I wouldn’t be dumb enough to be caught with my pants down. I wasn’t a risk-taker—or I hadn’t been a risk-taker. That wasn’t true anymore. Victor was a huge risk, and my dumbass was totally okay with taking him. I wanted to take him anywhere and everywhere—my mouth, my pants, my apartment.
I looked around my place and wondered if he would find it too drab for his taste. If he didn’t like the much more posh home I’d picked out in Lakeview, he would probably think my tiny apartment was an old, vintage shoebox that smelled of an aviary, thanks to the asshole birds next door.
I pushed Victor out of my mind, washed my face, and readied myself for the day. Today would be the last meeting before our circus act. Lisa, my vendors, Sara, and Victor himself would be there. I hadn’t seen Victor since our date night, but we had been texting nonstop over the last few days. He had wanted to meet up, but I’d told him I was too busy planning his extra-extraordinary event, which was true. I barely sat down these days. I’d been running around town like a maniac lately, getting the final details ready for this meeting.
I took special care to make myself presentable today. Not just presentable, but hot as fuck. I always wanted to tease a man while he worked, and today, I was going to make that happen. A little sexy time in his office never hurt anyone. It wasn’t like we hadn’t screwed there before. Secretary and boss romance was pretty damn steamy, in my opinion. I might have even watched a few videos about it recently—not Malcolm’s videos, but close enough.
I looked at my sexy secretary bun in the mirror and rolled my eyes.
“Could I be any more of a stereotype?” I said aloud to no one but me. “Yes, yes, you can, hooker. You can give him a blow job under the desk,” I answered myself.
My head was full of brilliant ideas, even in the midst of risky territory.
“Wow! Who are you fucking?” Lisa elbowed me in the side as I sat down next to her in the conference room.
“Shh! How do you know I’m fucking anyone?” I whispered back.
“Because you’re dressed with more confidence than I’ve ever seen on you, and that lipstick screams, Let’s get it on.”
I couldn’t hide my grin. I knew if this thing with Victor kept going steady, we would eventually have to tell people. I didn’t know how that would work since I was still his employee. But I couldn’t think about all of that right now. I had to focus on his event and hopefully the bonus it would pay out. Also, I had to focus on sexy time in his office because he’d drunkenly left me high and dry last weekend.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did you ever get back in touch with that band? I have a backup plan if they don’t work out.”
“Look at you, changing the subject. Okay, I’ll play nice. But I’d better be the first person you tell when you’re ready. I need all the dirty details. I’ve been in a rut. I’m living vicariously through you!” Lisa narrowed her eyes at me.
I wanted to tell her, and I would … eventually … if it all worked out.
“The band?” I asked again.
“Yes, booked solid. They’ll be there. You still doing the tigers?” Her mouth pulled tight.
“I am. There will be lots of handlers and safety precautions. They’ll only come out when everyone is seated. I got this,” I reassured her.
“I’m just saying, I have to be here for my kids. Lord knows their deadbeat dad won’t take care of them like I do. I can’t die.”
“I got it.” I laughed.
I could smell Victor’s cologne and maybe even his pheromones before I saw him. My heart fluttered in my stomach, and my inner thighs flushed hot as soon as I caught a whiff of that seductive, leathery scent. He sauntered into the room, delicious as always. The suit and tie, the slightly disheveled yet still professional hair, the five o’clock shadow—all of him set my mouth watering.
“Good morning,” Victor said as he made eye contact with every one of us. When he looked at me, he didn’t even skip a beat—no special wink, no secret nod, no devilish grin, nothing.
Sara sidled up beside him, moving her chair closer and sharing her notes. She caught my eye and gave me a little smirk.
What the hell is that about?
“I want you all to know that I appreciate each and every one of you and how hard you’ve worked on this event. This event will be a holiday party like no other in NOLA. A quick couple of things I need to note. Costumes. Everyone will be in costumes; you know the drill. I’ve got your costume stipends with me today, and Sara here will hand them out to you shortly. Also, we might have more guests in attendance than I originally bargained for, so let’s make sure we have enough seating and food. I’ll get with you, Samantha, about that afterward.” He looked at me briefly and maybe even sternly, like the old Victor asshole-in-chief.
Sara smiled at me, sat back in her chair, and crossed her arms. A slight chill crept up the back of my neck.
“Samantha?” Victor asked.
Lisa kicked me under the table. I broke out of my trance and noticed all eyes were on me.
“Oh, yes, yes. That. All taken care of. We are all systems go.” I nodded and leaned into the table, clasping my hands together like I meant business.
Sara still stared me down. Her smile grew bigger and bigger by the moment.
“Perfect. We can discuss this in detail in my office.” He glared at me before standing up to leave. “You’re dismissed. The next time I see you all, we will be under the big top and dressed to impress. Don’t forget your checks from Sara.”
Sara never took her eyes off of me, and I never took my eyes off of Victor. The air between us three hung heavy with tension. Something had happened. I scurried off to Victor’s office to see if there was a problem.
I knocked on the open door and popped my head inside. “You wanted to see me?”
“Please, come in. Shut the door behind you, if you don’t mind,” he answered, his voice flat.
“What’s going on? Did I do something wrong? Is this about the tigers? Are you changing your mind? I told you that you’d be briefed on that. I know you haven’t been involved as much, but I promise, I got this under control.” I smoothed my skirt and took a seat.
“It’s not about the circus. Look, Samantha. Ugh. I’m sorry I had to be that way out there. I had to do the mask thing. It’s Sara. She’s such a bitch. Here, she gave me these this morning. She said it looks bad for Fleur-De-Lis. Not that she makes any of my business decisions, but maybe you can explain. I didn’t know you had a kink like this. I wish you’d told me.”
He slid a folder across the desk and watched as I opened it. I pulled out a handful of half-naked photos of me at a sex club. I’d worn a lacy mask, but still, there was no doubt it was me.
“Where did you get these?” My hands trembled as I took the pictures and stuffed them in my handbag.
“Like I said, Sara.” He leaned his elbows on the desk and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can get rid of them. It’s not a big deal. But you should know that she saw them, and honestly, there’s no telling with her. But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, where the fuck did she get them?”
“I have no idea! She didn’t say. The internet?”