The Arrangement Anthology 1(174)

I feel dead inside, and it comes across in my voice when I speak. “I just want to get on with my life.”

“So do I, but this is a seriously bad plan. Did you tell anyone else?”

My eyes flick up and meet hers. “You mean Marty? Not really. He said it was killing him. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“He’d tell you that you were being stupid. What would you tell him?”

“That I have to stay alive and this is the only way I know to do it.”

Mel shakes her head. “You’re making a mistake.”

I’m so stressed out that I can’t stand to hear her words right now. “I could really use your support on this. It’s going to be hard enough without you telling me that I’m an idiot.”

“Fine, let’s talk. You have a client in a couple of hours. How are you going to do him? Black will start micromanaging you and ask this shit, so spit it out, Avery.” My face flames red as my eyes dart away from hers. “Shit, girl. You still blush? How could you blush? You fucked Freak Show how many times now, and you still turn cherry red when someone mentions sex. How old are you? Twelve?”

I want to prove to her that I can handle this. I make up a bunch of stuff and say it looking her in the eye. I give enough details that her mouth opens slightly. “I’m not an idiot, I just don’t like talking about it.”

“Well, if you do that with Henry Thomas, Black will never ask you anything again.”

I nod. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“Where’d you learn that shit from anyway? I didn’t think you had it in you.” Mel is halfway stuck between impressed and concerned. The only reason she’s concerned is because it’s me and I’m fragile.

But I’m sick of it. I wanted control over my life, so I took it. I learned what I need to know to do this job and I’ll do it. “I looked it up. There was a Q&A from some chick that works a Vegas brothel. She posted it and a ton of guys said she was right—that it’s majorly awesome. I figured that I have to be beyond acceptable to get Black off my back.” I shrug like it doesn’t matter.

Mel pushes off the bed. “I’m sorry I took you to Black. I screwed up, Avery. And that’s the last I’m going to say about that, because no matter what we do, we can’t change that. Not now. So, I’ll help you out and be Ms. Supportive, no matter what crazy crap you decide.”





CHAPTER 6




Gabe meets me at the elevators. Since it’s Sunday afternoon the offices are empty. “What kind of company is here during the day?”

Gabe gives me a look that says I shouldn’t be asking, but he answers anyway. “Calling center.”

“For what? Insurance?”

He grins. “You could call it that.”

Okay, so it’s not an insurance center. My next guess is something tawdry like a phone sex operator calling center. Do they even have those? As I walk past desks, I imagine what it would have to sound like in here if that were going on, which doesn’t match what I saw last time I walked in when everyone was working.

“She’s not in a good mood, so don’t piss her off. Say yes to whatever she offers and get the hell out.” Gabe talks softly—well, for Gabe—and deposits me at Black’s door. “I’ll bring the car around and wait for you downstairs.”

Gabe disappears and my heart races harder. I knock on the door, lightly.

Miss Black snaps, “Enter.” When I push into the room, I see her sorting through papers, looking beyond irritated. There’s a ruler clutched in her right hand and a pen in the other. “I see you lost another client.”

“Who was the first one?”

Miss Black stops what she’s doing and looks up at me sharply. She drops the pen and snaps her fingers at me. “Take it off. I have no time for you right now.” She snaps again before I realize she wants me to disrobe.

I wriggle out of my black dress and stand there like livestock. At least I’m not naked. Miss Black circles me with her hand on her chin and that ruler gripped loosely in her hand. I’m wearing a lacy black shelf bra that doesn’t contain my nipples. It’s paired with a garter belt that’s holding up lace-topped thigh highs and a panty that’s nothing more than a piece of string.

I seriously hate this part of inspection. As Miss Black passes behind me, I’m whacked on my backside. I yelp and feel the sting of the ruler. I round on her. Before I can say anything, she shakes her head, like she’s upset with me. “You’re not taking care of yourself, Avery. Your backside is too wide.”

“It is not! I weigh the same as I did when I got here.”