Chapter 3

Leo

In all the times I’ve had escorts accompany me to these dreadful events, I’ve never once heard one voice any opinion about anything, let alone the toy industry.

Maybe my idea of a dream body also has my idea of a matching dream personality after all. My dick twitches like crazy, and I have to put my hand in my pocket to discreetly adjust myself.

Bring on eleven o’clock. We probably don’t have to wait that long. I’m sure it’s okay if we get out of here an hour early. Hopefully they do the awards during dinner and we can ditch this place right after dessert.

“Let’s mingle,” I say, and I lead Grace away from Martin. He’s a weasel, and I’ve never liked him.

“That guy was a jerk,” Grace hisses as we walk away.

“He always has been.”

“Not that you were any different,” she says.

“What?” A client can’t speak to me like that.

“You were both talking about me like I wasn’t there.”

“That bothered you?”

“Of course it bothered me. It would bother anyone.”

Weird. Escorts are ignored for most of the evening. They’re purely there for eye candy and fucking. But I have to remind myself that this must be Grace’s first time working as one.

“I won’t do it again. But be warned, it goes with your job description,” I say.

Grace crinkles her nose at me.

“My job description?” she asks, her voice rising as she speaks.

I wink at her, and place my hand in the small of her back. We manage to walk three paces before I’m surrounded with a half-dozen hopeful faces.

“Mr. Newbury, if I can have a moment of your time,” one says.

Without even asking, I know they’re all from various startup companies and want either my money or my advice, or both. I want nothing to do with any of them.

Leaning to Grace’s ear, I lower my voice and say, “I fucking hate Silicon Valley. It’s nothing but horrible people hanging their hopes of getting rich on some goofy idea they came up with in the middle of the night.”

Grace recoils, and my hand loses contact with her body. She turns, standing alongside the various people who are desperate for my time. Although their faces are all plastered with desperate smiles, Grace’s face is as hard as stone.

“Welcome to the annual Intelligent Toys Awards Dinner. Please take your seats,” a woman’s voice booms over the loudspeaker.

Thank God. I throw my head back in relief.

Not caring about the expression on her face, I grab Grace’s hand and lead her to the head table.

“Sit,” I say, holding Grace’s chair out for her.

She glares at me before sitting. I take my seat beside her.

Everyone has taken their seats. All eyes in the characterless conference room are on me. No doubt they’re contemplating how they are going to get me to listen to them later this evening.

Too bad they won’t be able to. I plan on getting out of here at the earliest possible second.

I’m so tired of people wanting things from me.

“Do you really hold all these people in such contempt?” Grace asks, her arms crossed.

“Yes.” I don’t feel the need to elaborate to her.

She huffs, and turns her head away from me. I think she’s actually pouting. I exhale slowly with eyebrows raised.

Grace is the most unusual escort I’ve ever used.

Our first course arrives, a jumbo shrimp wrapped in a lettuce leaf. Strange but it tastes good.

Grace is still ignoring me. I keep trying to relax her by rubbing her leg and her shoulders. But every time I touch her, she seems to retreat more and more into her thoughts.

Time passes with me discussing the weather on the East Coast versus the West Coast with the stranger on my left. It’s painful but at least it isn’t business.

“Enjoying the food?” I ask Grace, trying once again to engage her in conversation.

“It’s delicious—” Just when I think she’s about to loosen up, Martin sticks his ugly face between us.

“Can I get you anything?” Martin asks, his filthy breath hot on my face.

“Nope. Nothing,” I say and crane my neck to try to make eye contact with Grace.

“I wanted to talk to you about a little company I’ve helped co-found.”

Here we go.

“I’m not interested in investments, Martin,” I say without looking at him.

He forces a sound that comes out as a guffaw. “Oh, we don’t need money. Just some expert advice. How would you like to be a board member?”

“I wouldn’t.” I shift my body back to the nameless person at my left and say, “I’ll take coastal weather over mountain weather any day.”

“Agreed,” he says. Martin takes the hint, sighs and walks away.

Finally, dessert arrives. A baked peach half with a dollop of cream is set in front of me.

I lean over to Grace, and say, “This reminds me of what I’m going to be eating later, although it won’t taste nearly as good.”

She looks at me with a puzzled brow. “Huh?”

I laugh. “When I get my face between your legs. Though you are going to be much creamier than this,” I say, poking the cream with my spoon.

Her hand flies to her mouth. Her eyes are wide and I lock them in mine.

“I am really looking forward to making you scream,” I say and suck a forkful of peach into my mouth.

“Can we talk about something?” she asks.

“Of course, I’ve been trying to get you to talk all dinner.”

“I’m really fascinated by the e-toy industry. I don’t know why you’re so rude about it.”

“Kids should be playing with real toys, not screens.”

“That’s so old-fashioned. What are you, ninety?”

I laugh even though there was nothing lighthearted about her voice. She glares at me, and I can’t help but laugh harder. Her eyes narrow, and she flings her spoon at her plate.

“Easy, save some of that passion for tonight.”

I expect her to shoot something back to me. Instead her face glazes over, and a tight-lipped smile spreads across her face.

“Like I said, this industry fascinates me. I’d really like to discuss it with you.”

“And like I said, I don’t like this industry. The last thing I want to do with you is talk about e-toys.” I trace a circle on her knee with my index finger.

“For example, I know a great app that helps motivate children to do their homework and chores.”

“What do I care if parents can motivate their kids or not?”

“Money?”

“I’ve got enough money already.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I can have your attention please,” Martin says, standing at the podium.

About time. Not only are we getting the show on the road, it’s also saved me from whatever Grace was about to say.

We sit through far too many awards. For some reason, Grace seems to be typing continuously into her phone as the awards slowly drag on.

Unless she’s texting other escorts for moral support. That must be it. As we get closer and closer to me ripping her clothes off, she’s probably getting more and more nervous.

I really should be kinder.

I lean over and in a low voice say as Grace is sipping some water, “Don’t worry, I will be the ideal gentleman later. Your perfect first time.”

Grace chokes and starts coughing. I start to rub her back, when Martin announces, “Please put your hands together and welcome this evening’s guest of honor, Leo Newbury.”

A massive round of applause erupts, complete with whistles and cheers. Grace is still coughing, but I have no choice. I stand and make my way to the podium.

I say my standard spiel I give at these events, and hold my nose while I sing the praises about the creators of the virtual-reality doll that I’m presenting the award to.

More applause. All I can think about is getting out of here. I look over to Grace, and she’s staring intently at me. I could get lost in her eyes, instead I rake mine over her seated frame and count down the minutes until I can get her naked.

I want to see those tits bouncing on top of me. Maybe I’ll get her to perform a strip tease before I fuck her senseless.

Sitting back down next to Grace, Martin returns to the podium and thanks everyone for coming this evening.

The second his mouth stops moving, I spring up out of my seat. We need to get out of here before I’m surrounded by more people wanting something from me.

“Let’s go,” I say, tugging on Grace’s hand.

She stands, and once again I can’t help but admire her curves in that slinky dress she’s wearing.

“I don’t think I should go with you, but I need to talk to you,” she says, frazzled.

She must be having cold feet. I’m sure that’s normal in her situation.

I put my hand on her shoulder and say, “Everything will be okay. I’m going to make this easy for you because I realize it’s your first time.”

“Why do you keep saying that? How do you know it would be my first time?”

“It’s obvious.”

“No. This will not be my first time. I will not do this. I can’t go this far for them,” she blurts. Tears prick the corners of her eyes.