An Escort's Contract

Chapter 1

Author's note: Emanuele Fiore as Ethan on the side :3 Enjoy!

She felt decidedly queasy as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the number. Adela was the only one going up so she had small reprieve in those few seconds of travel. Her heart started thundering at the modern and thoroughly masculine decor the moment the doors opened and she stepped out. She feld decidedly under dressed in her emerald green dress and the black kitten heels but decided that it didn't matter. Even if these men judged her, she was quite used to it...her step sister and her father did it to her whilst her mother wasn't in the room.

Gathering up her courage, she strode over to the receptionists' desk. She cleared her throat and worried at her bottom lip again as she stared down into a pair of mildly curious azure eyes.

"I...have an appointment?" She ventured after taking a calming breath and adverting her ice blue gaze as she subconsciously reached up to brush a hand against her dark hair.

"Miss Lennek I believe?" He asked after clicking his mouse for a few moments and with an encouraging smile he handed her a clip board with what looked like a form attached to it. She reached behind her ear and pulled out a pencil...she'd habitually kept one behind her ear since high school. She went to sit in the waiting area of sorts and methodically went through the form until the last question:

15: For what reason are you in need of our escort services?

Adela bit her lip before closing her eyes and giving the most glossed over answer that she could at the present moment. Her heart beat so fast that it made her feel a little ill as she went to hand the clipboard back to the receptionist but he shook his head.

"You're to meet with the boss now, everyone else is on their lunch break but he's stayed back for you." She looked down ashamedly, she'd made someone wait for her...she'd probably make them miss their lunch break. As a pair of frosted glass double doors opened up she stepped through them, only for them to hiss shut behind her almost immediately. 

"What exactly do you need-....Ms Lennek?" She looked into a pair of smouldering sable eyes and almost fled  right then and there.

"I need an escort for a...an engagement party on the 5th of January. But in order for people to not be suspicious-.." He cut her off at that point, standing up and adjusting his business suit.

"You need a man that you can take home to the parents, introduce to friends and it has to be believeable. Am I right?" He looked her over and she bit her bottom lip before nodding, offering him the clipboard with a slightly shaky hand.

"That's right, my step sister's made it clear that I will not be allowed to show up without a man on my arm. I....I'm not looking to make a fuss, I don't want a supermodel or a sex god. I just want to wish them well." The last part took every bit of resolve in her to say, he didn't know.....nor did he need to know the real situation.

"You want to fly under the radar...?" He trailed off and she took a step back as he came a little too close for comfort. What cologne was he wearing? It really was divine.

"Yes, it's my sister's day after all." At this he gave her a slight smirk that made a delicious shiver run down her spine.

"No, you're going with a man that would be honoured to have you by his side at an event like that." With that he went to the doors and they whispered open again, the male receptionist frowning for a moment before coming to see him.

"I need a list of men whom would take a mouse to a cat convention." The men eyed each other for a moment before the receptionist sighed.

"That would be you and I....and you know it. But I'm cheaper and more believeable with the relationship stuff." Adela looked between the two men and found a blush rising up to settle in the apples of her cheeks.

"Right yes....cost. It feels so weird to be...basically buying someone's time. So...what would the cost be?"  They shared another look between them before she found their eyes locked onto her.

"I'm $800 a month, the big bad boss here is about a grand and a bit." Adela took in a breath so fast that she actually choked on it, coughing for a good few moments.

"But you're both-....so far out of my league!" She managed to get out before they were helping her into a chair and Michael handed her a cup with some water in it.

"So....can I pay on a weekly basis? Otherwise I'll never afford it! Two whole months.....and during the holiday season too." She took a sip from the cup and sighed, trying to do the maths in her head about how or even if she could afford it for that long.

"Howabout this....we don't charge you." Icy eyes darted up only to get lost in a pair of darker ones and she cleared her throat.

"I have a feeling that there is a but somewhere in there." She said in a slightly pointed manner before he laughed a bit and that alone sent her heart beating faster than a jackrabbit on speed.

"But....you have to get both Michael and I, a thought out and heartfelt gift for Christmas. To do that you need to spend time with each of us and let us help you get ready to face everyone at that party. Is that acceptable?" Adela felt like her blood was draining away into the floor, but gave a tentative nod anyhow.

"That's acceptable...but I don't know your name. I know Michael's..but not yours, could you tell me? That way I know what to put on your gift?" She said, feeling a momentary spell of bravery until Michael left and his boss leaned down behind her.

"The name's Ethan....Ethan Saunders." His warm breath ghosted over her ear and she let out a barely audible squeak before standing up and practically sprinting out of there. She almost ran into the doors in her hurry. Ethan's throaty laughter followed her into the elevator as he came out of the office.

"Why did you....Ethan, she's not some girl that you can play with then lead along with parlour tricks." Azure met mocha and Ethan gave Michael a shrug.

"A girl like that doesn't come in here often...and she doesn't come in unless driven into a corner with a gun to her head. Self esteem that low, we have to put our little rivalry aside until we've built her up enough to get her out of that rut she's in." Michael quirked an eyebrow and Ethan smirked a little.

"Okay so I'm full of shit, but she needs our help...are we both going to bail on her after promising to help her for....well....nothing?" With a grumble Michael went back to work and his boss left him with a final few words to end their little debate for the day. "I didn't think so."