The door bangs open—apparently a theme today—and Marla rushes in. She’s at least ten minutes late and her uniform is haphazard. She smiles at me as I step away from the time clock to give her space. “Bitch, where have you been?”
“We have opposite shifts this week, remember?” I say, while desperately giving her a side eye look so she can see who I’m speaking with.
“Those fuckers. Night shifts suck without y—” Marla cuts off suddenly as she takes in the tall man next to me. “Shit. Fuck,” she says, her cheeks heating. “So sorry, Mr. Blackwood.”
“All good, Marla,” Aaron says as he squints at her nametag. “Just having a quick chat with Bex here.”
“And I’m late. I’m so sorry. Let me just throw my shit in my locker and I’ll leave you both to it.”
Aaron turns his attention back to me. “What was I saying?” I ask.
He smiles. “Corey mentioned the youth center art show.”
“Ah. Well, that was nice of him? I guess? There’s nothing planned yet. And honestly, maybe not at all. It’s…” I trail off, not wanting to discuss how financially challenged the youth center is. And definitely not how I can’t afford to front the money for the show myself.
“I get it. When Drew and I were growing up, we had a similar center in our hometown. They had one computer that Drew and I used to fight over using. It was just nice to be out of our house for a bit.” A darkness passes over his gaze as he mentally hops back to the past, but it quickly disappears.
“That’s exactly it,” I say, nodding. “The center doesn’t really have a budget for something like an art show, so we sort of make do with what we can.” I cringe at my words. I really don’t want my boss (or is it my boss’ boss’ boss?) to think I’m pandering for money.
“Right. Corey mentioned that, too. Look, I would love to collaborate with you on something for the center. An art show, for sure, but maybe some sort of local fundraising event?”
My heart stutters in my chest. “Mr.—”
“Bex, I swear to god, if you call me Mr. Blackwood one more time…” he says, grinning. “Before you tell me no, just think about it, please?”
I take a deep breath and collect myself. I will not argue with my billionaire boss, not in the staff room where anyone could potentially overhear us. “Okay.”
“Now that the casino is really up and running successfully, it’s time to focus on our local initiatives,” Aaron explains. “And if I can combine those initiatives with support for my friend… well, why the fuck not?”
“That’s incredibly generous of you… Aaron,” I say, testing his name on my tongue. It feels strange, but he’s one of Corey’s best friends. I can’t call him Mr. Blackwood in social settings.
“Think about it some more. We’ll find time to chat about the details in the next few weeks?”
Nodding, I say, “Sounds good. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Aaron says, shifting toward the staff door. “Now I’ll let you get the fuck out of here. Sorry for keeping you.”
“Not a problem.”
“Oh, and Bex?” Aaron asks as I turn toward the ladies’ locker room.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I can’t remember the last time I saw my friend this happy. It’s all because of you.”
A knot of emotion pushes up my throat, and I swallow hard against it. “I’m the lucky one.”
“I think you both are,” Aaron says before softly opening the staff door and heading back to the floor.
Traffic was terrible getting away from the Strip, so by the time I made it home and grabbed a few bites of a sandwich, it was time for my video chat with Corey. I ensured my bedroom door was locked and my noise-canceling headphones were properly turned on and ready before my phone began to buzz.
Swiping to answer it, I barely manage a hello before Corey appears on the screen. He’s wearing boxer briefs, and he’s pacing.
“Bex, baby, I need you to get naked for me. Right now.”
A rush of arousal sweeps through me, but it’s met with some concern. “Corey, what’s going on?”
He stops pacing and sets his phone down on something. “I’m having… a really horrible fucking week,” he says.
