Page 16 of Mayfair Madame
Either way, she needed to accept my decision.
“Yes.” She finally stood. “I guess that’s it. We shouldn’t need to bother you again, Miss Reeves. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
Even the other detective looked shocked as she strode towards the door.
“Thank you for your time today, and if you should change your mind, here’s my card. Call me, and we’ll do what we can.”
After they left, I went to search out Melinda.
“You heard?”
“I did. You’re doing the right thing, Naomi. Protect the business. There are many people who rely on you, and if you end up prosecuted or, heaven forbid, end up in jail, it could spell disaster.”
“I know. I just pray to God that Rupert comes through. Ellie thinks I’m letting him get away with it.”
“Oh, it’s Ellie now, is it? I thought she was Detective Sharpe?” She looked amused. “And you know Rupert will keep his word. He’d never steer you wrong, Naomi.”
She was right, of course. He’d been such a great help to me. How could I ever repay him?
Except I knew he’d accept nothing as payment. He’d insisted many times that I’d given him everything he’d ever wanted.
“Does anyone else know what happened?” I didn’t want any of the others to be concerned.
“No, but Oscar is coming by soon. You’ll have to break the news to him about the dress. Someone’s not going to be happy.”
“About me or the dress?”
“Both. Don’t sell yourself short. In the meantime, let’s go over the bookings for the coming week.”
The business, Mayfair Connections, was an online business. No phone or in person bookings. Clients were vetted and expected to pay upfront for their favourite guy or girl.
We had a portfolio of around twenty to twenty-five escorts, depending on the time of year. Most had been with me from the start. Some were gay, lesbian; others were bisexual or straight, but all of them were valued members of the team.
Melinda followed me upstairs to the office. Instead of sitting at the desk, we sat on the window seat, overlooking London. It was a view I’d never tire of, and I was more than happy to have moved here five years ago.
“Okay.” She flicked through her tablet. “We have five bookings for this evening, four for tomorrow, and six on Wednesday.”
“That’s down from last week.”
“It is, but we’re entering the holiday season. A few of our regular clients are jetting off to the south of France for the summer. Some are sailing over to the Caribbean, and others farther afield. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”
“I want you to remove Clement from the books. If he can’t tell the truth about what happened, he’s no longer welcome as a client. Drop him an email telling him he can no longer use our services. What’s he gonna do? Bleat like the fucking goat he is?”
“He only ever wanted you, anyway.”
“That’s because I’m an elegant, classy lady, don’t you know?”
“Damn right, girl.” We high-fived and laughed.
Melinda knew most of my background. I hadn’t always been classy. I’d worked fucking hard to get where I was. Much of it was thanks to Rupert.
“You know what we haven’t done in an absolute age.” I thought out loud. “We haven’t been out for a night out. It’s been too long. I’ve been working, and you’ve been busy. With things slowing down a little, we should go out. Have some fun. What do you say?”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lip. “I rarely like to go out.”
Not since that bitch had hurt her, but I would not take no for an answer. It was about time she forgot what her ex had done and started living again. Maybe we could invite Felicity? The gears in my mind turned, forming a plan.
“It’ll be fun. We can ask Oscar. I’m sure Guy will come too. We could eat at Lorenzo’s first, then hit Sam’s bar. We could celebrate my birthday early. Now, how can you say no?”
