Chapter 8

The rest of the week was the same we had our yoga, massage, lunch, girl time, dinner, and bed.

On Sunday Madame allowed us to mingle in the afternoon, we were shocked to see the guys were having lunch with us. Jack and I ate and chatted about Chicago and my family. "Would you like to walk on the beach before we go snorkeling?" He asked. "Snorkeling?" I asked. "Yeah, ever been?" He asked. I shook my head, "All the more reason," he responded. "Well, let's go walk, I think I need a minute to digest," I answered. We walked along the shore letting the waves of warm water sweep over our feet. "So where are you from?" I asked. "Me, um well I was raised part of my life in Taiwan, we moved to America when I was twelve," He explained. "Where in America?" I asked. "Seattle," he answered. We walked a bit in silence, I didn't know what to ask or how to talk to someone who was paid to make sure I have a good time. What exactly did that good time entail? Was he paid extra for the sexy things? My face must've given me and my conflict away, because he stopped me. "Hey, don't keep thinking about how everything works, let's just have some fun," he assured. I smiled and nodded, "Let's get changed," he added and we walked back.

When I got to my room, that awkward feeling creeped back and I really just wanted to pack everything up and leave. I went into the closet and stared at myself in the full length mirror, I was tan and hadn't noticed. I looked glowing and happy, what if there was something to all of this? What if I relax and have fun, only Beth knows I'm here and everyone here is from somewhere else. I took a deep breath and found my sexiest bikini, that Beth made me buy. The top laced up in the middle, I had average sized boobs but they looked bigger in this bikini, which is probably why Beth made me buy it. I put on my white lace cover up and flip flops as someone knocked on the door. I opened it and there was Jack in navy blue swim trunks and white linen shirt, he stared at me, "Ready," I greeted. "Wow," he blurted out. I smiled, "Yeah, let's go the boats waiting," he snapped out of it and offered his arm. Once on the boat we sat close like the other 2 couples with us. Amber, look absolutely green, "Do you get sea sick?" Sandra, who was sitting across from them, asked. "No, she drank too much last night," her escort answered for her. "Are you gonna be alright?" Sandra pressed. "She'll be fine once we are in the water," her escort retorted. Which made Sandra look at Roman and shake her head, Roman put his arm around Sandra and glared at Amber's escort.

We stopped at a clear cove not too far from shore but far enough. The guy who worked on the boat gave us all a quick crash course on how everything worked. We jumped in put our masks on and snorkeled around the boat at first, just until I was use to it. Then Jack took my hand and we swam away, waterproof camera in hand. There was so much life under the water, it felt like we had stepped into a whole other world. We took lots of pictures of each other with sea turtles and sting rays and in schools of fish. It was kind of fun to do touristy stuff, I felt my guard coming down and I was beginning to relax a little. We popped up and pushed our masks up, "Did you see that dolphin?" I asked. "I think I got a picture of it," he said pulling the camera up to see. "Here," he showed me. I smiled and turned to look at him, we were so close, he pulled me closer. I'm not entirely sure I was breathing, but I could feel his chest rise and fall against mine. I wasn't sure I was ready for this, but before we could get any closer, the timers we wore went off and we had to head back to the boat. The guy driving the boat helped us in and made sure everyone was there before heading back, Amber was now laying in the lap of her escort, still looking sick.

We got back just in time to get ready for dinner, I stood in the shower, trying to catch my breath. What was I doing? He was being paid to make me feel this way I was falling into it like an idiot. No, no I was falling for him, I can't do this I can't fall for him it's only been a week. I pulled myself together, "Get a grip, you've been here a week and you're already talking love," I yelled at myself in the shower. I finished washing the salt water off me got out to get ready, kept my make up natural, only dried my hair part way so the natural wave would give me the beach wave effect. I put on my red silk dress and black heels, "Remember, let's see what happens," I told myself and walked out. Per his usual Miguel my ever faithful guard was there waiting to take me to cocktail hour, where the drink of the night was blackberry margaritas. "Miss Clark," an unfamiliar voice called. I turned to see an older gentlemen, salt and pepper hair with a beard, linen shirt and kakis, I smiled. "My name is Jason," he said holding out his hand. "Whitney," I replied shaking his hand still at a complete loss who this man was. The dinner bell chimed a little early this time, "I believe we are being summoned," he said offering his arm. I squinted my eyes and skeptically took his arm. The dinning room was set up in smaller tables, "Let's sit here, we can see the ocean," he said pulling out my seat. I sat still dumbfounded at what was happening. Once everyone was seated, Madame came out, "Good evening friends, I'm sure you are all wondering where your chosen escorts are," she began. I looked around and no one had their "chosen" escort. "I wanted to show you, the choices of what happens and who you are with are all up to you," she said fanning her arms out. Did this mean Jason was going to be vying for my attention too? "You looked confused," he said turning back to me. I smiled and shook my head nervously, "So Whitney, where are you from?" Jason asked. I sighed, this was not an upgrade, one week in and I have to start all over. "I'm from Chicago," I offered. Our dinner was him asking me questions about Chicago and me just answering, there was no chemistry. I was actually tired when dinner was done and I just wanted to go to bed, but Jason had other plans. "Care for a walk?" He asked. "I'm really tired from today, I think I'm just gonna go to bed," I explained. He took my hand and we walked down to the beach, "I thought what ever happened was my choice," I said stopping before the sand. "It is," he smiled. "Ok, well I'm going to bed," I told him again and turned. "Fine, all I was saying was it's a beautiful night, but let's go to bed," he said following me. "No Jason, you are not invited," I said. He followed me all the way to the main house, I stopped in the hallway by the stairs and sighed, "Ok Jason, I'm sure your great, but I don't want to spend anymore time with you," I told him getting annoyed. "Mr. Hunter is there a problem?" Madame asked coming out of her office. "She invited me to bed," he shrugged. "No, I said I'm going to bed," I repeated. "Apologies Miss Clark, go ahead," Madame said. I thanked her and left Jason to be dealt with, "He better get fired," I said to myself as I shut my door behind me. "Who?" A deep voice asked from the chair to the side. I turned and there was Jack, I let out a sigh of relief. "Didn't like the other options?" He asked standing. "Is that was the big announcement was, that we have options?" I asked walking farther in. "More or less, she's gonna want final choices tomorrow," Jack said walking to me. He stood almost toe to toe with me, I was breathing him in and I could feel his breath on my skin. I shook my head, "I can't," I whispered in almost a plea. "Shhhh," he said as he ran his fingers up sides of my arms. His touch was so gentle and soft, "Breath," he whispered. I took a shaky breath in, "I missed our dinner together," he said softly against my hair. I reached my hands up and we embraced, I relaxed my head against his shoulder. I never knew so much could be said with a simple embrace, I felt warm and comforted in his arms. When I let go, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed my forehead, "Good night," he whispered and walked out the door behind me. I opened my eyes and looked around, stunned that he would get that close and just walked out. I felt like a hug was something I needed. Not the consoling hugs, I had gotten from my family and friends, but a warm and relaxing "I've got you" embrace. I took a deep breath and let it out, I was tired but I figured I'd message Beth. She was still up, "What are you waiting for girl, do it. Take him down," she texted. I smiled and shook my head. "I can't do that," I texted back. "Listen I know what you went through, but I also know you're on the other side and you need to get laid," she texted. I rolled my eyes, "Good night," I replied. "GET LAID!" was her final text.