Safe Word: Rosé

Chapter 23

Narrator- 

The weeks following the photoshoot were uneventful. Cara returned to her routine of playing secretary, and Jason treated her as nothing more than a shadow who can talk. Neither the outspoken beauty, nor the jealous Dom chose to speak of their last close encounter. 

Jason returned to the club often, even though he never used an entertainer to accompany him in the playrooms, nor did her ever force Cara to join him again. He found that after their last discussion, he began to obsess a little too much about Cara. He hated that the only time he witnessed her smile was when she was with Cindy and Vincent, far away from him. He hated that whenever she looked at him, her eyes were always hard and judgmental. And he hated that he wanted nothing more than to invest time to mold and shape her into his ideal woman. 

This wish to even reach a common ground with Cara is what scared Jason the most, and urged him to distance himself from her. Cara was right, eventually she would leave, and he bid her good riddance. Falling for Cara would serve was nothing more than a trap for him, and Jason wanted no part in it. 

Meanwhile Cara's evenings were often spent with Luiza in the kitchen during club nights. At times she hung out with Cindy and Vincent, and they gave Cara a reason to smile and laugh. She hardly thought of her father anymore, and if she ever was to have a bad day, Luiza was always there to extend the hand of comfort. Cara soon became immune to Jason treating her as if she were invisible. She tried to not dwell on their close encounters and the many kisses they'd share. Cara solidified her resolution once more. She would eventually leave the mansion, and Jason made it clear that he'd be the happiest when she made her leave. He didn't want her. Cara didn't want him to want her. At least, she didn't want to hope for such a thing between her and Jason, and to save her heart from pining for the insufferable man, Cara chose to focus on paying back the money without bringing much attention to herself. 

Eventually Cara lost track of the many days she's spent alone in the world since her father's death, and before she knew it, four months had already elapsed in the contract, and she was now crossing into her fifth month at the mansion. Soon the day arrived for the catalogue to be published to the entertainers and on the club's website. Cara signed for the box of catalogues, but on Jason's request, she delivered the box in his office without opening it. 

At dinnertime, Jason didn't show up for his usual speech until after the entertainers had eaten. When he walked into the dining room, the box of catalogues was in his hands. He placed the box at the head of the table, and instructed the servers to deliver a catalogue to each attendant in the dining room, except for Cara. 

At first the entertainers received the catalogues ecstatically. Cara shared Cindy's catalogue. The women gushed over the photos, and compliments flew across the room, but soon, the compliments morphed into voices of concern and confusion. 

Cindy looked up at Jason and said, "wait, Cara's pictures are not in here." 

Jason looked at Cindy, "is Miss Thompson an entertainer?" 

Cindy frowned, "well no." 

"So why should she be in the catalogue?" Jason quizzed in return. 

Cindy chose to keep her mouth shut. Cara gulped and avoided looking around the room. She had to admit that Jason was right. Publishing her pictures in the catalogue would just be wrong. 

"Okay, with Cara I can understand, but neither Lexi nor Thomas are in the catalogue, and Vincent has been photoshopped in the couple shots that Thomas participated in." Simone pointed out, as all eyes turned a questioning gaze to Jason. 

Jason stuffed his hands in his pocket again and nodded, "that's correct." 

"So what's the deal?" Monique demanded.