The Intern Vol. 2(9)

"I prefer badass, thank you very much."

She smiles. "Either way, he'd be proud of you."         

     



 

I reach across the bed and grab her hand. "Thanks, Casey. He'd be proud of you, too."

It was the first time in years Casey and I had talked about Dad. It was  always a sore subject in our house, Mom never wanting to discuss it or  allowing us to ask questions.





Chapter Seven

Cecilia



AFTER THE FIGHT with my mom, talking to Casey really calmed me down. I  still have a thousand questions, but at least Casey was willing to talk  to me about Dad.

I shower and get ready for bed, but first check my email and see one from Bentley. My heart begins racing as I click on it.



To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Employee Conduct



Miss West,

Don't think I didn't notice that you were over a half hour late for work  today. Surely, you do not intend to make this a habit, as I'll have no  choice but to fire you.

Mr. Leighton

P.S. Clearly the other night was too much for your body to handle, so  next time we'll be skipping the fucking foreplay-there's not much use  for that anyway.



I respond immediately.



To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Employee Conduct



Mr. Leighton,

I am fully aware that I was half an hour late to work today. I am also  aware that HR received notice of my aforementioned tardiness last week  as I knew I had a morning appointment scheduled for today a while ago.

Miss West

P.S. The other night was definitely not "too much" for me to handle. I  handled it quite well, from what I remember-even slammed up against your  wall. However, your assumption that there will be a "next time" between  the two of us-after today-is rather laughable.



I lie about my morning appointment, but he doesn't have to know that.  And after today, I'm not so sure things between us should escalate-but  who am I really kidding?



To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Re: Employee Conduct



Miss West,

It's good to know that you're capable of contacting HR about your  tardiness in advance, but last time I checked being late still means  "being late."

Make sure it doesn't happen again.

Mr. Leighton

P.S. I went rather easy on you today. Next time, I won't give in to your  loud ass moans. And yes, I did say "next time," because it's not an  assumption. It's a fact.







I spend the next half of the week in a haze. As desperately as I want  answers for my dad, I'm coming up empty. If I'm going to find anything,  it'll be in the company database. But that's not going to be an easy  task.



Unknown: Be ready by 7PM Friday.

Ceci: And this is?

Unknown: 2100 E. Grand Ave.

Ceci: Who is this??

Unknown: Don't be late. Wear those stockings.



I didn't know whether to be giddy or pissed off. I know I've given him  reasons to doubt me, but now he's just acting like a cold and distant  asshole.



Ceci: I have plans.

Bentley: Cancel them.

Ceci: Fuck you.

Bentley: That's what I'm hoping for.



I look up the address and see it's for the Hilton Grand Hotel of Omaha.



Ceci: I'm not staying at a hotel with you.

Bentley: No one said anything about staying over.

Ceci: You are impossible. At least tell me what I'm supposed to wear.

Bentley: Preferably nothing. But since this is a public affair, I suggest something elegant.

Ceci: I don't appreciate being told what to do with no clue as to what's going on.

Bentley: I don't appreciate being deceived, Ceci.



God. This man is infuriating. Clearly, he's not going to give that up.  He's the one that fucked me up against a wall with another person in the  room! Yet, I'm the one in trouble for ‘lying' about who wrote my  recommendation letter.

Sigh. I know what I have to do now.

I'll have to put the digging around on hold until I gain his trust back.



Ceci: Fine. 7PM.

Bentley: Friday. Be on time.



I lean back on my bed, sighing. How was I going to get out of this without blowing my cover?

I'm completely in over my head with Bentley. As much as I want to fight the attraction, it's obvious I can't.

And neither can he. Knowing Bentley craves me as much as I crave him, I'll use that angle into getting what I need.

I'm wearing one of Casey's favorite dresses-a dark purple sequin  cocktail dress that lays mid-thigh with dark black stockings-just as he  requested. She'll kill me if she finds out it's missing, but I ignore  the thought as I refocus on my main mission here. If he's going to use  my mistakes against me, I'm going to use his cock against him. It only  seems fair.

I arrive at 6:54 PM and hand my keys over to the valet. I have no idea  what I'm doing here, but I'm ready for anything he throws my way. If he  wants to fuck the truth out of me, I'll play.         

     



 

"Good evening, Miss West." I hear Bentley's deep voice behind me before I  even enter the hotel. I turn around and gasp as I take in his crisp  black tuxedo. His hair is gelled back and he's trimmed his face.

I can practically feel my panties combusting into flames, melting away at just the looks of him.

Focus, panties. Stay intact.

His hands are shoved in his pockets as he eyes my outfit. He gives me a nod of approval before closing the gap between us.

"You look exquisite." He places a hand on my lower back as he leans in and kisses me softly on the cheek.

"Thank you," I say softly. "You look stunning."

"All part of the job," he says matter-of-factly. "Let's go in."

I swallow as he wraps his hand around my waist and guides me inside. I  still have no clue what we're doing here, but I go with it for now.

I've never been inside the Hilton before, but it's everything I imagined  a five-star hotel to look like-bright lights, exceptional details on  the walls, modern furniture too immaculate it doesn't even look used.  And that's just the lobby.

He guides me to the elevator and hits the twenty-fourth floor button. "You mind telling me what we're doing?"

He presses me into the wall, his hips firm against mine as he nuzzles  his nose into my neck. I inhale his clean scent mixed with his cologne.  My body molds into him but before I can react, he responds, "Just go  with it." He kisses my cheek tenderly before the elevator dings and  opens wide.

He guides me out into a large ballroom. The lights are dim, but I can still see every intimate detail.

"Wow … " I gasp, taking it all in. "This is beautiful."

"Come." He grabs my hand and leads me further inside.

The ballroom is surrounded with people-mostly middle-aged people, but I spot a few younger couples.

"Good evening, Mr. Leighton," I hear several men say to him as we pass  by. He stops for a second to nod and greet them back, but never long  enough for introductions.

"Would you like a drink?" he leans in and asks.

"Sure," I reply quickly.

He grabs a server's attention with champagne glasses on a tray and grabs two of them.

He hands me one and says, "No getting tipsy on me now."

I grab it and smirk. "No promises."

I take a sip as I look around and try to figure out what kind of event we're attending.

"Bentley!" I hear a woman's voice echo across the room. We both spin around to an older woman flailing her arms at us.

Bentley leans in and presses his lips against my ear. "Play along."

"Darling, you made it!" She wraps her arms around him and he returns the gesture.

"Of course, Mom." He politely kisses her cheek, and I wonder how this  man can have so many different sides. This one I actually like.

"You look fantastic. Perfect."

"Thank you," he replies embarrassed. "Can I introduce you to someone?"

"Oh, yes!" Her eyes light up excitedly.

I swallow hard as they both turn toward me. Bentley places a hand on my  lower back and introduces me. "Mom, this is Emily. My date."

My eyes widen as my lips curve up into a surprised grin. Emily?

She immediately takes my hand. "Emily, darling. A pleasure."

I smile wide. "Likewise, Mrs. Leighton."

"She's stunning, Bentley. Just stunning," she gushes as if I'm not standing right there.

"I agree." His lips curve into a small grin. I smirk back as I take note that he just lied to his own mother.

"Your father is around here somewhere. Do you want me to go find him quick?"

"Not necessary, Mom. I'll run into him later."

She begins smoothing his tuxedo, brushing away invisible dirt off his chest and shoulders.

"Stop being nervous. It's going to be fine," he says calmly, grabbing her wrists and pulling them down. "My speech is ready."

She breathes a sigh of relief and says a quick goodbye before turning on her heel to find her husband.

I flash a knowing grin as Bentley turns toward me. "What?"

"Just taking in what a hypocrite looks like."

He licks his lips and brushes a hand through his hair. "I'm not a hypocrite."

I step toward him and say softly, "You've been punishing me for lying to you. You just lied to your own mother … "