I’ll give him no reason to fire me.
My hand is trembling just slightly as I stand outside my apartment. The car pulls up to thecurb at nine on the dot, as it does every morning. I don’t even dare look at Mr. Roth where he sits on the other side, pulling my feet inside, closing the door, and setting my purse into the seat back pocket like I always do. Then I keep my gaze straight forward as I scroll to my calendar app.
“Prospective client meeting at ten,” I say. “Just enough time to get coffee and head to the other side of town.”
I see from the corner of my eye as Mr. Roth nods, not speaking, same as he always does. The car pulls away as we head to the coffee shop. But as we drive in silence, it feels far more deafening than it ever did before. I’d grown so used to it, but now all I can think is that he’s going to confront me about last night.
But he doesn’t. I get our coffees as always and place them in the cupholders.
“Thank you,” Mr. Roth murmurs, then picks up his coffee cup and brings it to his lips. I jerk my gaze away so I’m not staring at him.
He’s never said that before, not in the two years I’ve worked for him.
My face heats as I drink my own coffee, trying to choke it down even though it’s fresh and hot. Maybe he isn’t mad at me after all.
When we reach the prospective client’s office, I follow Mr. Roth inside. But this time, he holds the door open for me, and I stare at him quizzically before stepping through.
Inside the white foyer, Mr. Roth leads us down a hall to an office. Typically, I sit behind him and take notes, but as he sits down, my boss pulls out the chair next to him and gestures for me to sit there.
My jaw flexes, but I have no choice but to sit in the offered chair. I whip out my notebook, ready to take notes as the two start talking business.
On the way out, Mr. Roth holds the door open for me again, and I come so close to him as I pass that my ass almost touches his groin. He inhales sharply, but then I’m on the other side, striding down the hall. He follows along behind me, and I’m too scared to look back and see the expression on his face.
After he calls the car, we wait at the curb, and a gentle rain starts to fall. Mr. Roth puts one hand on my shoulder and guides me backward, under the overhang.
“Can’t have the rain ruin your makeup,” he says under his breath. Then he releases me, and we wait side by side for the car to arrive.
The rest of our day is much the same. At five, after Mr. Roth’s last meeting, the car heads toward my apartment. I expect Mr. Roth to do something—anything—to give me an idea of what he’s thinking, but as normal, the car stops outside my apartment and Mr. Roth is silent.
But when I put my hand on the door handle, his voice stops me.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Ms. Kristoff.”
I turn around, and his yellow eyes are focused on me.
“Oh. Sure. It’s… my job.”
He nods, and then turns away, which I take as my sign to go.
That night, I luxuriate in the shower, touching my nipples as I think about Mr. Roth in the car today. Then my hand ventures south, and I brush over my clit as I remember his hand sliding up my thigh.
He was hard, too. I didn’t miss that. I make him just as horny; I affect him just as much. So what will it take to convince himto make the next move?
I head to the club in my long overcoat, pondering as I ride the subway. This was not the day I expected to have after how we left things last night.
Once downstairs, I greet the other girls getting ready and tuck my belongings away into my locker. I have to shift into Velvet now, the after-hours girl, and try to shake off my weird day. Tonight, I’m sexy, available, and eager to please.
The club is packed, but every girl is working, so again, I don’t get flagged down. When I reach the bar, though, Matt is waiting for me.
“He’s back,” he says conspiratorially.
“Who’s back?”
“The gentleman from last night. Must have made an impression for him to come two nights in a row and inquire about you.”
I freeze. No way. He’s here. Vincent is here again, and he’s been asking about me.
“Thanks for letting me know.” I wave as I head off to the VIP room. Tonight I’m wearing a midriff-length, structured top with a high-waisted skirt, all of it black. The club is busier tonight, but I see right away when I step through the doorway that Mr. Roth is here again.
