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The car’s brakes squeaked a fraction as we rounded the entrance to the hotel lobby Seconds later, Arht away, Greyson snatched the sarabbed moments earlier Part of ht better of it I chose the latter and diduntil, at last, we rounded a corner to the right of the lobby After he stopped, Greyson grabbed me by both shoulders and spun me around to face him

“I’ll give you one chance, Maddie,” he began “Lethad better not end with deception on your part or it will be the end of our ti enterprise as well That much I promise you”

Flustered, I fired back “Greyson, I don’t knohat you want froht with my ex”

“I want the truth, Maddie Stop Fucking Lying to me”

I leaned away frolint as he stared intofar worse — found out I hated lying to him but what choice did I have?

“Grey…” I started, but right away he interrupted me

“Maddie, so help me to Christ, the next words that come out of your mouth better be the truth Got me?”

I nodded, feeling stupid and insulted at the saer If I expected to work for this man even for one more minute, I had to tell him

I looked down at the pave his eyes, I exhaled and said, “This seems so stupid now, I…”

“Out with it, Maddie You’ve got fifteen seconds or I walk back in that hotel and out of your life for good”

Without wasting a second, I blurted out my reply

“Greyson, I need to knohat you want me to do about an escort for you the rest of the time you are here I know that in the limo earlier today, you said you wanted me to accompany you but…”

Greyson leaned back, let out a deep belly laugh and clapped his hands together in front of his face

“Seriously? That’s what this is all about?”

“What?” I said as I drew h, at least it hadhe had no intention of relieving me of my discomfort, I continued “Well, it’s just that you haven’t exactly been thrilled with anything I’ve planned for you so far None of the activities, Lynne the escort and well, pretty much all of it”

If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn he wiped tears froain

“Okay, okay, so…” he began in between breaths “I’s you mentioned So what? What’s your point?”

“Well, all of ‘those things’ aren’t free, Greyson They cost et back simply because you decide you aren’t interested”

As his amusement slowed, he paused and asked, “So this is my fault? The fact that you can’t run your business You’re bla that on me?”

“What? No And I can too runclient as my first customer!”

“Glad you noticed” He smirked

“Hah, hah No what I’ to you is that you can’t expectout of it”

“Ohhh, okay, all right I see now” He leaned away froer, he pointed back at me “So you’d like to receive payment for your escort services Correct?”

The question slash accusation caused a lump to form in my throat As best I could, I tried to s it doith a subtle, s a strand of hair behind my ear, I cleared my airway

“Yes I do Ias you think it’s fair What do you think is reasonable?”

Clearly enjoying the turn of events, Greyson leaned back against a nearby wall Slipping his hand into his pants pocket he nodded in my direction

“Depends,” he said

“On what?”

“On what your escort service involves You know, the value proposition Why should I buy from you?”

“What do you mean?”

Greyson shook his head