chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Jennifer Philip's POV

' I have had a wonderful evening darling, thank you for the courtesy of accompanying me

and I certainly hope we can do this again…' the stench of liquor exits his mouth just as

easily as his words. There was no professionalism behind them, only the echo of unique

desperation under all that fake male bravado.

My lips extend into a smile as my eyes connect with his own for just a millisecond.

'Pleasure doing business with you sir..I will take my leave now..thank you for the ride..' I

respond, fighting the urge to yawn with boredom at how many times I have repeated that

statement over the past month. It had now become a closing line of mine. Something I said

every day before I ended any one of my escort sessions.

I watch the frown that falls on his lips and then the look of the satisfaction that he tries to

brew. My fingers glide across the little button in his car and when I press it, the door opens.

The cold breeze of the outside atmosphere hits the naked skin of my thighs as I distend my

legs to the tarmac road and step out of the car. There was a day when I couldn't walk in this

kind of heels. There was a day when all I could do is stumble forward like a drunkard person

and break my legs in the process.

I walk away from their car and towards a different one that had been waiting for me right

across the block. The business was great just as usual. Another day another dollar. today's

client had been professional for most of the time that he was sober. right until he allowed

himself a chunk of shots of tequila down his throat. But it was nothing I couldn't handle. I'm

glad that he did not push his advances and he still maintained his professionalism.

sometimes I expect the job to be much more difficult. But it's not. It is like second nature. I

have flown into it and learned the basic tricks of how all of this is going to work. When I

hear the buzzing of my phone, I bring it in front of my face as my eyes dart towards the

lighted screen.

I enter the passenger seat of the Porsche sliding my finger across the accept button and

bringing the phone towards my ear. The driver did not wait for any instructions before he

coughed the engine and began the journey. The Headquarters were not a very long distance

from here, and I could have easily asked to be brought home but I preferred to have one of

the cars waiting for me at one block to take me back to the Headquarters and then from

there I would order my own uber back home.

'I love him, Jennifer, I love him soo much..' i hear the squealing voice of my sister,

excitement piercing through her words as I pull the phone from my ears in fear of going

deaf. My eyes roll at this obvious set of information.

Here we go again.

'Let me guess, he apologized and you forgave him just as usual.' i speak, my words

presenting the normal routine talk we would always have about her lunatic boyfriend.

'Come on sister, stop acting like it is such a bad idea.I told him about the pregnancy and he

promised to treat me right!' she squealed yet again, irritating me at a much higher level.

What would mom say if she heard this nonsense?

'He is treating you right because it is convenient for him. Have you been honest about the

medical conditions of the pregnancy and its chances of survival? Tell me you've talked

about that and I will support this relationship of yours to eternity..'

'I…you know.' she stammered, trying to find the perfect set of words to create a lie. Even a

blind deaf man could easily tell this man was not good for her. Sometimes I feel like she

clings on to him because of the lack of care and affection from dad in our childhood. The

man was always absent, just as my sister's boyfriend is. The problem is the love she has for

him. It cripples her where she is.

She has an easy heart.

I, on one hand, would never allow myself to be treated like that. I have my own standard,

my goals of finishing school and succeeding in my career, becoming a better woman than

my mother ever was; and nommater what happens, I will never let a man distract me from

accomplishing my dreams.

'I've got to go, sis, Jeremy is here. Talk to you later.'Her words catch me off guard but even

before I'm ready to say anything, the little noted sound as the call is disconnected hits my

ears and I frown at the disappointment. Sliding The gadget into my purse, I stare out the

window at the approaching sight of Madam Lucille's house.

At least picking u my paycheck was the last thing to do before I headed home and retired to

bed.

I had school tomorrow and tons of scheduled classes especially now that I'm about to

graduate. An exam was approaching, and I wanted to make sure success was valid.

I raise an invisible toast to myself; to becoming a Physiotherapist and setting the grounds to

the successful future I am building for myself!...

***********

Adrian Tate's POV

Flinging the iPad across the file-covered table, I bring my fingers to pinch the bridge of my

nose as my eyes shut. Frustration washes over me like a flood, and thoughts about taking a

break invade my mind. I pick up the pen on the table, signing the final document for the

Tate 23rd annual project.

Gliding my finger against the little red button on my table, I begin to speak. 'Tamara, I need

you in my office this instance.'

The intercom had worked as a much better system for me when it came to speaking with my

personal secretary. The door is open almost immediately, Tamara sashaying her way

towards me, hips moving from one side to another as she offers a smile. My eyes roll in

wonder, anger and irritation rising at the level of unprofessionalism.

'You called for me, Sir.' She stands in front of me, her voice silky and soft, almost like she

was deliberately trying to make it sound sexy. Her hands fall toward the edges of my glass

table, bending forward impeccably.

'Yes I did Tamara, I need you to go over the..' my eyes fall to her overly exposed cleavage,

her fingers sliding over the mounds of her breasts as her eyes connect with mine.

'You are fired. Clear up your desk within the hour.'

My statement was simple. I don't miss the flash of shock and surprise evident on her face.

'Bu..but sir..'

'I'm going to be headed out Miss Cane, I do not expect to find you here. Areas for the days

you have already worked for me will be calculated and compensation sent to your account

by noon. Leave my presence.'

Her sharp heels click against the floor as she walks away silently. A few seconds pass with

her slowly and hesitantly opening the door and then shutting it behind her.

As though on cue, my personal phone vibrates in my pocket, censoring my attention as I pull

it from my breast pocket and press accept.

Next week was going to be frustrating and boring. A birthday celebration for my father. A

party I was going to attend despite my attempts to put him off for years now. And I know

exactly what he wanted.

A woman.

He needed to see me settle down. Some sort of ideal dream that he had for me.

As though I was not already living my best life, with the success I had made on my own and

my growing reputation, he wanted to see me in a serious relationship with a special

woman.

How pathetic!

'Tell me you found what I'm looking for..' i speak immediately, beginning to second think

the entire idea of hiring an escort girl to take for my dad's birthday as a fake girlfriend. I did

not need just a random woman, I needed a sweet, educated girl who could impress the likes

of my father and paint the picture of a perfect daughter-in-law for the old man. Just an

escort, no sex, no love..nothing else.

'Yes I have Mr.Adrian Tate..our angel is well educated and fits perfectly into the profile you

seek.'

'What's her name?' i ask.

'Jennifer. I will send you her profile'

'Jennifer..' i recite, curious about how her name tickles my lips.