No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Cough!"

The man on the other end of the phone seemed taken aback by my playful, sweet voice. Clearing his throat twice, he asked, "What do you need help with?"

"There must be female models at the Sapphire Lounge as well as male models, right? Are you familiar with any of them?" Once I confirmed it was Ernest on the line, I felt free to speak my mind. It's funny, really. I'd been trying so hard to figure out if he was Ernest, and just when I couldn't be sure, a simple mention of meatloaf gave me my answer.

"What are you planning?" the man, still pretending, queried.

I wondered if him cooking fish for me was a deliberate signal to let me know he was indeed Ernest.

Even if he wanted me to know his true identity, since he's played the stranger for so long, I figured I'd play along, "I just want to experience life, see what it's like to be a female model." "What?" Phipps's tone was laced with surprise.

"I want to try being a model, help me get into it," I continued to tease him.

"That's not possible," Phipps flatly refused.

I feigned confusion, "Why not? Am I not pretty enough, or is my figure not up to standard?"

you," Phipps's tone

go? You're there, aren't you?" I

other end, and after a few seconds, he finally spoke,

this was

as long as he didn't admit to being Ernest, I'd treat him as Phipps, a man I could playfully

my own way," I said,

you want to do, and I'll help you," he still

on the table, I teased further, "I just want to live the life of a

that men can just

at the Sapphire Lounge do? Do you realize it's easy to get in but hard to leave?" Phipps's voice was heavy, filled

en FindNovel

it was Allen who was misleading.

months at the Sapphire Lounge, I couldn't help

and my heart grew uneasy, "Why aren't you speaking?

Phipps's answer relieved