Page 27 of Chase

She pauses as she listens to the person on the other side of that phone call. I should move away and let her have some degree of privacy, but there are a lot of gaps in my knowledge about adult Izzy. For this to work, I need to get to know her. The real her. Her reluctance to portray her true self is going to make that an extremely difficult challenge.

“That’s what I’m here for…I can try and make you feel better…” She giggles, sounding too over-friendly for my liking. “Would you like to meet somewhere public first? So we can get to know one another better?”

I want to walk in and demand she tell me what the hell she’s talking about and who to, but I know she isn’t finished yet.

“I’ll send you my addy and when I know of somewhere we can talk privately, I’ll text you… Sure… This is entirely confidential; you have my word… No, I’m sure she wouldn’t like that, but she won’t hear anything from me.Youare my client, and you can trust me, I promise.”

I frown as this may hint as to what she actually does for a living, but I am still clueless. For all I know, she might well be some sort of escort.

“Brill, speak soon, bye.”

I wait for a minute or two before entering the room. When I do, she is grinning at her phone while tapping something into it. I sit in the armchair, becoming frustrated by her continuing to ignore my very existence. In the end, I cough purposefully and loudly to clear my throat, then stare at her until I get her attention.

“Sorry, business,” she says, teasing me by waggling her eyebrows suggestively. She then tucks her phone away in her back pocket. “So, I’m going to head out and get my stuff.”

“We can go in my car, just give me two minutes while I get a few things,” I reply at the same time as I get up to retrieve my wallet and phone. “Where abouts are you in London? It’s Sunday, so we should be ok traffic-wise.”

“It’s ok, I’m happy to go by myself. In fact, I’d prefer it that way,” she says, walking past me, so I grab her arm and pull her back to face me. “Will you pack that in, Theo! I am not some dog you can pull about on a lead.”

“I know that but if this is going to work, you need to stop shutting me out,” I try to say soothingly as I relinquish my hold onher arm. “I said I would help, and I will.”

“Oh, that’s rich,” she laughs, almost hysterically. “Come if you really want to, Theo, but don’t for one minute think this makes us anything other than distant family.”

“Why are you so mad with me?” I throw my hands up in the air, completely exasperated by her attitude. If anything,Ishould be the one givingherhell.

“I’m mad at everyone, even Nonna,” she says, looking as close to genuine as I’ve seen her so far. She then sighs before heading for the door. “So, don’t you worry your pretty rich head aboutit.”

Chapter 10

Izzy

“My God, youlivehere?” Theo gasps as he looks around with horror written all over his face.

My tiny one-bedroom apartment isn’t exactly homey, especially with its black mold running down the walls, the smell of mildew in the air, and ancient décor, but it is clean and organized. I don’t live like a slob; never have, never will.

“London rates are expensive, and a prostitute’s wage doesn’t stretch very far,” I mutter while gathering up essential items to get me through the next six months. I don’t have many possessions so it shouldn’t take me long to collect them all.

“Hmm,” he says as he walks around, still looking ridiculously horrified.The poor little rich boy.

Truth be told, I’m not here very much, I stay over at my office most of the time. It’s where most of my money goes and is a lot more comfortable than this place.

“By the way, I’m organizing a get-together at our new temporary home this weekend.” He rubs something between hisfinger and thumb, only to then wipe it clean on a tea towel with a scowl on his face. “Just your family and mine.”

“Why the fuckity-fuck-fuck would you do that?” I ask without emotion as I continue to pack shopping bags with various clothes and personal effects. “I hate my family, and… Well, I guess your parents are ok, butIdon’t need to see them.”

“Is that how you feel about everyone, Izzy?” He leans back against my kitchen counter all the while I move from room to room, purposefully trying to ignore his judgmental glaring. “You don’t seem to make relationships with anyone.”

“I find it less disappointing that way,” I reply before grinning in his direction, getting ready to wind him up a little more. “Well, apart from my clients of course. I give them all of me.”

“Yourclients?” he asks, his voice dripping with condescension over my need to try and shock people. “Anyway, to answer your earlier question, I’ve arranged it so we can announce our engagement. We may as well show Grandma we are taking her deal seriously,” he continues, sounding matter of fact about it all. When I give no reaction, he sighs before following me into the bathroom, looking extremely agitated. “But don’t worry, Izzy, after six months we can go back to not knowing each other again.”

“Oh, goody,” I reply with my mask on, still showing no feeling whatsoever. “Right, well, I’m done, so shall we?”

He merely nods with an irritated expression on his handsome chops before we finally vacate the apartment. If he looked at me from the inside, it would be a horror story; best to let him only see the tragic comedy on the outside. It’s easier and safer for both of us.

_____

Izzy

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