Ella rubbed her sore ass and smiled.
Josh had left her an outfit of street clothes in the dressing room: a pair of designer jeans, an emerald green cashmere sweater, and tall leather boots. As she dressed, she remembered his words about their contract the night before and realized with a pang of regret that their agreement was at an end.
Josh was seated at the dining room table. A large tray was loaded with freshly baked bagels, smoked salmon and fruit. There was a carafe of coffee for Josh and hot water and tea bags for Ella.
Josh stood up and made her a steaming mug of tea before pouring himself a cup of black coffee, then spread a bagel with cream cheese and salmon, added some fruit, and set it before her.
After they ate, Josh began their discussion. “Congratulations, Ella. You’ve completed your contract as my personal secretary. I have already direct deposited your balance due of $99,486 in your bank account, along with your bonus of $50,000.”
“I’d like to add that you have thoroughly earned your bonus,” he said, “and I don’t just mean last night, either. After a few initial mistakes, you were extremely professional and brought power and prestige to my business dealings. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Ella said.
Inside she was numb. It’s all over, she thought.
“As I promised, I’ve already secured you a new job. If you choose, you have a position waiting for you as chief accountant at another company. I’ve passed along your phone number and they will be contacting you.”
“Only one thing remains,” he said, “and that is to release you from our contract.” He took out a manila folder, placed the document in front of Ella, and gave her a pen.
The release form was a simple one-page affair referencing their original contract, acknowledging payment, and releasing the two of them from all further obligations. Woodenly, Ella picked up the pen and signed and dated it before handing it back to Josh for countersignature.
As Josh placed his signature below hers, Ella watched him for signs of emotion, but she saw none.
“I’ll send for the car to take you home,” Josh said, pulling out his cell phone.
As the car took her back to Hyde Park for the last time, Ella tried to convince herself that she should feel relieved that she was no longer under contract to her former boss. The embezzlement was permanently behind her, she was nearly $250,000 richer, and she had a new job as a chief accountant waiting for her.
It wasn’t working. She felt like she had just been dumped.
Chapter 3
Ella’s new job was with a large publishing company in the northwestern suburbs, not far from where she grew up. It was a long commute from Hyde Park, but the company gave her flex time and even let her work from home two days a week. She had been there a month and had already mastered the job, so her career was stable again.
After she left Josh’s house the morning she signed the release form, she had resolved not to let the end of their relationship bother her. After all, he had never pretended it was anything other than what he’d presented her with – a business agreement. Ella decided to do the same. It wasn’t her style to play the fool.
After her experience with Josh, she found herself getting more dates. Maybe she carried herself differently, or maybe she was dressing differently, but the offers were frequent and numerous. Most of the men she went out with were nice and had good jobs. She even slept with a few of them, but only once. That was probably a mistake. They kept calling her and leaving messages, but Ella didn’t return their calls.
The sex had been average. Before she met Josh, she probably would have been satisfied with it. Now Ella realized how powerfully the role of submissive had become a part of her, and how much she needed a man who was dominant.
The truth was, Josh had ruined other men for her.
Ella resolved to cope as best she could. She boxed up all the lingerie he had given her in a storage bin and stashed it in a closet. She kept the three-inch heels for special occasions but stowed the four-inch pumps away with her winter boots. Shoes like that would only look out of place in the life she was living now. She made a resolution not to break any more hearts, so she stopped going home with her dates. She bought a box of fresh batteries for her vibrator.
***
The snow had melted and the city crews were planting flowers in the enormous street planters the day she bumped into Josh.
She was coming out of the bank through the revolving door as he was going in. The sight of him on the other side of the glass startled her so much that she forgot to exit the revolving door, which continued to spin until she found herself back inside the bank and standing next to him.