Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
But what choice do I have? My cheeks flame and I raise my hands to cup them.
“So does he know I’m pregnant?” I ask again in a trembling voice. Elsa nods.
“Yes, he knows and he’s fine with it,” she says quietly before reaching to grab my hand. “I understand if you want to say no,” she says. “This is all a huge shock, and even I can’t believe that it’s come to this. You don’t have to say yes,” she states in a firm voice. “Again, we’ll find another place soon enough. We could even stay in a shelter for a while, just until we can get ourselves something new. You know that the shelters in New Jersey aren’t so bad, and I heard they opened a new one up in Paterson.”
I’m far too stunned to speak because this is such a crazy situation. My mom had been paying Mr. Richards with sex in exchange for lodging, and now she wants me to take her place? What a sick idea. Vomit rises up on the back of my throat.
“I–” I shake my head, cutting myself off with a sigh. “I just can’t, Mom. It’s too insane.”
Elsa nods, looking down at the bedspread.
“Of course not, Chelsea. I wouldn’t expect it of you because I know this has come out of the blue. I’ll ask Grandpa Heston if we can stay with him.”
I start because Elsa’s father used to beat Elsa and her sister. It’s part of the reason why my mother left home so young, and I know she hasn’t spoken with her dad in over twenty years.
“No, it’s fine,” I say in a firm voice. “Don’t call Grandpa Heston because he’s an asshole who doesn’t deserve any contact with his daughters. I’ll think some more on it,” I say tightly. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll be creative and get us out of this situation.”
“Of course, honey,” Elsa nods before slowly standing up with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry about this, Chelsea. You know I want what’s best for you and the baby… it’s just, I couldn’t anymore with the Lyme disease. It’s utterly debilitating, and it takes everything out of me just to keep a full-time job.” Then, with a small, sad smile, she shuffles over to the door before opening it to leave. “Goodnight, sweetheart. Try to get some sleep.”
“Okay,” I manage in a calm voice, even though I know I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight. “You too. Goodnight, Mom.”
After Elsa departs, I flop back against my pillows and stare up at the ceiling as my mind continues to race. What the hell was that? All I can think about is the horrible situation before us. Mr. Richards wants to sleep with me? Even more, he doesn’t care that I’m expecting?
Don’t even consider it, Chelsea, the angel on my shoulder warns. You stopped working as an escort because you’re pregnant. You’ve left that lifestyle behind.
But then the devil on my other shoulder also begins to whisper in my ear. Yes, but being an escort is perfect, the voice hisses sibilantly. You’ve done it before, so why not do it again? It’s for your child, after all.
Therein lies the rub, and I shiver slightly, even as my core heats. After all, I feel…dirty. Not because of what Mr. Richards is asking of me, but because of the fact that I don’t hate it. In fact, I’m a little excited if I’m being honest.
After all, I’ve seen pictures of the powerful CEO. Mason Richards is tall, dark, and handsome, and I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t imagined being with him in the past. In fact, it was always somewhat of a mystery why he’d want Elsa. Then again, my mom is pretty, even if at the moment, she’s thin and pale from disease. But how perverted is this situation? Mr. Richards wants to sleep with a mother-daughter duo? Does this man have any morals? Evidently not, and I’m the one who will be paying the price.
With a quiet sigh, I close my eyes and try to banish this twisted scenario out of my head, even though it’s utterly impossible. Dirty images flash through my mind as I think about all the things that I’d like Mr. Richards to do to me, and with another sigh, I turn over onto my side, my shoulders sagging a bit. I need to get this situation under control, and at the moment, it looks like there’s only one way out.
3
MASON
I pace my office like a caged lion while waiting for Chelsea to arrive. Word came from Elsa last night that her daughter was willing to speak with me, and now I’m acting like a breathless debutante. It’s unseemly. Me, Mason Richards, nervous about meeting a woman? I haven’t been so jumpy since I was in junior high, waiting for Linda Mae Adams to invite me to our middle school Sadie Hawkins dance.