The Christmas Bet

by Alice Ward

  When I took it from her I noticed her hand was shaking, but before I could ask her why the clutch was heavier than usual, she pulled open the door and walked out.

  The minute she left, another knock startled me. No one but Brandy ever bothered to come to my dressing room. Maybe it was Janis, needing to borrow something. I pulled the dress lower on my upper thighs. The damn thing barely covered my ass cheeks and plunged deep into my cleavage. I threw my cape back on and wrapped it around me. Damned if I was going to be caught dead wearing this in the halls.

  A quick shiver went through me as an image of the Roman of my dream flashed in my mind, and his reaction to this dress. Would he like it, or would it just make him think I was the same as the Jewels?

  “Ms. Wilde, I’m here to escort you to your meeting,” a male voice spoke through the door.

  “Coming,” I called out as I grabbed my cane and flung open the door. “I can walk myself, I don’t need an escort.”

  “I’m sure you can, but since you were involved in an incident last night, I’m here to make sure you get to your appointment safely.” He offered his arm, which I took but only because I was too polite to refuse. An incident. That’s what they called a potential rape?

  By the time we reached the pleasure rooms, I was nervous and excited to see Roman again. I could barely hold in my smile. We stopped at an ebony door with a gold nine on it. I took one more deep breath as the Jewel security escort knocked.

  A deep, throaty voice answered, “Come in.” My heart stopped. It wasn’t Roman’s voice.

  I knew that voice.

  Frozen, all I could do was watch as the guard opened the door and moved back to reveal Jack Marshall sitting on what might as well have been a throne. When I took a step in the other direction, I thumped into the guard’s bulky chest and his hand wrapped around my arm.

  “Let me go!” I screamed, not caring about anything but staying out of that room. I swung my cane and rapped him hard on the shin with it.

  The guard grimaced but didn’t say a word, just scooped me up and carried me into the room, the door slamming shut behind us.

  My heart was pounding, my breathing crazy and erratic. I had to calm down. Had to think. I was on a mountain top in the middle of nowhere in a room with a man who was intent upon raping me last night and the only weapon I had was my cane.

  “Just set her on the couch,” Jack growled. “I want to get a good look at what I’ve paid for, damaged as it is.”

  “Yes, Mr. Marshall,” was the guard’s curt reply.

  This must have been what was wrong with Brandy tonight. She sold me out, but must have been having some feelings of guilt.

  The security guard set me on the couch across from Jack and silently left.

  I wanted to beg, to get up from the couch and cling to the man’s leg. But I’d gotten myself into the wolf’s den and I refused to let the wolf see me in distress. The door slammed closed, and I wondered if I would be the same woman when it opened again.

  I looked over to Jack. He was smiling, the pompous bastard was getting off on watching me struggle for composure and probably couldn’t wait to put his hands on me.

  “There don’t seem to be any knights in shining armor milling about the halls tonight.” He pretended to pout as he stood and walked closer to me.

  I still had the clutch in my hands and wondered briefly if it was heavy enough to clock him over the head. If I did that, I’d have to leave this compound immediately. What had Brandy put in this purse that was so damn heavy anyway?

  He leered at my barely covered breasts. “So why don’t you be a good girl and do what you’re being paid for.”

  The cape had fallen open, revealing the dress. As I looked back up, my eyes fell on Jack’s growing crotch, and I had to bite back a wave of nausea.

  I stood, unwilling to be caught in a submissive position and gave him a haughty look. “I haven’t accepted any payment from you, Jack. I was told Roman was my client. Now, call off your dogs and find yourself someone who is willing to be your bedmate, because I’m not.”

  Jack continued to advance, then surprised me when he nearly tripped over my cane. He was drunk. Relief coursed through me as I realized just how inebriated he was.

  Jack licked his lips, sweat glistening at his temple, his breathing escalated. “There’s nothing I like better than an unwilling woman. I look forward to taking that self-righteous look right off your face.”

  My heart pounded. He was really going to do this, force himself on me in this horrid little room. How many other women had he done the same to?

  I couldn’t let him do this to me. I wasn’t who he thought I was, weak and desperate. He was between me and the door, and I sidestepped, wincing as my full weight came down on my bad leg. I didn’t let the pain stop me.

  I moved to wipe the sweat from my palm, and when I did I grabbed tighter to the clutch in my hand.

  Use it if you have to.

  What had Brandy meant? Clutches were given to all the girls to carry necessities — lipstick, feminine toiletries, condoms. It was Jewel’s way of ensuring that their workers had all they needed but didn’t provide extra perks to clients without the fees attached.

  “Did you like the gifts your boyfriend left for you?” he sneered, moving until he was between me and the door again. “He changed his mind about tonight by the way. One of the other girls tempted him, and he’s in a room with her right now. What did you expect?”

  “You’re a liar, Jack, among other things.” I clutched both my cane and the bag tighter, deciding to go on the offensive. “Now, I’m going to go back to my apartment. You may be able to buy anything you want, but you can’t buy me.”

  “Come, Adara Wilde, I’d never lie to you.” His laugh personified evil when he saw the horrified expression on my face.

  How does he know?

  “Yes, my dear, I know who you are. Why else would I bother to pay so much for you? I’m going to fuck a Grammy Award-winning ex star in every hole. Ha! Now, let’s start with your lovely mouth. I want that beautiful throat, with it’s incredible voice, to swallow.”

  I began salivating like you do the moment before you throw up and the world began to spin. How had I ended up here, in this room with this lecher? I’d let grief and pride strip me of everything I’d become. Well, I wouldn’t let Jack Marshall strip me of what I had left.

  Holding his gaze, I cocked my head like I was thinking about his proposition, and smiled a cold, practiced smile. “Since you put it that way, let me check my bag, make sure they stocked me up for the night.”

  “Mmm.” Jack cupped his erection and rubbed, turning my stomach again. “Don’t take too long, sweetheart.”

  I snapped open the bag and barely held back a gasp when I saw the tiny .22 pistol. Love for my friend gushed into my heart. I’d misjudged Brandy. She’d risked everything to give me a way out. Both Jewel and Jack had enough money to bury both me and Brandy in prison for the rest of our lives, but I had to take the chance that I could use what resources might still be available to me to change that. I had to get out. For them. All of them.

  “Come here and kneel in front of me, and I’ll show you what I want you to do,” Jack ordered, his patience gone. He unzipped his pants and pulled his rigid penis free. “Take my dick in your mouth.” He spread his legs as he played with himself.

  I wanted to laugh, had to bite my lip so I didn’t. If this man wasn’t set on raping me, it would be a riot. But my stomach rolled with nausea as I watched his wrinkled sausage fingers yank on his tiny erection.

  “Didn’t your wife just have a baby? What is he, like three months or something?” I asked as if I was making casual conversation, trying to ignore him cranking up his engine.

  “What the hell does that matter?” His face flushed red and he squirmed as he continued to pump on his micro dick.

  “Because I wonder how that can possibly be true with a dick that small.”

  “You fucking whore.” He stopped stroking and
looked at me like I was insane.

  “Wrong, Jack.” I stuck my hand in the clutch and wrapped it around the gun. “I’m not a whore.” He lunged for my skirt and missed when I took a step back. “And if I don’t walk out of this room this instant, I’ll let everyone, your wife first, know what you do to women.” Then I pulled out the gun and pointed it right at him.

  His eyes bulged so big he looked like one of those ducks you got out of the quarter machines — just squeeze and their eyes popped out of their heads. “What the fuck!”

  I didn’t even blink. “Call the guard, Jack. Tell him to let me out.”

  He stared at me, weaving, clearly weighing his options, wondering if I’d pull the trigger or not. “And if I don’t?”

  “Then I get to see if your brain is as small as your dick. I don’t have much left to lose, now do I?” God, I had so much to lose, and I hadn’t even realized it.

  “Guard!”

  “Tell him I’m free to go back to my apartment.”

  The guard opened the door, expressionless, unable to see the gun I dropped to my side.

  Jack didn’t even bother to put away his pecker. “I’ve changed my mind about her. Send her back to her apartment.” The instant before I stepped away, he growled low in his throat, “If you contact my wife, your boyfriend’s business will suffer.”

  I didn’t bother answering his threat, but wondered what he’d done to Roman. Was it because of me?

  I walked casually down the hallway, the gun hidden in the folds of the cape. When I turned the corner, I pulled my hood up over my head, my hand still clutching the cool metal. Then I kept my head down and concentrated on not limping, praying I’d blend in enough with the other girls to make it out, if I had to walk all the way down the mountain.

  The dim theater still was teaming with life, Jewels having cocktails and chatting with their patrons. Some clients liked to pretend they were on a date. They’d take their Jewel to the pleasure rooms later in the evening as if they were a couple.

  I flattened myself against the curtain to the side of the stage and hid in the dark as I looked around for an escape route. Backstage was empty and pitch black except for the bright red exit sign in the corner. I didn’t breathe, just focused on getting to the small red sign.

  As soon as I was outside, I breathed deep of the cold mountain air. I thought about going back to apartment to get my stuff, but there wasn’t enough time. That would be the first place they’d look.

  I walked to the back of the property and into the woods, where the girls often went hiking on a pretty day. I could never join them, I’d have never made it far with my leg the way it was. But now I had to make it down the mountain.

  After taking only a few steps, I realized how impossible it was. I’d never make it. My leg was already pulsating.

  Even as I considered my own predicament, I thought about my friend. There was no telling when someone would realize that Brandy had given me the gun. Shame washed over me. All this time I thought she was only looking out for herself and Jewel, and I hadn’t even considered all that these vile men had probably done to her. Who knew what they would do to her now.

  If rape was acceptable, what about murder? I thought of the Jewel who had been found with a suicide note. Had she really taken her own life?

  A sob tried to break out of my throat, and I swallowed it back. Tonight, I would get out of here and do everything in my power to help my friend and any Jewel who wanted to escape.

  Shaking as I finally started to feel the cold, I stuck my free hand back in my pocket and my hand closed around something. I gasped as I realized what it was — my phone. Yanking it out, I powered it on, intent on calling 911.

  I began to dial, then stopped to consider the ramifications. Janis and all the Jewels would be sent to jail for prostitution. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw that indignity on top of everything else.

  Tears marched down my face as I put my hand back in my pocket, and my fingers touched the cool, crisp edges of a business card with raised, embossed lettering.

  Roman.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Roman

  Irritation bubbled up in my gut when the phone rang.

  I looked down at my phone on the leather seat beside me and didn’t recognize the number. The driver had just taken the last turn before my driveway. Whatever the call was about, it could wait till morning.

  After letting the call go to voicemail, a ding alerted that the caller had left a message. With my family scattered all over the globe, there was no telling what time it was with any of them. Curiosity got the best of me, so I tapped the voicemail button.

  “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you,” a familiar husky voice said, breathless and frantic. “I… I’m from Jewel, it’s… the Butterfly.” Her voice was shaking, even though it sounded like she was making a great effort to remain calm.

  Something must have happened. Jack must have happened. Fuck.

  I didn’t bother to listen to the rest of the message. With fear clutching my guts into a tiny ball, I pressed the call button and she answered in less than one ring.

  I let out a silent breath. “Hi, It’s Roman. What can I do?” I forced myself to stay calm, even though it seemed like there was ice creeping throughout my limbs.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t call you, but I didn’t know who else to reach out to,” she said so low I could barely hear her.

  “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m listening.” I needed her to calm down, but I felt my own anxiety peak as I tapped on the glass between the driver and me. The electric partition lowered. “Stop the car, please.”

  “The man you saw me with last night.” The words tripped out of her mouth at rocket speed.

  “Yes, Jack Marshall, I know him.” I was sure that after this conversation, knowing him was going to be more of a strain than ever.

  “They told me you wanted to see me again, so I went to the room and it was him. He was going to force me, and I just ran. I’m in the woods, but they’re going to find me sooner or later.” Having spoken the whole story in only one breath, she gasped for air and I could hear her feet moving through the dry leaves on the ground.

  “Where are you? I’m coming to get you.” I motioned Warren to turn around. “Go back to Jewel as fast as you can. I don’t care about the speed limit, I’ll pay whatever penalty. It’s an emergency.”

  Warren understood and turned the car around, squealing tires. If I ever wondered what kind of pick up a Rolls Royce Ghost had, I was getting quite a performance. We were flying over the deserted mountain roads. I hoped my driver had experience racing and made a mental note to purchase him some driving gloves for Christmas, if only as a joke.

  “I’m still at the Jewel compound, in the woods behind the main building.” Her voice had settled some, and she seemed more composed.

  “I’m on my way, but stay on the phone with me. It’ll be another twenty minutes before I can get to you. If for some reason they find you or threaten you in any way while we’re on the phone, don’t hang up. I’ll call 911.” I kept my tone soft and reassuring.

  “No,” she whispered frantically. “You can’t call the police. Brandy, all the girls, they’ll all be arrested.”

  And all the men would buy their way out more than likely, including Jack. A wave of heat burned through my chest. “Okay, I understand. Now, tell me where I can find you.”

  “I can meet you at the bungalows. They’re on the other side of the compound from where the theater is located. I can get there through the woods. They’re used for guests who spend the weekend. You’ll have to tell the guard at the gate that you’re here for ‘a weekend of domestic bliss,’ exactly those words and they’ll give you a blue-colored parking pass.”

  When I was finished with Jack Marshall, there wouldn’t be much left of him. Sweating, I opened the window for some air, closing my eyes as the icy breeze hit my face.

  “You can drive up to the bungalow. I’ll be behind bungalow eight — it’s th
e one at the top of the hill, the most secluded. I think we have several guests staying up there this weekend, so it shouldn’t raise any red flags if you’re driving on the compound.” She sounded more herself now, the sassy girl in a mask who’d rebuffed me unapologetically.

  “Okay, we’re driving there now,” I assured her.

  “I’m going to walk over there. It may take me a little while with the uneven ground.”

  “Take your time.” I wondered how well she could walk in the woods with her injured leg. “Can you make it? If you can’t, stay put and I’ll—”

  “I’ll make it, Roman.” This time her voice was loud and clear.

  I was frantic to get to her, and it amazed me that just the sound of her voice —sure and unafraid — made my cock stir. This sexy, amazing creature had reached out to me, hadn’t rebuffed me tonight like I’d been told. Relief surged through me followed by lightning bolts of desire at the mere idea of having her body in my presence. I tried to tame my thoughts, but it was nearly impossible.

  “This’ll all be over soon,” I said, wanting nothing more than to hold her in my arms and assure her I wouldn’t let anyone cause her harm.

  “Yes, it will most certainly.” She was obviously eluding to something other than her flight through the woods, and I determined right then to help her any way I could. Her breathing became more labored, suggesting the effort the walk was taking.

  “Can you make it to the bungalows?” I asked, concerned.

  “I’ll be fine.” But her voice cracked, and I suspected this was harder for her than she would ever let on.

  I kept talking just to take her mind off her struggle. “They told me you didn’t want to see me, that you were occupied. If I’d known this was going to happen, I never would have left the compound.”