3. Emma

Present

September 2016

"At that moment, I couldn't tell you who I was, Emma..."

"I'm not interested in hearing your cheap lies, Mr. Basciano," I interrupted, "I'm only here because I'm fulfilling a service."

With that, I got into the limousine, trying to hold back the anger that made me want to cry. He followed me immediately.

"Why did you become this?"

If someone had told me that Luc would show up and question me about why I had become an escort, it would undoubtedly have been the epitome of comedy, so I couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at? I'm asking you something serious. How the hell did you end up being one of Rocco's girls?"

The urgency in his voice, the veiled disappointment, stopped my laughter immediately. How could he even ask that?

I didn't hesitate to respond gracefully before telling him to go to hell.

"What I was doesn't concern him; what I am now is what matters. I'm here to work, so I don't intend to talk about the past when I have a job to do. Just tell me what you want, Mr. Basciano."

"Is that your answer?"

"I don't even understand what you mean..."

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Emma."

"No, so please tell me what I have to do, and let's not waste any more time."

"You won't explain?" he demanded with a disappointed look.

"I don't need to explain who I am; I don't owe it to anyone. Now, what's your fantasy, Mr. Basciano? What do you like?"

With the last question, he couldn't help but curse life.

I ignored him and decided that looking through the tinted glass was more interesting than paying attention to that jerk.

"We'll go get my car, then we'll stop by for some of your clothes, and I'll treat you like the escort you are," he said with a deep, commanding voice, disarming.

I smiled because I had gotten under his skin, and the fact that he wanted to insult me was a sign of how foolish he could be.

"Can I tell you a secret, Mr. Basciano? I don't mind being told what I am... I'm satisfied knowing that I live up to the idea," I said with all the malice.

The jab had its effect because he couldn't hold my gaze, so we ignored each other for the entire journey. When we arrived at the first destination, he got out, and with a grimace, he gestured for me to follow him. He didn't say anything, just nodded and continued on his way.

The limousine left, and I couldn't help but gaze at the large gray house in front of me. It had a garden with a spectacular display of gardenias and lilies, along with large trees that were sure to provide shade and shelter on sunny days.

It was a paradise on the outskirts of the city, in a private residential center built for the wealthy, which not only struck me as twisted but also shocked me because that vision was my dream home.

"This man is a damn lunatic." I said this like a mockery of his memory.

The sound of a metal door at the end of the tree-lined path caught my attention, and a beautiful Bugatti appeared with Luc changed into different clothes. The door opened, and his voice resonated outside.

"Get in," he demanded without further ado. "Tell me where you live, so I can get some comfortable clothes."

I wanted to tell him to go to hell because I knew that taking him home was a bad idea, but I wanted to see what he could do with that information. I gave him the address, and he looked at me in surprise.

"What? I live there; it's a quiet and safe area, unlike this, but I can live in peace."

He didn't say anything.

We took longer than desired to arrive, and I got out right away and texted my friends. I knew they'd be worried if I didn't check in.

Emma: I'm fine, I'll be on duty with Luciano Basciano tonight, I'll share with you the address, anything I'll let you know.

Lilly: Rocco knows?

Alice: Yes, my clients informed him and he was more than delighted. The problem is that something is wrong with Emma and Mr. Basciano.

Lilly: Really?

Emma: That's absolutely okay.

Alice: He saw it and he had the expression that he saw a damn ghost.

Lilly: We'll talk about this as soon as you're done with the service, I'll keep an eye on you, so have the speed dial ready, I don't care if he's the CEO of the world itself, I'll beat him up if he does anything to you.

I smiled at the protection and then saw Luc's car out the window.

"How did this happen?"

It was the million-dollar question.

I sighed with some mental exhaustion before grabbing a bag in which I placed extra clothes and two sets of lingerie that, although I hated wearing, served to do my job. I took off my beautiful red dress, put on something more practical, changed my clothes for something practical.

She put me on a flowy white skirt with a black top and brown leather jacket. She swapped her red heels for her knee-high boots and I walked out with her phone charger in my hand, while I turned off notifications from chatting with my friends.

I got into the car and didn't say anything, silence reigned for a few seconds before Luc spoke.

"Why do you do this work?"

His tone of voice was calmer, in fact, he seemed almost desperate, but I decided to nip the evil in the bud or it would be an endless tale.

"I'm going to be very clear, Mr. Basciano," she said sarcastically, "because you don't seem to understand the refusal very well, but here I go: my life doesn't concern you, the only thing that interests you about me is my body, so stick to that.

"You won't give in.

"I'm not going to give in, my life is private and it's not your problem.

"I want to tell you...

"Sir, Basciano, if you're going to tell me anything that isn't service-related, don't waste your time or your saliva. I'm not interested in hearing anything other than what you want me to do for you.

Luc sighed.

He drove another half hour, turned near a remote road and drove into a motel on the way, which was not only ironic, but even amusing.

"Are you serious, Mr. Basciano?"

"What are you serious?"

"From all over the world you brought me to a motel on the way?"

"Yes, Emma, I brought you to a motel on the way, any problem with that?"

"For a man who pays too much for an escort, this place doesn't fit with what he's used to.

Luc frowned, then parked and saw me completely annoyed, he was about to boil, the vein in his forehead was throbbing.

"You have no idea what I'm used to or not used to.

"No, obviously I don't know, Mr. Basciano..." I don't know anything about you.

He wanted to emphasize it, so the very miserable man smiled ironically.

"The first time I made you mine was in a place a thousand times easier, Emma, what's the problem?"

At that moment I felt insulted.

"Do you really think he claimed me at that moment?"

I laughed loudly.

"Emma...

"You're the most gullible person I know, I've seen everything in this business, but I'm going to be good, I'm not going to laugh at you again, and I'm going to show you why women like me are never claimed."

She squeezed the steering wheel hard before heading out and I couldn't help but feel victorious.

"Come down, Emma.

I did it slowly, but he had some patience so he waited to walk beside me. That's when I realized that the place wasn't all bad, I could pass for discreet, but it didn't compare at all to the suites I was used to.

He went straight to talk to a gentleman who greeted him as if they were old friends, who simply gave him a key.

"Are you bringing your companions here?"

It was what I wondered out loud, but then I ignored it because it wasn't my damn problem, even though I was bothered by the idea. We went straight to the last room in the hallway, Luc opened the door and I walked in confidently.

"Interesting.

"What do you find interesting, Emma?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds.

"I see...

I placed my bag on a table in the corner of the room, he closed the door and approached from behind, stuck to my back and grabbed my hips, before bringing his mouth close to my ear to say:

"Show me how you work, princess."