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I dial Kenneth the journalist, pulling out the crumpled business card from my wallet for the number. I have physically threatened this man multiple times, so I half expect him not to answer. To my surprise, he does, and even seems happy to hear from me. I know he thinks I’m calling about Roxanne, so I take some satisfaction in his surprise once I tell him that I have the interview of the century up for grabs.
“I can get you the escort involved with Karl Townsend,” I tell him.
“Karl Townsend?” Kenneth repeats in surprise. “But I heard the escort he hired had signed a settlement.”
“She didn’t. She was about to, but she retracted at the last minute. I happen to know her personally, and she’s agreed to do the interview.”
“What do you want in exchange for that?” he demands. I can tell he’s interested. Desperate, even, for this scoop, but he keeps his cool. He knows he isn’t getting this from me for free.
“Simple. All I ask is that you leave me and Roxanne in peace. No more coverage about us or my family.”
“What does your family include? Parents and siblings?” He is astute, leaving no stone unturned. I can admire that, as much as I hate the man. Still, I want more.
“Can’t you extend it to my mom’s family? Her siblings and parents, too?”
“That’s a lot of people…” He chuckles, as if I’m a little kid he’s talking to. “For just one interview, I can’t sacrifice an entiredecade of content, but I can keep your parents, your girlfriend, and your siblings out.”
“Fine,” I snap, sounding more annoyed than I actually am. In one fell swoop I have accomplished a number of my goals, all by manipulating the people around me and not raising a finger on my own.
I’d be safe, and Roxanne would be safe. Best of all, we’d be at peace to be together. Even as I end the call with Kenneth, the pride of my own scheming is building in me. This is everything I wanted, even if it has to come in a more complicated package than previously thought. I could handle it, though. No problem.
25
Amsterdam, March 1, 2022
Roxanne
I’ve triedto keep everything Andries said off of my mind but being at work here at the agency makes it impossible to forget. From the moment I unlocked the door and walked into my office, I had been filled with a sense of grief, maybe my days here are truly numbered.
Andries staying with me last night, and how wonderful it had been, made it all too clear that he was going to be my first priority after all. I had promised myself my entire career of owning the agency that a man would never come between me and this place I had created, but now, things were different. I loved Andries, and I wanted to be with him. If he couldn’t stomach the agency… I had to figure something else out, or this was going to drive me crazy.
Poppy, her bright red hair piled on top of her head, is typing away at the front desk. I can see her through the crack in the door, and I feel even worse, thinking about how my most trusted employee who, after all these years, was a close friend, too,would be left adrift if I sold the place. There was so much more to consider besides how I felt about Andries. I need to tread as carefully as I can.
It isn’t about the money anymore, either. It’s because this agency was precious to me, a passion project that had become so much more, and because it gave me a hands-on way to protect the girls who worked for me that might otherwise work in less than savory conditions.
I can’t make a choice without knowing all my options, though, so with a lump in my throat I call Poppy into my office. She sits down daintily in the chair across from me, her expression bright and happy. “What’s up, boss?”
“Off the top of your head, can you think of any good replacements for the agency?”
She looks bewildered. “A good replacement? For who exactly?”
I swallow hard. “For me.”
I can tell she’s shocked, her cherry-colored lips parting and her eyes going wide. “For you? You want to leave the agency?”
“I don’twantto,” I admit. “But I think it’s time for me to move on.”
My heart shatters when I see Poppy sniffle subtly, tapping her eye with a fingertip to avoid tears. “I don’t understand. Is this because of the thing with Karl? We are still getting and doing great business, Roxie, I swear.”
“No, no,” I sigh, knowing I have to be honest. “Andries wants to give us another chance, but if we do, I have to sell the agency.”
Her demeanor changes almost instantly. “You would sell your own business for aman? Roxanne, you can’t settle for someone that can’t accept you and what you do. You are a success story… an entrepreneur! Almost any other man would be honored to have your attention. You don’t need to do this.”
“Andries is someone who has seen the darkest side of what we do, and I want to give our relationship a shot. I’ve been in this industry for fifteen years now…” I shake my head sadly. “That’s a long time for this kind of work, Poppy.”
“I get it, but still… This agency is your baby, someone that loves you should understand that. They should love youandyour agency.”
“Okay, Poppy.” I sigh, exasperated. “Until then, can you give me a list of our competition and see if they would like to acquire us?”
