“Not like her, you don’t.”
There was silence on the line. Remy probably didn’t know what to think. Me, the originator of the one-date-only rule, suddenly demanding to see the same girl again, no matter what the cost. I was still a little shocked myself by how into this girl I was, so I was sure Remy was beyond confused.
“Look, Remy,” I started. “I’ve been one of your best customers for a long time. If you won’t get Ruby back, then I need you to give me her phone number.”
This time he wasn’t silent. This time Remy laughed at my request. “Come on, now. You know I’d do anything for you, but I can’t give you the personal number of one of my girls, current or former. If I did that, I’d be putting myself out of business here. You’re a businessman. You know that’s not how things work.”
“I understand, but it’s not like that. I’m not trying to score behind your back,” I reasoned. “It’s just that something went down with Ruby and me. It was less business and more personal. I just need to clear some things up with her. That’s all. You can understand that, can’t you?”
“Something like what?” I could hear the suspicion in his voice, but I didn’t blame him. I was acting way out of character, and he was just trying to protect his interests. Knowing it would only make him more leery if I tried to bullshit him, I went for the direct approach and told him the truth.
“I flipped on her for turning off my phone. I think I hurt her feelings.”
Remy laughed. “That’s what she gets paid for, Orlando, to take whatever you dish out. It doesn’t matter if you had a bad day. She’s supposed to grin and bear it. If she let her feelings get hurt, then that’s her own fucking fault. Don’t worry about her.”
“I hear you, but I’d still like to get that number. Please, man.” Yes, I was that damn close to begging. Something about this girl had me wide open.
I could almost see Remy shaking his head through the phone. “Come on, Orlando. Don’t put me in this type of position. You’re one of our best customers, but this goes against all the rules, and there are no exceptions to the rules in my line of work.”
“I get where you’re coming from, and I assure you that I’m not trying to fuck up your business. As a matter of fact, as a show of good faith, I’m going to throw you two grand. That’s Ruby’s fee for a night, right? That’s two grand you never would have gotten, since she stopped working for you.”
“Two grand ... just for a phone number?”
I knew that would get his attention—being the businessman he was, of course. He could say what he wanted about there being no exceptions to the rule, but I knew that just like most people, Remy had a price.
“I know favors and exceptions don’t come free, Remy. I’m willing to pay. So, what do you say?”
Again, Remy paused. He was doing either one of two things: trying to recall Ruby’s number, or deciding whether breaking one of his sacred rules was worth two thousand dollars.
I decided to call his bluff. “You know what? You’re right. Forget I even put you in this position.”
“Oh, no, wait. I have her number right here.”
“Cool.” I scribbled the number on the back of an envelope as he rattled it off. “Thank you, Remy, and as always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.” I ended the call with a smile on my face. Remy might have been a good businessman, but I was better.
I wasted no time calling Ruby.
“Hello,” her voice greeted through the phone.
“Ruby?” There was a silence after I spoke, which told me she recognized my voice.
“Orlando.” Her tone wasn’t welcoming. It was more like a what-the-hell-you-doin’-ringing-my-phone kind of tone.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I said.
“What do you want? How did you get this number?”