Page 9 of Miss Trust

Tory

Istood there, Chance’s expensive embossed business card in my hand. Finally, I flipped it over and shook my head at the perfect numbers he’d printed uniformly and straight on the back.

He was wrong. Pride wasn’t ruling my decisions. It was fear. Fear of a man in power. Fear of a man who’d expect something in return for what he was offering me.

Acid crawled up my throat as the memory slammed into me. I’d been fifteen years old and living in a trailer park with my crack-addict mom and younger sister, Teagan. I’d grown up quickly since my mother had been both irresponsible and unreliable. It had been my job to protect Teagan, who’d been eleven at the time. I’d thought I was smart. Too smart to let a man deceive me, much less one of my mother’s useless boyfriends.

It started off small. A few groceries he’d bring over to the house. A pizza ordered in. Then he’d bought my sister and me backpacks for school. He got a television for the house. I’d believed my mom had finally found someone who could help her out of her sad addict life. Better than that, I thought we’d found a father figure, someone actually willing to take care of us. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I pushed aside the memory and focused instead on the card in my hand. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was a grown woman. A woman who had a golden ticket to Children’s Hospital if I could just trust it was real.

“Who was that man, Mommy?” Penny inquired again as I shut the door and double locked it.

“He’s someone from work. You hungry?” I needed to change the subject and get her fed.

While Penelope ate breakfast, I texted my sister. Dubai was eleven hours ahead of LA, and she should have been off work by now.

Her call came in a couple minutes later. “Hey,” she greeted, but with a hesitancy I noticed.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

She sighed audibly. “Are you talking about Reid’s brother?”

“Yes. Did you know he was coming to see me?” I wished we were on FaceTime, so I could see her expression.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I wasn’t certain if he’d follow through, and the last couple days have been crazy. Did he offer you a job?”

There was so much hope in her voice, I faltered with my answer. “Yes, he did.”

“Thank goodness. Chance didn’t mention what it would be, but he owns a number of companies. And it would mean I could stop working at the club. I’d still get a second job elsewhere to help out, but since Reid and I are together now, I would like to quit stripping.”

Of course she would. I’d always hated her putting herself in danger by stripping at an illegal strip club in Dubai. Now seeing her relationship was at risk, as well, I couldn’t in good conscience force her to keep working there if I didn’t have to.

“I’m sorry if it sounds selfish,” Teagan said.

Guilt stabbed me in my chest. “It’s not selfish at all. You should absolutely quit working at the club.”

“Then you’ll take the job with Chance?”

“Yes. But we have to discuss where I’ll be working and what I’ll be doing.” For my sister and my daughter, I’d do anything, to include conquering my fear. And yeah, swallow a bit of pride in the process.

“Despite first impressions, Chance isn’t all bad.”

“Didn’t he try to pay you to leave his brother?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Didn’t he also cheat with Reid’s ex at the family holiday party?”

“Kind of? But he did it to prove she wasn’t right for him. And he did fly me home to Los Angeles in his private plane when he thought I was heartbroken. Then he flew with Reid to come after me when I left for Dubai. And of course, he’s offering you a job. He’s arrogant and an asshole, but so long as he gives you medical insurance, which will allow Penny to see a good doctor, then maybe he’s redeemable.”

Hadn’t Chance used the same word? He was in it for redemption. I was in it for my daughter and sister. My decision should be easy.

But if that were true, then why did I feel like I was about to sell my soul to the devil?

* * *

I waiteduntil Penny was down for her nap before I called Chance’s number. I was surprised to hear his deep baritone answer. I’d figured he’d have a gatekeeper of some sort screening his calls.

“Chance Maxwell.”

Just my luck. His phone voice gave me shivers. “It’s Tory.”

“You’ve reconsidered my proposition?”

His phrasing made it sound sexual. “I need more information about the job offer.”

“I’ll see you at your club tonight and we’ll discuss.”

“I’m not working tonight.”

“Fine. I’ll meet you at your apartment about seven.”

“I’d prefer after eight, so Penny is in bed.”

“Fine. After eight it is. See you then, Tory.”

I tried to ignore the flutter in my stomach over the way he said my name.