The Arrangement Anthology 2(7)

I remain rigid and stare straight ahead, chanting to myself, Shut up, Avery. Don’t say a word. Don’t fight back. Just stare straight ahead. It’s my theme song, or I swear to God, I’d hit her.





CHAPTER 6




I’m so bent out of shape and such an emotional mess that I could totally go all ninja on her ass. The thing is, I think Black would kill me and stuff my head in her stapler drawer before I could throw a punch. Actually having mad skills isn’t anything like the cartoonish self-defensive stuff I know, which is comprised of two things: falling to the floor and screaming. Crap like that doesn’t help when your boss cuts off your underwear in the middle of her office.

Black walks over to her closet and pulls out a dark garment bag. She glances up at me. “I’m taking this out of your check.” She holds it out for me. I step towards her like it’s totally normal to walk around in heels, thigh highs, and a bra. It doesn’t matter that my snatch patch isn’t covered. At least it shouldn’t, not by now, not if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing, but since the only client I’ve been with is Sean, it still bothers me.

“Stop sulking and put it on.” She snaps at me again, before sitting on the edge of her desk and folding her arms across her chest.

I take the dress out of the bag and manage to bite my tongue. There’s nothing to it. I pull the clothing off the hanger and slip it on. Apparently I’m taking too long, because Miss Black huffs over and slaps my hands. “Let me do it. Honestly, Avery, I have no idea how you can be so utterly incompetent and so desirable at the same time. It seems like everyone is asking for you lately. I’ve had a hard time selling anyone in your place.”

She yanks on my girls, making my eyes bug out of my head, shifting them under the dress. She’s horrible. I hope she gets hit by a truck later. I try to focus on what she said instead of what she’s doing to the girls. “In my place? Why, did someone try to book me tonight, besides Mr. Ferro?”

Miss Black runs her hand along my bra and smooths the fabric. The neckline dips, forming a thin V as it comes across my chest and down to my waist. This is a slut dress. It’s skin tight, too short, and backless.

Her gaze flicks up to mine. “Of course. Every client you’ve had wanted you, plus some. Your reputation is spreading, which is wonderful. They all want you. I’ve received several calls from clients—new and old—who want to book you at the same time. It’s a full moon or something. I got the rest to accept someone else, but one man insisted on having you and paid for it. I couldn’t tell him no.”

“You double booked me?” I sound appalled.

Miss Black answers without looking at my face. Her eyes rove my body, looking at the new dress. “It’s not a big deal, just go by the second room before you leave the city. He said he’d wait for you. I explained that you had a previous obligation.”

My jaw is clicking and I’m pretty sure my head is ready to spin off my shoulders. “Miss Black, I actually wanted to talk to you.” My boss looks up and I know that I have her full attention. Don’t be timid, Avery. Spit it out. Squaring my shoulders, I say, “I don’t think I can do this anymore. I mean, if tonight wasn’t with Mel, I don’t know what I would have done.”

She spins me around and pulls the dress into place at my shoulders and smooths more of the fabric as she runs her palms over my hips, before swatting my butt. “I told you to lose weight. This is becoming a problem.”

Did she just say that I’m fat? Blinking, I shake my head and stare at her. “Did you hear me? I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Miss Black steps away from my back and walks around to face me. There’s a pleasant smile on her face, very similar to the one she had when I first met her. “Avery, dear, do you know how much money you’ll make if we continue to book each of these men once a week—once a month, even? Your weekly pay check will be well into dreamland territory and all you have to do is keep these rich men begging for more. I have no idea how you do it, but they clearly want you.” She folds her arms over her chest while she stares at my cleavage. She pokes at my left boob, like it’s not in the right place.

What just happened? I quit twice and she basically ignored me. “Miss Black—”

Before I can say another word, she steps toward me, close enough to kiss, and presses her finger to my lips. Her voice is a lethal whisper. “If I only knew how you did it, I could show each one of my girls and there’d be more money than any of us ever dreamed, more money than you’d make in a lifetime, Avery. There’s something about you that makes these men crave you and willing to pay any price to have you sate their lust, but somehow you always leave them wanting more. And they want so much more…” Her dark eyes are on my mouth and the moment has moved from weird to utterly uncomfortable. Miss Black’s perfect ruby red lips pull into a smile as her finger slips away.