Page 2 of Enslaved

Anger roiled through Court. He despised Heath, but it wasn’t even that. Court wasn’t a whore, nor was he cattle. No one got to choose to sell him. He chose his clients. “And again, it doesn’t work like that. My contracts are a mutual agreement. I didn’t agree to this.” He made sure to focus on Heath, so the guy knew he wasn’t wanted.

Oddly, he didn’t look as arrogant as Court would have thought. “I’ll have my attorney take a look at things tomorrow, since I know nothing about the specifics of your contract. If everything is in order, and it turns out this deal is good, then we can negotiate you breaking it. If not.” He looked Wayne’s way. His tone didn’t change, but his gray eyes looked hard and unforgiving. Court wasn’t looking at the carefree daddy’s boy he knew Heath to be. “I’ll expect a deposit of one hundred fifty thousand dollars in my account by the end of day Monday.”

Court’s gaze bounced to Wayne.

Wayne didn’t look concerned. “The deal is good. I pulled myself up from nothing, Heath. I’ve never signed a contract in my life without reading every single word and understanding every loophole. This’ll stand.”

Court’s stomach sank a little lower by the second. How had this happened? Fuck this noise.

Court squared his shoulders and shoved his drink Wayne’s way, splashing it onto his clothes. “Since there seem to be a lot of different opinions here, I’ll just go. You two can duke it out.” He focused on Heath. The rage he felt bled into words. “And for the record, I’m not just some whore to be passed around. I am a legitimate andlegalbusiness. If that’s not clear enough for you, I don’t have sex for money. So you can wipe whatever smug thoughts are going through your head off your brain because I’m not the one.” Court walked away before things came to blows. He would be damned if his professional appearance was damaged by this absolute bullshit. Court had known better than to sign with Wayne for three months. That was much longer than he usually gave anyone exclusively. In fact, he had heard rumors of Wayne’s business going under. Court had half expected the guy’s check to bounce. Otherwise, he had seemed nice enough. The month they had spent together wasn’t so bad. Wayne either understood sex was off the table or had been biding his time, because he hadn’t once pushed. Court had been looking forward to a fairly quiet few months. Now he would have to pay a goddamn attorney to protect him from Heath. Heath. Fucking Heath Overton, of all people. Why did he even want Court?

Court collided with someone on his way out the door. Strong hands reached out to steady him. Court focused on a set of sweet and familiar light blue eyes.

“Court. Hey. Is everything okay?”

He almost cried at the sight of Portland. He was a longtime customer. Court also considered him a friend. He opened his mouth to say whatever it took to get out of there as quickly as possible. “No. Not really.” His mind cleared a hair. He didn’t have a way home. Since Wayne had driven, Court would have to find a cab. Fuck. He just wanted out.

Portland scanned the room, as if looking for someone before focusing on Court again. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Court nearly dropped to the floor in relief. “Please?”

With a nod, Portland had him by the arm and through the door in no time. He handed the valet his ticket before focusing on Court again. “We’ll probably be waiting a minute. Tell me what’s going on.”

Court scrubbed at his forehead. He had never felt more humiliated. That wasn’t true, but still. He hated this. Court just blurted it out. “Wayne sold me to Heath Overton.”

Portland’s eyebrows shot up. “He sold you?”

Court made a helpless gesture. “I walked away for like half a minute to grab a drink, and the next thing I know, boom. Wayne says I belong to Heath.”

“There’s no way that’s legal.”

The incredulous note to Portland’s voice eased Court’s shoulders a hair. He made a helpless gesture. “I don’t know. Obviously, this isn’t a situation I thought I’d ever find myself in, so who knows? I’m not a lawyer.”

Portland’s features cleared. He waved away Court’s concerns. “There’s nothing that can’t be undone. If push comes to shove, I’ll simply buy out the remainder of your contract.”

While the air lightened some, the guilt was heavy, though. “I can’t ask that of you. With Wayne, I intentionally set my price higher, hoping he would decline. It’s a lot.”

“How much is a lot?”

Court winced. “A hundred and fifty thousand for the remaining two months.”

Not a muscle in Portland’s face twitched. “That’s nothing. I’ve got you.”

Court wanted to cry. Only someone born to wealth would think that much money was nothing. While Portland worked hard to become the CEO of the largest bank on the east coast, it was anexpensive education paid for by a disgustingly rich family that got him there. That made it twice as hard for Court’s pride to admit the truth.

“Please don’t. I can’t afford to pay you back.”

Portland closed the distance between them and set his hands on Court’s shoulders. He was older than Court and better in every way. His salt and pepper hair looked purposefully done. Money did that. “If it comes to me paying your way out of this, then you can just be with me for two months. We always have a good time, and I don’t care what people think.”

Court knew that. That was why he had stopped charging Portland a long time ago. If he was free for the night and Portland needed him, Court was there. “Thank you for this. You have no idea how badly I don’t want to be stuck with Heath.”

Portland laughed as his Phantom rolled to a stop beside them. “Now that, I don’t understand. He’s quite the catch, but I can see you’re serious.” He led Court to the passenger seat as the valet opened the door for him. Portland helped him inside. “And I fully expect you to tell me why you’re so against him as soon as we’re on the road.”

The valet closed the door, and Court fought a groan. He never wanted to talk about Heath and the night that obviously didn’t happen between them.

Chapter Two

The doorbell rang repeatedly,dragging Court from the couch. He had only been awake for an hour and hadn’t even had his coffee yet. His mind had been too busy. Court didn’t know why he wasn’t surprised to see Heath’s stupid smiling face on his stoop, but deep down, he had known Heath would show.

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