Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Karen's POV

Walking into Bill's office, I regretted my actions immediately. I didn't inform Brody before leaving the house in the morning and I didn't want him to get offended.

"How are you doing, Karen?" Bill asked with a smile.

I pulled out a chair and sat down comfortably. "I'm glad you asked because I'm not doing alright."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How is that even possible? You live in a castle and you're the princess."

I chuckled. "Well, I wish that was it but it's not, it's just like Brody's mom doesn't like me." I said.

"It's a contract, you should not care if she likes you or not." He replied and I turned my gaze to the bright light outside and shrugged. He was definitely right! It was a fucking contract and I needed to fucking fake everything.

"Maybe," I said reluctantly. "It looks real though, Brody and I danced yesterday." I told him.

He frowned and scratched his eyebrow. "About that, you were not supposed to get intimate with him."

I chuckled. "Get intimate? We barely kissed. I mean, he just pecked me and that was all. How's that intimate?"

He bit his lip uncertainty. "It was a kiss."

"It wasn't a kiss."

"It was a fucking kiss."

"How did you know?"

He let out a little sigh. "I watched it on the TV, you were talking with him while dancing."

I frowned. "That wasn't a crime, was it?"

"It wasn't but you shouldn't have talked with him."

Looking at him, I chuckled. "You're just being unrealistic and it's not your fault though, I came to your office thinking you had something better to say." I said in a more serious tone.

"Well, I do have something to say."

"What is that?" I inquired, curiously.

He laughed and licked his lips, he brought his pen to his lips and looked at me with a smirk. "Tricia and Alvin have missed you, they want you to visit them."

I frowned and remembered what happened when I went to his house. He tried to take advantage of the situation that his children locked the door to rape me. "I'm never going back to your house." I told him bluntly and looked at me shocked.

"I'm sorry for the other time."

"I can't follow you to your house."

"Please Karen, my kids want to see you." He persisted stubbornly.

"I can't visit them today, Brody must be worried right now. I didn't tell him that I was coming here." I said and stood up.

"At least, let me drive you to his house?"

I countered with a frown and Brody walked in, I was totally shocked as I looked at him, scared at what he might do next. "Karen," he paused looking at me. "I'm disappointed in you." He added.

"She's my client and it's not a crime to see her." Bill reminded him.

Brody ignored him and took hold of my hand, he dragged me out of the office and I slapped him. "I'm not an object, you asshole!"

"You shouldn't be with Bill, do you know what the public would say?"

"I don't care about them. Bill's office is better than your house, I don't get insulted by your mother in his office. It's far way better than home." I told him.

His lips curved in a taunting smile. "I saw his messages and his missed calls." Brody said, referring to Bill.

I frowned. "You shouldn't check my phone without my permission."

He chuckled and his eyes darkened. "Why? Are you a whore?"

"You're unbelievable. I can't imagine falling in love with you." I replied and walked out of the building.

He ran to come and meet me with a smile. "We're in public, you should smile." He whispered.

I shrugged, wondering if I would be able to adapt to my new lifestyle. "Fine, alright."

"You play games?" He inquired and I nodded. "What type?"

"Basketball." I suppressed a smile.

Apparently his inquisitive nature had been put to good use.

**********

Brody's POV

"Hey Brody, it's almost time." Gregory bounced in the doorway and waved to us.

"Who's that?" She asked.

"Gregory Michigan." I answered with a smile. I looked around and noticed that the hardwood floor was scuffed and worn. The water-stained walls plastered with posters of famous basketball players. "The small room has been turned into the gym." I added in a low-piqued voice and she chuckled.

"Is she your new girlfriend?" The first question came in.

"Damn, she's hot and better than Sarah. What's her name?"

I looked at her and she pouted her tongue at me. I grinned and caught the basketball that one of the guys lobbed at him. "Don't you guys have work to do?" I asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Who's she? We want to know." Daniel said and I was afraid they'll protest.

"Nope, she's just a friend," I lied and she shot me an offended look.

I wished she could understand but I couldn't lie to my real friends. "And she plays basketball." I quickly added with a grin.

Jake came out of the back room and blew a whistle. "It's time for the match. Teams would be the same as last week." He announced and I turned to face her.

"Watch and learn from the most skillful basketball player."

"Who?" She asked in a whisper and I frowned.

"I'm the best basketball player here."

She chuckled and walked into the abandoned restroom. "What are you doing?" I inquired, almost shouting.

"I want to change my clothes." She answered with a groan.

I stepped out onto the gym floor and dribbled the ball toward the basket, a swarm of boys at my heels. My lean body twisted gracefully as I went in for a lay up. As soon as Karen came out of the restroom, I missed the basket and landed with a resounding smack on the floor.

She hurried over to me and knelt down, the boys crowded in around her. "Are you alright, Brody?" She asked, concerned.

I was definitely not alright, I was annoyed at myself for missing the basket because of Karen. "I'm fine."

Perhaps I was just dazzled by her beauty.

"That's sure gonna hurt." Greg breathed in awe.

"Why weren't you focused?" Jake who stood behind Karen asked, obviously annoyed and lacking sympathy for me.

I rubbed my side and smiled warily. "I'm alright, you should all continue with the game." I reassured them and stood up.

"So much for being the best basketball player," Karen mocked and laughed. "I'll play." She announced and the boys giggled excitedly.

"We've finally seen a beautiful girl who wants to play basketball."

I chuckled. I knew she was just bluffing, she could not play basketball. She was the lazy type. "What do you think?" Jake asked as he smacked my ass and I turned to look at him, he helped me up and I slumped down on the bench.

"I don't know, she doesn't seem like a basketball player." I answered.

He nudged me with an elbow. "She's your friend, right?" He asked and I nodded. "That's nice, I'm happy you've found yourself a female friend."

I chuckled and looked at her. "I play center." She shouted.

"You should be a cheerleader, you don't look like someone who can throw a ball in a basket." Greg mocked her in a loud voice.

"That was unfair." Jake retorted and we both chuckled.

"How about we play a game? If I make ten free throws in a row, you'll let me play." She challenged him.

"I accept your fucking challenge."

Everyone ran towards them as she took her place at the piece of soiled white tape that stretched across the floor at the free-throw line. I watched her curiously as she took the first shot, there wasn't a sound as everyone watched it sail through the air and swish effortlessly into the net.

I stood up in shock.