18
In the limo…
“Where are your lap dogs?” she teased.
“Oh, she smiles and jokes. You should do that more often,” he chuckled. “It’s just you and me. We need to talk privately, and I don’t want Nick hitting on you all day. Makes me sick the way he throws himself at you.”
“Jealous? He’s just being a typical guy. He’s nice to me. I made him remove my pics from his phone, though. That’s creepy. I signed a magazine for him to get him to remove them.” She shrugged, blowing it off like the photos were no big deal.
“Jealous. No, I can have any woman I want, sweetheart. You can either want a man or a boy? Nick’s a boy.”
Gage pulled his arm over the back of the seat, playing with her hair. Her typical nervous shiver spread over her, but for once she didn’t pull away.
“I don’t doubt you can have any woman. Sort of arrogant for you to mention it. But... oh... never mind.” Isis pulled her long hair out of his reach.
Gage leaned in, noting her concerns. Doing his best to break the tension that surrounded them, he knew if he was going to put out that flame he'd need to show he was sincere. “No, let’s talk. You can speak freely. Tell me exactly what you think of me.”
“Really? Not sure if you would like it.” Isis was afraid her mouth may get her in trouble again.
“Yes.” He thought he may regret this.
“Well, okay. Here it is. You’re an arrogant jerk. I think you’re a womanizing asshole who has no respect for women. That’s the reason you’re mean to me. I think you are a little jealous when Nick or other guys on the roster flirt with me.” She took a breath, letting it out slowly. “I see you looking at me like I’m a piece of meat. That’s why when you see them do it, you get an attitude as if I’m a whore just asking for it. What you don’t know is, I’m modest other than the sexy outfits I perform in. It makes me feel pretty and reminds me of when I used to dance in competitions. I felt like what I did then mattered. Since I have been at IWX, I feel like it’s been the biggest mistake of my life and it’s all your fault.”
“Okay, well... you’re right. All of it. What you’re wrong about is, I respect women. Get this right. I don’t think you’re a whore. I never have. I regret saying it the second it came out of my mouth.” Gage rubbed her arm, trying to console her. He reached down to the intercom to summon the driver to have more time to chat. “Can you drive around for a while? I’ll let you know when we’re ready.”
“Yes, Mister Stone.”
“Oh, really? So, strip clubs and women hanging all over you all the time, that’s your idea of respect? Calling me a whore in the first five minutes we met was respectful? Saying I need a dick in my mouth to shut me up? Insisting, I submit to your every word. That’s the respect you speak of?” She grew angrier by the second.
“You know what, smart girl; you think you know me, but you don’t. Let’s just calm this down. I didn’t bring you out to fight. I asked what you thought, and we’re done with that. Now let’s get you ready for tonight and stop this before we both regret our words.” Gage instructed the driver to head to the fancy LA boutique. “I’m paying today. So, don’t argue with me about it.”
***
At the boutique, Gage was messing with her playfully. Something about taunting her gave him joy. Seeing Isis get all fired up was funny to watch. She was so small, and her temper was shorter than she was.
“This okay, Your Highness? I’ve tried almost everything here. I’m exhausted from changing clothes, Gage.”
She had gotten irritated with his demanding demeanor over the past three hours.
“No. That’s not the one. Try that black dress in the window.” He sat drinking a glass of wine, hiding the smirk on his face. He was having fun annoying her. Overall, they had been having a nice day together. “You need to look better than every woman in this video. You’re our queen, and I want you to look like it.”
Under her breath, “Ugh. You’re an annoying dick.”
“What was that?” he said smugly. Knowing what she said.
“Nothing! Jeez... fine. Black one,” she as she stomped off, mumbling something under her breath.
She tried on three more dresses before Gage decided he was done tormenting her. “The red one. That’s the one. It looks expensive and shows your dancer’s body.”
“What? You mean the one that comes to my knees. The body forming one that’s like silk or something? That’s the first one I tried on! Good grief!” She turned around, pouting. “Okay. The red one.” Isis just rolled her eyes, stomping back to the dressing room. “I’m hungry, and I need food. I’ll wear a freaking potato sack if it gets me out of here any sooner.”
Gage just laughed to himself. The poor girl was getting hungry and angry, a dangerous combination for an Evans girl.
Gage asked the lady in the store for two other dresses and went to pay. He handed them to Isis, and she jerked them out of his hands and stomped away again.
He just smiled. Annoying her had been fun and made him smile, something he hadn’t done in a very long time. Even pampering her turned him on a little. To him, the day had been productive so far. Hopefully, the photoshoot and video would go just as well.
__________
Authors Note: Gage seems like he may actually getting back to himself. How long do you think it will last?
Please leave a review and let me know what you think.
