Call Girl

by Pavan Kaur

  Rubbing my eyes to wake up a little bit, I realize that even though I only slept about five minutes, I still feel a little bit better.

  Dropping on the couch, I turn to face Ethan. “Do you want to ask questions?” I ask him. I would like him to ask them now, so I won’t have to talk about this day again. “I don’t like talking about it, but…”

  “How about you tell me what you want to tell me,” Ethan says, taking a sip of his whiskey.

  I don’t know where to start. I don’t want him knowing the wrong choices I’ve made and what they’ve cost me. I’ve learned to look past them—to live with them.

  “I’ll tell you, then you can make your choice with what you want to happen between us, but I don’t want it mentioned again. Yes, I’m running from my past again, but I feel safer that way,” I tell him, taking my shoes off and putting them on the couch close to my body.

  “Okay.”

  Looking at him for a moment, I wonder if he’s ever felt lost before; if he’s ever felt this much pain. I mean, he's a businessman, so he’s bound to have felt pain when he loses a business plan or something. But, has he ever been hurt personally?

  “Everyone makes stupid decisions, and I made mine when I was eighteen. I dated the bad boy who my parents hated. He was nineteen and...” I stop talking, thinking about how to carry on with this conversation. “At one of the parties we went to, we were drinking and thought it would be funny to get married, but it wasn’t funny. We got back, and my parents went crazy and told me that I made the mistake so I had to live with it.” I walk over to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

  Ethan stays standing with his back to me. I have to tell him why I keep running and that only makes me scared of what can happen if I stay here.

  Sitting back down next to him, I finish telling him my life story. “My parents told me that if I was old enough to get married, then I was old enough to move out and find a place of our own. Anyway, the honeymoon phase times lasted a month, and then it all came down fast. Like my dad said, a relationship that starts fast, will end just as fast. He began drinking, started doing drugs again, and the abuse started up. My brother came once, and fought him and told him that if he touched me again it would be the last thing he did. It didn’t stop him. Then my brother had enough and he and my dad took me back home. I was able to get a divorce because we couldn’t find him and he didn’t answer the publication summons. The divorce didn’t matter to Sam, though. He still found me and harassed me every day. Sam found me and came for me every day. Once, he even got me when I was coming out of the grocery store, but I ran away when the manager came out after seeing Sam trying to drag me to the car.”

  Walking over to the window, I start rubbing my head. I feel Ethan standing next to me. “My name used to be Teresa Campbell, then it was Jessica Jones, then it was Lizzie Taylor. Now I’m Lexi Jackson, and tomorrow, I'll be someone new.”

  “You’ll be staying Lexi Jackson. He knows where you are now. Do you think Dan, Jon, Jackie or I'll let him get close to you?” Ethan asks, looking out of the window.

  I start laughing to myself. “You think I’m worried about what he’s going to do to me? I’m not. If it keeps my family safe, I don’t care what he does to me.” I turn to face him. “He came to the house for me, and my dad told him that if he touched me that he would kill him.” I take a deep breath. “He told my father that the only way he would leave, was with me. He took a step toward me so my dad took one in front of me.” My voice starts to get shaky again, and I feel Ethan’s thumb on my cheek wiping the tears away, “I stood there and watched him shoot my dad. I watched my father die in front of me because I wouldn’t go with him. Before he ran, he told me that he would always find me, and if anyone got in his way the same would happen to them.” Shivers run through my body, and Ethan sees it too. Taking his jacket off, he wraps it around my shoulders. “After my dad’s funeral, Dan gave me money and told me to go, and not tell anyone where I was, and if I wanted to call him to only use pay-phones at least an hour or so away.” I walk back over to the couch, “I did and he found me, then I did it again and he found me. Sam always finds me.” I lean back into the sofa.

  “Maybe now is the time to stop running and finally live. I’ve seen you not care about anything and live,” Ethan tells me sitting back down next to me.

  “That was when I knew he wasn’t here. Now, I'll be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to show his face—”

  “Get that thought out of your head. I won’t let you leave, or let him come near you. So, forget leaving and start living,” Ethan says not looking at me and I don’t turn to face him either.

  I’m too tired to talk about this with him. I have to talk to Dan first and make sure he knows what I’m planning on doing. I won’t do anything unless he’s on the same page as me.

  ***

  I’m not even sure when I fell asleep last night. Opening my eyes, I look around and see I'm in Ethan’s room. Why am I in his room?

  Going to the bathroom, I brush my teeth and freshen up. Walking out of the bedroom, I hear Ethan raising his voice at someone. I stop for a minute to listen to what they're saying.

  “My company, my rules, and if I want all my meetings here, then that’s where they'll fucking be.”

  “Yes, Mr. Knight. Is this where you would like me to be or—”

  “Go to the office. If I need you here, I'll call,” Ethan snaps, cutting Selena off. He’s not being very nice to her at all.

  “Yes, sir. There have also been a lot calls from Angie. She said it’s very important that you talk to her.”

  “I don’t care,” Ethan coldly replies to her.

  “Yes, sir. Also, Emily called. She needs to talk to you about something very important,” Selena tells him.

  “Another fucking reason why she's saying no to me,” Ethan bites back.

  I have no idea what's happening between those two and why she hates him so much, but it’s not going well for Ethan.

  “She said she would like to talk to you about a man named Edward Cult. What—”

  “Tell her to fuck off,” he cuts her off again.

  I walk over to the sitting room, looking towards Ethan first, then to Selena who’s smiling at me. Pouring myself some coffee, I sit at the table and pick at the croissants on the plate.

  “Tell Emily, that if she wants to ever talk business with me again, she will never speak that name.” Ethan waves his hand to her and sits down next to me.

  He looks so tense right now. Everything Selena has told him has been bad. I watch Selena close the door behind her as she leaves, before turning to Ethan who's filling his glass with whiskey.

  When he sets the glass down on the table, I pull it close to me. “It’s too early to be drinking,” I say in a small voice, and he looks at me. I place my hand on the back of his neck. “Talk to me. Who's Edward Cult? That name has irritated you today,” I tell him, moving closer to him.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” Ethan pulls my chair closer to him then takes my coffee.

  “I feel fine. How are you feeling today?”

  “I’m a big boy, I can look after myself.” He gives me a wink and smiles, and I can’t help but smile back at him.

  “I bet you could.” Breaking off some of my croissant, I take a bite as I look at him. “What's happening between us? I mean, I’m not your call girl anymore, so…” I bite my lower lip. “I’m going to talk to Dan today, and tonight, I’ll leave—”

  “You’re not leaving. I’ve spoken to Dan, and told him you will be staying here and we are going to fight Sam this time,” Ethan cuts in, and I look at him. “Do you remember the reason I paid four million dollars for you to be my call girl?”

  I place a piece of croissant in my mouth, and think about this question. “You wanted to have sex with me, and I did, so I must be the most expensive sex you’ve had,” I say, drinking the whiskey he poured for himself.

  “I didn’t pay four million dollars to have sex with you.
I spent four million dollars so you would go out with me. I knew you wouldn’t date me after our first meeting, so I was willing to pay whatever you asked for… To date you,” Ethan tells me. I look at him for a moment, wondering what I should do now. My ex-husband is back in my life, and I’m trying to keep those around me safe, and here he is, talking about wanting to date me.

  Getting off the chair, I take the glass and fill it up again. I take my phone out of my pocket as it rings. “Hey,” I say.

  “I’m downstairs, coming up now,” Dan says ending the call. Drinking my whiskey, I look over at the door.

  “It’s open,” Ethan shouts. Seeing Dan and Jon in the doorway brings a smile to my face.

  “It’s a bit early to be drinking, don’t you think?” Dan walks over to me, and takes my glass off me.

  Leaning on the bar, I watch them shake hands with Ethan. “So, what’s your plan, then?” Dan asks, then sits at the table and starts eating the breakfast which is laid out on the table.

  “She's staying here with me,” Ethan says, and I start shaking my head looking at the floor.

  “I’m leaving tonight. I have enough money to last me until I can get back on my feet,” I say looking back up at them. “I’m not risking losing my family because you think that you can pay—”

  “I'm not paying you anything. Jackie canceled our contract from the fucking start. The minute you signed and left, I tore it up,” Ethan shouts at me.

  “All this has been so you can get me to fucking date you? Well, my answer is no, and I'm leaving tonight,” I tell him, and look over at Dan and Jon. My eyes follow Dan as he walks toward me.

  Standing in front of me he cups my face. “I don’t want you to keep moving around,” he whispers so only I can hear what he’s saying. “Are you saying no because Sam is here, or are you saying no because you don’t want to be around Ethan?”

  I need a moment to myself. I feel like I’m alone here, and no one cares how worried I am about what Sam will do or who he will hurt. On top of all that, I can’t believe Ethan went through all this just to date me. Why the hell would I date him? He’s still an asshole. An asshole that still has my skin on fire when he touches me.

  Seeing my phone flash as it rings, I see it’s Helen. “Hi,” I say as I pace around the kitchen.

  “The girls are all going out tonight, want to join us?” she asks.

  It’s perfect timing; I need a night out, even though Sam is out there and looking for me. It hasn’t ever stopped me from living my life before, so why should it now?

  “I would love to go out,” I tell her, and I hear a chair creak on the floor behind me. “Let me know what time and which bar.”

  “Great, I'll send a message. See you tonight,” Helen says.

  Hanging up with her I put my phone on the counter. “I’m going out with the girls tonight, want to come?” I look at Dan, and he looks back at me.

  “Would love to. Message me the time and place.” Dan walks over to me as Jon walks over to the door. “Just so you know, I’m on Ethan’s side, and if he's willing to pay four million dollars just to date you, he’s willing to do a lot more to keep you safe.” Dan kisses me on the cheek and pulls me in for a hug.

  As they both leave, I look at Ethan sitting on the chair playing with his phone on the table, but his eyes locked with mine. It’s amazing how many words can be said by just looking at someone the way he’s looking at me now. ‘I won’t let you leave. You’re staying with me. Trust me.’ His phone starts ringing, making me break eye contact with him. He answers the call, and I walk over to the bedroom, to think about what I want to do.

  Ethan

  Lexi has spent the entire day in her room. I’m not sure if it was because she didn’t want to talk to me, or if it was because I’ve been busy with work. A soon as I end one call, the phone rings again with something else.

  After Selena came in and said the name, Edward Cult, I knew my day was going to be shit. Today has been one dreadful thing after the other. First, Angie won’t stop calling. Now Edward seems to be back in the picture, and Lexi is hell-bent on the idea of leaving. Can nothing go right for me today?

  “This better be good,” I tell Selena as I answer the phone.

  “Sir, Emily is saying it’s important that you talk to a Mr. Cult. I’ve told her several times today that she needs to tell me what it’s about, so I can relay the message, but she won’t say anything to me,” she replies in one fast sentence, knowing very well I would have cut her off at some point.

  “Well, maybe I have to find a PA that can get her to talk to them,” I say. I don’t want to see him, and if I do, there’s a big chance I might hit him.

  “I’ll keep working on it, Mr. Knight.” Ending the call, I throw my phone on the table and look at my watch. Where the fuck has the day gone? It’s already four in the afternoon, and I haven’t seen Lexi all day.

  I want to know what she's thinking. I want her to know that I want her here with me. I thought that if I gave her some time to think, she might finally say yes to it.

  Walking over to the bedroom, I see she’s not there, then I hear noises coming from the other room. Walking over, I lean on the door frame and watch her looking through her things.

  “What are you looking for?” I ask as the floor is covered in clothes.

  “I bought this dress, and I wanted to wear it tonight. And the shoes you bought me, I can’t find them,” she says as she moves to the next box.

  “Your shoes, and a few of your dresses are in the closet in my room. You have a lot of shoes,” I tell her. When everything was brought into the apartment, I couldn’t believe someone had that many shoes. She has more shoes than clothes.

  “When I have as many shoes as Carrie from Sex and the City, then I'll be one happy woman.” She looks over at me with a smile.

  “To get as many shoes as Carrie has, you might have to stay in one place,” I say. Pushing myself off the door frame, I slowly walk over to her. “You stay here, be with me, and tomorrow I'll get you a shoe closet so big you won’t be able to fill it.” Standing behind her with my front touching her back, I slowly trace my finger up her arm and over her shoulder. Moving her hair out of the way, I bring my lips to the side of her neck. “The moment I saw you,” I plant a kiss, “I wanted you. Not just for sex, but more. I’ve always wanted more.” She leans her body back into mine as I kiss down her neck, my hand moving over her waist.

  “Ethan, I can’t. I just…”

  “Lexi, I won’t let him hurt you. Believe me,” I whisper in her ear.

  She turns around, wrapping her arms around me, pressing her face into my chest. “I do believe you, I do. I’m scared that he will hurt you.” I can feel her tears through my t-shirt.

  “Do you trust me? Do you believe I can keep us safe?” I feel her nodding against my body. “Then, Lexi Jackson, will you go on a date with me?” I ask her.

  Pulling away from me she wipes away her tears. “I do like to dance.”

  “So, my first date with you will be at a bar with your friends?” I ask her, ignoring the call from Selena.

  “As you never actually paid me, I think we have been on enough dates, don’t you?” Lexi takes my phone as it rings again.

  “I suppose you’re right. Dancing it is, then.” Leaning down to kiss her, I take my phone out of her hand. “Selena, if you’re going to give me some fucked up news again, go ahead and hang up,” I say, following Lexi out of the room into my bedroom to the closet. I watch her smiling as she looks at her shoes. I still don’t understand why they make her so happy.

  “Mr. Knight, I got a little information about Edward Cult. He wants to talk to you about a Miss Brown.”

  “Fuck,” I shout down at the phone. Lexi looks at me and keeps her eyes locked with mine. I call my mom as soon as I end the call with Selena.

  “Ethan, how—”

  “Mother, no time to talk. Can you come over tomorrow? She and Edward have both been calling nonstop,” I tell her. I don’t have a
chance to listen to her wanting to know what's happening in my life at the moment.

  “I'll be over after breakfast. Maybe it’s time—”

  “No, Mother. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say. Ending the call, I look at Lexi still watching me. “Isn’t it funny that the people from our past just don’t get the message to fuck off?” I walk over to her. “Maybe with each other, we can finally tell them all to fuck off.”

  “You tell me about your past people,” she says, putting her hands on my shoulders, “then I'll be more than happy to tell them to fuck off.” Grabbing her hips, I lift her up and she wraps her legs around my waist.

  Taking the string of her dress, I pull it, letting the top of her dress fall, exposing her beautiful breasts. I press her against the wall. “I’ve waited a long time to get back inside you,” I whisper against her lips.

  She starts laughing. “You might have to wait a little longer,” she tells me unwrapping her legs from me as my phone rings in my pocket.

  “What the fuck do you want, Travis?” Leaning the phone on my shoulder, I place my hands-on Lexi’s shoulders and then tie her dress for her.

  “The Washington account CEOs want a face to face meeting with you.” Listening to Travis talk, I give Lexi’s neck a kiss and can’t help but smile when she shivers. I know she enjoys it when I kiss her there.

  “Can you not go?” I ask. I’m not leaving Lexi here by herself right now.

  “No, they want to talk to the big man,” Travis says, laughing.

  “Book a flight for next weekend. Two tickets. I’m taking Lexi with me.” She turns to face me.

  “I’ll let them know you will be there on Friday.”

  “Good. Want to come to the bar tonight?” I ask him. I think I need one of my friends there, otherwise I'll be getting a hundred and one questions, and I’m not one to talk a lot.

  “Sure, I don’t mind looking at Lexi’s friends. Let me know what time to meet you there.” Travis ends the call with me.

  “Would you like to go to Washington with me?” I ask Lexi. I’ve never taken anyone with me on a business trip before.