Page 55 of The Royal in Room 3

He winced, tugging his arm away. “Ouch, Jude. That kind of hurts.”

Horrified that I’d caused him any pain, I dropped my hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

“I thought you wanted to speak to Soren. Why are you leaving?”

“He’s busy, and he told me not to come tonight. I shouldn’t go against his wishes.”

“Why don’t we go talk somewhere? You look like you’re panicking. Come on.”

I followed him to the private elevator that took us up to the top floor, which was off-limits to everyone unless invited by Phoenix. A security guard nodded at him and assessed me as we passed him to enter Phoenix’s office. He closed the door behind me and gestured for me to have a seat.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“Just water.”

“Okay, although I would have recommended something stronger.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stop once I get started.” And I needed to be sober when Soren got home.

He handed me a glass and sat on the edge of the giant oak desk that I’d built for him. He crossed his legs at the ankles and folded his arms.

“What’s going on with you, Jude? Did something happen when you went to see Soren?”

“I don’t know. He was with someone.”

“You mean Martin?”

The name rang an alarm bell. “The Martin who’s one of your top sponsors?”

“Yes. He was very kind to Soren tonight.”

“So you introduced them?” I jumped to my feet and paced the room. “What the hell, Phoenix? I thought you were on my side.”

“I am on your side.”

“Then you should know Soren and I have a relationship that goes beyond our contract. Why would you introduce him to another Daddy? Do you not think I’m good enough for him?”

“You’re being absurd. I wouldn’t have paired you two together if I thought you weren’t right for each other.”

I dropped back down into the chair and rubbed a hand over my face. “I thought Soren was supposed to be working. What’s he doing cozying up to a man like that? Is that the type of work you have the boys do here?”

The moment I said the words, I knew I’d crossed the line. A flash of anger crossed Phoenix’s face even though he didn’t change his relaxed stance.

“For the sake of our friendship, I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’d never pimp out the boys at Halo House.”

“But neither do I interfere if they find a client they want to become involved with.”

“And Soren wants to become involved with Martin?”

“For fuck’s sake, Jude. What are you talking about? Nothing is going on between Soren and Martin. Soren had a horrible experience with a customer, and I begged Martin to set his fears to rest. That’s why Soren is sitting with Martin. He needed the reassurance after what Evan put him through.”

Evan was another name I was familiar with. He was an example of how not everyone would respond well to Halo House and the changes Phoenix tried to make in the lives of the boys. Phoenix had paired us together, but I’d not been wealthy enough for Evan, so he’d rejected me to go bouncing from one wealthy Daddy to another.

“How is Soren doing now?” I asked.

“Why don’t you ask him?”