Isat in the outer office waiting. Every five minutes the lady who had introduced herself as Jane would come to call one of the other girls and they would disappear into an inner office together. The girls waiting with me were down to six. I looked at my watch and crossed my legs in impatience, it was nearly four p.m. I had a job in three hours and this “audition” process was taking too much time.
When Leo had called me earlier and asked me to audition for a desk job, I was taken aback because he usually never called. He communicated with the girls through texts or the group forum, and only called when it was urgent. I’d told Renée about the call because the details he had given me sounded a bit sketchy.Who auditions for a desk job? And when did Leo send girls out for this type of gig?We were escorts, not secretaries.
Ever optimistic, Renée encouraged me to go anyway. “You’ll need all the money you can get now!”
Renée was right. This was a time for me to find all possible work to earn as much as I could, and from what Leo had said, this was a high-earning gig. Maybe not a million dollars, but perhaps enough to buy my baby brother just a little more leeway.
No time to whine!We had picked out my outfit together. A white, long-sleeved collared shirt and dark blue jeans. Renée even loaned me a red Birkin bag, the only one she owned – it had been a gift from a client who’d discovered his wife was fucking the pool boy. Frankly, I thought his wife had every right, considering he was spending so much time with escorts. But hey, who was I to judge? I slipped on a pair of shiny black stilettos to complete the semi-professional look and put my glistening merlot-red hair into a thick French braid that dangled to my waist.
“Sasha Ramirez?” the pretty blonde lady named Jane called out my name.
Finally!It was my turn to go in. Jane led me into the office and asked me to take a seat. I took in the wide, tastefully furnished room, a bit intimidated by Jane's air of confidence and the way she had chaperoned the girls. I hesitated by the door, unsure of what would be expected of me. I had no admin experience to speak of, and hadn’t even been able to put together a flimsy resumé.
A male figure was seated in a chair with his back to the desk that dominated the room. A rather familiar back. Broad shoulders…thick dark hair.And then it hit me…That rich, sensual male scent from last night!
“Your last applicant is here," Jane announced to the man, guiding me to a chair. I was grateful; my knees were buckling.
I linked my shaky fingers together and placed them in my lap. I was a bundle of nerves. I stared as the figure turned.Fuck no! What are the odds?
It was definitely him…sitting five feet away from me! The same green eyes swirled with harsh arrogance, his chin was wide and his cheeks were dimpled on each side. I had yet to see him smile in a way that reached his eyes; somehow, I suspected those emerald depths would remain as dark as tempestuous waters.
“You!” My eyes widened.
The man just sat there, like a sex god. Although not quite like he had been last night. It wasn’t just the clothing – he’d been in black jeans and a crisp black button-down shirt in the club, whereas now his was pure business. The immaculately cut gray suit had no doubt been made for him, and his dark hair brushed against the collar of a pristine white shirt. There was something more, though.
He appeared so stiff, so controlled, it made me uneasy. Despite myself, I wanted to ruffle that smooth surface. His suit jacket outlined his broad shoulders and toned muscles, and I remembered running my hands over them; they’d had felt rock-solid to the touch. I felt myself begin to blush as my mind wandered to other parts of him that my hands were curious to explore. Even in the suit, he reeked of danger and a primal energy. I knew I should be cautious of but could not turn away from. I licked and bit down my lips unconsciously.
Never in all my twenty-two years on earth had a man stirred such sensuous emotions inside me. But if I’d expected a similar display of emotions from him, I was disappointed. No hint of a smile, or a sign of recognition. Not even a smirk, which at least would have been something.
"May I begin? Mr. Walker? " Jane asked him. He nodded once, permitting her to proceed. His attention was on me and he was staring fixedly. It made me even more tense, and I shuffled in my seat.Mr. Walker, so that was his name.Butwhat the hellis going on here?
"Ms. Ramirez, if you've noticed there's a two-page document in front of you. You have to sign it before we can be allowed to say the reason why you were invited here," Jane said to me.
I sat up, a bit alarmed. I had been right to be suspicious, and things had just taken a new turn.
"What kind of document? Why do you need my signature?"
"Please don't be alarmed, it's just an NDA – non-disclosure agreement; standard procedure. It means you can't discuss the details of this meeting to anyone. Will you sign it? You do have the option of leaving."
I thought to myself for a bit. "Can I go through it?"
"Sure," Jane chirped and gave me a reassuring smile.
I picked up the document and pretended to peruse it like I knew what to look for. After some minutes I put it down. I was about to pick up a pen but I was interrupted by the man who hadn't still succeeded in peeling his eyes away from me. I’d tried my very best to stay calm and avoid any eye-contact with him.
Stop licking your lips, Sasha!
"Get up and walk the room," he commanded unexpectedly. It was the first time he’d spoken since I’d walked in. The first time I’d heard him without the accompaniment of thundering bass in the background. His voice, low and sexy, splashed over me like rain when he spoke, and its sound reminded me of rumbling thunderstorms, the kind you welcomed on hot sweaty nights.
Sweaty…
"I'm sorry, what?" I replied, confused by his request.
Jane also gave him a look that said,What are you doing?
"I want to see her standing," he explained to Jane. They shared a look and it seemed like they were communicating through their silence, leaving me and my growing nervousness, to watch the exchange in confusion. Suddenly, I felt a ping of jealousy surge in my belly stomach.Are they a couple? For some reason, that disturbed me, and not only because it was pinging my freak radar.
"Alright, Ms. Ramirez. Would you please walk to the end of the room and back again? We know you're not a model. We would just like to get a good look at you."
