Chapter 9: Chapter: 9

ANDREA

“What?!”

I choked, spraying wine out of my mouth, coughing hard. Jules patted my back, looking guiltily as she kept apologizing. After I finally got control of the coughing fits.

“Please tell me, you did not just say that!” I'm shocked that she would even joke about such a thing, but Jules doesn't look like she's joking; she seems determined.

“I did, please just listen to me, okay.” I rub my face, looking at her, like this is the first time I'm seeing her.

“My lawyer was convinced since I don't have any evidence of Nick's infidelity. Nick will deny everything. And knowing how ruthless and cold-hearted he can be. He's going to try to take everything from me in retaliation. He might also possibly take Natalie from me. He has three different lawyers none of which has ever lost a case. If I don't do something, Nick will take everything I have, everything I have worked hard for.”

“So how did I get sucked into this? How does my having sex with your husband help you?” I knew that, as an employee, if Nick took over the company, I might be laid off.

Which would be terrible, especially in my current situation, but Jules isn't making much sense right now.

Jules yanked at her roots. Then stood up as she nervously rubbed her hands together.

“As you well know, I don't have any evidence of Nicklaus's affair to show to the lawyers. I need to manufacture one. Andrea, please, I need you to make a sex video with Nick so that I can use it as evidence.” I was shaking my head in disbelief when she rushed to say.

“Don't worry I'll edit and blur your face, I swear it. Nobody will know it's you. I will also pay you handsomely; it wouldn't be for free, of course. You can name any price, and I will give it to you, but please, Andrea, don't say no.”

Wow! I was so shocked I didn't even know what to say.

“You want me to prostitute myself for you? You want to pimp me to your husband? You're paying me to sleep with your husband?” I asked incredulously.

“Jules, did you hear yourself?”

She quickly sat back. “Yes? I know how it sounds. But I've run out of options. And this is only for evidence, and it is just one night. Andrea, you have got to help me, I'm willing to pay you any amount! It's just for one night.”

This can't be real! I've never in my life heard, anywhere, of a wife sending a woman to seduce her husband, even if it were for a nefarious reason.

“I'm sorry, Jules, about your situation. I really am, but I can't help you. I'm not a prostitute, I'm sure. There are millions of professional prostitutes who will accept your proposition eagerly, I don't even know how to seduce anyone, not that I'm ever considering your asinine plan.” I turned sharply and walked with quick, angry strides and opened the door.

“Goodnight, Jules.” I want her out before I over react then end up losing my job. This night had just gone from bad to worse.

A part of me wonders what I'll do if she fired me because of this?

I don't care, I could look for a new job somewhere. Jules stubbornly refused to move and continued speaking.

“You misunderstand, Andrea. I trusted you; that's why I came to you. I'm sorry to do this but I'll have to fire you if you don't do this.”

“What? You're threatening me?” I asked with disbelief.

“Yes, I don't have a choice. You know everything, so you're the only one I can trust to do this. If you don't want to, I can't keep you in the company for obvious reasons.”

“I can't believe you, and you know I'll never tell anyone about your situation; it's honestly none of my business. I don't want to do this, Jules. So why don't you go find Nicklaus a whore then?”

“Like I said, I don't trust anyone, and if I send Nicklaus a whore. He will figure her out in less than a minute, but you're different; you're naturally sensual and provocative without even realizing it. You are without guile.”

She stood up and walked closer. “You have that innocence that calls in a man's basic need to protect; it's a complex combination, really. Nick's a dominant male; he will be drawn to you. You don't have to seduce him or anything, just be your kind, sexy, and innocent self, and work for him as his new secretary. The rest will fall into place.”

“Goodnight, Jules,” I repeat my voice hard, my resolve unwavering, and she stands up, her expression closed.

“Andrea, think it through, I'm willing to pay you two hundred. No, half a million dollars, up front. You can travel just like you always wanted to after the job is done, go to Paris or Mongolia, you always wanted to go there.”

Way to go, Jules!

Tempt the poor girl with her dreams. I thought bitterly. I'd once said one of my dreams was to travel and see the world, and I can't believe she's using that to try to convince me.

“I'll be expecting your answer soon, goodnight, Andrea,” Jules said one final time, before she crossed the threshold, and I closed my door. I busy myself by cleaning up the dinner I'd never had the chance to finish. Putting back everything in their rightful place.

Then I ran to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stand under the running cold water for a few minutes before I finally break down and sob.

My tears falling as fast as the water above me. While I knelt and sobbed my heart out for a long time, until my teeth started chattering. And my head ached badly.

I rose and scrubbed my body, feeling dirty; he had just violated me. Kissed and touched me without my permission, just because he could.

He could have raped me, and there was no way I could have saved myself from him, even if he was alone, much less with his gang.

I lathered more soap on my loafer and scrubbed even harder, feeling disgusted and dirty when I had taken a bath not less than an hour ago.

I brushed my teeth several times, rinsing and adding more toothpaste each time, until I was satisfied with my mouth's cleanliness.

I need money asap not just to pay Jericho, but so that I can leave this place. I no longer feel safe here.

I dress in my shorts and oversized t-shirt, then I lie in my bed, thinking and racking my brain for a way out, praying for a miracle. Hell knows I don't know how or where to get the amount of money Jericho expects from me.

Because while I was really sympathetic to Jules' and the rest of the employees at Mont's plight.

And even a little flattered that she'd think her husband would be attracted to me. I'm shocked that she would threaten me.

I'm not going to sacrifice my dignity to save her. What if something goes wrong?

But if I don't do this, I lose my job, and I will be at Jericho’s mercy. If I do, I'm trading my morals and principles for monetary value.

Not to mention if Nicklaus ever found out I'm dead. He didn't strike me as someone who let his enemy go easily.

I could use the money from Jules to leave the country.

No, no! Not going there, Andrea!

I tossed and turned, angry that Jules thought I was that sort of girl. Making a sex tape without someone's consent is an offense.

It is not just a crime, but also immoral, and my parents raised me better than that.

Even if a little greedy part of me wants to accept it, so I can get half a million dollars to pay off my debts.

I know that I would never be able to do it, just thinking of my naked picture mistakenly getting into the wrong hands made bile come up from my throat. If that happens, I will die—end of story.

And as someone who has never had sex, how do I go about seducing a man? and not just any man. But Nicklaus fucking Montgomery.

But then Jules had assured me that I didn't have to do anything; I don't know what she meant by "the rest will fall into place," and I definitely don't want to find out.

Not to mention what happened with Luke years ago had made me a little paranoid about being naked with anyone, much less seducing and making a sex tape. And that's the understatement of the year.