Chapter 4. Desire
[Let it ride]
Prescott returned to the security booth after calling his secretary to find out where Jessica was staying. He was pleased when he discovered she was a guest at his hotel. He had made arrangements for a picnic dinner to be prepared by the Golden dreams head chef. He also called the bellman and ordered his jaguar to be brought here.
He called the flower shop and had a bouquet sent to Jessica's room. "smooth work down here'' mac said when Prescott entered the security room. ''yeah'' I especially liked the part where she almost fell off the bench trying to get away from you'' mac said with a grin. Prescott ignored them his mind was on Jessica. She had returned to her room. Thanks to Martha, he knew she was in the east tower, room 1812. He keyed up her hallway on the monitor.it was empty, he tried not to think of her as a woman at all. She was the means to an end. The faceless model in the ralph Lauren ad wearing a cable-knit sweater and holding a child.She wasn't a faceless woman, she was Jessica smith, a woman with a sharp wit and a sense of humour. He hadn't expected humour from her. He had never really considered that as a qualification for the right family.
Mac leaned over his shoulders, ''you got it back''''got what'' Prescott asked?''the lust bug''''ha, this has nothing to do with lust'' that wasn't entirely true, but Prescott wasn't ready to discuss women with Mac, because they tended to disagree about them on a fundamental level. Prescott had been raised by his mum and surrounded by show-girls. Mac has been raised by his father, a bitter man who hated all women. Mac attitude towards women was that they were only after one thing, which is money.Prescott had seen first-hand how money could make the difference between life and death to a woman on the streets.''she doesn't look like one-night-stand type'' Angelo said.Prescott knew that; his intention towards her were noble. Jessica was even better-suited to the label in his head that read WIFE than he had thought she would be.''I can't believe you old man'' mac said''why can't you believe me'' he turned to Angelo.'doesn't she look like marriage material?Angelo nodded. Mac leaned against the wall crossing his arms over his chest, ''you really think you are going to marry her?''Prescott shrugged. Unless he had lost his touch, sure he was going to marry Jessica smith.''she won't do it'' mac said''she might'' Angelo said mac could be right. but when he put his mind to something, Prescott never lost. He wasn't one of those guys that accepts defeat. Nothing gave Prescott the thrill wagering did, though Jessica had the potential, he thought. ''want to bet''''now you're talking'' mac said. ''terms?'' ''there are no terms, if I convince her to marry me, I win. Prescott liked things simple.''okay but you do it in two weeks'' and it has to be a real marriage''Two weeks, was that enough time? Jessica was a little skittish, but he had handled her carefully.''deal. When I win, you can finance a new addition to the children's shelter. Prescott said.One of the first things he had done when he had made his first fortune was to finance a children's shelter for the Vegas kids. A place to keep them off the streets while their parents gambled or worked in casinos. ''okay. When I win, you can finance a medieval-sword display at the chimera.'' Mac's hotel/casino was known for its world-renowned travelling displays. Angelo's phone rang, and he turned to take the call. Prescott heard him curse in Italian. ''give me a break angel, I am just getting started here''''see? Women are nothing but trouble,'' mac said. Angelo covered the mouthpiece. ''I better take this call outside, I am going to be observing your operation on the floor tonight, right?''yes''. I will join you after midnight, I will have peter meet you in the lobby in fifteen minutes, okay?''Angelo nodded and left the room, mac followed him out.Prescott settled down in one of the empty chairs in the security room. A small team of three men were always on shift. A glass wall separated them from Prescott and his bank of monitors. He'd had the room designed so he could come in and observe whenever he wanted without disturbing the security operation.
Jessica emerged from her room, and he watched her pause in the hallway. She chewed her lower lip and turned back to the door. She was going to stand him up, she thought.She went into her room, then Prescott reached for his cell phone, dial the from desk and asked to be connected to her room. Jessica needed some coaxing.She answered on the second ring, her voice had a sexy breathless quality.''hey angel,'' he said, trying for a lightness he didn't feel, though it shouldn't matter to him if she changed her mind. If he lost the bet with mac, he will lose some money, but it won't be enough to break him. It wasn't as if there weren't other respectable women in the world, but there was something about Jessica smith he wanted.''Prescott?''''who else?''''I don't think you know me well enough to call me angel'' she said. The tart note in her voice would have done a schoolteacher proud.''I will after tonight,'' he said. The sensual promised he had seen in her eyes earlier guaranteed it.He remembered that scared moment when she had almost bolted, but then found her sass and stayed. He knew she wanted to have dinner with him, but he also knew her life to date had conditioned her and he was moving too fast. ''you are not going to back out now, are you?'' he pitched his voice low deliberately and smiled.