“Jane. Jane!” he says, kneeling down and urgently rocking her to see if she’s okay.
“Leave me alone,” she says.
“It’s me, John. What’s wrong?” he says, his hand on her shoulder.
She rolls onto her back and sees his kind and gentle face. He sees the tears dried up on her cheeks and her eyes swollen and dewy.
“My gosh, Jane,” he says with concern. “What’s happened?”
“I can’t talk about it. I just can’t. It’s too painful,” she says.
“Come on. I don’t care. What’s happened?” he says, showing his friendship. “Is it Brad?”
“Kind of. It’s more about what you said about him,” she explains. “That he gets upper class escorts. I’m not one of those women, I swear. I just… just… don’t know, though, if that’s what he wants me to be.”
She starts sobbing again and John holds her closer so she can cry on his shoulder.
“There, there, let it out. You’re going to be okay. I know you’re not one of those girls. I was kind of joking with you, and I didn’t mean to imply anything,” he says re-assuredly.
“But, oh God, John, I can’t even admit this to myself. There’s something embarrassing I have to tell you,” she says, afraid to go any further.
“What is it? I really won’t judge you, Jane. You need someone to talk to.”
“He… oh God… he asked me to come here for a week and he’s giving me a million dollars. I mean, stupid me, right? Of course he’s asking me to be an upper class escort.”
“Have you had sex with him?” John asks matter-of-factly.
“Heavens no, I’m still a virgin. Though, we seem to keep getting closer. I’m afraid I’m going to make the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Well, did he say you had to have sex with him?” pries John.
“That’s the weird thing. He keeps saying I don’t have to do anything I’m not comfortable with, but I feel I’m being tricked into it. Every time we’ve come closer, I’ve said no, and he stops immediately. He doesn’t pressure me,” she recounts. “It’s actually pretty nice. But I’m so confused!”
“Okay, Jane, I’m going to give you some insight, okay, and take it for what it’s worth. The kind of escorts I’ve seen Brad come with are pretty obvious about what they are hired for. They don’t usually stay for a week with him here. They come for overnight and then leave.
“Sometimes, his buddies surprise him with a ‘gift’ of one of them. Sometimes he gets us to arrange this for him, but it’s only for overnight. Even the other night, rumor has it, there was a woman that a friend of his hired in the restaurant, and he refused.
“Seriously. He refused her. That has never happened, so the fact that he hasn’t pressured you to have sex, the fact he is refusing an easy lay, and the fact he has you here for a week with no strings attached says something to me. I think he’s got bigger feelings for you.”
Jane listens to everything he says and takes it in. She is now able to see a brighter picture of Brad, and feels a bit flattered that she may be capturing his heart, and someone else sees it. She sits up.
“So John, what you’re telling me is that Brad is perhaps a pig, but that I may actually be capturing his heart like no one else has?” Jane says with bright eyes.
“Well, yes, I guess that is what I’m saying,” John responds, feeling a bit confused about whether he’s making the right impression.
Jane jumps up and looks at John. She starts laughing with joy. “Oh my God, is it possible a billionaire is falling in love with me?”
John is sort of stunned and not sure what to say, other than, “Go for it, sister. You’ve got nothing to lose, really.”
She hugs John. “Oh, thank you so much. I’m so glad I talked to you. Could you imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t?”
Chapter 41
At five p.m., Jane walks to the hotel lobby to meet Brad. She has the overcoat wrapped around her outfit, so she does not reveal too much. Brad sees her, and his breath is taken away
“Wow, you look beautiful! I can’t wait to see what’s underneath that coat,” he says, whispering into her ear and kissing her on the cheek.
Jane blushes and feels the tenderness of his lips.
“It’s amazing what happens to you when you get all dressed up, Jane. You look like a completely different person—more you. At least, what I’ve met of you,” he acknowledges.
Jane reaches over to his tie and does it up a little bit more. “Well, the same can be said of you, handsome. I love this silver tie on you. It’s stunning,” she says.
“Here, reach into my pocket and see what’s in there,” he says.
“Oh, that old trick?” Jane smiles.
“No, really, there’s something special in there for you,” he assures.
Jane reaches in lightly and feels a thin, dangly item. She pulls it out and it’s a gorgeous, silver, diamond and multi-gemstone necklace.
“It’s for you, to match your outfit,” he says, clasping it on for her. “It sparkles like your eyes,” he adds.
She looks up and stares into his eyes. She feels the genuine love coming from him and can’t believe she doubted his intentions.
“Brad, I have to tell you something. I feel a bit embarrassed about it,” she tries to explain.
Brad wonders what it is she would need to tell him. Is she embarrassed about playing with herself and screaming out his name, or that she uses the vibrator every day? He imagines all the naughty things she could tell him that would be their own little secrets.
“Well, I found out some things about you and it made me doubt being with you anymore. I was ready to run away tomorrow, tell you to keep your million dollars, and send me back home.”
“Oh, Jane, what did you hear?” Brad asks, thinking it was about the insane news that will be leaked tomorrow in the headlines. His anger starts building up in him again just thinking about it. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it is a lie.”
“Well, I heard that you frequently bring escorts here. I thought you were seeing me that way, and that I was a fool for believing in you,” Jane says, starting to tear up.
Brad is shocked she has found this out, and he doesn’t know what to say. Now he’s the one feeling embarrassed.
“Then, I found out you have never done this with anyone before, bringing someone here for a week with no demands, I mean. Luckily, I realized that this means I am someone special in your life,” she says.
Brad is relieved that she sees it this way. He really doesn’t ever want her to run away from here or think he’s just using her.
“You are, Jane. You really are, and the more I am getting to know you, the more my heart is yours. You are like no one I have ever met, even my first girlfriend who I was madly in love with.”
“Well, I’m still a bit uncomfortable with the fact you hire escorts. It makes me nervous that I won’t ever be able to satisfy you. You know, because I’m a virgin, and they have more experience.”
“Jane, please don’t worry yourself about that. What will happen between you and I will be something special, so meaningful, and not empty like those others. I know you have desires for me, Jane. I overheard you in your room yesterday.”
Jane widens her eyes, horrified that she could be heard at all, but especially by him.
“Oh my God, what did you hear?”
He puts his arm around her shoulders.
“Enough to know that you want to fuck me,” he whispers in her ear.
The way he says it makes her feel so natural and accepted. It shows he doesn’t think any less of her for having those feelings.
“Well, for the record, I want to fuck you, too,” he says gently and smiles, placing his hand on her ass and stroking it lightly.
Jane leans into him and lets herself be held without fear. She can hear the slight pulse of his heart and feels more connected to him than ever.
The driver of the limo pulls up and opens the door for them.
; “Good evening, sir,” the driver says to Brad.
“Good evening, Sam,” Brad responds.
“And who is the fine lady with you this evening?” asks Sam.
“Fine she is. This is Jane Bryden,” Brad says proudly.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Bryden. Can’t say I’ve met anyone who’s been able to light up Mr. Halliwell’s life like this before,” Sam smiles.
“It’s true, Sam,” Brad says, pulling Jane in closer. “She’s a true gem.”
They get into the limo and start driving to the event. She checks that the privacy window is up before she speaks.
“Honestly Brad, I keep hearing mixed reviews about you. Are you that much of a curmudgeon when I’m not around?” Jane asks.
“Ha! Well, I suppose so. Guess I’ll have to have words with a few people for ratting me out,” Brad says jokingly.
Jane leans into Brad. “Please don’t do that. They did it out of concern for me. May I kiss you?” she asks him.
“You never need to ask,” Brad replies, pulling Jane closer to him.
She pushes her lips against his and kisses the top lip, then the bottom, and opens her mouth to kiss him deeply. A rush of tingles runs through her body. She feels she could be there all night, making out in the back of the car. Her body presses up against his, her tits press into him, and she straddles his leg.
“I love your hot pussy against me,” he says. “I want your smell on me all night long.”
They spend the rest of the ride making out in the back. When they arrive, Sam opens the door. Jane has made herself back up at this point, as if nothing has happened.
“Here were are, sir,” Sam says.
“Yes, I can see that. A little sooner than I would have liked,” Brad muttered to himself.
They step out of the limo toward a gorgeous, glass house. As they make their way over, Jane feels nervous, unsure if they will like her or if she will fit in. She grabs on to Brad’s hand for strength.
“What a beautiful home. I hope your friends will like me,” she says.
“I hope you will like my friends. That is my bigger concern,” Brad says with a smile, and kisses her cheek. “You’re just fine the way you are.”
Chapter 42
Brad and Jane walk into the place. Immediately, people come up and surround Brad with handshakes and hugs. Jane is on the side, not wanting to take up too much space or interfere. Brad notices she is shying away and reaches over to introduce her.
“Hey everyone, this is Jane Bryden. She is our special guest dancer tonight. You will not be disappointed,” he announces.
A few people welcome Jane, and the woman who owns the house helps Jane with her overcoat.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jane. Brad has spoken so well of you. Thank you for joining us,” the woman speaks with very proper English. “My name is Mary,” she says, reaching out her hand. It is cold, fragile, and thin.
“Nice to meet you,” Jane says, feeling a bit awkward.
“Have you ever been to this island before?” asks Mary.
“No, it’s my first time out of the States,” Jane says innocently.
“Oh, really?” says Mary, a bit disgusted at the lack of culture Jane has just revealed.
“Yeah, I just didn’t have the money, I guess, and both my parents are pretty timid people. It was a big deal for me to move to New York,” says Jane openly.
“Hmm, well, make yourself comfortable, dear,” Mary says, clearly withdrawing from Jane.
Jane feels like she’s said something inappropriate. She goes up to Brad.
“Did I say something wrong?” she asks.
“Not at all, dear. Mary is just a bitch,” Brad responds honestly.
“Oh, okay,” Jane says, feeling comfortable with Brad. Her shoulders drop and she relaxes a bit. She at least has Brad on her side, and based on his status, it is very clear that he is a good person to have in your corner.
Waiters walk around serving hors d’oeuvres and wine. Jane refuses to eat or drink anything because she doesn’t want to be bloated for the dance portion of the evening.
She spends most of her time nodding, smiling, and pretending she’s getting along with everyone. She actually finds them all quite boring. She would much rather go to a room and lie down before they need her to perform. To get out of it, she asks Mary if she can use one of the rooms to freshen up before her performance. Mary fully understands Jane’s need and knows that all ladies need a little powder break every once in a while.
Mary leads her to a spare room and quickly leaves. Jane stands in the room feeling more at ease here than with the party of boring strangers. She looks in the mirror at herself and really likes what she sees—her body, her outfit, and most of all, the pink glow in her face. She recognizes it as the glow of a woman in love. She still doesn’t see what Brad sees, but she will accept it anyway.
Jane starts pirouetting and stretching until she hears a knock on the door. She assumes that it’s Brad so she says, “Come in.”
It’s not. It’s some guy from the party. He walks in boldly.
“Hey, there. We didn’t get a chance to meet. I’m Paul, Brad’s friend,” he says. “You’re Jane, right?”
Jane feels a bit nervous and afraid. She doesn’t know how to respond.
“Uh huh, I’m just practicing, warming up before my show.”
“Oh, right, you’re going to do a little dance for us, aren’t you?” he says. “I like gals in tutus.” He approaches Jane and starts touching her skirt.
Jane freezes. She has never had to deal with an advance from a man she didn’t like before.
“Brad will be coming up soon. I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she says meekly.
“Oh, Brad is a good friend. He shares whatever goods he has with me,” Paul says more directly.
“I’m not a good, Paul,” Jane says. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving now,” she says, starting to walk out of the room.
He grabs her arm. “Where are you going? We were just getting friendly.”
“No, we weren’t. I don’t care if you’re Brad’s friend. You’re not mine,” she says, pulling her arm away.
“Well, Brad and I are tighter than you. He told me you were a virgin,” Paul says.
“What?” Jane looks over to him with anger in her eyes. “How dare you.” She has tears welling up and she runs downstairs.
Brad is there talking to his friends, and she goes up to him fiercely. “I have to talk to you outside, right now.”
Brad can tell she means business and excuses himself immediately. They go out on the patio.
“Who the fuck is Paul, and how the hell does he know I’m a virgin?” Jane says in a pissed off tone.
“Wow, Jane, I didn’t know you could swear. I like it,” Brad says, not taking her seriously.
Jane turns away from him and says “Oh, fuck off. I thought you actually cared,” she says aloud to him.
“I’m sorry, Jane. I really am. What happened?”
“Your so-called best friend, Paul, came into the room upstairs where I was. He started touching my skirt and making advances. I told him off, and he made claims that you and he are tighter than you and I could ever be, and said he knows I’m a virgin. Is this some sick game, Brad? To fuck a virgin?” Jane says loudly, not caring at all if anyone hears.
“Oh my God, Jane, no, you’ve got it all wrong. Paul knows I have a thing for virgins because of my longing for my first girlfriend, who I told you about. I’ve wanted to re-create that time in my life, and a woman who has been with other men just doesn’t cut it for me.
“I’ve been looking for the right woman, and you, well, you are perfect for me. Paul is a dick, and I know that. He’s just someone I’ve known for a very long time. I will address this with him, I swear. I’m just as pissed off that he’d try something as you,” Brad reassures, coming up behind her to comfort her. He takes his coat off and wraps it around her. “Here, don’t catch a cold.”
Jane ca
n smell his cologne on it and turns around. She sobs and falls into his chest. “I’m so afraid I’m going to get hurt, Brad. I just don’t know who to trust.”
“Just trust me, Jane. You can feel my heart, can’t you?” Brad says.
Jane sniffles and nods. “Yes. Yes, I can.”
Chapter 43
They go back into the party and sit down to eat dinner. Jane sits next to Brad on his left and it feels good to be with him. She can see how everyone respects him and listens to what he has to say.
Brad puts his hand on Jane’s knee and squeezes it lightly, reassuring her. She feels calm in his presence and confident that everything will be okay.
Jane doesn’t understand half of the jokes people say, nor does she get what they are talking about when it comes to finances. It is all over her head. Finally, a woman named Margaret speaks to Jane.
“So, dear, how did you get into ballet?”
The whole table goes silent and looks over at her. Jane feels very self-conscious now.
Brad puts his arm around her to give her strength.
“Well, honestly, when I was a kid watching T.V.,” she says earnestly.
Everyone laughs. “Oh, that is so sweet,” one woman says pretentiously.
“It’s true. I watched those shows for years, studying their every move. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to ballet school, so I had to wait until I was older. A teacher noticed my interest and encouraged my parents to send me to classes,” Jane continues.
Jane’s boldness about being a poor girl surprises many people at the table. They don’t know how to react, turning their eyes down toward their meals and picking up their glasses for a drink. Jane has never experienced this kind of reaction before.
She looks over to Brad, a bit perplexed. Her expression asks him if she had said something wrong.
Brad speaks up.
“I admire self-made people. I was of the lucky few who were born with money, and I didn’t have to work half as hard as someone like Jane. You’re a strong woman!” he says, raising his glass to toast her.
They all raise their glasses in sync with Brad. Jane takes a breath in and smiles, feeling the warmth of his acknowledgment.
A Baby for the Beast Page 56