Closing his eyes he debated doing what he was about to do. He should just talk to her about what she wanted, but he knew she would never be truly open with him about this subject. Isaac had promised him he would be the utmost of gentlemen.
Opening his eyes, Brad set the laptop up and made the account visible. Seconds later, he left the apartment.
He took his phone out of his pocket and made the call.
“Hello,” Isaac said as he answered the phone.
“Everything is set up. She may call today.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know what happens.”
They ended the call, and Brad made his way to Ben. He owned a club in the centre of city. It was the only place Brad could be near him without being thrown out. Ben was ten years older than he.
The club he owned catered during the day and night. He took a seat at the back of the bar and waited for the waitress to serve him some coffee. Brad couldn’t see Ben but he sat back and waited for him to show.
He saw Ben the moment he entered the bar. Ben was larger than most men and he looked like a bouncer rather than the owner. Brad felt his palms grow sweaty as the bartender pointed in his direction and Ben turned his blue eyes on him.
Brad sipped at his drink as Ben made his way over to him. His heart pounded inside his chest.
“What are you doing here?” Ben asked.
“I’m having a drink.” He felt so clumsy in front of this man. The memories he held of him were so few but he knew he’d f**ked up any chance at a relationship.
The addictions had begun in his teen years. He’d find the alcohol in his dad’s stash. The drinking helped ease the pain of his situation. The drugs were easy to come by. The school his parents sent him to could get anything. Then at the weekends he would use a fake identity to get into casinos. The lifestyle his mother wanted had brought him nothing but problems. They never took the time with him as they did with the other children they had together. In fact, they treated him as if he brought shame to the family, an outsider forever looking in on what he couldn’t have.
“You’re not supposed to be here. The drink is too much of a risk for you.”
“I’m drinking coffee. I’ve not touched a drop of alcohol in three years.”
“And the drugs?”
“Two years. I’m on the straight and narrow. I swear.”
Ben stared at him for several moments. He felt the stain of embarrassment blush his cheeks. The years of being on substances had made him forget what he’d done to this man. Ben wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t live life without knowing what he’d done and if there was some way for him to make amends.
“What did I do? Why do you hate me so much?” Brad asked.
“I haven’t got time for this, Brad. Finish your coffee and then leave. I’ve got a business to run.”
Brad watched him disappear through some double doors. His hands were shaking and he left his coffee unfinished. He took a couple of notes out of his wallet to pay for the coffee and to tip the waitress before he left.
Out on the street, Brad began to walk without looking where he was going. He needed to clear his head from the riot of thoughts running through his head.
****
Noelle pulled out of her trance just after lunch time. She ignored the phone as it rang. She had stuff that was far more important for her to do. Staring at herself in the portrait she left it to dry.
Opening the studio door she went to the phone and saw three messages waiting for her. She clicked the button for her to hear them.
“Hiya, honey. I know I keep calling, but your mum and I were wondering if you’d be able to make it down to us? It has been a couple years since we last saw you, and we don’t want to keep sending you cards. Call me. Dad.”
She deleted the message. Brad would force her to phone them if he knew they’d gotten in touch.
“Sorry, it’s me again. Please call. I know you don’t want to, but I want to hear your voice. I love you baby, and I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“You’re so sorry, but it doesn’t stop you having a f**king drink, you bastard.” She deleted the next few messages when she heard the voice of her dad. Feeling angry and hurt at the way he was trying to blame her, she went to the kitchen and pulled two brownies out of the batch she’d made the night before.
Her h*ps would be protesting at the added calories, but she didn’t care. Chocolate brownies were one of her few pleasures in the world. She moaned as the gooey chocolate coated her taste buds. The flavour was addictive. She took another brownie from the tub before grabbing herself a glass of milk.
She noted Brad’s laptop set up on the table. Frowning, she moved closer to see if he was waiting for anything. It was unlike him to leave it lying around. She sat down and began hunting around like she did last time. A page kept popping up which dominated the rest. The page was for the exclusive company of a male escort. There was no picture just some information about his service, payment details and a phone number. Staring at the screen for the longest time, she debated her options.
Option one, she could go to a bar and try and pick a drunken man up and hope he would treat her right. Option two, she could phone this guy, pay the money and try to experience something besides overall disgust. Moving away, she grabbed the phone.
Twice she phoned the number and put it down before it could ring. On the third time a man picked up, and terrified, she put the phone down. On the fourth ring, she let him pick up.
“Hello,” he said.
She didn’t have a clue as to what to say.
“Hello,” he said again.
From his voice alone she knew he was sexy.
“If this is a prank call....”
“No. It’s not. I’m so sorry. I’ve never done this before.” Noelle gasped and placed a hand in front of her mouth. She wished she could take the words back.
“Many people haven’t phoned this number. May I ask who is calling?” His voice dripped with charm.
Closing her eyes, her heart raced as her body became instantly alert to the man on the phone. Brad never made her feel this way.
“I don’t know why I was calling. It’s a stupid reason. I’m really sorry to bother you.”
“Tell me your name,” he said.
His voice demanded an answer.
“Noelle,” she found herself saying before she could hand up.
“Noelle. Pretty name. I take it you want to book an appointment to see me?”
Staring at the internet, she wondered what the hell she was doing.