was old and feeble and had retired when the job was too strenuous. It wasn’t like he hired girls that often, to eventually… what? To date?
“Typically the women he hires, for starters, aren’t very likable. They’re digging for gold and are here for a reason, to become the wife he doesn’t have. One he doesn’t need. He’s built for marriage about like me and I tell you I don’t want that.”
Ezra had spoken in the plural. Said the words “the women he hires.” Was I simply the next in a line? Hale made it sound like he needed me here. Like he’d found me and wanted me near him. Surely he didn’t hire girls, clothe them and plan these events, as part of a wife finding process. He wasn’t like that. I knew it.
“I’m not exactly sure what you mean.”
Ezra finished off his whiskey. “Then maybe you are naïve.”
Not the answer I was looking for. I fought the urge to stomp my foot and demand he answer my question. I deserved an explanation.
“Who do you think worked here before you?”
“An older lady that retired. She’d been working for Hale forever.”
Ezra looked disgusted. “That’s what he told you?”
I nodded.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
I hoped he’d elaborate. I realized from his reaction that I wasn’t told the truth, but then, who to believe? Hale or Ezra? Which? I didn’t know. Ezra was a stranger to me. He could be causing trouble. Hale had brought me here, given me this life, while Ezra was a guy who’d annoyed me from the very first minute I met him.
“Maybe you need to go.” I was feeling more and more confident, without really understanding why. I didn’t want to be angry any more.
“I’ll go. But you’re going to need me. Eventually. Trust me on that.”
He’d said something similar before. His certainty began to worry me. It wasn’t like he was trying to convince me. He was warning me. That was it. He made it exceptionally hard to ignore.
“Okay,” I said. “I hear you.” I didn’t say anything else. I had nothing more to say. I wasn’t sure I believed this man. It seemed unfair to trust him over Hale.
Ezra started to walk back inside. Just as he reached the glass, he stopped and turned back to me. I realized I was holding my breath, afraid of what he would say. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
“Be careful. Pay attention. Don’t assume that anything is a gift.”
He then went through the entry and closed it behind him without waiting for my rebuttal, any question I might have had. I didn’t follow Ezra. I stood there replaying his words in my head, again and again, over and over, like a recorder was lodged in my brain. I was careful and did pay attention. It was his comment on the gifts that bothered me. I wasn’t comfortable with what Hale had bought. If Ezra was being honest, if there’d been a string of women, then what, what would I do? Do I stay here or go back to Moulton? This remained an opportunity. A chance I’d never had.
That evening my mind ran through its scenarios until I couldn’t imagine another. Some were terrifying, while others made good sense. By the time I closed my eyes, I was sure I was overreacting. Time with Hale would ease my mind.
Chapter Seven
When my eyes opened it was dark outside. I rarely woke up in the middle of the night, even when my sisters kneed me. I was a heavy sleeper. Frowning, I rose to check the time, the bedside clock dimly glowing. It was a little after two in the morning. I considered going back to sleep, but wanted to check the apartment. Something must’ve awakened me. A sound, maybe some street noise?
Slipping out of the satiny sheets I walked to the bedroom door. Opening it slowly, things seemed quiet and then I heard the feminine giggle, followed by Hale’s deep voice. It was coming from his bedroom. There was a bump, then another laugh. I stood there wondering if this was real or was I asleep and dreaming. Would Hale bring a woman into the penthouse where I was sleeping to have… what? What was I thinking? To screw while I was present? To have sex right down the hall?
There was a moan and the woman cried “Hale!” which was met by a muffled “take it!” I froze with my head craned staring at his door, awake and aware and angry. This was awkward and confusing. Especially after what Ezra had shared and the way Hale had kissed me.
I listened as the moans grew louder, her cries increasing and when I couldn’t stand it I reentered my room, sliding my feet, the door blocking the noise. It must’ve been their walk down the hallway that opened my eyes to begin with.
Sleep wasn’t going to come now. My mind was too busy spinning. Was she the friend in town for the night he had to so urgently meet with? Why hadn’t he said “I have a date,” and then it would’ve been clear. But he chose to overwhelm and groom me with the shopping, which I thought meant something else. His signals made no sense. He did whatever he wanted.
Ezra was right about one thing. If I pretended it was something else, I was being naïve and stupid. He’d spent thousands of dollars on my wardrobe and purses, but exactly for what and why? To have the proper appearance when we dated? Was that really what I’d be doing? My job in New York City?
A loud female cry made it through the walls, followed by an extended groan. Great, they were getting louder. Just what I wanted to hear. I covered my ears with the extra pillow and closed my eyes till they finished. Hopefully, it wouldn’t last long. Tomorrow I would address this with Hale. He needed to return the clothing or at least take back the purses. He didn’t need me to go to parties. I was here to work for him. If he was planning on having sex with others, in his room so I could hear it, then this wasn’t a relationship. We weren’t headed in a romantic direction. Even the wealthy and the privileged had to have scruples and morals.
It wasn’t until the penthouse quieted that I finally fell back to sleep. It was a fitful sleep with dreams of Moulton, Hale, and oddly Ezra.
I stood in the kitchen wondering what to do about breakfast for the two. I hadn’t heard Hale’s guest leave. I supposed she’d be eating as well. There were no directions from Felicity on how to handle overnight guests. It was left to me to figure this out and to be really uncomfortable while doing it.
My best assumption would be to prepare enough for both when they awakened. If she didn’t stay I’d put the extra away and eat it later myself. That sounded better than pretending like I didn’t know she was here. I began washing and slicing the fruit.
Once his guest left we were going to discuss this. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but we had to talk this through. To come to some agreement. I didn’t intend to “date” him if he was going to bring other women up to the penthouse to screw. That was mean and rude.
I prepared a fresh fruit tray then began making the crepes. Felicity left me a recipe. It wasn’t until I had the turkey bacon cooked that I heard the footsteps behind me. Turning, I saw her there. She was tall and blonde and the towel she was wrapped in barely covered her body. Her exposed skin was tan. She was a model, obviously a model. A gigantic, perfect woman. I wanted to stab her with my fork.
“I thought I smelled food,” she said, with a delicate childish yawn. “Could you bring it to the bedroom in fifteen minutes? I need to wake Hale up first.”
I would be delivering breakfast in bed. Awesome. What a fun morning.
“Sure,” I responded to the woman. I could’ve caved in her head with that vase.
Without another word she turned to leave, then paused to spin on her runway. “I don’t drink coffee either. I’ll need green tea without sweetener. Not too warm. Do you hear me?”
Before I could respond she was gone.
I knew there was an extensive selection of teas in the walk in pantry. I’d seen them there arranged. Apparently she also knew he’d have what she wanted to drink.
I started for the pantry when his bedroom door opened for heavier footsteps, headed in my direction. “I have appointments India. I told you last night.” Hale’s voice sounded annoyed.
“So you’re going to fuck me for hours, t
hen send me packing like a whore?”
“You stayed the night. Jesus, what more did you want?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe breakfast!”
“I fed you dinner. Now please leave. I have work to do and this is wasting my time. Dress and get the hell out.”
I heard her heels click on the marble as she muttered “you fucking bastard.” I wasn’t arguing with her on that one. He was being terrible.
“Last night you sure made it sound like you wanted more of me!”
“Last night is over. Time for you to leave,” Hale responded cold and unemotional.
I didn’t look for the tea. I left the pantry and went to make the French pressed coffee Hale drank every morning. This was even more uncomfortable than last night’s marathon sex. Only this time I couldn’t hide in my room with a pillow over my head.
“Never again you shit. I’d heard you were a dick, but I didn’t believe it, so I thought I would give you a chance.”
“I’d heard you were fucking crazy and should’ve listened to the fellow that told me.”
She spouted off a string of curse words then the door slammed behind her. I jumped, hoping she was gone, although I’d soon face Hale and the mood he was in made me nervous and frightened. All the discussing I’d planned didn’t seem like a good idea.
“I’ll be outside. Bring my breakfast. I already have the paper.”
When Hale said it, it gave me a start. I glanced over my shoulder to see him leaving, our talk now postponed. I didn’t have the nerve to confront him. Not with him like this.
Chapter Eight
He didn’t speak or look up from his paper. It went a long way to achieving his goal of pissing me off again. I’d gotten nervous listening to Hale abuse India and now I was disgusted with his behavior.
When he finally left for his meeting he said “I’m leaving” and then closed the door. That was it. No explanation. No apology for the sex-fest I’d heard. It was as if I wasn’t even there.
I tried to fill my time cleaning the place without allowing my thoughts to drift in the direction of what he’d done. In that, I admit, I failed. I yanked off his sheets like I was tearing out hair, calling him a bastard while I made it.
Once that was done I decided to get dressed in the clothes I’d brought with me. It was time to see the city, minus Hale bearing down on me, wanting to control my movements. There wasn’t any reason for me to wait on a call or an order from him in person. I had the phone and would keep it on me. Rifling through my bag I found my blue jean shorts, a tank top and my boots. I took a moment to pull my hair up, then I grabbed momma’s purse. I was dressed for the streets of Moulton, Alabama and not the busiest city on earth. Oh well, I was comfortable. It was New York City on my terms. I didn’t care at the moment if he knew or not and I did not need his permission. At least he never said I did.
Glowing with pride I stepped through the door before my mission was suddenly stopped. Ezra slid from the elevator. Why was he back? Again!
“Good, you’re dressed. I was coming to get you. Does lunch sound good? It’s on me.”
What?
“Hale won’t be home until tonight. He’s kinda, somewhat busy.” Ezra added this when I didn’t move or speak, because I guess he felt he had to.
“I’m not hungry. I was going to roam.” Spending the day with Ezra wasn’t what I’d planned. He reported to Hale whatever we did and I’m sure the things I said. Really, I had no earthly idea what he did or why he was here.
“Then we can roam together. You’ll eventually get hungry and the street vendors here are my personal friends by name. I know the best by the color of their carts. Remember Sammy Jo, I’m from a small town, and our backgrounds are pretty similar. Working parents, low income, etc. I’m basic, just like you. Had dreams and I achieved them. The face of success isn’t always wealth. You can be yourself and keep your soul, because the world has places for that. It isn’t always mean and suspicious. Looking to kill and eat you.”
I wanted to eat without the speech. And if he knew the best it would be like a movie, where the characters ate in the streets. It sounded silly, but I dreamed about that.
“It’ll be boring Ezra. You know it like the back of your hand. I need to find it for myself.” I argued, though I actually wanted, a map to where the vendors were.
“Please, let me decide that. If I get bored I’ll recommend where to go and leave you as you wish.”
That wasn’t a bad idea. “I’m walking,” I said, “not going in a car like Hale made me do.”
“Good,” was his reply. “The city is seen from the end of the nose and with every step we’ll take.”
Profound, and I was stuck. There was no getting out of this. I liked Ezra more and more. He had a way about him that was hard to ignore. He was a playful little boy under all that toughness. Determined, but really fun.
“Okay,” I agreed, tugged my purse on my shoulder and headed to the elevator. He held the door open for me.
“I like your clothes,” he said as they closed.
I felt his gaze and it made my skin warm. Tingly, but not like the cold. It was as if I were a view that Ezra was taking in. Hale had never done me like that. It was always me who took him in, while he seemed to remain aloof, like some other thing needed doing. They were wildly different men.
“What do you do for Hale?” I asked, turning to meet his stare, which was still fixed on my body. Hale’s world wasn’t here anymore. Not until I brought it back in.
“I don’t actually work for Hale.” His eyes left my frame. Returned to the elevator doors.
“That’s not an answer Ezra.” I said it matter of fact, without realizing I’d barked it.
“No, I guess it isn’t.” After he agreed the doors split open and he said “after you.”
“So if he finds out we spent the afternoon together he won’t fire you or even get angry?”
Ezra chuckled. “No.”
He didn’t give me a definite answer, but the warmth of the breeze met my face. The sound of the city was there. I decided I’d let it go. I would enjoy what I had, including Ezra’s company, so I changed my attitude.
“Which way?” I glanced from left to right.
“Um, Ezra, I don’t know.” I honestly had no idea. “Which way is the best food vendor?” I hoped he didn’t hear my stomach growl.
He pointed left. “Thought you weren’t hungry?”
I shrugged. “Might’ve lied.”
Ezra appeared amused. Hale would’ve been angry or annoyed. Their differences were stacking up daily. And why was I even measuring these men against each other in the first place? After what Hale did last night any chance for us was gone. I would work for him. That was all.
Then, of course, whatever their agreement, Ezra might be unavailable. What I needed were friends outside their world. A life when I wasn’t working. I was ready for Hale to leave. His monthly visit had been long enough.
“What’ve you seen of the city so far?”
“Hale took me to Times Square and then we went shopping.” That, I didn’t want to repeat.
“Then let’s go get you the best tamales you’ve ever had in your mouth. Then I’ll show you a slice of the city.”
I’d never had tamales. It sounded really exciting. Better than the hotdog I’d envisioned.
“Sounds like the perfect plan. What places are you going to show me?”
Finally, I was getting to see it. And with someone who knew it on foot.
“Well, you’re a newbie, so I figured we’d begin with a ferry ride on the boat to Ellis Island. Go and see the Statue of Liberty. Might take up our entire afternoon, but we can always do this again. New York can take a year to cover the museums and the haunts of the tourists and the locals. Then you’d still lack hundreds.”
I wanted to clap with glee like a five year old with ice cream. That was exactly what I wanted to do. Hugging Ezra seemed a tad too aggressive, but I almost did it anyway.
“Thank yo
u,” I said instead. Settling for a more acceptable means to demonstrate my bubbling joy.
“Don’t thank me yet Sammy Jo. Getting on the ferry is a pain in the ass, but it’s worth it in the long run.”
I had no doubt that it was.
Chapter Nine
He was wrong. Everything was perfect. Nothing was a pain in the ass. I soon realized I could act really silly and Ezra thought it was hilarious. Seeing the things I’d only read about made the little girl inside me giggle. I couldn’t take enough photos, read enough monuments or ask more stupid questions. Ezra patiently answered them all. For the sake of my sisters I was like a tourist guide who could spout any detail desired. I did not miss a thing.
By the time we got back to the penthouse it was after six and I was nervous. Hale hadn’t called me all day. I was worried that my being gone like this was going to make him angry. He’d never been angry with me before, but I’d now seen his ugly side and I didn’t want to turn it on me.
“Hale may be back,” I said. We were walking toward the entrance. I should’ve been thanking Ezra for the day or a host of things. But my focus was on Hale coming back. My perfect day was about to be marred by Hale shutting it down.
“He isn’t.”
He was sure but didn’t elaborate.
“There’s the best Chinese food in the states nearby. I can call and