Page 11 of Violent Hearts

But that woman confuses me. On one hand, she's been trying to keep my expectations low, telling me that I shouldn't expect to hear from any client in the near future because I have "so little to offer", but then she starts asking for reassurance from me over and over again before finally letting me sign the agreement. Why was she being so cautious when she didn't even expect any of her clients to show any interest in me?

Now I know why.

It’s only been two days since I visited the agency when I startle at my desk from an unexpected phone call. Just like always, Brandon's piercing blue eyes dart right through me from across the desk, warning me not to speak for too long or raise my voice. I glare back at him as I answer the call without first checking the caller ID display.

"Porter," I say, partly distracted by Brandon's hateful glance.

"Ann, this is Belinda," an incisive female voice greets me from the other end.

Belinda? It takes me a few moments to realize who I'm talking to.

"Oh, Miss Barry, hello!"

"You sound surprised," she says. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, not at all," I hurry to reply. "I'm just... yeah, I am surprised. Is there something you wanted to add to our interview?"

Belinda Barry chuckles, making me feel somewhat dumb for assuming she'd call about the interview.

"No, dear. I've said everything I wanted to say. I'm actually calling to let you know that one of our clients is interested in you."

"What?" I blurt out. "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously," she retorts, a hint of annoyance lacing her words. "He wants to meet you in person, as soon as possible."

I inhale audibly and my cheeks start burning up instantly. My eyes scurry rapidly around the room to see if anyone is listening in, but even Brandon is seemingly not paying attention to me at the moment. Yet, I feel like I've been found out. As if the whole office suddenly knows about me signing up to be an escort.

Is that what I did? Will I turn into a high-priced call girl if I agree to meet up with this man?

"You said you wanted to do this," Miss Barry reminds me. "And you said you'd be happy to hear from someone promptly. Was I mistaken?"

"Yes, I said I was, but still..."

"He's willing to pay more than your asking price," she cuts me off.

I gasp in shock. How is this possible? She told me I shouldn't expect anyone to be willing to pay the price I was asking - and now this?

"Don't tell me you're not interested," Miss Barry adds in a seductive tone.

I clear my throat and try to calm myself. What now? This is all so weird to me, so unfamiliar. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, or say.

"I... I don't know. How... would this work?"

"I'll send you an e-mail with some information, laying out the client's demands and expectations," Miss Barry explains. "You should know about the basics before you agree to meet with him. He's a very... interesting man."

"Interesting?" I ask. "How so?"

"You'll see."

And with that, she hangs up, leaving me confused and my heart racing. I stare at the phone in my hand, listening to the dial tone and trying to convince myself that this phone call only happened in my head, especially with regard to Miss Barry's mysterious way of ending the conversation.

But it’s not a dream. It really did happen, and the proof pops up in my e-mail inbox a moment later.

---