Chapter 3
EVIE
Sitting in the back of the van with the other girls, I glance at their faces, wondering how they can laugh and joke while we’re on our way to another house to clean.
I’m thankful for the job, and I have no problem with cleaning houses. It’s the topless part that gets to me, but beggars can’t be choosers. We all wear the same uniform which consists of black high heels, a black g-string, and a black jacket that has the words Double D’s Cleaning Services scribbled across the back in nauseating bright orange. The shoes are a size too big for me, but I took care of that by stuffing toilet paper in the front.
I keep telling myself it’s a million times better than having to whore my body out for a warm meal. At least I still have some control. The clients aren’t allowed to touch us. Cleaning their homes topless is only for their viewing pleasure.
It’s my third day on the job, and as the van comes to a stop in front of a mansion, my stomach plunges to my feet from the weight of my nerves. I’ll never get used to this.
It’s only until you can find something better, Evie.
I’ll get paid on Friday. It won’t be much, but it will be enough to see me through until next Friday. Right now that’s all I can focus on, just making it through every day.
I climb out of the van and wait for all the girls to walk ahead of me. Yesterday I learned that if I let them go in first, the owner is too busy ogling them to notice me. I’m the youngest and more petite than the other girls. I never thought I’d be thankful for my small breasts but seeing as the others have more to stare at, I don’t get gawked at too much.
My stomach tightens as I reach the front door. The little food I’ve managed to get my hands on threatens to come back up as I walk into the house. My eyes dart around, assessing my surroundings.
The interior reeks of money and I cringe as I imagine the perverted old man who must live here. As I walk into the living room, I immediately notice two men. They’re sitting in front of a massive flat screen TV while eating sandwiches which makes my stomach growl.
Oh shit. They’re not old.
They don’t look much older than me. The fact that the men are both good looking doesn’t do anything to calm my nerves. So far, we’ve only been called out to homes of elderly men. My heart starts to beat faster when another man comes down the stairs to my right. The second he sees me, he freezes.
A look of confusion washes over his handsome face, and he slowly walks closer.
When he sees the other five girls, his mouth drops open.
“What’s going on?” he asks the other two men in the living room.
The one stops mid-bite. “They’re here for Rhett.”
“What the fuck?” Someone growls behind me.
I let out a startled shriek and cower closer to Phoebe and the other girls. I keep forgetting their names and only remember Phoebe’s because she’s in charge of our group.
Cautiously I glance at the man who just walked in from outside. He’s dressed in running gear. He glances at us, and the intimidating look on his face almost makes my heart beat out of my chest.
These guys are all strong and young, which makes them more of a threat than any of the elderly men whose houses we’ve been to. I feel on edge and want to leave.
“Rhett! Get your ass down here,” he hollers.
Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.
I’ve never felt so uncomfortable and out of place in my entire life, and that’s saying a lot seeing as I never belonged anywhere.
“Is the cleaning company here?” Someone asks, and then he appears at the top of the stairs.
For a moment my heart stops, and I even forget to breathe as the most attractive man I’ve ever seen comes down the stairs.
Phoebe takes a step forward blocking me from his view. “We’re from Double D’s Cleaning Services. We’re looking for Mr. Rhett Daniels.”
“That would be me,” the drop-dead gorgeous man says as he stops at the bottom of the stairs.
I peek over Phoebe’s shoulder and forget that we’re not allowed to make eye contact. I shamelessly stare at Rhett. His eyes are the same dark color as his hair, almost black. Everything about him is striking, from his strong jaw to the cocky grin.
“You hired a fucking cleaning service?” The other guy growls again, yanking my attention back to him. It’s just in time to see him grab the hem of his shirt which he uses to wipe the sweat from his face. My eyes drop down, and they widen. Never in my life have I seen abs like that.
Two. Four. Six. Eight.
When my eyes start to follow the V that leads to his shorts. I quickly glance away.
“I thought I’d arrange a little surprise for you all,” Rhett says.
“We’ll get started then,” Phoebe says as she unties her belt and slips her jacket off.
My eyes dart around as I take a step back, trying to get behind the other girls. All the guys stare at the girls as they start to strip out of their jackets.
“I’m going to Mia’s,” one of the guys says as he darts out the front door.
I let out a relieved sigh, knowing that it’s one less guy to deal with.
The two in the living room shrug at each other and then continue to finish their meals while watching something on TV.
I swallow hard as I start to untie the belt of my jacket.
“Come on, Carter,” Rhett says to the guy with the amazing abs who walks by him to get to the stairs. “You’re going to shower now?”
My eyes dart between them as I finish untying the belt. My fingers dig into the silky fabric of the jacket, but instead of taking it off, I wrap it tighter around me.
Carter looks bored as his eyes sweep over us.
“Yeah, there’s nothing down here that’s worth my time.”
Ouch. I should be thankful that none of us pique his interest, but it still stings.
Phoebe nudges me with an elbow and gives me a look of warning before she walks into the living room to start cleaning.
I swallow hard as I look down at my feet.
Think of the money, Evie.
I loosen my grip on the jacket and start to pull it open. A wave of shame hits as I glimpse the curves of my breasts.
A hand clamps over mine, startling me. I jerk back as an alarmed shriek escapes my lips. Panic floods every inch of me, but before I can try to free my hand from Rhett’s, he steps closer to me.
I wish I could say that I’m brave, but I’m not. I’m the kind who runs and hides, instead of fights. Right now, all I want to do is run until my body gives up from exhaustion and hunger.
Rhett lifts his other hand towards my body, and I try to yank free so I can get my butt out of this house.
“Shh… it’s okay,” Rhett whispers as he takes hold of the jacket and covers my right side which was exposed when I pulled back the first time.
I watch with stunned amazement as he ties the belt of my jacket. When he’s done covering me, he turns to the other girls.
“The joke’s over. You can all go.”
My heart is still beating like crazy as I try to calm my breathing from the fright I just had. As the other girls collect their jackets and put them on, I straighten my own out.
Phoebe comes to stand in front of Rhett. “You still have to pay.”
“That’s no surprise,” Rhett says as he takes a few bills from his wallet.
“Thank you for using Double D’s Cleaning Services,” Phoebe says with the usual fake enthusiasm she’s mastered from doing this kind of work for years.
She walks out of the house, and the other girls are quick to follow. I stick close to the last girl, but before I can get out, fingers clamp around the top of my arm, pulling me back.
I watch in horror as the front door is slammed shut, then Rhett steps between me and my exit which instantly makes my heart hammer against my ribs as a fresh wave of panic engulfs me.
Survival instinct starts to kick in, and my eyes dart around as I search for another way to get out.
“How old are you?”
My head snaps up at hearing Rhett’s voice, and I swallow hard before I stutter, “Eighteen.”
Rhett gives me a doubtful look which says that he doesn’t believe me.
“I have to go. The others are waiting for me.” I can hear the fear in my own voice, and I hate that I can’t sound braver right now.
Rhett’s one eyebrow darts up, and he turns to look out the window next to the door.
“Sorry to tell you this, but your friends just drove off,” he says as he turns back to me.
“What?” I gasp. I dart forward, but instead of getting to the door so I can yank it open, I slam right into Rhett.
His hands fall hard on my shoulders, and my body starts to shake as an all too familiar fear claws its way up my spine.
Why do things like this keep happening to me? I’m just trying to survive, but somehow I always find myself in trouble.
My breaths burst over my lips as I stare up at Rhett, praying that he’ll let me go.
His eyes soften as he says, “I’m not going to hurt you. You look nothing over sixteen, so you’re definitely not my type. I just want to talk to you.”
Yeah, right. I’ve heard that before. The second you let your guard down you’re flat on your back with a pig slobbering all over you.
I yank my shoulders free from his hold and turn to run, but I’m blocked by Carter who must’ve just come down the stairs. My eyes dart to the living room, and I watch with an overwhelming sense of dread as the other two men get up from the couch.
Crap. How am I going to get myself out of this mess?
“Let me go,” I whisper, my voice drenched with terror as I move closer to the wall behind me, trying to put some distance between the men and myself.
Rhett holds his hands up. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
“Why would she think we’d hurt her?” Carter asks as his eyes dart between Rhett and me.
Rhett looks a little uncomfortable as he looks at Carter.
“I held her back so she couldn’t leave with the others.”
“You did what?” Carter snaps.
With them being distracted, I take my chance and dart for the front door. I grab hold of the knob, but an arm wraps around my waist and yanks me back against a solid wall of muscle.
This time I scream in frustration and fear.
Noooo! I was so close.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Carter shouts.
“Dude, you’re scaring the living shit out of her,” one of the other guys states the obvious.
My eyes dart around wildly, searching for anything I can use as a weapon while I try to pry his arm lose from around my body. I will claw myself out of this house if I have to. There’s no way I’m going down without a fight.
“Look at her,” Rhett shouts back. “She’s a fucking kid. Would you let her strip if she was Mia?”
When I first saw Carter, I thought he would be the one to take what he wants. Not Rhett. But as I look at Carter, he seems to be the rational one. Taking a chance and hoping I’m not wrong, I plead, “Please. Please let me go.”
Carter’s eyes snap over my head, and he gives Rhett a look of warning which chills me to my bones.
“Let her go. We can talk about this.”
I’m surprised and relieved when Rhett actually lets me go, but then he walks to the front door and leans against it.
I glare at him as I fight to keep the tears back. I’m both angry and scared out of my mind.
“I just want to talk to you,” Rhett says, giving me a pleading look.
My eyes keep darting from one man to the other, waiting for one of them to attack me.
“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Carter says suddenly.
I give him a wary look. Just because he helped me doesn’t mean I trust him.
“Listen to what Rhett has to say, and then I’ll take you back to work.”
“Talk,” I hiss, keeping my guard up.
“How old are you?” Rhett asks again.
My anger starts to win out over the fear, and I glare at him wishing I was bigger so I could shove him out of my way.
“Eighteen,” I ground the word out between my teeth. “I’d show you proof, but my bag is in my locker at work.” For the first time since the other girls left without me, I start to worry about losing my job. “I have to go. I can’t afford to lose this job.”
Rhett gives me an incredulous look, and I’m scared that he won’t believe me.
“I really need the money. It’s the only way I’ll get off the street.”
I take a step back when anger tightens Rhett’s features.
“You live on the fucking street?” he whispers darkly.
Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Now Rhett knows no one will come looking for me.
Rhett glances at Carter, who shakes his head before Rhett looks back to me. I don’t know what the silent interaction between them means. A fist closes around my heart, and I hold my breath as every muscle in my body tenses.
“Why don’t you go study further instead of cleaning houses topless?” Rhett asks, catching me totally by surprise.
“Study?” I squeak. “I’m trying to earn enough for a place to stay, never mind studying.” Hoping that I’ll get out of here, I quickly add, “But if you keep me here any longer I won’t have a job to go back to.”
“I’ll make you a deal,” Rhett says which makes my eyes bulge and the fear increase tenfold.
“I’m not sleeping with you for money,” I hiss.
Rhett pulls a face as if the idea of sleeping with me disgusts him. I don’t even feel offended at his reaction because I’m too relieved. If he finds me repulsive, then he won’t rape me.
“Like I said before, you’re not my type.”
I wrap my arms around my waist, praying that he will get to the point so I can leave.
“Do you want to go to school?” he asks.
I glance up at the ceiling in frustration. “That doesn’t matter.” I throw my arms wide and scream at him. “I’m going to lose my job!”
“If you had another choice would you go back to school?” Rhett asks again, ignoring my outburst.
“Of course,” I snap. “But I don’t have a choice.”
I suppress the urge to stomp my foot like a ten-year-old or knee him in the junk. With my luck, I’ll get arrested for assaulting him.
“I’ll pay for your education if you quit this job.”
Huh?
I stare at him as if he lost his mind.
“Yeah right,” I say as I let out a bitter chuckle.
“I’m serious,” Rhett says.
I lock eyes with him for the first time, and I get the same twinge in my chest that I got the first time I saw him.
“I’ll pay for your education. I’ll make sure you have a place to stay as well.”
I narrow my eyes at him, waiting to hear what the catch is. If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s that nothing is for free. There’s always a price.
“Why would you do that? You don’t know me. What will I have to do in return?”
He looks at me for a few seconds, and then he tilts his head, and says, “Just keep your clothes on.”
Is this guy for real?
I frown at him. “You’ll basically pay me to keep my clothes on?”
“That’s right.”
My eyes dart to the other men, but they all look as stunned as me.
“I don’t get it,” I say as I look back to Rhett. “Why would you help me?”
Rhett’s eyes sweep over my body in a way that makes me feel like I belong in a dumpster.
If this man dislikes me so much why in the world would he want to help me?
“You’re skinny as fuck. Seriously, you look younger than my sister. You need help so let me help you. One day you can help someone else again.”
I pull a confused face.
“You’re just going to help me out of the goodness of your heart?” My voice is loaded with sarcasm.
He actually thinks about it before he answers, “Something like that.” He locks those intense dark eyes of his on me and whispers, “What do you have to lose?”