Buying Love Update

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“What do you want to eat?” Bella asked, sitting down on the couch. She was dressed in a pair of insanely short shorts and a sheer camisole. Her curly hair was braided over her shoulder. She was flipping through the menu, her nose wrinkled adorably.

When we got upstairs after our time in the office, Bella told me to change into some pajamas. However, Esme probably expected me to just fuck Bella’s brains out. I had no pajamas. Bella handed me a pair of sweatpants that had belonged to her ex-husband and one of her old college t-shirts that was too big for her.

“Edward? Food? Do you want pizza? Hamburgers? Oooh, nachos,” she giggled, showing me a picture of some loaded nachos. They did look good.

“The nachos look decadent,” I smiled.

She grinned in return, reaching for the phone. “Hey, Phil. It’s Bella. Can I get an order of nachos, two bacon cheeseburgers with seasoned fries, and the death-by-chocolate cake? Oh! And beer. I thought I had some up here, but not so much … A half hour? Great. Thanks!” She hung up, sitting in some sort of contorted position on the couch. “The food will be here in a half hour. What movies do you want to see?”

“Um, what do you have?” I asked. She got up, pulling on my arm. I let out a small yelp since the angle at which she tugged on me caused my shoulders to ache.

“What’s wrong?” she questioned, her eyes big and filled with concern.

“I strained my shoulder,” I explained. “Esme had me move some furniture around and I …” Bella narrowed her eyes. “You don’t like her, do you?”

“Esme? Fuck no,” Bella snorted. 

Buying Love Teaser

She got up, pulling on my arm. I let out a small yelp since the angle at which she tugged on me caused my shoulders to ache.

“What’s wrong?” she questioned, her eyes big and filled with concern.

“I strained my shoulder,” I explained. “Esme had me move some furniture around and I …” Bella narrowed her eyes. “You don’t like her, do you?”

“Esme? Fuck no,” Bella snorted. “She has you on a short leash, so to speak and her rules are …” Bella held up her hands, her head shaking angrily. “There’s something about her that I do not trust. She sent over this contract for our agreement and there are so many loopholes for her to break it.”

“Can I see it?” I asked, curious as to what these loopholes were.

Bella nodded, walking to her office and handing me a hefty document. It was well-highlighted and written on with questions, concerns and snarky comments. Bella sat next to me, flipping to a page that was covered with a lot of her writing. “I mean, on here, Esme can end the contract if you are late back to the Buying Love offices. There’s also a stipulation that there can be no out of town dates. I put the kibosh immediately, telling her of the weekend for Jacob and Seth’s wedding in Napa. She begrudgingly agreed, charging more for that trip.” She looked at me. “How much of what I pay for you do you get? What percentage?”

I wanted to tell her the truth. I got nothing except for the tips. However, I didn’t want to incur the wrath of Mistress Esme. I gave her the programmed response that I told any of my clients who asked that question. “A little more than half.”

“I don’t believe you,” Bella snorted humorlessly.

“Believe it or not, it’s what I get,” I snapped. I got up and walked to the window, pinching my nose. I was so tired and my stomach was aching from hunger. I shouldn’t have snapped at her, but I couldn’t have her snooping around. Bella’s words from our first date came back to haunt me. Our relationship was a farce. Esme would always control me. My wants and needs were inconsequential. I didn’t want to lose what I had with Bella. Esme, however, could easily rip it away, as obviously shown by the insane contract she drew up for our exclusive escort relationship.

Bella walked behind me. Her arms slid around my middle and she pressed her cheek between my shoulder blades. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have pushed.”

I closed my eyes, one lone tear falling down my cheek. I wiped it away. “I’m sorry about snapping. I am more tired than I thought. When I’m tired, I get cranky,” I muttered, turning in her arms and enfolding her into a hug. I leaned my cheek against the crown of her sweet-smelling hair. “Can we make a promise?”

“What’s that?”

“Not to talk about Esme or the true nature of our relationship?” I asked. “It’s the only time we tend to argue. I don’t want to argue. I don’t want you mad at me.” I don’t want to lose you. 

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“You seem quiet, Edward,” Jared murmured. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answered absent-mindedly. “Tired.” I stared out the window as we drove through downtown Seattle to Swan Towers. I sighed, resting my cheek on my hand.

“You can talk to me, Edward. You seem to get sadder and sadder each time I see you,” Jared frowned. “Do you need money?”

I need a new fucking job and to get away from the Devil who wears Prada. “Money can’t help me, Jared. I’m a lost cause,” I said, sharing too much. If Esme found out that Jared knew about our deal, he’d be … I couldn’t risk having him get hurt? Or worse, Esme’s wrath on my mom.

“You’re not, Edward. Don’t ever say that. I’m worried about you. Please, talk to me,” Jared pleaded.

“I can’t, Jared,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I can’t run the risk of you talking to Esme and … I shook my head, looking back up to my driver. I had to deflect the conversation. “Did Esme tell you about my new client?”

“She did. Congratulations,” Jared replied, his eyes filled with worry for me. He pulled up to the front entrance of Swan Towers. I got out, slinging my bag over my shoulders. I groaned inwardly at the pain I felt in my arms. Jared got out and he stopped me. He was a tall man, just a few inches taller than me. He put his hands on my shoulders. I kept my face impassive, but the slight pressure he put on my arms was killing me. “I don’t know your story, Edward. I know you’re a good kid and that you’ve had a hard life. If there’s anything that I can do to help you. Please?” He handed me a card. “This is my personal cell number. If you need me, I’ll be there for you. You remind me so much of my son. I lost him at a young age and I don’t want to lose you, too.”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “What happened?”

“He died, committed suicide,” Jared answered. 

Jared

Buying Love Teaser

“You seem quiet, Edward,” Jared murmured. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answered absent-mindedly. “Tired.” I stared out the window as we drove through downtown Seattle to Swan Towers. I sighed, resting my cheek on my hand.

“You can talk to me, Edward. You seem to get sadder and sadder each time I see you,” Jared frowned. “Do you need money?”

I need a new fucking job and to get away from the Devil who wears Prada. “Money can’t help me, Jared. I’m a lost cause,” I said, sharing too much. If Esme found out that Jared knew about our deal, he’d be … I couldn’t risk having him get hurt? Or worse, Esme’s wrath on my mom.

“You’re not, Edward. Don’t ever say that. I’m worried about you. Please, talk to me,” Jared pleaded.

“I can’t, Jared,” I whispered, closing my eyes. I can’t run the risk of you talking to Esme and … I shook my head, looking back up to my driver. I had to deflect the conversation. “Did Esme tell you about my new client?”

“She did. Congratulations,” Jared replied, his eyes filled with worry for me. He pulled up to the front entrance of Swan Towers. I got out, slinging my bag over my shoulders. I groaned inwardly at the pain I felt in my arms. Jared got out and he stopped me. He was a tall man, just a few inches taller than me. He put his hands on my shoulders. I kept my face impassive, but the slight pressure he put on my arms was killing me. “I don’t know your story, Edward. I know you’re a good kid and that you’ve had a hard life. If there’s anything that I can do to help you. Please?” He handed me a card. 

“This is my personal cell number. If you need me, I’ll be there for you. You remind me so much of my son. I lost him at a young age and I don’t want to lose you, too.”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “What happened?”

“He died, committed suicide,” Jared answered. “Because he didn’t ask for help. He kept a secret that ate him alive and in the end, he lost his life because of it. I tried to push him, but he would just shut me out. I can see that whatever you’re hiding is doing the same thing to you. You’re not alone, Edward. After driving you for almost two years, I’d like to think that we’re more than just acquaintances. I consider you a friend.”

Jared

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Esme released me from my torture chamber mid-day on Friday. The first thing I did was scour my body. I felt so used and abused. My wrists and ankles were swollen from their bindings. I was starving, but I had to feel clean again. Unlikely, Edward. You’ll always feel dirty after what Esme does to you. The scalding hot shower helped my stiff, sore muscles and the thorough scrubbing I did of my skin made me feel slightly better. But, the memories of the past few days were on replay in my mind.

It would be a long time before I was truly okay. Being forced to …

Don’t think about it. Just, don’t.

Dressing in some comfortable clothes, I checked to see if Esme was around. Her office was closed and the chamber was locked. She was downstairs at Buying Love. I finagled the wooden plank off under my bed and found my throwaway phone. I plugged it in, turning it on. I sent Bella a text, apologizing for not calling her sooner. I alluded to my difficulties and putting her mind at ease about not wanting her.

Why would she want you? Esme’s voice sneered at me. I allowed a few tears to escape and a moment’s sadness before finishing my response to Bella. Clinging to the phone for a few more moments, I put it back under my bed and lay down to get a nap. 

Buying Love Teaser

Esme released me from my torture chamber mid-day on Friday. The first thing I did was scour my body. I felt so used and abused. My wrists and ankles were swollen from their bindings. I was starving, but I had to feel clean again. Unlikely, Edward. You’ll always feel dirty after what Esme does to you. The scalding hot shower helped my stiff, sore muscles and the thorough scrubbing I did of my skin made me feel slightly better. But, the memories of the past few days were on replay in my mind.

It would be a long time before I was truly okay. Being forced to …

Don’t think about it. Just, don’t.

Dressing in some comfortable clothes, I checked to see if Esme was around. Her office was closed and the chamber was locked. She was downstairs at Buying Love. I finagled the wooden plank off under my bed and found my throwaway phone. I plugged it in, turning it on. I sent Bella a text, apologizing for not calling her sooner. I alluded to my difficulties and putting her mind at ease about not wanting her.

Why would she want you? Esme’s voice sneered at me. I allowed a few tears to escape and a moment’s sadness before finishing my response to Bella. Clinging to the phone for a few more moments, I put it back under my bed and lay down to get a nap. Esme had allowed me very little sleep while I was her plaything. I wasn’t asleep long when Esme tore the blanket from my body. “You are so fucking lazy! This condo is disgusting. Get up off your ass and clean it up!” 

*Some folks have been asking about when we're going to find out more about Edward. We will. Esme will give you a hint at the end of this chapter. And as I've said before, this will be a DARKER journey than most. You've been warned.*

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“Hey, Edward,” said my usual driver, Jared. He was an older gentleman with kind hazel eyes. He reminded me, a bit, of my father. I liked him and he looked out for me. “How was your date last night?”

I smiled, blushing. “It was amazing,” I replied. “The woman I escorted was beautiful, funny, sexy and perfect.”

“If I knew better, you sounded like a guy in love,” Jared snickered. I rolled my eyes. “I’m happy for you. I know that Esme works you like a dog. You deserve to have a good time every so often. However, with all of the work, you could open your own business.”

I wrinkled my nose, knowing that I got only a small percentage of what Esme charged for my company. The date I had with Bella cost $5,000. Of that money, $3,500 went to pay for my debt. Another $800 went toward my rent in her condo which included food, cable, water, garbage and electricity and the final $700 paid for her care. Esme generously let me keep my tips. Most women gave me small tips, less than a $100. With those tips, I had to pay Jared and for my clothes to be laundered. It usually left me with very little in the way of spending money. Not that it mattered, I didn’t need to spend any money. The only thing I’d spend money on would be for her; to find a cure for her illness. 

Esme's Condo

Edward's 'Bedroom'

Basic ideas of Esme's chamber

Jared