An Escort's Contract

Chapter 2

Author's note: Thank you so much to the person whom voted for this story! This chapter is dedicated to you!! :D By the way, picture of Adela's dog Domino on the side.

Adela wasn't the desperate 'I-can't-get-enough-of-you-please-come-back-to-me' type because once something was over she considered it to be completely done with. So as she strode towards her car that afternoon, her eyebrows furrowed as she spotted the man whom was leaning against the hood. With a deep breath she kept walking towards the drivers side, only for him to move in an effort to block her path.

"Addy....let's face it-....hey! Hello? Are you listening to me?" She closed her eyes for a brief moment and let out a slow sigh.

"Patrick, please leave me alone." She said attempting to open the door, only for him to lean against it and slam it shut. She needed to do this, she had to move on....it was the most basic part of self preservation. A bitter taste filled her mouth and she stared at him for a moment, only to hear someone clear their throat. She half turned and saw Ethan at a silver Audi, however in a few short strides he was at her side, staring Patrick down.

"I believe this young lady told you to leave her be." Sable met grey as a tense stand off ensued, Patrick finally moved away from the car and smirked at Adela. Ahh...here was the Patrick she remembered, the vindictive side of him anyway. Ice ran down her spine and she straightened instinctively, suddenly unafraid of  what would surely be an insecure jibe about to come her way.

"She did, but she isn't any good without me. She's a Plain Jane and she knows it." Patrick spat and Adela refused to even so much as flinch. But as he turned and stalked off, she felt the scalding hot tears start to well up in her eyes. It hurt because she'd trusted him and poured out all her emotions . Patrick had then turned around and spilled it all to others behind her back, but still pretended to be her 'protector'.  Adela took in a shaky breath and in a flurry of movement found her head being pressed into Ethan's chest.

"You're better than him, he's just an asshole Ms Lennek." He murmured into her hair and she sniffled slightly. She wasn't a pretty crier by any means so she was glad that she could hide her face in the front of his sky blue business shirt.

"But he was my..." She managed to get out that much at least before wiping at her eyes as he squeezed her shoulder gently. Adela looked up at him, his tanned fingers wiping away the tears and she hiccupped. Despite her appearance he gave her a gentle smile and she turned bright pink, looking down at his shirt almost immediately.

"We have a long way to go Ms Lennek...are you sure you want to do this?" He asked and she pressed one of her hands against his chest suddenly, looking up at him with some sort of long lost spark in her eyes.

"Is there any other way to become stronger in such a short amount of time?" She challenged and he found himself staring back into that spark, feeling like she had an endless store of whatever it was...locked somewhere deep down inside her.

"Not if you want to be able to show your sister exactly who she's messed with." She nodded and with a wide smile she stepped back, slipping out of his hold. He studied her for a moment before clearing his throat and pointing his thumb at his Audi.

"I better get going, good night Ms Lennek." As he turned, she took in a deep breath and reached forward to touch his arm. He turned back towards her and she pulled her hand back with a start.

"Thank you, and...c-call me Adela?" She added the last part as an afterthought and he gave her a heart warming smile before saluting her and turning away. Adela wouldn't have heard his response if it wasn't for the breeze that carried it straight to her ears. But she had to get into her car in order to fully process the words. He'd practically purred the words out and the breeze had only just  taken a smidgeon of the sex appeal off it.

"Call me Ethan." Oh she'd never been even remotely wanton in her thoughts before now...which frightened her because she had only met the man at lunch time! She sighed before turning the car on and driving home, picking up Domino as soon as she got in, thanking her neighbour only to be waved off with a plate of pasta.

"Don't worry, Zephyr loves Domino's visits. See you tomorrow!" Adela looked down at the pasta with a laugh and nodded, waving as Joan went back indoors and she smiled a bit. Domino was well trained for sure, after all...no dog is well behaved unless a lot of time, effort and love is poured into them. Domino focused on Adela most of the time, except for when she was at Joan's house.

With her plate of pasta in hand, she somehow managed to open the front doors and let Domino in. It's not that she ate anything she could see...it was just that occasionally some days she got home too late to make herself a substantial meal. She pressed the glowing red button on her ancient (but still convenient) answering machine that had been a moving in present from her grandmother before she'd passed away.

*beep* "Adela, it's your mother...I really do hope that you'll come to Emily's engagement. I know that they got engaged awefully quickly but it isn't that bad a match. Wear something pretty, it's got an Alice in Wonderland theme....the movie version apparently but I know you'll understand that Emmie's never read the book. Alright, almost out of time to leave a message! Uhm, I love you and I really do hope you''ll be there!" *beeeeeeeep*

Adela could only smile at her mother's tone in the message....she always meant well and cared a lot for her family. But her choice of husbands after Adela's father, had left a lot to be desired. Marcus Lennek had started a mining company and married Adela's mother, whom had been part of a long line of well off architects and lawyers. She'd been asked to design his house you see and she just....moved in after he asked her to marry. Those times had been good, that house had been filled with love and laughter.

This was especially true when Adela came along, she'd gotten along with 'Beast' their hulking....and slightly tattered tom cat with a missing eye and a stub of a tail. Although on more than one occasion he's sneakily slip into her bedroom and knead her blankets before curling up beside her. She'd always been very sure of herself as a child until her father passed away from cancer at the young age of 38, when her life had been thrown into turmoil. She looked down at a faded old picture of her mother, herself and her dad...Beast off in the background a little bit.

Nostalgia swept over her for a moment as she looked at their happy smiling faces, despite her father's lack of hair and the grey hollows under his eyes. He hadn't looked unhappy, no matter what happened in those last few days. But as she fed Domino, ate her pasta and got ready for bed...she couldn't help thinking over her past and her present. It scared her that she was already changing.