Page 20 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
I grab my belongings and head out the front door. There’s no time to dwell on my conversation with Delphine, but even as I make a mad rush for the car, something about her apartment fire plays on my mind.
ChapterNine
Daxton
After the long flight back to LA, then being stuck in traffic on my drive home to Malibu, I finally step through my front door at midnight, exhausted. I climb two flights of stairs for my bedroom and strip down to my briefs, then open the glass sliding doors to my beachfront balcony. After one deep inhale of the salty sea breeze, I switch the lights off and slip into bed. But sleep doesn’t find me. Normally, the sound of the ocean helps me relax. Tonight, I can’t stop tossing and turning.
Something about these apartment fires still pesters me. It seems a massive coincidence that two women I know have a fire destroy their home on the same night, in the same city.
Maybe it’s not a coincidence at all…
I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling as my mind wanders. Could Jordan and Delphine live in the same building?
What if the connection between the two women is even closer? Could they…
No.
They can’t possibly be the same person. A laugh finds its way out of my throat at the concept. Aridiculousconcept.
But the possibility lingers in my mind, and the smile slowly fades from my lips. The more I think about it, the less ridiculous the idea becomes. Now that I draw a comparison, therearesimilarities between the two women. Alotof similarities.
My heart rate picks up and my entire body tenses. Jordan told me she moved from Australia to New York City to pursue her dreams of dancing. I always thought that meant dancing on Broadway. Why else would a dancer come to New York? Fuck, was I wrong?
Based on Delphine’s accent, I assumed she was from London. I’m no expert on accents, though.
I’ve never asked Delphine her age, but she looks to be the same age as Jordan. Twenty-five.
Jordan told me she went on a date last night but that she didn’t like the guy and wouldn’t explain the details because they were embarrassing. That scenario fits Delphine’s escorting perfectly.
WasIthe guy Jordan went on a date with?
The guy she doesn’t like.
Fuck.
Adding to all those similarities, I even had thoughts earlier in the day of how Delphine matches Jordan’s physical description.
I press my hands to my forehead, panicked and also wondering if I’m going mad. But now that this idea of Jordan and Delphine being the same person has entered my mind, I can’t let it go. Ineedto find out the truth. The only question is how. Asking Jordan outright if she is Delphine could be a disaster. Delphinehatesme.
Which meansJordanwill hate me.
I could lose Jordan. She’s been adamant not to meet me, Steel, because she’s afraid we’ll ruin our connection. And she’s right. I’ll be lucky if she ever talks to me again, all because of whatever Delphine holds against me.
My phone vibrates on my bedside table, the screen glowing in the dark room and interrupting my spiraling thoughts.
Delphine
Hey, I want to buy some dance equipment and feel weird using your money since this equipment isn’t a necessity. Just wondering when I can expect to receive my first payment.
I type back a quick message, telling Delphine to save her money and use my card. But a thought comes to mind before I hit send.
Delphine Fox is a stage name.
I asked for her real name on our first date. She told me she prefers not to share her real name because Delphine Fox offers a layer of protection in her dancing career and that she’d like to carry that protection into escorting. I respected her wishes and paid her in cash for every date. But now… this is my way of knowing if she is Jordan.
Daxton
I’m about to transfer the 10K to you. No more cash transactions with this sum of money. What are your bank account details?
