."
"And why's that?" I asked.
"Because," he said, "it'll cut the odds of him harassing my clients."
I made a scoffing sound. "So you think you're buying influence?" I almost laughed in his face. "More likely, he'd never speak to me again. And then you'd be out five thousand for nothing."
"Not the way I see it," Vince said.
I gave him a look. I knew exactly what he meant. If Jake were hurt by this, it wouldn't bother Vince in the least. In fact, that was probably the whole point, wasn't it?
The logical part of me actually understood. The way it sounded, Jake had cost Vince a lot of money. But the emotional part of me? My heart? That belonged to Jake, and only Jake.
I glanced toward the doors. "I think you'd better leave," I told him.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said.
Actually, I could. And I did. Because nothing could entice me to stab Jake in the back like that – or so I thought, right up until my next nasty surprise.
Chapter 33
At the door to Jake's hotel room, I pulled out the key card. I slid it into the slot, still thinking about Vince's ridiculous offer. Like my loyalty could be bought with a decent job and a signing bonus.
I hesitated. The job was more than decent actually. Just before leaving, Vince had thrown out a salary figure that almost made me regret I couldn't take it. Almost, but not quite. The way I saw it, some things were a whole lot more valuable than money.
Entering the hotel room, I paused at the sounds of running water coming from the bathroom. I felt myself smile. He was back. And earlier than expected too.
I was just about to call out to him when something saved me the trouble. That something was a voice – unfamiliar, and worse, female – coming from behind the closed bathroom door.
"Hey Jake," she called out in a flirty voice. "I'm running a bath. You wanna join me?"
I froze, feeling the color drain from my face as my mind started churning on overdrive. Everywhere Jake went, girls threw themselves at him. A lot of those girls, Jake didn't even know. Was that the case here?
It had to be.
A moment later, I heard the voice again. "Sorry I didn't call first, but my phone is totally on the fritz. Would you believe I dropped it again?" Her laughter rang through the door. "It reminds me of that time in Vegas. Remember how mad I made that dealer?"
I was still staring, dumbstruck, at the door, when it opened just a crack, and a female head peeked out. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with sun-kissed hair and big blue eyes. When she saw me, those eyes widened and she gave a little gasp. "Oh my God," she said. "Shoot. Wait. This isn't what it looks like."
I felt my eyebrows furrow. Stupid or not, I still wasn't quite sure what it did look like. I mean, I knew the obvious conclusion, but I refused to jump there.
"Um, hi," I said. "So you're, uh…?"
Her gaze darted around the room. "The cleaning person," she said. "Just let me finish with this, uh – I'm cleaning the shower, actually, and I should be done in five minutes…" She gave me a half-smile, half-wince. "…, if you'd like to come back?"
I didn't bother to hide my disbelief. "So you're saying you're from housekeeping."
"Yes. That's it. Housekeeping."
In my head, I compiled a short list of things this girl could be. And nowhere on list did the word housekeeper appear.
Whatever she saw on my face, it obviously wasn't good, because a moment later, the bathroom door slammed shut, and I heard rummaging coming from within.
Beyond confused, I stood there like an idiot, staring at the door while she did God-knows-what behind it. Maybe a minute later, the door flew open, and there she was, wearing a skimpy red dress with matching shoes. She scurried out of the bathroom, lugging a white overnight case with her.
Housekeeping, my ass.
She'd gotten maybe two steps when I jumped to block her path. "Just who are you?" I said. "And don't say 'housekeeping' because I'm not stupid."
We were only inches apart. And in truth, she was a bit taller than I was. But there was no way in hell I was letting her waltz out the door without giving me some answers.
"I'm nobody," she said. "Wrong room, that's all." She gave a shaky laugh. "Happens to me all the time. I really need to get my eyes checked."
I gave her a look. "How do you know Jake?"
"Who's Jake?" She made a show of looking around. "Oh, is this his room? Is he your husband or something? I am so sorry." She gave an exaggerated eye-roll. "I am so embarrassed. Honestly. I don't know how this happened."
"Nice story," I said. "But tell me, how'd you get in here?"
She frowned. "It was, um, open?"
I'd met some pretty dishonest people in my life. Some were good at lying. Others, not so much. But this girl? She was the worst liar, ever.
"Look," I told her, "I can tell you're lying, so just tell me. What, exactly, are you doing here?"
"Listen, Luna—"
I froze. "How do you know my name?"
Her face blanched. "Oh shit. I mean, it was, uh." She glanced around. "I've gotta go." And with that, she pushed around me and made a mad dash for the door. I dove after her, lunging for her arm. I held it in a death grip as she whirled to face me.
"Who are you?" I demanded
.
Her gaze darted from the door to me. Her shoulders slumped. "Look, don't be mad at him, okay?"
I swallowed. "Him? You mean Jake?"
"We're just friends," she said. "Honest."
"Friends?" My gaze narrowed. "Or friends with benefits?"
She glanced away. "Just friends."
"You are so full of it." I gave her a no-nonsense look. "I heard you."
She blinked. "Heard me what?"
Through gritted teeth, I said, "I heard you inviting him into your bath."
She gave me a pleading look. "Listen, I'm no threat to you, if that's what you're worried about. I mean, I'm a flight attendant, so I'm not home a lot, you know."
"No," I ground out. "I don't know."
She gave me a sympathetic look. "He's crazy about you. You know that, right?"
I thought I did. Now, I wasn't so sure.
"It's just that sometimes," she continued, "a guy likes a variety, you know? You can't really blame him. I mean, seriously, look at the guy."
At something in my expression, she drew back. "But you're his number-one. I mean, that is so obvious."
I didn't want to be his number-one. I wanted to be his only. Words utterly failed me.
She glanced at the door. "Look, I'll get out of your hair. Sorry for getting my wires crossed, alright?" She gave me a shaky smile. "Are we good?"
I wasn't good, that was for sure. When I didn't answer, she hurried out the door, taking her overnight case with her.
As for me, I sat back on the bed to wait.
Chapter 34
When Jake walked into the room maybe an hour later, I was still sitting there, dumbstruck, on the edge of the bed.
At the sight of me, he stopped short. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know." And it was the truth. I didn't know. Or maybe I did know, and I didn't want to accept it.
He approached the bed. "Baby, you okay?"
I glanced up at him. Sometime while he'd been out, he had changed into fresh clothes similar to the ones he'd been wearing earlier. Where had he gone, anyway? Back to his place? And if so, why hadn't he invited me to join him? Was he planning to meet that girl there instead? Was that what she meant by getting her wires crossed?
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