Chapter 16

It was Boxing Day when the storm lifted, and the roads were clear enough for them to travel. The airports reopened and flights scheduled. As things in the outside world began to get back to their usual routine, Zoe was confused as to what would now happen.

She wasn’t sure if what they shared was just because they were locked up together during the storm. Gael had been quiet, not saying much, and she wondered if perhaps she was regretting his action. She’d had a one night stand once, but never with a man whore like Gael.

Knowing the man, she was not expecting anything. While she packed, she contemplated her situation and counted it down to one experience … a very passionate, explosive experience.

Embarrassment flooded her as she recalled telling him that he was the last man she’d allow to take off her panties. On the plane, she’d said a lot of things that she now was having to retract.

“Gosh,” she moaned. “Gosh!”

When it was time to leave, she thought of calling a cab to take her home. After taking her luggage downstairs, she started dialing the number for the service when Gael came down with his bag.

“Let’s go,” he said, picking up her case.

“I’m calling a cab,” she replied with her pulse racing.

“Why? The car is perfectly fine.”

“Won’t it be inconvenient for you to drive all the way to Cleveland Hill and back?”

He frowned. “Who said anything about going to Cleveland Hill?”

“That’s where my apartment is. Remember, I told you?”

“I know,” he grunted.

“That’s where I’m going,” she said.

“Like hell you are. You’re coming back to Santa Cruz.”

“What?” she asked, her forehead creasing.

He leveled eyes with her. “You heard me. We have unfinished business,” his tone became sultry. “And I’m not only talking about the contract.”

“I’m not signing that contract,” she protested.

“Suit yourself, but that leaves you and me then,” he replied, walking off with the bags.

That’s how she ended up going back to Santa Cruz to Gael’s penthouse apartment where they spent the rest of the day and night wrapped up in each other’s arms.

By the following morning on December 28, she found herself signing his spoke-model contract. What else was she going to do? It was her job in the first place, but it was Gael that made her see reasoning.

“You’re going to be spending a lot of time here anyway, might as well work with me,” he’d murmured as they lay in bed together, her finger making circles on his chest.

“Who says I’m spending a lot of time here?”

“I’m not letting you live thousands of miles from me. We can get you an apartment close to me, so it’s easier for us to see each other. You’re mine now, Unicorn.”

She raised her head to search his face. “Does this mean we’re now dating?”

“What else would it be?”

Therefore, she signed the contract, just like that. They started dating just like that. He was true to his word and found her an apartment a few blocks away which she deemed unnecessary since they spent most of their time at the penthouse … having sex, dinner, sex, breakfast and sex again.

Florine was both elated and dismayed when she told her she’d signed the contract with Blue Atlantic Shipping. Of course, she had to tell her every detail of her encounter with Gael, except for the intimate parts. It was a conversation Zoe would not likely forget.

“So you’re telling me that you met the man at the airport, and you decided to sign the deal?” Florine asked.

“No, you weren’t listening. We had a few arguments, and then I got sick …”

“And you signed under duress. That’s illegal; can you prove it?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Then explain it to me,” the woman’s stern voice replied into the phone.

“You won’t give me a chance!”

“Okay, I’ll shut up and let you talk, and don’t leave anything out, you hear?”

By the time she was done telling her about Gael, the woman was speechless. There was a long silence before Florine said, “He must be one hell of a gorgeous man.”

“Yes, he is,” she admitted, flushing from head to foot.

“Did you …?”

“Florine!”

“You did, didn’t you? How was it?”

“Oh my, the line is going bad. Florine, are you there … I can’t hear you … Florine?”

It was her usual trick to cut Florine’s call when the conversation got too tricky. Florine laughed as she hung up, but the phone rang a few seconds later. Reluctantly, she answered.

“You owe me,” Florine said as the line opened.

“For what?”

“Tony won’t be bothering you again,” she declared.

It was a welcome respite from having to deal with the bastard. She was also amazed that her boss knew about the tape all along. Luckily, it wasn’t worse than that. Most of the girls who got themselves into trouble with the agency were involved in more dangerous stuff like hard drugs and sex scandals.

The tape of her smoking the weed was bad if some clients saw it but was also easier to forget than if she did cocaine or was caught on tape having sex. Everyone knew the photos and memes of her head on a naked body were fake. It was still an embarrassment having to deal with. Maybe in time, people would move on from them, and she would forget the whole thing.

“Thanks, Mom.” She knew Florine liked when she called her that, even though she insisted that Zoe call her Florine. It felt good calling someone mom again.

“Just stay out of trouble,” Florine replied, and Zoe could hear the crack in her voice.

“Yes, ma’am.”