In Too Deep by Stella Rhys

end, you’d still love me.”
    I stared, unblinking.  I couldn’t possibly be hearing what I thought I was.  “What are you saying right now, Jackson? Are you telling me to have sex with somebody to get back at you?”
    With a look of resignation on his face, Jackson looked up at me and said, “Yes.”

Chapter Ten
    There were rules involved with our deal.
    The next morning, when our eyes were dry and the offer was still on the table, I accepted.  I showered and got dressed for my day while Jackson sat up in bed.  I imagined that he stayed there for the next few hours, pained as he drew up the terms of our agreement.
    After several bridal appointments with Sloane, we went for dinner in SoHo.  We were on dessert when Jackson called.  I excused myself to the bathroom to answer.
    “It can’t be any of the guys,” he said before I could even say hello .  “My friends.  Their friends.  Their employees.  Anyone who runs in the circle or has anything to do with it.  Find someone who has nothing to do with my friends, fuck him and tell me when it’s over.”
    I was quiet for a second, letting it all sink in.  “What, just once?” I asked, my voice hard.  It was Jackson’s turn for silence.  I could practically hear him gritting his teeth.
    “Do you really need it more than once?” he finally asked.
    “You did.”
    He exhaled with frustration.  “Lara.”
    “You fucked her three times.  As far as I know.  Maybe it was more.”
    “It was three times, Lara, and fine.  Fuck whoever it is three times.  But I don’t want this hanging over my head, so get it over with fast, give a fake name and don’t bring him into our home.  I have a lot of shit going on right now.  The whole Monarch disaster is driving me insane.”
    I rolled my eyes.  The upcoming Monarch hotel was bleeding Jackson’s money every day its grand opening was delayed.  The restaurant and lounge inside wasn’t up to par and the hotel refused to open its doors till it was remodeled.  But I knew from Sawyer that some new partner had signed onto the project, and that their investments would all be put to good use soon.  So in comparison to Jackson and my relationship, the situation barely qualified as disastrous.  Not to me at least.  “Don’t worry, Jackson,” I said bitterly.  “I’ll be sure to fuck someone tonight.
    He started about four different angry sentences, finishing none before giving an animal-like snarl and hanging up.
    And for the next five minutes, I stayed in the bathroom.  Holding my phone, staring at my reflection in the mirror, I wondered how the hell I’d gotten here, and if Jackson and I were by far the two most fucked up people in our circle of friends.
    ~
    After parting ways with Sloane, I sat in the back of Jackson’s car, Beck waiting around in the driver’s seat as I bounced my knee and tried to think of where the hell to go to pick up a stranger.  It was the oddest situation I’d ever been in and I wished desperately that I had someone to consult with.  But I didn’t so sitting anxiously, I simply tried to think of neighborhoods that Jackson and his friends would die before stepping foot in.  Times Square? No, even I couldn’t bear to go there.  The East Village? Too many college kids.
    It took me another ten minutes to finally decide on Brooklyn.
    It was perfect.  Brooklyn was full of trendy but low-key bars and beautiful, young people, none of whom would know Jackson.  He and his friends regarded the borough as the place where others went after popping out three kids and deciding to become “grass-fed, organic people,” as Sawyer put it.
    Within twenty minutes, I was on Water Street in DUMBO.  I was risking it – if Jackson’s friends were to hang out anywhere in Brooklyn, it would be posh and polished DUMBO – but I wanted to have drinks at a nice bar, so I stuck with my choice.  If I was going to sleep with a complete stranger, he should at least be a put-together man of