The Escort

Chapter 4

“So tell me again what she said?” Ant chuckles to himself with his feet propped on his desk. I watch him from the doorway as he attempts to keep a straight face. Sighing I answer his question.

“Try not to fall for me.” I repeat Cat’s last words, much to Ant’s amusement.

“Now that is a girl you’re going to have to watch.” He takes a swig out of his mug and raises his eyebrows.

“What do you mean?” I enter his office and close the door taking a seat in the leather chair across from his own.

“She’s trouble.” He replies simply with a shrug and smirk. “And she’s pretty, not to mention smart. Pretty much a triple threat.”

“She’s doing an article… and a dissertation project, I am just a test subject and she is just a paying client.” I protest knowing exactly what he is trying to say. “You know me better than that, I don’t take my work home with me.”

“Erhu. Bet you are glad you turned up for it now though.” He rights himself in his chair and taps away at his keyboard.

“Honestly, I still wish Chad had gone, I have a lot of work to do for my money this time. I have to woo the girl with no information on what she likes or any of her interests.” A Google search on her had proven useless, except that she had won an award in her first year of University for journalism. This really was going to be like a real relationship as I would have to deal with the whole getting to know someone and working out what would please them instead of just printing of a document with it all neatly typed up for me.

“Oh those were the days when you dated someone and learned about them as you went.” Ant stated in a wistful tone. “That’s how we did it back when I met Barb, God only knows how dating works these days.”

“It’s not dating, it’s a job, will you quit it!” I shout at him.

“You’ll have fun with this I’m sure.” He says ignoring me completely. “I was thinking though, considering she wants two weeks of your time that she should be your only focus. You said it yourself you have a lot of work to do to plan this one. I shall distribute your cases among the others.”

“No I can handle it, the guys are already stretched to limits, they won’t appreciate it. I really should have turned her down; the next two weeks are our busiest time. Who does something like this in the few weeks before Christmas? Surly she has better things to do in the holiday period?”

“What like you?” He jokes. “But I do get your point, I’ll give them some but you can squeeze in jobs when you have the time, possibly whilst she’s dating the… the what?”

“Hey! I’m working and paying for your retirement, so less of the cheek. And she is calling him ‘the real guy’” I joke back.

“Ouch, that has to hurt your manhood. So if you fell for her what would you do?” Exasperated I run my hands through my hair and down my face exhaling heavily as I do so and resting my elbows on my knees.

“I am not going to fall for her. How many times do I have to tell you… Love is a manufactured concept by...”

“By companies who make a profit of off poor saps like me who mistake primal lust for something deeper and more meaningful, yes Danny I know where you stand and you wonder why Barb doesn’t let you near the girls. You’ll take the fun right out of them and destroy their dreams of finding their Prince Charming.”

“Then you should stop letting them watch films that involve Princesses who get whisked off their feet. Prepare them now for the ugly truth.” I get to my feet buttoning my suit jacket back up and walk to the door.