Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Five - I Don't Owe Him Anything

Everly

I am alone at the bar. My client was not pleased when I informed him that it would be our last meeting. He walked out, tossing the money at me for the hour we had spent before I told him. He can go to hell. I don’t owe him anything. I was going to put him forward to someone, but not after the way he acted tonight. His behaviour surprised me because he is usually lovely, but I guess my leaving didn’t sit well with him. Did he expect me to be around for the rest of my life? Hopefully, tomorrow with my other client will go better.

“Can I have another, please? Make it a double.” I ask the bartender.

He nods, making me another drink, only this time a double vodka rather than a single. I should go home, or rather, back to Orson’s place, but I’m not ready to deal with him again. I can stay out a little longer. I take a drink and sigh.

“Why are you drinking alone?” I hear from behind me.

No, please tell me it isn’t who I think it is. I groan and swing around on the stool, and there he is! Orson!

“What are you doing here? Did you follow me?” I whine.

“No. I am sure with some friends. Where is your date? You didn’t leave that long ago.”

“He didn’t take my leaving well. He yelled, tossed money at me and stormed off like a child.”

He chuckles. “Oh, what a shame. If you took me up on my offer, you would have had a much better time. Karma is a bitch.”

“And this bitch is due to throw this drink in your face and kick you right in the balls if you don’t go away.” I hiss, my anger stirring in me. He makes it happen easily.

He chuckles again, smirking and steps closer. He pushes my legs apart with his knee and stands between them. “Lighten up, sweetness. Come and have a drink with me and my friends.”

“No, thank you. I am fine here alone.” I reply and try to turn away from him, but he grabs the stool to stop me from doing that.

“Everly, stop being so damn stubborn. I would much prefer you be with us than alone. You will be safer that way.”

I furrow my brows and wriggle my nose. Is he showing concern for me? What is wrong with him tonight? First, what happened back at his place when he seemed jealous because I was going out with someone else, and now, he is acting like he cares. What is he up to?

“I am a big girl. I can take care of myself, Orson.”

He shakes his head and groans in frustration. “You know what, do what the hell you want.”

He walks away. What does he expect? Does he think that because we’re fake engaged, things are going to change between us? They won’t. He is still an asshole, and I still don’t like him. We aren’t going to be friends. He doesn’t want that either. Whatever he has got going on his head, he needs to get it out.”

I watch after him as he rejoins his three friends at the table. All of them focus their attention on me. Do they know who I am and what we are doing? I smile sweetly and wave before I turn my back and finish my drink. I lose myself in my thoughts and decide to join them. It isn’t like I have anything else to do tonight.

“Can I get eight shots of your strongest alcohol, four scotches on the rocks and another vodka, only a single this time?”

I pay with the money I got tossed at me earlier. I may as well enjoy it after the asshole yelled at me. The bartender organised my drinks, placing them on a tray for me. I will manage them with no bother. I used to work as a waitress when I was a teenager. I stroll confidently over to them.

“What do you want now?” Orson asks.

“I come with drinks. Does the offer to join still stand?”

One of his friends eyes me up and down. “You don’t need an invitation. You can come and sit with me any time you want, gorgeous.”

I can understand why they are friends. He seems the same as Orson.

Orson glares at me. “Don’t even go there, Christian.” He warns.

Christian laughs. “Sorry.”

I shrug. “I don’t mind. I can handle it.”

Orson moves over and pats the spot next to him. I set the tray down on the table and sit next to him. I hand the drinks out. We cling the shots together before drinking them.

“I am curious. How much do you guys know?”

“They know enough. I had to tell them because they know who you are, and we don’t get along. I had to be truthful in case one of them said the wrong thing to the wrong person.”

I should have got him to sign an NDA, too. Did he tell them I am a call girl?

Orson reaches into my ear. “I didn’t tell them what you do.” He whispers.

“Did they not wonder why I agreed to it?” I whisper back.

“I told them I didn’t give you much of a choice, and you have debt to pay off.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you not telling them.”

I thought he would have shared the truth. I am glad he didn’t. Not everyone needs to know about my second job. We stop whispering, and he introduces me to his other friends. I won’t intrude on their guys’ night too long. I am sure they are hoping to get lucky, and having me there will cramp their style a little.

I am having a conversation with Sebastian when suddenly I feel Orson’s hand on my knee. I glance over at him. He isn’t even looking at me. He is acting like he isn’t doing anything. I grab his wrist and remove his hand from my knee. If he thinks that because I came to join them, it means I have reconsidered having sex with him again, he couldn’t be more wrong.

I glare at him. “It still isn’t happening.”

Orson chuckles. “I don’t know what you mean.”

I roll my eyes and put my attention back on Sebastian to continue with our conversation. I see Orson sulk out of the corner of my eye. He doesn’t seem pleased that my attention isn’t on him. He can sulk all he wants; it won’t change anything.