6

Valentine’s Day.

Even before the date, Helen felt sure she was already dead and roasting for her sins in hell, but how could she have known that Dominic would take her to the same restaurant as Mark that night? Bah!

Helen hadn’t been the one to call Mark to tell him he had been outbid. Helen fed herself all kinds of good reasons why she had turned him down. She was doing it for the money, so why not do it for the money? If that was her philosophy, then it didn’t matter who asked her. The sooner she could pay off Mindy and her credit card, the better. It wasn’t like she wanted luxurious living. Mostly what she wanted was a reasonable meal. Eating cheap Asian noodles two meals a day was hardly nourishing, but she didn’t have money for anything better.

She also told herself maybe it was better if it didn’t go any further with Mark. It wasn't like he was going to fall head-over-heels for an escort, and the last thing she wanted was to fall in love with a guy who only thought of her as a purchased woman. It wasn’t like she blamed him. When she was Vera, she was only a shade better than a prostitute. It was her job to make him comfortable and treat him like she liked him. It was all a game, so she couldn’t blame him if he liked to play it, or stop playing when it suited him.

When she met Dominic in the lounge of the restaurant, she thought she had seen him before. New Year’s Eve? That was when Mindy said they had met, but she couldn’t place him. Dominic was blond and thin with a curious smile. He had a gleam in his eyes that couldn’t be mistaken for anything except mischievousness. It must really be a game for him. Something about the arrangement must be extensively amusing. He was young and Helen wondered why he wasn’t able to get a date on his own. He was handsome enough for it, but it didn’t take her long to figure out why he had called and offered so much for her to accompany him that night—he was the Devil.

“I thought we’d have dinner with my sister and her boyfriend,” he said, his eyes virtually on fire. “Afterward, we’re going to see a movie.”

That surprised Helen. A hundred dollars an hour to go watch a movie? Who paid for that? However, she took his arm and went with him into the dining room. His smile was as broad as a Cheshire cat. He was having way too much fun.

As she stepped onto the padded carpet, she saw Mark seated in a booth. He was wearing a dinner jacket similar to the one he had been on New Year’s Eve, but his jacket wasn’t done up and he wasn’t wearing a tie.

Seated beside him was the woman he’d introduced to her—Laura. Then Helen remembered where she’d seen Dominic. He was the guy who was with Laura. Helen had given him a flirty smile and he paused. Mercy! Why had she smiled at him? She was definitely in trouble because Laura was Dominic’s sister and Helen would be spending the evening watching Mark date her. Didn’t Dominic say Mark and Laura were going out? Just peachy!

She shook out her fake hair and reminded herself that none of it mattered to her. She was playing the escort for the money and oddly enough, also for a free meal. She’d carry herself with poise and dignity. It wasn’t like she had to explain anything to him. There was nothing to explain.

Helen sat down in the booth and scooted over so Dominic could sit next to her.

Actually, even though Helen told herself all that jargon about how she was dating Dominic for the money when she sat down and Dominic introduced her to his sister and Mark like they didn’t know each other—she was distinctly uncomfortable.

“We’ve already met,” Mark and Laura said at exactly the same moment. Mark looked away. He bit his cheek and tapped his fingers on the tablecloth.

Laura had more presence of mind and said to Dominic rudely, “I didn’t realize you had such… thrilling taste in women.”

Helen smiled. It was difficult, but she managed it. It was hell on earth, but on the bright side—at least Helen was dressed for it. Mindy had made her up for Valentine’s Day herself, which meant that Helen was flawless. She was wearing a curly white- blonde wig with strawberry blonde highlights. It was so long, it hit her mid-back. Her dress was baby pink with white lace and she was wearing a white heart necklace. When Mindy put the cherry-red lipstick on, Helen thought her appearance was little better than cosplay.

“Don’t be stupid,” Mindy said angrily while she applied the top gloss to Helen’s lips. “Men like long hair, pink dresses, heart-shaped necklaces, and white lace, and do you know why?”

“No,” Helen answered meekly. It wasn’t so bad to have Mindy teach her a thing or two even if she was snarly.

“Because men don’t wear them,” Mindy snapped. “He’s paying one hundred dollars an hour for you, and you’d better make him feel like a man. But since I know you’re so inexperienced, I can’t count on you to take charge, so we have to do as much as we can with your appearance. Our agency’s name is at stake. Don’t blow it!”

Helen sat at the table thinking. If men liked pink and white lace, then Laura was toast. She was wearing a little black dress—perfect for almost any occasion—except for Valentine's Day. As for Helen, she knew that normally she’d fail at almost everything to do with feminine charm, but she had an ace up her sleeve—Mindy.

Helen had a surge of confidence once she remembered her darling cousin’s tutoring. She’d make it a killer night. She’d make Dominic a fantastic date and be so good to him she’d make Mark want to flip the bill for her next time.

The menus came and Helen looked it over with pleasure. Finally, she’d get to have something good to eat.

“What would you like, Vera?” Dominic asked pleasantly.

Helen smiled back at him. He was definitely the devil. He was enjoying the awkwardness of the situation so much. Not only did he like to mess with Mark’s brain, by outbidding him for the escort he wanted, but he also clearly liked making his sister uncomfortable as well.

Helen bit the corner of her lip. “Mm, everything looks so good. Could you choose something for me, Dominic?”

“What do you like? Are you a vegetarian? Point me in the right direction.”

“I like shrimp,” she said closing her menu and leaning over to look at Dominic’s. “Is this good?” she asked, pointing to the item she had already decided she wanted.

He looked down at her and answered headily, “It’s better than anything. Shall I order it for you?”

Helen nodded, leaving her arm on his shoulder for much longer than she needed to.

“What about you, Laura?” Mark asked, his voice sounded like granite scraping against tiling.

“I’ll have the Mediterranean salad. You know I’m on a diet,” she said decisively as she closed her menu. She was not poised enough to lean over Mark to examine his menu.

“What about drinks?” Dominic asked. “Vera?”

“Tonic water,” she answered.

“That’s not a drink,” Dominic said, boldly putting his arm around her and resting his hand on her waist. “That’s an ingredient for a drink.”

“I like it,” Helen said, looking up into Dominic’s eyes and forcing the two of them into an intimate invisible bubble. “It’s sweet,” she breathed.

Dominic didn’t answer her, instead, he seemed quietly intrigued by her, and when the waiter came and took their order, he ordered only tonic water for her.

When the interlude was over and Helen looked across the table at Mark he looked, wonderfully, annoyed beyond description. Both he and Laura looked unwell, but Helen couldn’t make herself feel downhearted about it. She had never been the prettiest girl on a group date before. She had always been the tomboy, tag-along, third- wheel type. To be the one that both the men were admiring was a new experience for her. Mark clearly had eyes only for her, and Dominic was making his territory known because his arm didn’t leave her waist until the food came. It was unkind, but Helen was happy. She had never seen a man get jealous or be angry because of her before. Cheers to new experiences!