Page 37 of A Mistake of Identity
Ellis’ blank look made Jean’s brows furrow. “Like the one my mother had when she left my father. No waiting for courts or lawyers.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture that screamed old money. “All the mistresses in the NQ keep one. It’s just... smart.”
Understanding dawned in Jean’s eyes, his privileged background suddenly glaring. “Oh. You wouldn’t need to hide money, would you? You just kept what you earned?”
Ellis had spent everything he earned on essential, everyday things. There was rarely any left over to save.
Jean’s fingers fidgeted with his phone, his casual tone forced. “I put everything from Heart Court in an account nobody but me knows about. Set it up as soon as I could when I hit 18. No way I was letting daddy dearest see that money if he went looking.” The bitterness in his laugh betrayed the lightness he was trying for. “Guess some habits from home stick with you.”
Ellis felt something cold settle in his chest. “You think I’ll need to leave?”
Jean’s expression softened with something like pity. “They all leave eventually. Or make us leave. Rich men get... fixated. Obsessed. But it never lasts.” He picked at a loose thread on his sleeve, voice quieter. “I watched all three of my brothers do it. Alexandre was the worst—he’d bring these girls home, swear they were ‘the one,’ then two months later there’d be someone new. Marc and Philippe weren’t much better. They all ended up gone, one way or another. Even the ones my brothers swore they loved.”
Jean’s fingers tightened on the loose thread. “That’s why you need to be smart about it. Get what you can while hewants you. Money, clothes, connections. Whatever he’ll give you. Because once the shine wears off...” He trailed off, shrugging.
“What about you?” Ellis asked softly, remembering vaguely that Jean was here because of his family’s reputation. Something about a Swedish boarding school cover story.
Jean’s entire body went rigid, his fingers stilling on the phone screen. “I mean, I hope I don’t have to go home, but...” He let out a hollow laugh. “At least I’ve got a few months. Gabriel owns my contract now, after all. And he’s trying to protect his, and my, reputation by hiding it with Confluence Assets.”
Ellis slumped deeper into the couch. It explained so much—Gabriel’s instant obsession, the intensity of his possession. Maximilien’s dismissive treatment, like Ellis was just another pretty distraction that would eventually fade.
“Oh!” Jean’s voice suddenly brightened with forced cheer. “Sushi’s ordered! Should be here in thirty minutes. And don’t worry, oh, stalker mine. I ordered some for you, too.” Peter grunted in response. Ellis could see his tablet switching to views of the outdoor cameras.
Jean grabbed the remote, pulling up some action movie with explosions, clearly eager to change the subject. Things exploded in spectacular fashion on the screen, but he couldn’t focus on any of it. Ellis was too busy wondering how long he had before Gabriel’s fixation faded—before he became just another name on the long list of discarded lovers.
He pulled out his phone and found Lottie’s number from their chance meeting on the metro. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard before he typed:“Hey, it’s Ellis. From the metro the other day. Remember me?”
The response came almost immediately:“YESSS!! I was hoping you’d text! How are you??”
Taking a deep breath, Ellis began typing out everything—from that first night at Lumière when he’d mistaken Gabriel ashis client, through the growing intimacy and confusion, right up to today’s humiliation with Maximilien and conversation with Jean.
Lottie’s response took long enough for Ellis to watch three more explosion sequences on screen before his phone buzzed.
“Hate to say it, but your friend’s right. Always smart to prepare for the worst. BUT...”
Ellis frowned at the ellipsis until the next message appeared.
“I’ve never heard of ANY escort getting that kind of rescue before. And speaking of Heart Court... you know it’s gone, right? That lawyer of his, Rykov, went full scorched earth. Donovan’s in the wind.”
Ellis blinked in surprise. He hadn’t known.
“Caleb landed with us at Crown Club,” Lottie continued. “He’s doing good here. Aric’s showing him the ropes.”
Relief loosened something in Ellis’ chest. He and Caleb hadn’t been close, but they’d been friendly. Caleb had always been kind, and knowing he’d found a place at the union brothel where Lottie and Aric worked made Ellis feel better about everything falling apart at Heart Court.
“Look,”Lottie texted,“be smart about it. But also? WANT him to want you. Cautious but optimistic, yeah?”
“Thanks, Lottie,”Ellis responded, letting the phone drop to his lap. Cautious but optimistic. He could work with that.
Later that night, after Gabriel returned home and they’d fallen into bed together, they lay tangled in the sheets, Ellis’ skin still humming from orgasm.
“Is there anything I can do?” Gabriel murmured against his temple. “To make today up to you?”
Ellis almost said no reflexively, but stopped himself, remembering Jean and Lottie’s advice. “I... I used to swim.At the old YMCA near Heart Court. Had a scholarship membership.” He traced a pattern on Gabriel’s chest, not meeting his eyes. “I miss it.”
“Lafayette Square has an aquatics club three blocks away,” Gabriel said immediately. “Indoor and outdoor lap pools. They even have water polo. I’ll have your membership set up tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Ellis whispered, settling deeper into Gabriel’s embrace.
As he drifted toward sleep, Ellis held onto Lottie’s words. Cautious but optimistic. Even if this was temporary, even if it would eventually end... maybe he could let himself enjoy it while it lasted.
