“Kinda.”
“Just fingering, though? Nothing leading up to that?”
June cleared her throat.
“Please don’t tell me you’re handing out free oral again.”
“What do you meanagain?”
Monique’s visage went from humorous to serious in fewer than three seconds. “I know you handed out head candy like it was, well,candyto everyone when we opened.”
“Yes, and you chewed my ass out for it.”
“You bet your chewed-out ass I did.”
“Who had the most clients out of the gate, though? Hm? Me. So what if I gave the doctor a free lollipop lick? She came back for the main course, as I planned. I’ll charge her for all future oral, don’t worry.”
Monique’s look said she wasn’t sure about that. “How’s the modeling?”
“Fine. She loves me naked.”
“Excellent. I’m hoping to talk to her about her projects. Maybe grease a few of her wheels and see if she won’t display your portraits somewhere. Could be good advertisement. I’massuming you wouldn’t mind your painted pussy plastered across the country’s galleries.”
“Hell, no. You can already find my real pussy online.”
“Trust me. I’ve seen it.”
That didn’t disturb June. She had put those links in her résumé.Besides, she inspected me top to bottom when I reached the final stage of the interview.Stripped naked right here in this office so Monique could make sure everything was as June claimed it was. Fine thing if she was hiding herpes on her crotch… or worse.Track marks. Lots of shit went down in the Manoir, but drugs were absolutely out of the question. June did not like telling clients they couldn’t bring their coke to their parties, but it wasn’t like she wanted to be around that crap, either. The last thing they needed were addicts working there, too.
“Anyway, I am going to send Dr. Christie an announcement. She’ll probably decline, but on the off chance she accepts, I will assume you don’t mind.”
June shrugged. “Could have worse patrons.”
“You want Ms. Bolivar more.”
Her grin returned. “Wouldn’t you?”
Someone knocked at the door. “Madam Warner?” It was Minerva, Monique’s lady-in-waiting. “Your wife is here.”
“I’ll decline to comment,” Monique said to June. Then, louder, “Send her in!”
Monique’s wife – a tall, vivacious blond woman named Helen – waltzed in with her hands in her sweater pockets. She surveyed her wife’s office before going to her and kissing the top of her head. The brief look of happiness on Monique’s face was lovely.Gag, anyway.“Good to see you, Princess,” Helen said. “Are you finishing up here, or should I bring my bag in?”
Monique pulled away from her wife. “Afraid we’re doing the quarterly audit. If you can wait another hour, I should be ready to go home.”
“Good.” Helen turned to June. “Do me a favor and tell my wife to come home more often. We all miss her.”
June gave her a pleasant, professional smile. “When she’s gone, I’m left in charge. Don’t know what to say about that.”
“Well, then.”
“While we’re telling each other things,” Monique began, cleaning up her desk, “tell Ms. Kingsley that it’s bad business to hand out free cunnilingus. You’re a businesswoman, Helen. You know what I’m talking about.”
To her credit, she didn’t blush. To be married to Monique meant taking these comments in stride. “I do believe they call that a loss leader, dearest. Hand out a sample product for free and then watch them come back for the whole package. Tactic as old as time. Seems fitting for the oldest profession.”
“Thank you,” June said. “That’s what I’ve told her! I am the best, so it’s only right that I give out free samples. Trust me, nine times out of ten, they come back for more of June Kingsley.”
“I’m sure.” Helen glanced at her wife and said, “Perhaps I should sample it for myself.”
