by T. L Smith
“I did. This is a lovely place you have here.”
Huxley nods. I gaze around then back to him. Looking at him too long makes my heart want to burst. The pounding hurts my ears but in a good way.
“I’m glad you approve. I bought it a few years ago. It’s one of my favorite possessions, so far...”
I want to ask what he means by that as he trails off, but instead, I nod my head. I go to sidestep him and offer a smile, but his hand reaches out, touching my waist as he stops me. My breath hitches. He must hear it because his hands automatically drop as he moves around to stand back in front of me.
“We were going to discuss business the other day, but you seemed to have other pressing plans?” he asks with his eyebrow rising.
“I wasn’t dressed for that place,” I mumble under my breath. “Or this place.”
He coughs, making me look up, and his lip is twitching. “I think you’re dressed beautifully. Now if you have a few free minutes, I’d like your time.”
“You want to talk business... here... now?” I ask him surprised, my eyes skirting around.
He nods his head, offering me his elbow. I look to it like it could possibly poison me. His lip twitches again, and I gnaw on my lower lip. Placing my hand through his, he starts walking past everybody, who all seem to stare.
Davina’s eyes go wide when we walk past her, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care about people staring. He simply keeps on walking until we reach a set of old barn doors. They’re so rustic yet ornate at the same time, with black rollers at the top hanging from a large cast iron track with arrows on either end. The handles are black cast iron, with two hinge decorations on each side. The doors themselves are made from wood, but the wood is battered in a grayish red which is lighter in some parts and almost black in others. On the bottom there are two crosses which sit across each of the doors. They are exquisite, and suit the stone walls surrounding them. When he pulls one open, we step through, and everything quietens down as he closes it behind us. The only sound I can hear is my breathing and my heels clicking when I walk.
Strolling further down the hall, we arrive at another room, and he holds the door open for me to enter first, and when I do, it spreads out into a living room-type area. There’s no television, just two three-seater couches facing each other, a heavy carved wooden table in the middle with a mirrored-glass finish, which has cigars in a box neatly placed in the center and glasses on a tray accompanied with what looks to be whiskey. He shuts the door and walks to one side, sitting down and pouring himself a drink, then he pours me one. Looking up at me with his eyes, he indicates for me to sit.
“Kandi, isn’t it? Did you pick to visit our town based purely on your name alone?”
His words shock me. His voice hits me, vibrating all through me. It’s powerful, much like he is.
I shrug my shoulders. “No. Someone once told me about this place. That it’s a good place to live.”
His lip twitches again. “I doubt that unless they worked for me, that is.”
My leg crosses over the other one as I watch him.
Huxley looks to my legs for a split second before his gaze moves back up to me. “You have no work. How do you expect to survive?”
My hands lie on my lap, and I try my best to keep them still and not fidget. “I have money,” I reply. He doesn’t need to know about my finances, and I don’t intend to tell him about them either.
“So you don’t want work then?”
My legs uncross then re-cross again. He looks down, staring longer at my legs than necessary before he looks up, not caring that I’ve seen him staring.
“I would love work, I just haven’t had a chance to look, yet.”
He nods, lifting his glass to his lips and drinks. His throat moves with ease after each swallow, and I have to force myself to look away. Away from all that’s him. My hands are clammy, my head is dizzy. Being in the same room alone with him wasn’t the smartest of choices.
“What work would interest you, Kandi?” he asks. My name rolls off of his tongue as if he were between my legs. Sensual. He shouldn’t be able to do that.
I uncross and re-cross my legs again trying to get comfortable.
His eyes watch my every move. I should stop him, but I can’t seem to.
“To be honest, anything right now. But I love to paint.”
Huxley nods his head then stands. His eyes look down on me, and he offers me his hand. I’m hesitant to take it. He sees the battle in my eyes and smirks. No smile or lip twitching this time, just a downright sexy smirk, and I give him my hand. He pulls me up, my body almost slamming into his as I stand. His other hand lands on my waist to stop me, and he leans down, so his breath tickles my ear. “Tomorrow. Meet me at Candy Village at nine p.m.”
“That’s awfully late,” I say as he lifts his breath away and it’s no longer tickling my ear. It makes me think of where else I’d like that breath to tickle—between my legs to name just one but I can think of so many more. He smirks like he can hear my inner thoughts.
“My business is busiest at night. Meet me. Otherwise, don’t. Your choice, Kandi Leo.” He drops away from my body and steps over to the door, standing there holding it open for me to leave. When I walk past him, I think I hear him breathe me in, but that can’t be true. Surely. So I keep walking back through the barn doors and out to find Davina.
A little while later we head home. My butterflies don’t leave until I’m out of that house.
And that’s when I realize, how did he know my last name?
Chapter 4
Kandi
Nine o’clock in the evening rolls around faster the next day than I would have liked. I’ve finished painting, and my small cottage actually looks more like a home now. Not something that’s being renovated. Yes, it still needs work, but with a fresh coat of paint and some furnishings, it looks livable.
And mine.
It still feels weird to call it mine, though.
My old car pulls up out front of Candy Village. People are lined up waiting to get in, mostly guys with a few girls next to them. I feel underdressed yet again. Even if it did take me three outfit changes before I finally settled on a pair of skintight jeans and a red blouse. Looking at the end of the line then to the two security guards out front, I’m unsure of which way I should head. Huxley asked me to meet him at nine, but I don’t want to be rude and push my way in front of these people who are waiting.
I look down at my phone. It’s just past nine. Maybe I could just skip it, and say I lost track of time if I have to see him again. But I do want a job, and if Davina’s correct then he’s the right person to speak to considering he owns most of the town.
Deciding it’s my best option, I walk to the end of the line. Two guys in front of me turn back to look me over. My eyes stay down, while I scroll aimlessly through my phone for the next ten minutes as the line moves slowly. People are now behind me, and the men in front keep turning around to look at me. I get twitchy because we don’t seem to be moving fast at all, and it’s already past nine thirty now, and I’ve been up since five o’clock thanks to my stupid body alarm clock.
Locking my phone and sliding it into my purse because the battery is dying, I look up to see if we’re any closer. No, it’s not even moving. Stepping out of the line, I walk past everyone else waiting and step up to the two bodyguards. They look down at me like they know I shouldn’t be here. No smiles touch their faces.
“I’m here to meet Huxley.”
They both stare at me, then laugh. Both of them, then turn away from me. Like what I’ve just said is the funniest joke they have ever heard. Assholes.
Turning and walking to my car, I’m fuming. This was an utter waste of my fucking time. I could have been at home on my brand-new comfy couch, watching Netflix, but instead, I’m dressed up and standing out front of a place I don’t even want to be.
“Kandi.” His voice shakes right through me. Even through my anger, I stop in my tracks and don’t
move. His footsteps thunder up behind me, and his hand touches my shoulder, shocking me. I turn around, his hand dropping to his side as he looks down at me. “You’re late.”
My mouth hangs open. He didn’t just say that, did he?
“No! I wasn’t.” Turning away from him, I continue my walk to my car. The voices of the people in line fade the further I step away, but followed by that is another pair of shoes I can feel directly behind me. When I reach my car, I turn to face him, keys in hand for defense. He’s watching me, his head slightly bent to the side as he waits. “I was here at nine p.m. just like you asked. You clearly didn’t leave me instructions on how to get in, so I was forced to wait in line. Then when I got tired of waiting and spoke to your very fucking unfriendly staff, they chose to inform me by laughing at me that I couldn’t come in.”
His nostrils flare, and he turns, walking away. Just before he steps too far away he points to me. “Don’t move.” Then he continues on to the front of his building where the line still looks as if it hasn’t moved at all. He walks up close to the two bodyguards, and they seem to shrink at his presence, then he starts back for me.
I haven’t moved. Not because he told me to stay still, but because I want to know why I can’t move, and why he came out for me.
“You’ve been here since nine?”
I nod, and he runs a hand through his perfectly kept hair then straightens his posture. He reaches out, offering me his hand, and I look at it, unsure if it’s something I want to touch when I know I should just get in my car and leave. But it’s like the allure of him, I just can’t seem to say no.
“It’s past my bedtime.”
His lips twitch, but he says nothing. I want to smack my hand over my mouth for speaking that out loud. My hand encloses in his as he pulls me so quickly I have no alternative but to start walking with him to the entrance. Once we reach the door, the two bodyguards who laughed at me are looking to the ground and not at me.
“Did you scare them?” I ask, laughing as we walk into the coat area then straight into the blaring music. He only looks back to me but doesn’t answer at all.
“Sir.” Two girls come to a halt in front of us.
My body almost slams into him as I was too busy looking around and not paying enough attention. The girls are topless with very high heels adorning their feet. They’re wearing nothing more than a pearl G-string, as they flick their hair and talk to Huxley. They gaze back at me, and that’s when I see why they’re dressed the same, it’s because they’re twins. Very beautiful twins.
Huxley pulls their attention back to him. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but then again, I’m not really trying as I turn looking around. This place is full of men. Honestly, I didn’t think this town had this many people in it. I guess I was wrong. A few women linger, mostly at the bar.
My hand is pulled, and I turn back to look at Huxley who’s now standing in one place watching me. “If you’ll excuse me, I promise this won’t take too long. Davina will serve you at the bar, and I’ll come back to collect you once I deal with the matter at hand.” I nod as he drops my hand then walks away without looking back.
That’s when I see Davina, her blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and she waves to me. Making my way over, I take a seat on one of the barstools as she slides a napkin in front of me.
“What will it be, pink?” I laugh and shake my head at the same time.
I like her, she seems genuine.
“Water,” I reply.
She tsks at me over the music. “No way! You, my dear, are going to have a Sex on the Beach.” My smile morphs at her words as she starts making the cocktail. I only wanted water because I drove, but if I sip on the drink then maybe I won’t be over the limit, because they’re strong drinks.
She slides it over to me winking before she walks away to serve someone else. People are everywhere, and I turn in my chair to gaze around the room. He’s the first person I see, I don’t know why but he is. His back is to me, but somehow I know it’s him regardless, his stance tells me so. It’s as if he can feel my eyes on him, and he turns to look directly at me, bringing the eyes of the two girls he’s speaking to with him, who I now realize are touching his chest.
Something sparks in me, I know what it is straight away, so I squash it down. Jealousy. So I smile then turn back to the bar not liking how that interaction made me feel. I have absolutely no reason, at all, to be jealous of them. Huxley isn’t mine, and I don’t want him.
“You must be new.” Someone slides onto the barstool next to me. He’s young, possibly my age being around twenty-three, where Huxley appears to be older. Not that he looks it, just the way he carries himself, he has that air of age.
“I am,” I say with a smile. He’s cute too. He waves at Davina who walks over, leaning on the bar, showcasing her breasts to this guy. To his credit, his eyes don’t wander as they look straight at her and not her tits.
“Whiskey, straight up, and whatever this beauty is having.”
She stands up, looking at me with one eyebrow raised, then back to him. “Michael, you know not to come in and play with things that aren’t yours.”
Davina winces when I look at her harshly. I hope to God she isn’t referring to me, but that comment makes me believe she is.
“Nothing for me.” My voice comes off stronger than I intended but then maybe they will realize I’m not here for play. I came here for business, which seems to be taking longer and longer. My head turns to look for him again, and when I do a loud gasp leaves my mouth making the man next to me turn as well. Huxley’s standing directly behind me. His eyes are firmly on Michael sitting next to me, and his hand on the back of my chair.
He looks to me, his hand rises as he offers it. “I believe we have business to discuss.” Placing my hand in his, I leave my drink exactly where it is and place some money on the bar and follow him. His hand stays in mine, so I try to pull it back, but his hold is strong, and he won’t let go until we enter an office. He drops my hand to hold open the door for me.
It’s lavish. The desk is a very large wooden one, followed by extremely expensive-looking seating around it. I may not know much about modern furniture, as I prefer the antiques or older things, but I know just by looking at them that they’re expensive.
“Take a seat. Please.” I do, on one of the very expensive seats he has to offer across from his large semicircular dark wood—almost black, carved and inlaid with lighter wood—desk. He sits behind it, his hands folded in front of him as he looks up to me.
“Thank you... for out there.”
Huxley nods not commenting on it. “I have two job offers that may interest you. It may not be what you’re looking for, but it’s all we have at present.” I nod my head, my hands crossed in my lap, waiting for what he has to offer. “I need an assistant, to run my day-to-day business issues while I sleep. I do most of my work at night, as you can imagine.” He waves his hand around indicating the club, and I nod my head. “Or I have a dancer position. Either one is yours if you want it.”
“Dancer?” I ask, the words tumbling from my mouth.
He nods his head. “You’ve seen my establishment, you would have seen my dancers. So which one will it be?”
“Dancing.” It’s the first time he looks at me shocked, and I can’t hide my smile. “No.” I giggle. “Assistant would be great, thanks. I’ll resist the urge to get up on a dance floor and shake my ass today.”
He nods, his face dropping back to the hard stance he usually has reserved for everybody. He stands, offering me his hand, and I stand as well shaking it.
“I pay my staff well. You’ll be compensated graciously for your discretion. Please come in tomorrow to sign some paperwork with my lawyer.”
My hand drops from his large one, and I squint at him. “Lawyer?” I ask confused.
He nods his head. “It’s a formality. My business is to be protected at all costs.”
“Thank you.” He walks out from behind his massive
desk and steps over to the door. He pulls it open and then follows me all the way to my parked car.
Once I’m inside my car, he stands back, his eyes on me as he studies me. I try to not take too much in as I pull out and drive away.
Chapter 5
Kandi
He didn’t give me a time to start or finish work but informed me it would be during the day. So, I dress in my black skirt, matching it with my cleanest white linen shirt loosely tucked into my skirt, the next day. Thankfully, when I pull up out front of the club which was extremely busy the night before, it’s now dead quiet.
Huxley is standing out front with an older man, and they both turn to look at me when I slide out of my car. Huxley is dressed in the same clothes he was in last night, and I wonder, did he sleep? The club doesn’t shut until four o’clock in the morning, and I’m guessing he would have been here until closing since he needs an assistant for the daytime.
“You must be Kandi, quite fitting don’t you think?” the old man says, offering me his hand to shake. I offer him a warm smile as I nod my head in agreement. I gaze across to Huxley, he’s already watching me, looking at what I have on.
“You came on time.” I nod my head. “But I never gave you a time.” He smirks, and I shrug my shoulders.
“I told you I prefer the day. I’ve been up for ages, I’m guessing you haven’t?”
“I haven’t slept.”
Guilt hits me. Is it my fault he hasn’t slept? I hope not.
Turning to the older gentleman, who I’m guessing is the lawyer, he smiles warmly while Huxley opens the doors for us to enter. A flick of a switch and the once dark and loud nightclub is bright but quiet.
The lawyer gets straight to business as we sit down, pulling out forms, instructing me where to sign and informing me “what I see or hear while on the premises is to never be repeated to anyone.” I’m a little shocked by it all but sign anyway. He thanks me for my time, and walks out, leaving Huxley and myself alone.
