THE ESCORT

THIRTY | WATCHING YOU

Getting creative was easier said than done.

After their drunken night out, Elodie had gone to bed, while Hana had also gone to her own room after ensuring that Elodie was safely tucked into bed. So dead was she to the world that she hadn't seen felt the presence of Angelo in the room during the night, and by the time she woke up, the only trace of him was the scent of his cologne; which lingered in the air.

Hungover and cursing every alcohol out there, Elodie went to brush her teeth and ease herself in the large bathroom, wincing when she saw her ashen pallor in the mirror above the sink. A few splashes of water on her face, and pinches to both cheeks restored a little color, though.

Now, standing on the balcony overlooking the bright and busy sidewalk of the Strip, Elodie placed a call to Jean.

"Well, hello," Jean said, sounding slightly out of breath. "If it isn't Ms. Evans herself."

"Hi, Jean."

There was a slight pause. "You don't sound so good."

Elodie perked up, tried to infuse warmth into her voice. "I'm good."

Silence. It was a loaded one.

"Really, I'm fine," Elodie rushed to explain. "I called to ask you about Mace."

"Mace is doing great," Jean said quietly. "He's always doing great. But, tell me: if you're so worried about Mace, how come you're not taking better care of yourself."

She furrowed her brows, gaze on the woman pulling the arm of a shrieking toddler sidewalk. "I do take care of myself."

"El." Jean sighed. "You and I know how much of a lie that is. I know how hard doing these things are for you, but you don't stop to even—for a minute—worry about yourself."

"That's not true." Her own protest sounded so weak, even to her own ears.

"If what you say is true, tell me why you're on the phone with me right now, even knowing that someone is watching him for you, asking about Mace, when you should be taking advantage of the little freedom you have to take a breather for yourself."

If only she knew the truth, E2 mused.

"See?" Jean asked after Elodie refused to provide an answer to that. "El, just tell me the truth, okay? Are things not working out with your new beau?"

"I'm conflicted," the words rushed out before she could think better of them.

"About?" She prompted.

"An...my beau."

"In what way?"

"He does things to me that I normally wouldn't allow people to do, and the truth is..." Elodie sucked in a sharp breath, giving her back to the window, listless gaze falling on random things in the room. "I like it."

"Oh," she murmured, then she repeated in a much softer tone, "Oh."

"Yeah, oh." Elodie echoed.

"Can I ask what those things are?"

"It's...sexual stuff."

"Ah, I see." There was a light scuffle at the end of the line, then the sound of a door closing. "Are we talking hardcore stuff? Lite, Kink?"

Elodie nodded, realized that Jean couldn't see her, and gave a verbal confirmation.

"Wow," Jean breathed, marvel coating her tone. "I never expected a day like this to come, you know. You and I discussing stuff like this."