Behind the Scenes(15)

My kohl-lined eyes stare back, Crystal’s handiwork. I snatch my clutch and go sit on the couch in the powder room. What am I doing anyway? Why did I feel it necessary to head for the hills upon seeing my boss on a date?

I bite my lip and think back to the second day at the office. After making his absurd offer, Mr. Mulroney told me he would be there should I change my mind.

And what if I did? Would the proposition include more than just fooling around in the office? Would he take me out on a date, maybe even drive me home at the end of the night?

Not likely.

I shake my head, utterly, finally, and royally disgusted with myself. Mr. Mulroney uses women. The signs are all there. After all, I’ve already seen him with two separate women. Who’s to say he doesn’t bang a new one each night?

Not only that, he basically flat out asked me to take part in his sexual escapades.

The man is a pig. My attraction to him is nothing but hormonal and unfortunate. And the fact that this is a man I call ‘Mr.’ is the rotting cherry on top of it all.

With my head finally clear, I stand up from the couch and head for the bar.

Mr. Mulroney and his date are gone. My heart sinks a little bit at first, but then I remember the conclusion I came to in the bathroom. Lifting my head a little higher, I find my friends.

“He’s gone,” Crystal says.

“Yeah, I saw.”

“So now can we leave?” Eryk asks. “I want to see Brian perform before he’s done for the night.”

Crystal wrinkles her nose. “Ugh. Fine.”

“I’m just going to go home,” I say.

Crystal’s hand clamps down onto my shoulder. “Sydney.”

“Really. And it’s okay. It’s almost ten and I wanted to wake up early tomorrow anyway.”

Eryk looks horrified. “On a Saturday?”

“Yep, I want to get back to writing. I’ve been too busy during the week to do any.”

Crystal still looks doubtful.

I edge away from the bar. “Thanks, you guys. I really appreciate it.”

Crystal hooks her purse over her shoulder and stands up. “Sorry it didn’t work out.”

“It’s okay. Really. See you at home.”

I head for the lobby, glad Eryk’s running late resulted in us taking two cars. It really hadn’t been my intention to sneak away early. My friends are only trying to help me out.

But after the night’s odd and sadistic twist, the only company I want is the TV remote and the entire contents of the snack cupboard.

I got lucky with parking. My Chevy is only a block away on the street. I head past the looming facades of two more hotels, digging in my clutch for my car keys.

“Sydney,” someone says.

I halt. My name came from somewhere behind me.

“Sydney,” he repeats. It’s a man, and his voice is all too familiar.

Mr. Mulroney steps in front of me, his head cocked. “I thought it was you.”

“Hi,” I slowly say. I glance over my shoulder, not caring how obvious it is. He’s alone, the blonde from earlier nowhere in sight.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Um.” My head is racing almost as fast as my heart. So close. I was so close to getting away and not having to interact with him. Judging by my track record, our conversation is only going to result in one thing: my having another filthy dream about him tonight.

He stares at me, a strange look on his face. His eyes briefly flick down to my bare legs. Heat washes over me. I suppose checking me out in his office wasn’t enough. Now he has to do it out on the street.

I briefly consider telling him I was on a date, just to see what he makes of it. “I was just grabbing a drink with someone,” I say, deciding to let him figure out the details himself.

“Ah.”

I shuffle my foot slightly against the concrete, waiting for him to dismiss me or just walk off, since that’s also his style.

“Would you like to get another drink?” he asks. “With me?”

I have to remember to inhale. I also have to remember the fortitude I established in the bathroom ten minutes ago. “I need to be getting home,” I say, making sure to look him straight in the eye.

I know what you are, I want to say.

The fact that my boss still has the pomp to ask me for a drink after I caught him spanking a woman in his office is beyond absurd. The man truly does believe he can have anything he wants.

He stares at me, his face blank. Is he waiting for me to change my mind?

“Have a good night, Mr. Mulroney. See you on Monday.”

I pivot and head for my car, my back held straight as it can be.

Never would I have been able to guess shooting a man down could feel so amazing.





CHAPTER THREE


I raise my arms up high and stretch. Morning light filters through the living room window, and all discernible noises come from across the back parking lot. Bass from a car driving by and the shouting of kids fill the air. In the apartment, all is still and quiet. I don’t even know what time Crystal and Eryk got in last night. All I know is I’ve been true to my word.