She swings her legs over and slides onto my lap. “It’s no wonder you shoot so well. Your arms are so big and sexy.”
She bites her lower lip and grips my biceps like she never wants to let go. “I wonder what else is big…”
She’s about to find out real soon.
The DJ blasts “Get Low” by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, and her eyes light up.
“Oh my God, I love this song!” she squeals. “Come on! Let’s see if you’re as skilled on the dance floor as you are on the court.”
Grabbing my hand, she pulls me towards the center of the club.
“Damn, that was amazing.” Alicia lies sprawled on the bed, out of breath after our session. “I swear, I’ll have such high expectations for men after tonight.”
“I’m quite flattered,” I say with a chuckle.
“I wish I could stay for more, but I have to be up early tomorrow.” She reluctantly climbs out of the bed to get dressed.
I pull out my phone and call my driver to arrange a ride for her back to Riley’s.
“Um, can I get my phone back?” She chews on her fingernails, avoiding my gaze.
“Oh, right. Sorry.” I reach into the nightstand drawer and hand her the phone.
After catching someone trying to record me without my consent, I had to start taking extra precautions. Now I make sure the women I spend the night with always put their phones away before we get started. So far, none have had a problem with it.
If a sex tape ever leaked, it would be a massive scandal.
“Thank you for making my stay in San Francisco memorable,” she drawls, lingering by the door frame.
“Glad I could be of assistance,” I say, flashing her a wink.
After she leaves, I slip back into bed and drift off into a peaceful sleep, still riding the high of my victory.
CHAPTER TWO
annalise
My eyes growheavy as I sit at my desk, struggling to stay awake while organizing the stack of files before me. I stayed up all night binge-watchingThe Heart Ripper,a true crime documentary about the murder of college students in a small town in Oregon called Misty Hollow. I was so invested that I lost track of time.
The day just started and I’m already ready for it to end.
“This is the wrong material!” I hear my boss, Veronica, shout.
I spin my chair around, curious to see what could possibly be upsetting her now.
Veronica Zhang, founder of Dauntless, the athletic wear brand I work for, is quite literally the boss from hell. She treats anyone that’s not in a position of power like the scum of the earth, and as her assistant, I’m not lucky enough to escape her wrath. I can’t count the number of times she’s fired someone for challenging her. I’ve learned that it’s best to just keep your head down and your mouth shut to keep the peace around here.
Her fist tightens around a pair of pants, and she shoots Claraa look that has the poor intern trembling with fear. “Were my instructions not clear enough?” Veronica seethes.
Clara’s fair skin flushes to a deep shade of crimson, sweat staining her satin blouse. She stares down at her feet and wrings her hands together. “I—uh—think it—it could still w-w-work.” She smiles weakly at Veronica.
Veronica hurls the pants at the window, making Clara jump. She scoffs and hangs her hands on her hips, leveling the redhead with a glare. “If I wanted your opinion, I’d ask for it. Now get the hell out of my face before I really lose it.”
Clara runs to the bathroom, tears streaming down her face.
“Sheesh. Let me make sure I don’t make any mistakes today,” I mutter to my coworker Ivy.
“She’s on edge,” Ivy whispers. “I overheard one of the fashion designers say that someone famous wants to collaborate with us. They’re supposed to be here soon.”
