"No, sir. I don't think you should bring her," James said. "We've got a couple of your biggest investors that would make perfect dates for you."
"Is there a single one of them that is less than twenty years older than me? No. Is there a single one of them that is good looking enough to make a good tabloid picture? No," Paul Hayes said, holding his arm out for the measure tape. He had had his measurements taken many times before, but when ordering a custom suit, there was no reason not to be thorough.
"Look, sir, I'm thrilled that you are finally a pursuing a relationship with a single woman. I'm even happy with your choice of woman. However, this event requires that you bring a woman of high standing, and Ms. Collins simply doesn't fill that role. No offense, ma'am."
Oh, Tracy thought, so he can see me over here in the boss' chair. Tracy was used to being talked about like this in front of her at this point. It still didn't make her feel any better, though. "I don't think having me around is going to hurt Mr. Hayes' image too much. We've had our pictures taken together before, and I'm by far not the lowest class woman he's ever been seen with," she said, remembering all the bimbos who had walked into the restaurant with him.
"Again, no offense, ma'am, but this isn't just any night out on the town. This is the Ronald Hayes Cancer Research Charity Ball, and there's more at stake here than just Mr. Hayes' personal image. Believe me, I would love nothing more than to see you dressed up and on Mr. Hayes' arm, but this is about more than our personal wants. This is about the company," he explained.
Tracy snorted. In her dreams, she had seen exactly what James wanted to see her dressed up like, and it wasn't formal wear. Sometimes, this power was a curse...
Mr. Hayes turned to look at James, and the tailor dutifully turned with him, silently and obediently measuring away. "I don't care what you or anyone else thinks about Tracy. I seriously don't care. I will not be going to a charity ball in honor of my father with some 65 year old heiress who smells like old money."
James continued, undeterred. "I have another option then. The company's biggest investor, John Tice will be there. Escorting his daughter around would be a great move for both the company and for your own image."
Tracy would have to be blind to not notice the way Mr. Hayes perked up. "Jenna?"
"Yes, Jenna. She's recently graduated college with a degree in business and is looking for employment. Rumor has it she's not interested in working for her father's company at all. She could be an asset." James posited.
What was this? Tracy thought. This sounded like the Dark Ages, like the king of Spain should marry the princess of France to secure a treaty. This didn't sound like something that should happen at all.
"I'll keep it in mind, James. In the meantime, I'd like you to schedule Ms. Collins time for a dress fitting. We'll need Ms. Collins looking her best when we do go out," Mr. Hayes said looking over at her.
Tracy liked the way Mr. Hayes looked at her. His eyes seemed to glow with passion whenever he glanced her way. She liked how he looked too. As he was currently getting fitted, he had stripped down to his briefs and undershirt. Tracy could clearly see the way how muscular his legs were, and she thought, with lust, of how those muscles ran into a v-shape at his loins...
"Do you want that dress fitting done tonight?" James asked.
"No," Mr. Hayes said, a devilish grin crossing his face as he looked at Tracy staring at him. "I have other plans for today Make it a few days from now."
"Yes, sir," James said, and left the room. Soon afterwords, the tailor was done as well. Mr. Hayes watched as he left the room, then strode over to Tracy and kissed her. She smiled and returned the kiss.
▪▪▪
It had been a couple of months since Tracy had had her life turned upside down. First, she had failed out of medical school. A failed exam at just the wrong moment had ended her own dream of becoming a doctor. She had just begun feeling truly depressed about it when the bills had started arriving for her medical school loans. With no way to possibly pay them off, she had begun to think of ways that she could make some extra money.
In walked Paul Hayes, the billionaire playboy who just so happened to enjoy frequenting the restaurant she worked at. Hayes had made it clear from Day One that he would like to do more than just eat dinner with Tracy, but Tracy had managed to resist his advances, even though he was good looking and had a winning smile. As desperate for a way out of debt as she had been, she had begun to consider being his arm candy, but knew that she had to find a way to make it last.
It was at this crucial moment in that the stars aligned and the single best and worst thing of her life occurred. She had been driving home from work when a drunk driver had crashed his or her car directly into her before driving off. The accident hadn't killed her, but after she started receiving the medical bills, she knew that her life was effectively over.
The next time she saw Mr. Hayes, he again made it clear that he had the power to make all her problems go away, if only she would give herself to him. She had swallowed her pride and politely declined, but as he checked out her body, something happened. Tracy still hadn't figured out if it was a telepathic link, some form of clairvoyance, or whether it had any basis in science at all. What she did know is that, after feeling a blinding sensation behind her eyes, she had gone home and dreamed the dreams of Mr. Paul Hayes.
What she learned from the dream was shocking. Here was a man who was in control all the time, and the only thing he wanted was to have someone else take control. Tracy had seized on this, and the next time he hit on her, she went with him to his mansion. There, she tied him up...and left him. He pursued her, but she stayed one step ahead of him. After he paid off her medical bills, she humiliated him at the restaurant she worked at by making him clean it. The hand job she gave him was nothing compared to the promise that she made him: take care of the rest of her debt and she'd give herself to him. He did it without hesitation, and they made passionate love all evening long.
That had happened only two months ago, but already Tracy was comfortable in her new life. Originally, this had been all about money, but Mr. Hayes had fallen hard for Tracy. With his good looks and earnest desire to please Tracy in every way, it was hard not to have feelings for him. Even though it was clear that he was in love and she wasn't, Tracy hadn't yet found a deal better than this.
▪▪▪
"I have an important business meeting in seventeen minutes. You're more important than the meeting, but I should call ahead if I'm going to be late," Hayes said.