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the
week,” I answered.
    “Aw come on Chloe,” he begged. “I really need your help. I
promise I’ll stay out of your hair. You won’t even know I’m here.” He dropped
his duffle bag on the floor, and walked toward me. “I’m sure there’s something
we can work out,” he said as he traced his fingertips against my face and
tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ears. I swatted his hand away and
stepped back.
    “I’m sorry Jude. The best I can do is a week, and you’re
lucky I even let you stay that long.”
    “But you promised,” he whined.
    “Things have changed. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you stay
indefinitely. It’s time you grew up and started taking responsibility for your
own life.”
    Jude’s expression changed in an instant at my words. His
face was distorted by an angry sneer. “Who are you to be judging me? What?
You’ve got a hot date now and think you can get up on your high horse and look
down on me? Don’t think you’re anything special. You know they’re just using
you. You’ll be tossed to the curb in no time, and you’ll come begging me to
wipe away your tears,” he spat out bitterly.
    “How dare you talk to me like that!” I replied, my voice
dangerously low. “You should pick up your bags and go.”
    “Whoa wait a minute Chloe,” he said, holding his hands up in
surrender. “You know I didn’t mean it. It’s just seeing you dressed like this
looking so good...I don’t know what came over me. I guess I got a little
jealous.”
    I looked at him skeptically.
    “You know me,” he pleaded. “You know I’d never hurt you. I
just got desperate, but I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll have my things out in
one week, if you’ll still let me stay.” He looked at me with his big brown
eyes, and my heart softened. Jude was hard to hate and always had a way of
weaseling himself back in.
    “Fine,” I mumbled. “You can only stay for a week. Here’s an
extra copy of my key.” I placed the key on the coffee table as the buzzer rang.
    “I’ve got to go now. Make yourself at home,” I added as I
gathered my things and made my way out the door.
    “What time will you be back tonight?” he asked.
    “Don’t wait up for me.”

Chapter Ten
    T he driver took the highway heading south and away from the
city. It surprised me. I had expected to meet Jake at some fancy restaurant in
the city.
    “Where are we going?” I asked, once he had taken an exit.
    He looked at me through the rearview mirror, his driving cap
shading his eyes. “Can’t say Miss. Boss’s orders.”
    “I’ll find out soon enough,” I replied. “You might as well
tell me now.”
    He shrugged his shoulders and turned his head forward to
concentrate on driving. I breathed out a disappointed sigh and looked out the
window at the passing scenery. My eyes weren’t really focusing as I thought
about my earlier encounter with Jude. I got an uncomfortable feeling in my gut
thinking about him alone in my apartment. There was a niggling voice in the
back of my mind telling me it wasn’t a good idea—that I couldn’t trust him. I
gave my head a tiny shake, trying to clear the negative thoughts. I should be
focusing on the night ahead, I thought.
    We pulled into an airport and drove straight to the terminal
where a private jet was waiting along with another black town car. Jake was
outside talking to the pilot and turned his head as my car approached. I got a
sudden feeling of butterflies in my stomach. It was silly. I’d been sleeping
with this man for weeks now; he’d seen every inch of me and done things to my
body no one else ever had, and here I was feeling like a nervous school girl on
a first date.
    Once the driver had pulled up to the other town car, he
stopped and stepped outside. I could see Jake excuse himself from the pilot and
head towards us. Coming around to my side of the car, the driver opened the
door for me and handed me out. Jake stopped in his tracks once I stepped out.
He looked a