“Not really. I just know what I like and what I don’t. I’m sure you would never force a girl to drink something she didn’t want.”
“Of course not! If you say you don’t like it, that’s fine. Still, I’m sure that tight little body of yours doesn’t know all the things it likes and dislikes.”
“It knows enough. Is there a reason for this appointment?” I asked.
He glared at me but otherwise seemed unfazed. “You’re young. I like young women. They always have a bit of spunk, and I bet you’ve got a whole suitcase full of sparks to keep an old man alive.”
I couldn’t believe how openly vulgar he was being with me. I had expected him to be flirtatious but not so brazen. My cheeks flushed. I was running out of time as he got up and started to walk around the desk. I quickly jumped out of my seat and grabbed my phone, pretending to look around the office, though it was sparsely decorated and obviously temporary.
“Most girls in your position would be thrilled with this chance.” He beamed.
“Well,” I stammered.
Before I could finish the sentence, my phone rang, and I quickly answered it. “Honey! I was wondering when you were going to get here. Are you ready to go?”
“What the hell is going on?” he whispered into the phone.
“All right, I’m headed out now,” I said as I ignored Nate’s words.
“What the hell are you talking about? I won’t be there for another five minutes. I just got your message. If he touches you, I swear to god I will kill him.”
“Love you too, honey. No, you don’t need to hang up. You know how much I love talking to you.”
I stood in front of the door and opened it enough to see Mr. Grey waiting outside before I looked back at Blake and smiled. “Sorry to cut this short. My ride is here, and I don’t want to keep him waiting. See you at practice tomorrow.”
As I practically ran from the office, I could hear Blake cussing in the background, but I didn’t care. I needed to get as far away from him as possible. I thought that him trying to drug girls was bad, but there was no doubt in my mind that he would have willingly taken advantage of me if I had so much as blinked in his presence. A shudder ran through me as I went to the stage and grabbed the rest of my gear before slipping into the women’s bathroom. I wasn’t going to loiter in plain sight and let Blake catch me off guard again.
It wasn’t until I calmed down enough to stop breathing heavily that I realized Nate was still on the phone. “Hey.”
“What the hell was that all about? Did we make plans I somehow forgot? I thought we were meeting at the bar tonight.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “I know and I’m sorry. You don’t really need to come get me. I just wanted to get out of his office.”
“Jesus, why were you in his office? I’m pulling up to the complex right now, so you might as well take the ride while you can.”
I shuddered. “I don’t know, I didn’t think about it. All I knew was that he wanted to talk to me, but I didn’t know he was going to be that bad after I refused a drink again.”
“Did he touch you? If so, I swear to god I’ll kill him,” hissed Nate.
I smiled. If he was willing to go that far, he must’ve really cared about me. “No. I got out of there, but I don’t know if I’ll be so lucky next time. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Well, we can talk about it over dinner. I’m outside now. Do I need to come in there and get you?”
“No,” I said. “I’ll meet you out front. And Nate? Thank you for doing this. I didn’t expect you to really come all this way.”
After a long pause, he cleared his throat. “It was no problem. I was interviewing for a family just down the road. You happened to call right as I was leaving.”
“Wow.” I sighed with relief as I headed out of the bathroom. “You and I sure do have some great luck. Do you think it’s a sign?”
“It’s something all right,” he grunted. “I’ll see you in a minute. Let me know if you get into any more trouble in the next sixty seconds.”
I hung up the phone, feeling a little childish at his scolding. It was true though. I seemed to find trouble around every corner, and yet, he was always there to save me.
Chapter Seven
Nate
Anna was smart. Smarter than I’d given her credit for, which was surprising. It wasn’t often that someone met and even exceeded my expectations. I watched her jog toward the car, her breasts bouncing in the skintight top. I felt the familiar pang of desire as it coursed through my body. I could call half a dozen numbers and have a girl in my apartment within the hour, but this was different. I wanted Anna.
She slid into the seat and shot me a sheepish glance. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
“I’m starting to think this is my new gig,” I said playfully.
Anna laughed. “Maybe that’s what I need, a bodyguard to keep Blake at bay. So, what are your rates?”
“I’m sure we could negotiate something,” I replied with a wink.
Her cheeks flushed and she fell silent. The color stirred my desire even more.
I pulled away from the complex and headed back to the city. What I really wanted was to know if she would be coming back to my place with me, for protection of course. The last thing I wanted was to make her feel cornered or uncomfortable though. There was still so much to be done, and my body was trying to make things more complicated than they needed to be. I liked her, but I had a job to do.
“You are a brazen one, aren’t you?” she said with a fiery glint in her eyes. “Did you get the job?”
“Huh?”
“You said you were out here for a job interview. I’m wondering if you got it or not.”
“Oh!” I said, quickly remembering the lie. “I’m not sure yet. It doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but I like the prospects. We don’t need to talk about that though. Do you want to go right to dinner?”
She took a deep breath, holding it in for a second, before she smiled and nodded. My gut turned a little. It was a feeling I knew well, but I wanted to ignore it. She would go to dinner with me because that was the kind of person she was, someone who kept her word. I couldn’t believe how different we were.
I looked back to the road and yawned. Unless you knew me intimately, there would be no way to tell it wasn’t real. If nothing else, I was one hell of a good con. “You know what? It’s been a long day for me. Would you mind if we rescheduled for tomorrow?”
“That’s fine,” she said, the relief in her tone evident. “Honestly, today was long and rough. I could use a good night’s sleep.”
Anna shifted in her seat. I could watch her squirm all night. She bit her thumbnail before folding her hands in her lap again. “So, um, I don’t feel up to dinner, but would you like to join me for a nightcap?”
“I thought you didn’t drink,” I whispered, my throat dry and suddenly hoarse.
Her delicate shoulders lifted up. “I mean, I don’t normally, but it’s been a long day, and it just sounds depressing to drink alone.”
“Sure, I…” My voice cracked. I couldn’t get over feeling like a teenage boy again. I was nervous for the first time in what felt like forever. “I would love to.”
We rode in quiet, awkward silence. My cock was pressed against my jeans, begging to be freed at the prospect of spending time with Anna after a drink. The quiet ones were always wild in bed. She was young though. Was she a virgin?
Swallowing back a groan, I thought of her tight body wrapped around me. I shook my head to try and clear my mind as we pulled up in front of the hotel. Opening her door with a raging hard-on probably wouldn’t score me any brownie points.
“Here we go,” I muttered as I stepped out of the car.
“Wow.” I whistled. Her hotel room was nicer than my first apartment. She dropped her bag on the floor and strolled to the mini bar. Looking at the little bottles with a confused frown on her perfectly plump lips. I laughed and went to help her.<
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“Here, why don’t you try the flavored vodka? It won’t be as harsh as the other options.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled as she poured it into a small plastic glass. Her first sip made her nose crinkle, much to my delight. She coughed once then smiled at me. “That isn’t very smooth, but boy does it pack a punch!”
“Take it easy now,” I said playfully. “I don’t think your boss will like it if you come in tomorrow hung over. You’ll blow your entire ‘no drinking’ cover.”
“Ugh,” she said dramatically as she slumped down onto the couch. “Honestly, I don’t think that cover is going to last much longer. I can’t handle him anymore. He is so creepy.”
I poured myself the bottle of gin and sat down next to her. I needed to calm her down. If she was spooked away from the show, I’d lose my chance at getting inside. Just because I knew Blake didn’t mean we’d ever met. A seed of mistrust was born when I was young. I knew better than to blow my cover with someone like Blake unless the score was big, like this one.
“Why don’t we change the cover then?” I said suddenly.
Her eyes grew wide. “What are you talking about?”
“You said it yourself, you won’t be able to hold him off forever, and I don’t want to see another innocent woman get stuck under his thumb. Plus, I don’t have any work for a few weeks, I could stick around.”
“Oh yeah?” she said sarcastically. “As what? My boyfriend?”
“What?” I stammered. I quickly gulped down the rest of my drink. “Maybe something a little less conspicuous. Why not a bodyguard?”
“No,” she said as she shook her blond hair. “That’s just a fancy way of saying ‘boyfriend.’”
“Hey!” I shouted with a grin on my face. “What makes you think that?”
She shrugged her delicate shoulders again. “Just the way you talked about your last job. I can be pretty perceptive when I want, you know. I saw the way clenched your jaw. She was more to you than a paying gig.”
“Fine,” I muttered, not wanting to argue with her or tell her that she was right. “So, do you have any ideas? I don’t like you going back there without some kind of protection.”
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “Maybe I should let it go. My safety isn’t worth the job, and I don’t want to be his next victim.” Anna shuddered. “You should see the way he looks at me, like he wants to devour me. I’ve never been so uncomfortable in my entire life.”
“Hey.” I put a hand on her leg. The heat coursed through me, but I pushed it back down. “This is your dream. Don’t let one creepy old man stop you from making it to the top. If a boyfriend and bodyguard are both out, what about an assistant?”
Anna cocked her head. “Why would I need an assistant though? I’m not a big star or anything.”
“Not yet, but you are going to be. Information about shows gets leaked all the time. A few videos of you singing leaked to the press as the headliner and you will need all the help you can get.”
Her eyes lit up. “You can do that?”
“You bet I can.” I pulled my hand away from her begrudgingly and tugged out my phone. All it took was one text, and a few minutes later, Anna’s phone started to go wild.
She looked down, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open as she looked back up at me. “How did you do that?”
“I know a girl in public relations who owes me a favor. Now you have a reason for an assistant. Now mind you, I don’t actually do anything, but at least this way I can keep you safe. That video is already getting hits. By tomorrow, it will go viral, and everyone will want to be at the show, if they don’t already. At the risk of sounding like a Hollywood back-alley agent, you’re gonna be a star, baby.”
“Yes!” she exclaimed.
She leaped across the couch and onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing tightly. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at her excitement, it was contagious. She lingered a moment longer, but I felt her sway a little. The little bottle of vodka had taken a strong toll on her, and I knew I wouldn’t be getting any action. Even if she wanted it, I couldn’t do it knowing she was drunk already. Against my strong desires, I peeled her off me and gently pushed her away.
“So, what should we do now?” she asked in her seductively shy tone.
I cleared my throat and jumped up from the couch. “Now, you get some sleep. I will be here to pick you up first thing in the morning. We don’t want you staying up too late now that the world is watching you.”
“The world,” she whispered, mesmerized by the realization. “Wow.”
“Are you going to be okay to get into bed?”
Anna stood up and wobbled for a second before catching her balance. “Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t think I’ll be doing any more drinking though.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
I left her at the door, waiting until I heard the deadbolt and chain click into place before setting off for my car. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day. I needed to get home and get my mind off Anna.
“Are you ready for this?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she whispered as she sipped the coffee I’d brought.
It was the first time I hadn’t seen her chipper and with a little extra pep in her step. No doubt it was from the alcohol the night before. But as we pulled up to the event location, she seemed to come back to herself after the quiet ride. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, and I knew she was nervous about having me come in.
“You know, we can tell them your father hired me, if it would make things easier,” I offered as I shut off the car.
“That’s a good idea,” she replied softly. “Are you ready? I don’t want to be late again.”
“Then let’s go.”
I followed her as she led the way into the building. A large man was waiting at the door and looked me up and down before tossing up his hand to block my entrance. Anna spun around, her face pale.
“Hey, he is my assistant. Where I go, he goes,” she hissed.
I fought the urge to smile. She’d found her inner strength, and it was an amazing sight to witness. The man lowered his arm but not before glaring at me one last time. I’d seen him around, and I knew who he was: Mr. Grey. Blake’s bodyguard and the man tasked with doing all his dirty work. I would need to watch out for him while I was here. It didn’t take much for one con artist to pick out another. I kept my head down as we walked toward the stadium and Anna put down her bag off to the side.
She spun around and smiled at me, her voice low. “Well, that went better than I anticipated. I guess you just wait here while I practice. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I am, but it looks like we’ve got company. Remember, your father hired me to help you. You don’t owe that pig anything.”
Her eyes grew wide when she realized who I was talking about. Blake approached her from behind, his scaly hands touching her arm as his eyes locked onto mine in an unspoken challenge. Here we go, I thought.
Chapter Eight
Anna
“Hello, darling,” Blake said.
I shrugged off his hand and stepped away from him, backing away like a cornered dog. I forced a smile onto my face and looked at Nate. He held out his hand to Blake. I saw him change, it was subtle, but I was slowly getting to know his body language.
“Wow, sir,” he said, looking properly awkward and shocked. “It really is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes,” muttered Blake, not taking Nate’s hand. “Be that as it may, we do not allow boyfriends or friends during rehearsal. My personal bodyguard keeps the girls safe while they are here.”
“Huh? You think I’m her boyfriend? That sure would be amazing,” Nate stammered as he shifted his weight. “No, sir, I’m just here to help her out. I was hired by her dad as an assistant. She’s blown up overnight and I owed him a favor. It sure is an honor to be picked though. I bet a dozen others were standing in line to work with such an up and comer.”
>
Blake eyed him. “So you aren’t her boyfriend?”
“Lord no,” he said, a blush crossing his cheeks.
“Good,” said Blake, his arm going back to rest on my shoulder. “We don’t want our young starlet getting distracted by a boyfriend.”
I stepped away from him again, the shiver of disgust no longer hidden. Just having Nate there seemed to give me more strength when it came to dealing with Blake. I was never going to have to be alone with him again.
“I assure you,” I said, my gaze meeting his, “relationships are the last thing on my mind. I am here to do my job and that’s it. Now, if you two don’t mind, I need to get to rehearsal.”
I stormed away from them both, leaving Blake with his mouth hanging open and Nate with a sheepish grin on his face. I couldn’t let either of them distract me from what needed to be done. As rehearsal started, it became evident that I wasn’t going to be Blake’s favorite for the day. The directions came hard and fast with no leeway from him, but I didn’t care. I was there to work and knowing that I was under his skin motivated me even more.
By the end of the day, I was ready to collapse. As Lola called it quits, Blake fumed from the stadium seats. “I didn’t say you were done, Anna!”
“Sorry, sir,” I stammered, struggling to catch my breath.
“Excuse me, sir, don’t you think that she’s had enough for today?” asked Lola.
He glared at her and she backed down at once. “I will tell her when she’s had enough.” His eyes traveled back to me, watching a bead of sweat as it fell between my breasts. “You think because you are a big shot now you can take it easy? Just because you have a boy-toy assistant doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass out of this show.”
“Easy now,” Nate said from a few seats away. “I think she has worked her ass off today.”
Blake turned on him. “I don’t think her ass is any of your concern. You are just an assistant.”
Triple Threat: A Dark Romance (Deadly Passion Series Book 3) Page 5
