Free Help Me by Clara Bayard Page A

before reciting it.
    I sighed with relief and then wondered if I should have filled out fake information for myself. Probably, but it was too late now. I couldn’t exactly tell Veronica I’d written down the wrong name.
    The next document was longer and as I scanned it, I realized it was a confidentiality agreement. “I’m not sure I understand some of these terms,” I said.
    Veronica smiled. “Don’t worry about that. It’s all standard stuff.”
    I had no idea what the standard was, but figured arguing would look strange. So I signed it and said a silent prayer that I hadn’t agreed to hand over any internal organs or first-born children.
    “Is that it?”
    “One more. I’ll need routing information for your bank.”
    “Oh. Um, I don’t have one here yet.”
    “That’s all right. Just put down that you’d like a paper check for now and we can update it later.”
    “Okay.” I did as she asked and almost giggled when I saw the listing for job position read “actress.” They had no idea.
    After that was finished, Veronica sent us away. Something about signing my name freaked me out. I wondered how Kat had felt when she signed her paperwork. Was she excited? Scared? Did she think about our parents and what they would have thought of her decision? But hidden, underneath those thoughts was my real fear. That she’d hated doing this. Felt sickened. But done it anyway. For me. To make sure I could finish school and buy books and not need a full-time job.
    I swayed on my feet in the hallway, and Trey caught me, wrapping his strong arms around my shaking body.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. I’m just not steady on these heels. They’re a little too big for me.”
    He looked at me intently. “You’re a terrible liar, Amanda.”
    “I know.”
    We walked into a sitting room and Trey shut the door behind us. “Do you want to leave? We can come back tomorrow night.”
    “No.” I blinked away the tears in the corners of my eyes. “Let’s do this thing.”

Chapter Seven
    Once it became clear to Trey that I wasn’t going to explain what had happened, he gave up. “I’m supposed to have dinner tonight with a business associate. I’d forgotten all about it but I just got a text message reminder. I’ll cancel and we can start talking to people right away.”
    I thought for a moment. “Is it an important dinner?”
    He shrugged. “Hell if I know. I just show up and look handsome. Then a few days later I sit in a board room for a meeting where someone sells or buys something that costs millions.”
    I laughed honestly, even if it sounded a little hollow. “That sounds like a really hard job you’ve got there.”
    “Yup.”
    “Well, I don’t mind if you go to your dinner. I can start without you.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you alone here.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    “Not going to happen. End of discussion.”
    I frowned.
    “But,” he continued, “If you’re hungry, you could go to the dinner with me. We come back here after. There will be more girls around and it’s how I usually do things.”
    A tiny, petty part of me bristled at the way he casually mentioned his other ‘dates’ with the women who worked at the club. Stupid to be feeling jealous when this was all fake. And he was doing it to help me. But knowing I was being stupid didn’t make the feeling go away.
    “I did get all dressed up.”
    He smiled. “You sure did.”
    “Okay, then. Dinner it is.”
    “Great. Come along, Amanda. Get ready to be bored out of your skull.”
    We left the club and were walking to Trey’s car when I saw a familiar face that chilled me to the bone. I tugged Trey back into a shadow as the man passed us.
    “What? What happened now?”
    “Shh,” I hissed at him. “Wait a second.” Once the coast was clear, I continued. “Did you see that guy?”
    “Alexei? Yeah.”
    “You know him?” I took a step away from him.
    “Of course. He works here. He’s security.”
    “Oh no.” I