The Billionaire's Weekend Bride (4 page)

“And he never will.”

Sonia mulled over her night with Damian for the whole of Sunday, knowing he would be back in Washington and would have forgotten she existed. He would have acquired his hotels and that would be that. She tossed and turned all night and when she finally settled into a more peaceful sleep, she was woken by the high-pitched sound of her cell phone. Trying to rouse herself to answer it, she saw it was her boss from the escort agency, Candace.

“Hey, Candace. Do you have another job for me?”

“Not yet, Sonia. I always follow up my new girls to find out how they did, you know, get your point of view.”

“My point of view? Well, I think it went well … for my first job.”

“First and last, I'm afraid, Sonia.”

Sonia sat bolt upright. “What do you mean? Don't say the agency has gone out of business.”

“Well, we'll never go out of business as long as we can keep up our reputation.”

“So, I don't understand. Are you cutting back on your escorts? I know I'm new and everything but the client was happy with me.”

“So happy he called to say how much and to ask if he'd paid you enough and he'd be happy to give you a bigger tip.”

“Oh, that. That was a misunderstanding. The thing is, Candace, we kinda got carried away and in the morning he'd left me money but I swear I never asked for it.”

“That's not the point. In your briefing you were told that we don't pimp our girls and that means – you don't have sex with the client.”

“But the sex was after I'd finished the job.”

“When the job is finished you go home – you don't go to bed. It's a big no-no. It means instant dismissal. Those are the rules, Sonia.”

“But, Candace, it was never explained to me.”

“It was all in the contract. Did you read it through?”

“Well, maybe not all of the small print. I thought the job was just a straight forward escort job, nothing to worry about.”

“You signed the contract, Sonia.”

“I know but…”

“But that means we part ways. I'm sorry. I'll pay you for Saturday but that's it. I'm delighted the client was happy but I have to stick to the rules because I have our reputation to think about.”

“So, just like that, I'm out of a job?”

“Just like that. It's a shame. I had big hopes for you. Goodbye, Sonia.”

Sonia squeezed her eyes shut and knocked her head back against the wall.
You idiot
, she thought. Then she opened her eyes and looked down at the discarded dollar bills on the floor. They would come in handy after all.

Damn that Damian Hedley
, she thought.
And damn you again because I still have feelings for you.

He had just lost her a job and was going on to sign a multi-million deal, oblivious to what their night had actually cost her. She had pay her rent and search for another job.

*

“Someone looks like the cat who got the cream.” Max shook hands with his good friend, Damian, as he joined him for lunch at their favorite haunt on Monday afternoon.

“I don't want to count my chickens until they've hatched, young man, but I think I nailed that meeting at the weekend with Merriman.”

“That's good news. How was your bride for the weekend?” Max asked.

“Who, Sonia?”

“Oh – you remember her name,” Max exclaimed.

“Of course I remember her name. I remember because she was so convincing as my wife. I mean totally. She had the Merrimans eating out of her hands. Such a pro.”

“Glad it all worked out for you,” Max said waving to the waiter to come and take their order. “But hold on. I detect there's more to this story than meets the eye. Okay spill, Hedley. You slept with her didn't you?”

The waiter appeared with his notepad and pencil. The men ordered their usual.

“Look, keep your voice down, okay?” Damian said. “Remember, I'm a reformed character. I don't kiss and tell.”

“Go to hell. This is me you're talking to. You screwed her, didn't you? And she was good. Right?”

A large grin appeared on Damian's face. Yes, he had enjoyed the sex and flew back to DC with a large bulge in the front of his pants just thinking about the sex with Sonia.

“What did she look like?” Max cut into his thoughts.

“She was beautiful. The agency did well. But she was a bit nervous; it was her first job.”

“An escort virgin. I like what I'm hearing,” Max said. “Well, don't stop there. What was she like in the sack?”

“I … er. I dropped her off at her place. We went upstairs, and …”

“And what?”

Their meal arrived and was served.

“Why are you being so bashful, Damian?” Max goaded him on. “Don't tell me – she was a fucking freak, right?”

“Stop it, Max. don't talk about her like that. I never should have opened my mouth. Just forget I mentioned the part about sleeping with her.”

“Good God, Damian. Am I detecting a conscience? Are you no longer into the kiss and give graphic details later thing?”

“Not where she's concerned, no.”

“Oh … my … God. Damian Hedley, you slept with a woman you actually want to see again. Was she that good?”

“I told you. Don't talk about her like that. She's a nice girl. It's a shame she has to earn her money that way.”

“There's nothing wrong with being an escort, old man.”

“Not the escort part,” Damian said, uneasily. “I mean the sleeping with the guy later.”

“That agency is classy, Damian. If she slept with you, it wasn't for money, you dumb bastard. It was because she chose to.”

Damian's eyes opened in shock.

“What?” Max asked. “What did you do?”

“I left her cash on the night stand before I left.” Damian hit his head with his palm.

“You dumb bastard. I bet she's really impressed with you right now.”

“Jesus,” said Damian. “She thinks I think she's a hooker. I have to call her.”

“You have her number?”

“No, but I can call the agency and get it. I can apologize for my mistake.”

“Dude. I think you're far too late for that.”

Just then, Damian's cell phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw Mr. Merriman's name appear. He smiled as he answered the call.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Merriman. How are you and your wife?”

“Oh pretty good, thank you. I was just ringing to say, I had the meeting with the other investor early this morning. It was short but sweet and quite promising. I'm still erring on the side of your proposal, but for one last time, I'd like to set up a meeting.”

“Of course. When did you have in mind?”

“How about Friday? I know you want an answer and I want to get this arranged too. I wonder if you and Penny could join Gloria and me for dinner at our house.”

“That would be wonderful.” Damian flashed a look at Damian. “But I'm not sure Penny would be able to make it out again.”

“Mrs. Merriman would not forgive me if Penny didn't come. She was really taken with her. Sort of the daughter she never had. That kind of thing, you know what it's like. Penny has the knack to brighten up any dinner party, I must admit.”

“Yes, Penny is beautiful. I'll make sure she's there.”

Max looked at him, wide-eyed

“Just have your secretary contact mine with the details, Mr. Merriman, and Penny and I will see you there.”

Max shook his head from side to side.

“Don't tell me you just arranged a dinner with the Merrimans and promised to bring the girl you insulted?”

Damian nodded.

“Well, she might have acted like the perfect wife on Saturday, but with the way you must have pissed her off, I can't believe she or any girl would forgive you. Good luck, my man.”

“I'm going to need it.”

When Damian got back to his office after lunch, he called the owner of the escort agency, Candace, so he could re-book Sonia. He'd have to swallow his pride and beg for Sonia to be his escort again. He knew she'd be unhappy with him, but he had his apology ready.  He was about to get a shock when he dialed the New York agency.

“I'm afraid Candace has left the office for the day,” a voice from New York said to Damian. “I'm her assistant. Can I help you at all?”

“It's a pretty difficult situation,” Damian said. “I may have angered one of your escorts but I also desperately need her to escort me on Friday.”

“Well, who is the escort in question?” the assistant said.

“Oh, that would be Sonia. Sonia Wright. I'm Damian Hedley and she posed as my wife on Saturday. She did a really amazing job, as I told Candace this morning. But I'm going to need her for a repeat performance.”

“Well, I'm afraid that's out of the question.”

“What do you mean?” Damian said, loosening the knot in his tie. “Has she already told you about the terrible mistake I made?”

“It was Sonia's mistake and we had to let her go.”

“What do you mean? You mean you fired her? I was the one who left the money.”

“The money has nothing to do with this matter, Mr. Hedley. Sonia broke the rules when she took you to bed and policy says -”

“Policy? So it's against policy to find someone attractive and to want to sleep with them?” Damian protested.

“I'm sorry. There isn't anything I can do to change what's happened, Mr. Hedley,” the assistant insisted. “Could I arrange a different escort for you?”

“No, you can't.” His voice was sharp now. He'd lost his charming manner. “I need you to give me Sonia's number. I have an apology to make to her and it can't wait.”

“It's against policy to -”

“I know! You can't give me her number. Damn it,” he said and hung up.

Damian sprang to his feet, shoved his fists into his pockets and paced his office a few times. His teeth ground together. What had he done? He stormed out of his office to speak to his secretary.

“Penny, I need you to get me a flight out to New York tonight. Book me into the Carlton for the remainder of the week.”

“Yes, Mr. Hedley.”

Damian had a first class seat on his flight to New York. He gripped the arm rests of his seat the whole way and when he wasn't doing that he was tapping the it with his fingers or knocking back a whiskey.

He could not remember exactly where Sonia lived but he had a general idea. He had a big task on his hands. First, to find Sonia and apologize from the bottom of his heart about paying her for sex. He truly meant that part of his mission. He was so full of regret, he'd do anything to make it up to her.

If only it had occurred to him that a woman could desire sex just for the sake of it, like a man could. He was naive in thinking she went into it because it was what he alone wanted. When he thought about it, Sonia was full of lust and abandon. That kind of behavior in the bedroom couldn't have been an act. She desired him as much as he did her.