BooksBarbecue
Back The Companion Project
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Payment won’t be needed until the background check comes through. Once it does, I’d be happy to continue this conversation further. Until then, I’ve attached a sheet with the information you’ll need to provide. Don’t worry, I won’t see any of it! I’m also attaching my contract outlining the premise of our tentative arrangement.

Please note that explicit sexual activities of any nature are forbidden.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,

RB

I never use my real name, operating under an alias until I meet the man in real life. My initials are vague enough where in the off-chance someone I know contacts me, I won’t be discoverable. That hasn’t happened yet, and I intend to keep it that way.

I hit send, watching the message disappear. At this point, it’s probably inconsequential. No one is going to agree to such a lucrative price.

Too late now.

Nothing I can do besides wait for the rejection.

Shoveling the now cold food in my mouth, I close my laptop and grab a wine glass. After spending 60 hours at the office this week, I’m mentally tapped out. Nothing sounds more relaxing than a bath while I watch Netflix and drink wine. Pouring a glass of red, I head into the bathroom, starting the faucet on my clawfoot tub.

The bath fills with water, steam rising above the porcelain as I discard my clothes. As I lower myself into the basin, heat and warmth encompass my aching muscles. Between work and a late-night event earlier this week that stretched past midnight and messed up my sleep schedule, my body is a mess.

I take a sip of my drink and swirl the beverage around, letting out a sigh. Each day down is another day closer to my goal. My dream. And what a feeling of relief that is.

My phone buzzes next to me, distracting my restful thoughts. Carefully reaching for the device so I don’t drop it straight into the water, I open my inbox again.

To: RBCompanions

From: JD7683

Subject: Re: New Inquiry

Date: September 1

RB,

Hey, thanks for the swift reply. I hate when people take forever to answer emails. $3,800 is reasonable and fair. $42 an hour? Perfectly fine.

I’m also good with the background check and P.I. stuff, so I’ll get those documents filled out ASAP.

If you need a deposit to secure my spot for the dates, let me know. I’m sure it’s a competitive market, and I’m not above strong holding my way into your calendar. It’s October 17-21.

I know I’m reaching out well in advance, but I want to make sure I get all of this figured out with plenty of time to spare.

JD