“No, but here is another tip… Get your payment done no later than 9 am tomorrow, or you will not have power through the weekend. And based on your inconsistent arrival schedule, may I suggest you pay it on your way home from your shift?”
Hailey seemed to have nothing to say, but her pink-infused cheeks darkened, most likely because of her embarrassment atbeing caught and called on it. Yep, Hal could definitely picture Hailey over his lap taking a spanking with one of his office rulers while he lectured her on punctuality. So much so that it was causing a problem in his pants, and he shifted to release the pressure.
“You have a nice day, and remember, Hailey, pay your bill by 9 am tomorrow.”
Hal stood to take his leave, but Hailey blocked his exit.
“Or what?”
Hailey’s straightforwardness was a pleasant surprise. She wasn’t all secrets and deception like many young women he’d met.
“Or you may find out what type of man I am, Hailey.”
Hal stepped around her and as he passed the picture window, witnessed Hayley counting her money with a look of pleased surprise.
He opted to walk back to the office. It was a glorious day, and he needed time to process what had just happened. He’d broken his own rule: to watch and not interact, and he couldn’t even blame her. It had been he who had provoked their interaction. Now whatever happened would be what, he wondered.
If he had gone back to the diner, and she hadn’t had power over the weekend, then he would have to back up his words with action. He imagined taking her into the alley behind the restaurant and lifting her short skirt for punishment.
Get your head out of the gutter, Halstrom.
But he wasn’t ready to let things go yet. In business, being known as tenacious was a good thing, but here with this playing out multiple scenarios, not so much. What if she did as he instructed and shared that with him, hoping to garner a kind word from him?
Hal entered the tall building and took the elevator up to his level, grateful that his afternoon schedule was packed to keep him distracted from thoughts of Hailey. But as his day progressed, he wondered a dozen times if she had paid her bill on the way home. He didn’t even know if she would get off in time to pay it at the bank. Hopefully, she could make her deposit even in the back room with her phone and pay it directly.
When it was almost 5 pm, the urge to know the outcome drove Hal to stop and ponder his next move. Hal leaned back in his chair and stared out at the darkening sky from his million-dollar view of the city.
Hal prided himself on being a man who thought before he acted and was at odds with the gap between his thoughts and his feelings. And finally, as the last of the sun’s rays disappeared, he did something he’d never done before. Break his own rules and go to the restaurant to see if she was still working.
Chapter Two
Hailey
Her reflection belied her internal turmoil. But Hailey had always been good at painting on a fake exterior to hide her internal roiling. Today was a big day and would require more than a stellar smile; she also needed to look the part.
Because she did not apply to any big companies after failing her internship post-graduation, Hailey felt anxious about seeking employment with a major accounting firm or any business in that field.
She held hope that even with her less-than-stellar past attendance record, Firm Hand Accounting had a place for her and, for more reasons than the obvious one, money. Working with numbers was the only place she’d ever shined, and sheloved losing herself in numbers. It quieted the noise in her head and helped her focus.
And it reminded her of a time when her life was happy, and she was doing better. Then her life imploded, and she was still a little lost from the death of her mother. The quick marriage between her father and step-monster.
Hailey’s gaze travelled down from her red blazer, courtesy of her former private school, minus one obnoxious gold emblem, to her matching plaid skirt, a second-hand store treasure, to her white Converse runners.
She eyed herself critically and decided she looked too young to be taken seriously. Hailey toed off the Converse and dug through her closet until she found her Mary Janes. Back at the mirror, she decided the change of shoes was an improvement and was happy that there were also comfortable. Standing and walking all day gives a new appreciation for good shoes, and as such. Being fairly tall, at 5’6”, Hailey didn’t own a single pair of heels as she never needed them.
“You’ve got this, Hailey Carberry.” She tried a variety of smiles and multiple poses as she spoke to her mirror image to prepare for her interview in an hour. She’d set several alarms to ensure she woke up on time. But in the end, it wasn’t the extra noise that woke her but a recurring dream that featured the diner’s patron, Mr. Super Sexy.
Hailey woke up with her hand between her legs. It had been a feverish dream. The well-dressed man, a lunch regular since she started working at the City Diner, growled provocatively in her ear.
“Hailey, have you been a bad girl?” Dream Hailey experienced her panties dampen with the sexy growl. And being bad had never sounded better.
“No Daddy. I’ve been a good girl.” Dream Hailey could say anything she wanted without consequence, and somehow her subconscious was allowing her to run with the dream sequence.
She batted her eyes at the sexy man. But he was having none of the usual antics that worked in the restaurant. The dream shifted, and she and the man were in the alley. He put his foot up on the back stairs of the restaurant and, in a whoosh of air, Hailey found herself facedown over his hard thigh.
Not being able to reach the stair below with either her feet or her hands had her busy grasping his leg for support. He hiked her uniform skirt up and tucked the bottom into the waistband of her apron.
The position was both humiliating and illicit. Hailey was glad it was night, and no one could see her damp panty-clad bottom up in the air. But she was also so excited by the very idea.
