Page 20 of Judge Me Not

Her hazel eyes are etched in my mind. She's trying to be brave about something, I could see it. Pain and fear were swirling in them. But there was also courage. The way she negotiated surprised me. I'm not sure what I expected. But she held her ground and didn't back down from me. It made me respect her more.

I call my attorney. He answers after two rings. "Colton. What can I do for you?"

"Charles, I need a contract drafted tonight."

"For what?"

What do I call it? I don't engage much at the club. Most men have their favorites but will sample the other women from time to time. I don't have any interest in lap dances, stripteases, or paying a woman for sex. Sure, the women are all beautiful, but I don't have the needs the other men do.

Until she walked into the bar.Suddenly, the things I had no interest in, I want her to do for me.

My membership is for business purposes. When you mix sin and money, you find out a lot about a man's weaknesses. My suite is to entertain businessmen who are visiting from out of town. Otherwise, I don't come inside it. I stay in the bar. Not many men use it. Mostly they bypass it, going directly to where the women are.

The quiet, dark atmosphere of the bar is calming to me. Tim, the bartender, knows exactly how I prefer my scotch. I avoid the hassle of crowded bars and everything else that goes with the hustle and bustle of New York—especially during Christmas.

I don't fault anyone for loving it. I did a long time ago. But I'd prefer to skip it altogether. I breathe a sigh of relief every year when life resumes to normal and New York City goes back to its usual unjolly ways.

Star is the only dancer who ever comes into the bar. And only when she is meeting a new woman she's recruiting.

I usually don't talk to the new girls. They are all here for the money. I don't know their reasons or want to. But I also don't judge them. Money makes the world go round. I learned it early on in life. And I know what it's like to have nothing and feel desperate to solve your problems.

The men who are members have more wealth than they know what to do with. The women hold all the power in their negotiations. And the club rules are strict. If a woman says no, it's no. There's nothing any member can do to change her mind besides offer her a better deal and try to persuade her. So in my eyes, it's a better situation for these women than what they could resort to.

Why is she here?

What is her problem she needs to solve with the money?

What is she looking for in the insurance policy?

How did Star find her?

My obsession takes hold. I take a large mouthful of scotch and enjoy the burn down my throat. "An exclusivity contract."

"Oh?" Charles asks.

"You could call it a severance package after the exclusivity ends."

"How long is the exclusivity period?"

"Until I say."

"Until you say?" he repeats in confusion.

"Yes."

He lets out a big breath of air. "And the length of the severance?"

"Twenty years, ten thousand a month, complete with full benefits."

Charles clears his throat. "This sounds extreme."

"I don't care. Get it done."

"What are the duties?"

I can't tell Charles to put in writing what she's going to do for me.

"Personal assistant."

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