Chapter 5

James

After a long day of debating whether or not I wanted to go with ScriptTech, I needed a release. Anything to distract me from the anger I felt each time I thought about Tom Wright. Unfortunately I wasn’t easily pulled off a train of thought. But a night of meaningless sex would surely do the trick. It always worked well.

I frequented Club Expose more than twice a week usually, and with my gold card status, I was a favorite among the ladies. I could have any one of them I wanted, and I’d been through most of them more than a few times each, and that was just the hired staff. There were those who frequented the club looking for the same thing as me, and those were the ladies that I had to be most careful with. I tried my best to stick to the paid variety, but when I spotted someone too tempting to pass up, that’s when I’d get a little bit daring and sample someone from the guest pool. It happened more than it should have, probably, but sometimes, I just couldn’t help myself.

I thought of the girl, Maya, whom I’d met at ScriptTech. I thought I might find someone like her; even a poor substitute would help carry out the fantasies I’d had about her. She’d been in the back of my mind since that first hello, and even though I had pictured myself banging her, I was also concerned that she’d gone home to that asshole. Guilt festered as I thought maybe I should have stayed behind and made sure she was alright. I should have insisted she let me help her, but that wouldn’t have been healthy for her either. A person had to want out, or they’d keep going back. I only hoped she did the right thing and left him.

Straightening my tie and cuffs, I took one last look in the mirror and then raked my hands through my hair and across my trimmed beard. As I turned and walked to the door, my buzzer sounded. I let out a sigh, thinking it must be Mark or Gene, who was my accountant and a good friend as well. They’d never dropped by unannounced, and doing so on a Friday night was strange as well.

“Yes, George?” The older man was the doorman at The Avalon and respected my privacy more than most, even though he had a bad habit of passing out unwanted words of wisdom which made him a rival with Darek Dillon for a most annoying person in the building. I had to hand it to him, though, at least he hadn’t made his living selling his witty observations as Dillon had.

“I’m sorry, Sir, there seems to be a young woman here asking for you. She says her name is Maya Benton and you met her today at ScriptTech.” A slow smile spread my lips, and I breathed a sigh of relief knowing she had come for help.

“Thank you, George. Please send her up.” I loosened my tie and went to the bar to pour a couple of drinks. I had a feeling she’d need one as bad as I did.

A moment later, the elevator stopped on my floor, and I heard the sound of the heavy doors opening. I went to the door and found her in my small entrance staring at the security camera.

“Maya! It’s good to see you. Please come in.” She was dressed down, and I realized she must have gone home to the man after all, or at least back to her apartment because she’d been wearing a much nicer outfit the last time I’d seen her. She pulled her arms around herself, and I tried not to stare at her yoga pants and a baggy shirt, or the ugly sandals she had on her feet.

“I’m sorry for showing up like this, but I didn’t have a way to call.” She tugged the hem of her shirt. “I lost my job and left my phone at the apartment.”

“You went home?” I gestured toward the couch and went to the bar to fetch her drink. She looked into the glass as she took it and I smiled thinking she was a smart girl as she placed it on the end table beside her.

“Would you prefer something unopened? I have juices, sports drinks, sodas.” I couldn’t blame her for not trusting me, I was a stranger after all, and I knew it must have taken great courage to come up to my place.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to insult you, but I’m just not too sure coming here was the best idea, and with the luck, I’ve had with men today, I’m not sure I can trust anyone too easily.”

“I’m glad you came, and I totally understand. I should have known better than to offer you alcohol anyway. I just figured you could use a stiff drink. I figured that if you’d mustered up the courage to ask a total stranger for help, you could probably use one.”

Her smile put me at ease. “Juice is fine if it’s not too much trouble.”

“It’s not. Would you like anything to eat? I can order up something.” It was times like these I wished I had an assistant, but being a man of wealth, I could just about get anything delivered directly to my house within the hour.

“You look like you’re on your way out. You have a date or something, don’t you?” She put her hand on her forehead and cursed beneath her breath. “It’s not my day; I feel so stupid.”

I waved dismissively. “No, you’re fine. I was stepping out for a bit, but I don’t have any specific plans, and no one is waiting on me.” I walked over to the phone and ordered take-out from around the corner.

“Thanks. I cooked dinner, but didn’t get to eat it.” She looked down at the floor and wrung her hands. “My boyfriend came home and threw me out.”

“Did he put his hands on you?” My teeth clenched so tight my jaw popped, and I tried to keep my temper in check. The last thing she needed was another hostile man.

“He pushed me out. He seems to think that I changed jobs because I was screwing my new boss. I don’t know where he gets these ideas, but it’s not true. Although, your friend, Mr. Wright, offered me the opportunity if I wanted to keep my job.” My eyes flashed wide, and I growled.

“He’s not my friend. He’s a potential partner, whose chances are getting slimmer every time I hear his name.” I couldn’t do business with a fuck up like that. No way.

“Yeah, well I was hoping to save enough money to leave my boyfriend anyway, so that’s not a huge loss. But when he pushed me out, he was only kind enough to throw these shoes at me. He didn’t let me get my phone or my clothes. So, I’ve been walking around the city in my yoga pants.”

“You walked? Was it far?” I wondered how close the asshole lived and how far I’d have to go to get her things and put my fist in his throat.

“About ten blocks. I had to ask for directions, and you can imagine the looks I got asking for directions to The Avalon.” Dressed as she was, I knew she’d gotten some crazy looks, but I didn’t want to tell her that.

“Well, at least you’re here now. I’ll help any way I can.”

“I need a job. Do you happen to know anyone hiring?”

“No, but I can give you money if that’s what you need.”

She gave me a sideward glance and smiled. “I’m not really comfortable taking money from you. And I don’t really have a way to pay you back.” She shook her head and looked away.

“We can work something out.”

“I’m not sleeping with you.” She blurted the words so quickly that I was almost insulted, but then her cheeks reddened. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to say you’re that kind of guy, but just in case you’re that kind of guy, I’m not that kind of girl.”

I let out a chuckle. “I’m not that kind of guy.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you can have any woman you want, I just almost didn’t come because I was afraid you’d only help me if I slept with you. I guess it’s a bad day for me trusting men.”

“So, if that’s what you thought about me, then why did you come at all?”

“Because you were so sweet today. I hoped you’d be a nice guy and let me use your phone at least.” She let out a deep breath. “I figured if you made a move, I’d just kick you in the balls and run.”

“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” I winced and handed her my phone. “Call anyone you like.”

“Thank you.” She stared at the phone as if she didn’t know how to use it.

“Is there someone you can call?”

“Not in New York.”

“It’s okay. I have a bed; you’re more than welcome to stay the night.” I had two guest bedrooms. She could take her pick.

She lifted her eyes to meet mine. “You’re bed?”

“Relax, I meant in one of the guest rooms.” I could tell getting her in my bed would be a feat. Challenge accepted.