Page 53 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
Chapter Sixteen
“Hey, Jackie. Is everything ready for tonight?” Alexa asked. The big day for Scott’s auction had arrived. She crossed her legs, going over the last details of the much coveted night. She’d chosen a new security firm and done the background check herself to make sure the team would be legit. Hell, she’d been doing more than needed lately—if it meant not thinking about saying goodbye to the only man she’d ever loved.
“Yep. Picked him up from the airport last night, and trust me, it was hard to be professional and let that man remain a virgin. He’s hot.” Jackie fanned herself. “Are all Texans like that?”
Alexa gave her a non-committal shrug. For the past week, she’d made an effort not to think about men in general, especially Texans. Brooks had tried to contact her, and she’d blocked his number. She’d been adamant for a reason—the family meltdown was only an example of what her life with him would be like.
She’d have to deal with silly jokes from his friends. He’d be shunned from his family life. How could she keep him from seeing his mother in whatever time she had left? His father had been direct—he’d squash any attempt for Brooks to see his mother if Alexa was by his side at social events.
Sadness wrapped her heart like a rubber band. She’d spent too many years of her life with shame—hiding from shame, then running from shame, and finally, capitalizing on shame. She couldn’t go back to worrying about what people thought. Not for her, but for him. Because she loved him. The thought flicked on a light inside her, offering temporary emotional respite, then it faded into the emptiness that had been her stalker and companion during the past week.
“Alexa.” Jackie nudged her elbow. “What’s wrong? I’ve been talking about security and you seem like you’re a world away.”
“Sorry.” Alexa shook her head. “You hired extra for tonight, right?”
“Yes. Like you asked.”
To ensure the women attending would feel safe, she’d planned not only for a new security firm, but also for more personnel, to keep any possible negative eventualities at bay. She wanted the women attending to enjoy themselves, not worry about getting into trouble of any kind. Thankfully, she’d emailed Brooks, asking him not to attend the event. Seeing him would crush her. He hadn’t replied, but also hadn’t shown up. So maybe deep down he agreed it’d be best for all if he didn’t go.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Alexa began.
Jackie slid her finger across her iPad, checking an item off her list. “Shoot.”
“I’ll be retiring earlier than planned, but I came up with an idea that might be good for the both of us.” She walked up to the wet bar and grabbed the gin bottle, then poured two glasses. “You can keep running House of Alexa and I’ll get a lifetime fee for branding rights, but you’ll keep most of the money.”
With widened eyes, Jackie nearly jumped from her seat. “Are you serious? I know we talked about me taking over, but I never imagined you’d really leave.”
If House of Alexa meant something to someone other than Alexa, that person was Jackie. And now, peering at her, witnessing the pride and joy in Jackie’s eyes solidified her solution. “Yeah. You know, I was almost ready to close everything, but especially after visiting Kace’s brothel. If women want to sell their virginity, they should have a safe place to do it.”
“I agree.” Jackie hugged her, kissing her cheek. “Thank you. You won’t be sorry.”
Nostalgia welled up in her throat. She’d keep in touch with Jackie for professional reasons. Was that why she’d chosen her to keep House of Alexa? To use it as an excuse to maintain the friendship they’d created? “I know I won’t.”
A knock on the door made them disengage. Thomas, the head of the security in charge for the evening, popped his head inside the office. “Someone really wants to see you, Madam Alexa. She said her name is Laura Jensen.”
Alexa smoothed her hand over her dress. “I’m not expecting anyone.” Nor did she know anyone with that name.
“She said she works for Kace and has some information you might need.”
Curiosity quaked inside her. Why would anyone who worked for Kace want to talk to her? She didn’t run a brothel, and most likely whoever was in a house he ran was no longer a virgin. “All right. Let her in.”
Jackie nodded, texting. “I’ll tell security to let her through.”
Within a few minutes, Thomas escorted the same woman Alexa had seen at the ranch. She’d been one of the women hanging out in the bar area when she’d visited the brothel with Brooks. Blonde, curvy, and with a sleeve of tattoos on her right arm. She wore jeans and a tank top and would stand out from all the moneyed potential buyers circulating soon for the auction.
Jackie and Thomas left the room.
“You wanted to see me?” Alexa pointed to the empty seat across from her.
With a nervous smile, Laura pulled a chair facing Alexa and sat. “Yes. I have some information you might be interested in.”
Alexa grabbed a pen from her holder and clicked it mindlessly. Information usually cost money, particularly in the sex industry. “How do you figure?” she asked casually, hoping her neutral expression wouldn’t give away how eager she was to hear the intel.
Laura glanced around the office, cataloguing the thank-you notes on the brag wall, the expensive vases and the wet bar in the corner. Then her gaze snapped back to Alexa. “I saw you with that good-looking man when you visited the ranch. I know you were asking around about Pamela.”
Alexa leaned in. “Shoot.”
The woman shuffled in the seat, cleared her throat. “I need five hundred dollars.”
