Page 26 of The Billionaire and I

Audrey looked confused. “Don’t you?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I like hiswallet. I like his thick cock. I like his box seats. I like batting him around like a cat toy.”

“You don’t likehim?”

“Oh yeah—I like him, all right. Who the fuck wouldn’t? He’s wicked hot, and he’s a billionaire! But he’s aJohn, Dre. He’s paying for me to do whatever he wants. And he wants to do lots of things, let me tell you. He’s nasty, and I like it.

“But just because I’m enjoying myself doesn’t make it any less of a job,” I said. “Or any more than a job. I mean—oh, you know what I mean.” Talking to Audrey made it crystal clear: Cole Bryson was a job—one that I enjoyed—but nothing more.

Audrey nodded at me. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“Enough about me. I can take care of myself.” I looked at Audrey. “How’s it going with Mr. Sex in a Suit?”

“Great,” she said, but it sounded like a lie.

“Hedidfuck you, right? I saw you two out there.”

“He fucked me,” she said, sounding miserable. “We fucked.”

“Was it that bad?” She looked so upset I squeezed her hand. “Dre, are you going to cry or something?”

“No,” she said, but her eyes were totally filling with tears. She blotted them carefully. “Jenny, I can’t cry. His whole family is out there. And they can’t know how we know each other, either.”

“Okay,” I said, my professional training kicking in. “We can handle that. I’ve had to lie to so many wives and girlfriends that the lies just spring out, Dre. And they’re usually pretty good. Don’t worry about that part. But wedoneed to worry about those tears. Tell me what’s going on.”

Audrey shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t talk about it.”

“He hit you or something?” I cracked my knuckles, preparing to go and fight James Preston. “Is he some kind of freak?”

“Nope,” she said.

I immediately believed her. But there was still some problem… If James wasn’t abusing her, and they’d been havinggreat sex, the issue was that she probablylikedhim. Elena warned us all the time that getting emotionally involved with your client was dangerous. It could only lead to heartbreak.

“You cross some kind of line with yourself?” I asked.

Audrey sniffled. “Something like that.”

“S’okay, Dre. That happens to everybody.” I hugged her. “The thing is, nobody knows what those lines are but you. That’s why it’s awesome that feelings and thoughts areinvisible. They’re like magic. Nobody knows the truth but you, okay? You’re safe.”

“Okay.” But she sniffled some more.

“So you do what you think is right,” I told her. “And remember, if it gets too bad, just close your eyes.”

“’Cause then it’s like it never happened.” Audrey nodded. “Jenny, I probably haven’t told you this lately, but you’re smart.”

“I know,” I said. “It’s my secret weapon.” I gave my friend a long look. “And Dre—just because it’s not gonna happen for me, doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen for you.”

“What?” she asked.

“You know.” Audrey should be the exception to the “no emotional attachment” rule. She was a good girl, and she was good enough for anybody—including a proper billionaire like James Preston.

She shrugged. “Jenny, it’snotgonna happen for me.”

I shook my head and pointed at myself. “No billionaire’s gonna buyme. ’Cause I’m a whore, Dre, and I don't even feel bad about it. But you’re different. You're doing this to take care of your brother. You’re actually a good girl. Mr. Suit knows that. I can tell.”

“He’s not going to buy me,” she said.

“He might.” I grinned at her. “Crazier shit’s happened, that’s for sure.”

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