My “Escort” Boss Chapter 08
Did You Stay at This Hotel Last Month?
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to answer that question.
The next second, everything went black, and I passed out completely.
I woke up again because of the harsh sunlight stabbing into my eyes. My head was splitting as I sat up. The bathrobe on me hung loosely, and my hair was a complete mess.
You’re awake?”
A cool, indifferent voice came from the direction of the bathroom.
I turned my head stiffly.
Darren was standing there, a towel wrapped around his waist, his upper body bare. Water droplets slid down the defined lines of his abs. In that instant, my memories came rushing back like a flood.
The celebration banquet.
Theresa’s drink.
The hotel.
The male escort…
“oh my
God!” I covered my mouth in horror. “Sheriff, did we last night—”
Darren took a few long strides toward the bed, bracing his hands on either side of me and trapping me beneath his shadow. The overwhelming pressure made my heart race. He narrowed his eyes, studying my panicked expression.
“You did all that last night,” he said calmly. “And you actually forgot?”
I didn’t dare look at him. My eyes drifted to the clothes scattered all over the floor, male and female mixed together. Fragmented memories flashed through my mind. I vaguely remembered almost kissing him, and then… then I threw up all over him.
“I’m sorry, Sheriff!” I immediately raised my hands in surrender, trying to bluff my way through it. “I threw up on your clothes. I’ll buy you a new set right now. I‘ ll go immediately!”
I turned to run.
“Wait.”
Darren grabbed my wrist, his grip surprisingly strong. He stared straight into my eyes, as if trying to see through me completely.
“Nora,” he said slowly, “this hotel… were you here last month too?”
My heart skipped a beat.
The way
I had called him a “male escort” had clearly made him suspicious, If I admitted it, I’d be completely finished. He was Mary’s “boyfriend,” and 1 was his subordinate. This wasn’t just a one–night
stand anymore. It was a moral and professional death sentence.
I forced myself to put on a shocked expression.
“This is the Moonriver Hotel. It costs several
thousand dollars a night. How could an intern cop like me afford that?” I pointed at my worn–out shoes. “I usually buy clothes at Dollar Tree!”
The light in Darren’s eyes dimmed slightly. He let go of my wrist, his tone returning to cold indifference.
“Suit yourself.”
I felt as if I’d been granted a pardon. I grabbed my clothes and rushed out of the room.
In the hallway, Theresa was leaning against the wall, wearing a look of pure amusement.
“Well, Nora,” she sneered, “sleeping with the Sheriff now? I was the one who personally helped you into that room last night. Just wait to get fired.”
I looked at her coldly and finally understood everything.
“Theresa, trying to set me up?” I stepped closer, fearlessly meeting her gaze. “If you don’t want me to pull the surveillance footage and expose you for endangering a colleague, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise…”
I clenched my fist and waved it in front of her.
Theresa took a step back, visibly shaken.
I turned and walked away, my back resolute. But I knew this was only the calm before the storm.
Back in the room behind me, Darren hadn’t gotten dressed.
He pulled on a plain T–shirt, picked up his badge, and walked straight to the hotel front desk. His mind was filled with last night’s drunken kiss and that slip of the tongue.
“Male escort.”
That was no coincidence.
“I’m with the LAPD Major Crimes Division,” Darren said, slamming his badge down on the counter, his face dark with anger, “I want all of this hotel’s surveillance footage from last month. Immediately.
Now.”