Page 20 of Worth Loving You

Chastity Monroe

Every morning was the same. I walked into the spa, flashed the receptionist a fake smile, scooted behind the desk, and signed in on the computer. Then I printed up my schedule for the day, went to my room, and prepared for the clients I would be seeing, making sure I had all the supplies I would need to fulfill their wishes.

The moment I turned the corner and put on that fake smile, I knew something was wrong. She looked horrified to see me, and then disgusted.

My brows furrowed as I set my bag on the counter and shimmied around.

She threw her arm out, covering the keyboard. “Mrs. Sanchell wants to see you before you log in.”

Confused, I blinked rapidly. “Oh. Uh. Okay.”

I picked up my bag, draped it on my shoulder, and made my way back the way I came, passing the entrance to the office at the rear. I knocked on her door and stepped inside when she called me.

Her finger held up, the desk phone held to her ear. “Uh huh. I understand.”

I scooted closer to a chair to sit while I waited for her to finish, but she wagged her finger and shot a hateful sneer. Again, I was taken aback by the gruffness I was receiving today.

She pressed a button and cradled the receiver, a man’s voice filling the room.

“I normally wouldn’t even say anything because it’s just so embarrassing, but the next person might not be so forgiving, and I wouldn’t want your establishment to be sued, Mrs. Sanchell.”

“No, I completely understand, Mr. Pampinella.”

My lids rounded and my heart sank, panic setting into my bones. The strap to my bag slid off my shoulder, catching just past my elbow.

“I have Ms. Monroe with me now.”

“Oh. Well, this is awkward. Look, like I said, this is a very uncomfortable situation for us all, but I’ve never had a masseuse behave so unethically as Ms. Monroe had the day before.”

“What?” I shrieked, dumbfounded at what I was hearing.

“Ms. Monroe, did you touch Mr. Pampinella inappropriately yesterday?”

“That’s…that’s not what happened.”

“Did you, or did you not proposition Mr. Pampinella during your private massage yesterday.”

“No!” I screeched, burning with humiliation, sweat coating my body.

“Come on,” he cried. “What on earth do I have to gain by lying about this? My reputation is being bruised here. I mean, a man in my position, calling to complain about sexual harassment. This isn’t exactly something I would like to get out in the open.”

“But that’s not what happened, Mrs. Sanchell. He…h-he—”

“Are you calling the client a liar? Is that what you’re trying to do? The CEO of an international corporation has nothing better to do than call up a spa and fabricate tales about one of my employees?”

“No, but he…Yes! That’s not what happened.”

“Ms. Monroe, I’m afraid I have no choice but to dismiss you from my establishment. Under the prompting of Mr. Pampinella, I have decided not to report you and have your license revoked.”

Sneering, my head bobbed side to side, my hand propping on my hip. “Oh, really. And if he was so offended, he had to complain, then why wouldn’t he want me to lose my license?”

“Look, I can understand how someone like you can get confused and mistake attraction when dealing with someone like me,” he said.

“Oh, my god, you are such a narcissist!”

“So, you did call him that yesterday?” Mrs. Sanchell griped.

“I mean…”