Page 90 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
I shrug. “I got the job.”
“That’s great,” Zac says. “Congratulations.”
Ryan cheers. “Yeah, amazing. Well done.”
I smile on cue, my gaze dropping to the ground. “Um… I’m going to lie down.”
“You okay?” Zac asks.
From the corner of my eyes, I see Ryan step forward to follow me, but hesitates, reading my need for privacy. “We’re here if you want to talk, sis.”
Thankfully, Mina is out with Verena and Adrian today. I don’t think I can handle her positive attitude right now.
I draw all the curtains shut in my room and collapse into bed. Unable to stop myself, I replay Daxton’s voicemails.
“I know I fucked up and I’m so sorry, but it was real between us, Jordan. You know it was.”
My bottom lip trembles as I think back to my time with Daxton. All the late-night phone conversations we had. The laughter. That day in The Hamptons where we trusted each other with difficult moments from our pasts. The way he held me in the shower that first night we slept together; he had this look in his eyes that made me feel so safe and secure in what we shared.
It was real between us, Jordan. You know it was.
I stop hiding behind anger and sadness for a moment and accept the truth. The level of intimacy we shared can’t be faked. I know what Daxton and I had together was real, but that doesn’t change that he was lying. He lied to me when he knew how damaged I am from all my parents’ lies.
“I’ll give you all the space you need from me. But I’m not giving up on us. We belong together—”
The voice message cuts short when an incoming call appears on my screen. It’s from a no caller ID, and I answer in case one of my job offers is trying to contact me.
“Hello?”
“Delphine, it’s lovely to speak with you again,” a deep yet friendly voice greets me. “This is Tom Sanders calling.”
My brain takes a long moment to compute that Tom could sound so welcoming.
“I’ll get to the point,” he says at my prolonged silence. “I’ve heard you and Daxton broke up, which I assume means there’s no harm in asking you to dinner.”
“I’m not escorting anymore. Goodbye—”
“Wait. You misunderstood me. I wasn’t asking to hire you.”
My face screws up into a ball of confusion. “You want to go on a real date? I’m not interested.”
He laughs, the sound light and warm. “I’m not making myself clear. Word spreads around Manhattan fast and I hear you’re the latest talk of the town. Everyone wants you dancing at their club. Rightfully so. You know I’ve always thought you are exquisite. I’d like you to reconsider my offer. Dance at my club.”
“I have no interest in stripping.”
That same friendly laugh comes from Tom’s end of the phone. “I know. I’m referring to a different club. This is a new business venture of mine and I believe the dancing will be more in line with your tastes. It’s cabaret. Patrons dine as they are entertained by the show on stage. I want you to be a lead act. The club opens within two months but I’m more than willing to pay you in advance if it means securing you. This wouldn’t be a freelance role. You’d have the security of a full-time income. Delphine, you really are magnificent and I want you on my stage.”
I sit up in bed, even more startled than when I answered the phone. “Wow. Um… I’m a little caught off guard. This is…” Amazing. Better than what The Black Flamingo offered me today.
But wariness sinks in. I’ve never liked Tom. Daxton made it clear Tom isn’t a good man. Along with those issues, Tom’s offer seems too good to be true. I’ve dealt with so much disappointment in this industry. Chances are this opportunity will be a dead end too.
But… a job is a job and if this one works out it could be life changing. There’s no harm in hearing what Tom has to say. As for not liking the guy, once the club is up and running, I’m sure Tom will be occupied with his next business venture and the two of us will rarely cross paths. Daxton wouldn’t approve of me working for Tom. But I’m not with Daxton anymore so his approval doesn’t matter. If Tom has a good offer, I won’t let Daxton’s personal issues with him stand in my way.
“You said you’d like to have dinner?”
“Yes,” Tom says. “To discuss this in more detail. I’m having dinner and drinks with my business partners tomorrow night. I’d like you to attend with me so I can introduce you to them and show them my vision of you on our stage.”
And there’s the catch. Tom still needs to convince his business partners that I’m the right lead dancer for this club.
