Page 68 of Beneath the Blue Moon
When I climb in next to her, she turns to me.
“Then who are you?I mean, the house, the dress, thejewelry, the car… and Clara, which you didnothave to do and willnotdo again.”
“You know who I am.You just don’t know the balance on mybank account.”
“So, you’re one of those trust fund babies… or a stockmarket whiz… or are you from old money?”
“A little bit of all three I guess.”
Which isn’t a lie.Being around for more than a century,technically my moneyisold.I did get an inheritance from my parents,and I was able to get in on some lucrative investments from their beginningstages.
“What are we talking about here, millions?”
With a sigh, I look out the window.“Not exactly.”
“More?”she shrieks.
“Is it important?”
“No.No, it’s not.”
She goes quiet and turns to stare out the windowreflectively.I wonder what she’s thinking.I hope she doesn’t think I wasdeliberately keeping this from her, but I don’t see the need to go aroundflashing my financial status.I leave her to her thoughts until we pull up tothe hotel.
“Nothing’s changed, Casey.”
She looks over at me and gives me a smile that doesn’t quitereach her eyes.
“I know.”
The valet opens her door and she steps out before I can sayanything else.By the time I get to her, people have already begun to convergeon us.I place my hand at the small of her back and she cringes at my touch.
Fuck.
***Casey***
A rich man’s plaything, that’s what you are—a shiny, newtoy he’ll be bored with soon.What could he ever see in you, other thana few good romps?And now, here comes the payment.I guess I should haveknown after seeing his house.And the Conti… I mean, who keeps a $3,000 bottleof wine just lying around the house?Now the phone doesn’t seem like a big dealafter all.“If this is about money, I can give you money.”I guess the signswere all there, but I was too blind to see them.How come nobody told me he wasBill fuckin’ Gates?
Take it slow.I guess that’s what he tells all the girls.Idon’t understand.I offered myself freely, no strings; why did he still feel heneeded to lie?
Taking my hand away from the necklace, I fix a smile on myface as people begin to surround us.There’s a flurry of faces as he introducesme to people I’ll probably never see again, even a mayor.I say “thank you” forall the compliments, smile, pose for pictures, and play the dutiful companion.After all, it’s what I’m being paid for, right?On our way to the ballroom, hepulls me aside and forces me against a column.
“What’s going on?”he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Casey, I don’t want you to think of this as less than whatit is.”I meet his gaze and desperate eyes search my face.“I care for you… deeply.”
“You do?”
“Of course.Haven’t I made that clear?”
“I just feel like… Were you testing me or something?”
“Absolutely not.I just wanted tonight to be special for you.”
“Why did you hide it?”
“I didn’t.”
