by H. Q. Frost
Lilith pulled him into what was to become her office and closed the door. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She slapped his arm.
"What?"
"What is this?" She looked at his baggy, drooping pants and a striped polo shirt one size too big. Her eyes dropped to his bright yellow high tops that were unlaced and then she noticed a pager. "What the hell?" She pulled it from his pocket and started to laugh. "Oh please tell me this doesn't work?" She laughed harder.
The real Richie was resurfacing. His freckled cheeks turned red and he dropped his head, stepping back.
"Richie. What is this?" Guilt for laughing at him didn't stop her from scrutinizing his appearance again.
"I don't know," he muttered. "You changed and look at you." He gestured to her. "You're popular, rich, your boyfriend's awesome, you live in Chicago."
"I'm not popular or rich. Yes my boyfriend is awesome, but I didn't change into this. Where'd you even get this?" The archaic paging device in her hand had her biting her lip to withhold laughter.
"Pawn shop." He took it back and shoved it into his deep pocket.
A frown pulled at her lips. "You don't have a girlfriend?"
He rolled his eyes with a snicker. "Right."
It was pathetic and she began to wonder if she used to be that pitiful. Change found her, she didn't go forcing it like Richie was attempting to do.
"Richie, you can't dress like this here."
"Lily, I don't have any other clothes!" he stressed.
"Okay. Sit down. Let me tell you what the job is first. You may not be interested."
"I'm interested. If I'm working with that girl out there, I'm interested." He chuckled and sat down.
Lilith rolled her eyes. "First and foremost!" she said very loudly to get his undivided attention. "You cannot, by any means, talk about me and Ian. Our relationship is not public business here. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, don't talk about you guys," he muttered, waving his hand at the uninteresting detail he wasn't fully comprehending.
"I'm serious, Rich. No one knows we're together. Do not even put our names in the same sentence."
"What?" He looked at her insanely then laughed. "No one knows?"
"No, and if they find out, I'm coming for you." She pointed at him.
"Lily, you're my fam. I ain't sellin' you out."
"Second, Richie." Taking in a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes closed and pinched the bridge of her nose to hold off her irritation at the obvious mistake she'd made bringing him there. "Don't talk like that. Annunciate. Slang is fine, but let's face it, you're a yuppie white boy living in the suburbs. Just stop."
Richie embarrassedly smirked.
She backtracked and said, "I cannot stress enough how important it is you don't mention Ian and me—"
"I get it."
"Don't tell my mom any of this either!"
"I won't. No way. I'm kinda hopin' to do what you did. Get the hell out and don't look back."
"Richie." There was sadness in her tone. "I look back. I love my mom and you guys, but you're right, I changed."
"Yeah, and that's what I want to do."
"Okay, then start, and not like this." The embarrassment that he came into Luxe looking like he did was all over her face. "It's a driving job. You have a license, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. You drive the girls around and keep an eye on them. Make sure they're safe."
"Safe from what? And where am I driving them?"
"To dates."
"Wait, wait, hol' up, Lily. Like prostitutes?" His hazel eyes were huge.
"No!" she scoffed. "Escorts."
"Oh shit!" he boasted, putting his hand to his mouth in excitement. "Hell fuckin' yes, dawg!"
"Richie!" Lilith screeched. "I can't." She stood, inhaling a deep breath to soothe the building stress. "I can't deal with this right now."
"No, Lily, wait. I'm sorry. I'll stop. I promise."
She dubiously glared at him, but sat back down.
"I promise I'll watch my mouth."
"You really have to. You're not going to talk like that in front of my girls. They can, but you won't."
"What do you mean your girls?"
"That just means I take care of them." She brushed off the question. "Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yeah, imma be a driver and security guard."
"Yes and no." Fighting the urge to stare at his scrawny arms made her face look strained until she went on. "You need to look out for them and if you see trouble you call Tony or one of the other guys."
"Who's Tony? That dude that picked me up?"
"No, that's Caesar. He's a good friend. Don't piss him off."
"I don't piss people off." He laughed.
A knock came over the door and it cracked open to Ian. "Lily." He didn't sound happy. He pushed the door all the way open when he saw her sitting with an unfamiliar man.
"Ian!" Richie got to his feet and slapped Ian's hand while going in for a brief hug.
"Rich." Ian looked him over in confusion. "What's goin' on?" He smiled and looked at Lilith, wanting answers.
Looking at the door she said, "Close the door, please. I want to hire Richie—"
"Hire Richie?" he repeated without masking the disagreement in his tone.
"Yes."
"Ai, yo, listen. Imma be good at this. I swear to you."
Ian jerked his head to look at Richie then he looked at Lilith disappointed. She pinched the bridge of her nose humiliated.
"Shit. Right." Richie put his hand over his mouth. "I'm not gonna talk like that no more."
"Oh fuck, Lily," Ian muttered, also pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I promise you guys!" Richie jumped up and down. "I promise I'll straighten up."
"Take him shopping," Lilith muttered.
"What?" Ian scoffed.
"Look at him." She frantically gestured to Richie's clothes then reached into his pocket, pulling out the pager.
"The hell is that?" Ian took it and when he realized what it was laughter burst from him. "I thought it was an insulin pump!" He continued to laugh while Lilith fought back her own.
"Yeah, whatever." Richie pouted, snatching the pager back.
"No, man, it's okay." Ian placed his hand on Richie's shoulder, biting his lip a minute to stop laughing. "I'll take you out. You have a cellphone?"
"No." Richie's discontent with himself was obvious after all that.
"Okay." Ian smirked and looked at Lilith, still fighting back laughter.
"He can't dress like this." Lilith gave Richie a disgusted glance.
"Yeah, I know." Ian's laughter started to escape again but he choked it back.
"Can you take him? I want him to start tomorrow."
"Now?" Annoyance was replacing his mocking laughter.
The gangly kid abashedly stared at his fiddling fingers and Lilith raised her eyebrows at Ian.
"Yeah, cool. Uh." Ian grimaced. "What about us?"
"I already told him."
"I'm not sayin' nothin'. Like maybe we don't even need to tell people I'm related to Lily." He looked at her. "Like maybe we can say I got the job 'cause I drove around CIA or something badass."
Ian began to laugh and put his hand on Richie's shoulder.
"Yeah, sure," Lilith muttered, wanting him out of the building.
"Rich, go wait by the reception desk." Ian nodded toward the door, still grinning at how ridiculous he was.
"Uh, where's that?"
"Where you came in." Lilith pushed at her temples as a headache began to trickle pain through her forehead.
"Cool. With the girl?"
"Tash," she said sternly.
"Cool." He walked out the door and Ian closed it behind him then smiled at Lilith.
"When were you gonna mention this, baby?"
"I meant to tell you yesterday but I was stressed. He's really not as stupid as he just seemed."
He chuckled and grabbed her waist, pulling her towa
rd him. "I know you're stressed, beautiful girl." He kissed her nose and shifted his hip until his erection got her attention.
"Ian," she whispered as her gaze shot to the closed door.
"Lily, I woke up alone this morning and I hated it. I've been throwing a fit until this moment. I missed you." He leaned down, kissing her jawline.
"Mmm, baby," she moaned almost giving in, but quickly pushed him back. "Don't do this here. Listen, about Richie, I had no idea."
"I'll work on him." Ian chuckled, straightening his suit coat. "What's he making?"
"This is just trial so right now nothing. He's staying in the condo for the week with food and you're gonna get him a new cellphone and some nice clothes."
"Alright then." Ian's skepticism showed.
"When he says something crude, please correct him."
"Sure thing."
Knowing Ian was annoyed by his new task, she stepped toward him. "Maybe we'll leave him at the apartment tonight." She slid her hand into his suit coat and bit her lip suggestively.
"Or I could take care of you right here." He pressed his hard cock into her hip again.
"Go." She pinched his butt and they walked out at the same time, just as Tash emerged from Ian's office.
The smile creeping her lips made Ian snip, "Can I help you with something, Tash?"
"I need your signature." Tash grinned and watched Lilith walk away.
"Nothing going on, Tash," Ian muttered, signing the paper. "If anything, I think she resents me a little for using her."
"Using her?" Tash's brows furrowed.
"I was upset." He shrugged. "Bad judgment. Nothing more."
"What's wrong with Lily?" she scoffed, offended for Lilith.
"Keep your voice down," he urged. "Other than she's a good friend? She's engaged. Another reason I don't want this out."
"Mr. J, no offense but that was a really dick thing to do." She snatched the papers from his hand and stormed down the hallway.
Ian felt guilty for saying those things about Lilith, but he was almost certain she bought it.
"Hey, Lily." Tony walked in at seven and she smiled at him.
"You're not on tonight." She looked at the schedule confused.
"Yeah, I am. For you."
"Oh shit! Oh crap. I completely forgot. Shoot."
"Just go." Tash chuckled. "I was wondering why you weren't getting ready, but I didn't want to tell you what you're supposed to be doing."
"That's your job!" Lilith urged. "Crap, what kind of date? Where?"
"It's a younger crowd birthday, late twenties maybe. It's at Old T, a band and stuff. Says dress casually hot." Tash cringed at the terrible sounding date.
"Who's this with?"
"Uh, private client, let me see," Tash mumbled, logging into the system.
"Lily, you gonna change?" Tony looked at his watch. "You're gonna be late."
Lilith ran toward the Vanity room and slammed the door behind her.
"Shit!" Tegan jumped.
"Oh, Tegan! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still here. Go home, honey. You've been here since nine."
"I'm almost done tagging these."
"What are these for?" Lilith looked at a pile of clothes.
"We're having a sale this weekend. Didn't Mr. J tell you?"
"No." Lilith yanked a pair of leggings from the pile. "I need something trendy." She frantically looked around. "Look up on your phone who's playing at Old Towne tonight," she begged while flipping through clothes on the rack. "Crap." There was nothing that would fit her. "Crap, crap."
"It says DJ Urban Beat. I heard he's cool. I haven't seen his set though."
"Okay, okay. Crap." Lilith huffed pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Put these on." Tegan pushed the black leggings toward her and Lilith obliged, sliding them on under her dress. "Don't move," Tegan said holding scissors.
"Oh, good lord." Lilith muttered as Tegan began to snip at the leggings.
"Hot!" She grinned excitedly after her meticulous work. "Okay, here." The t-shirt on her back was tugged off in a second.
"Serious?" Taking the shirt off Tegan's back was too much for Lilith.
"Can I get it back?"
"Oh my god, yes!" she blurted, unzipping her dress. "I promise you, and I'll get it laundered." She observed the vintage Chicago shirt then pulled it on.
"Don't move," Tegan said again and brought the scissors to Lilith's back.
"Tegan!" she gasped. "What're you doing! Don't do that! Don't ruin it."
"It's too loose in the waist. This will be fuckin' cute, I promise you."
"Tegan." Lilith pinched the bridge of her nose again and the daunting feeling of being overwhelmed began to beg her for a release she hadn't felt in days.
"I don't care. I'll squeeze into it like this too. You have a tiny waist, Lily."
"Thanks," she muttered guiltily while Tegan ruined her own shirt for her date.
"Just gotta tie them." In less than ten minutes Tegan transformed the old t-shirt. "You have to take off the bra," she carefully said. "Kind of looks trashy."
Lilith pulled the shirt off and yanked her bra off, sliding back into the shirt. "Better?"
"Much." Tegan nodded proudly at her wardrobe creation.
"Crap." Lilith looked at her heels. "I don't have shoes."
"Lily, those are awesome. Wait, should I call you Ms. Tudor?"
"God no." Lilith chuckled.
"I heard Caesar call you Mrs. Luxe. I kinda like that, it's cute."
"Caesar thinks he's clever." Lilith rolled her eyes. "Are you sure about these heels?"
"Yes, positive. I always wear leggings and heels. Looks hot, but your makeup is kind of…" Her kind smile only said she felt bad insulting her.
"Kind of what? Trashy?" Lilith looked in the mirror worried.
"No. Boring for this outfit. Can I?" The eagerness flowing from Tegan made Lilith nervous.
"Sure." Her uncertainty showed.
Smoky gray eyeshadow and winged out eyeliner only took a few minutes to apply. Looking over the lipstick she said, "Red would look best but we don't have any."
Lilith cocked her head. "We don't have red? We need to get red. I always have red." She smiled; she hadn't worn her red lipstick in days.
"Can I take a picture?"
"Of me?"
"Yeah." Tegan giggled. "I want to show my sister this outfit." After snapping a picture she hugged Lilith. "You're the best boss ever."
"Go home. One of the other girls can finish this tomorrow. Thank you, you're a life saver." Lilith walked into the reception lobby where Tony waited, playing on his phone annoyed.
"Damn!" Tash loudly called out, mocking a masculine voice. "Where'd you find that?"
"Tegan kind of made it." Lilith grinned. "Heels bad?" She looked at Tash worried.
"Good!" Tony quickly spoke up. "Really good." He looked her over like he was checking her out for the first time.
"Don't be a creep." Tash giggled.
"Lily knows I've got nothin' but love. Now let's go because you're already going to be late." He walked to the elevator, trying to rush her.
"Go home. Both you girls, and don't forget the new key." Lilith pointed to Tash's new elevator key.
After getting out of the car when Tony pulled up, Lilith rushed to the door where a large man was checking IDs. He looked her up then down before marking an X on her hand.
"Ten." He held his palm up.
Lilith looked at him wide-eyed. "I don't have cash. I was meeting my friend and I didn't know. Oh god." She looked to the street for Tony, but he was circling the block.
"She's with me, Uno." Someone grabbed her arm. Lilith jerked her head back to look at Justin.
"Nice." Uno grinned with an approving nod.
"Why are you a private client?" Lilith quietly snapped at him.
"I've always been private—"
"Why didn't you tell me? I said contact me first."
Pulling her through the thick crowd towa
rd the bar, he responded, "I haven't been able to get ahold of you for a few days and then after seeing you at the bar last night I didn't know where we stood."
His hand was on her lower back and she was very cognizant of it creeping lower. It was hard not letting the simple touch send a pulsing zap to her clit.
When he finally navigated them through the massive crowd, he leaned into her ear. "What're you drinking?"
"Beer, whatever."
He held up two fingers to the bartender then looked at Lilith, attempting to get her to look at him. "So where do we stand?"
"This is a paid for date," she dryly responded. "Doesn't matter where we stand."
"Then I'll stand here." The step he took toward her pushed his leg to partially rest between hers. "Cool?"
"You're paying." She worked hard at playing bored as she looked around the bar. "Is this really a friend's birthday?"
"Yeah." He pointed to the stage at the DJ setting up. "Urban's a good friend. It's his birthday. What was up with last night?" He wanted to touch her but her body language told him not to.
With a bitchy smile she expressed how annoyed she was he paid for a date. "We don't talk about me on paid for dates, remember?" She grabbed the beer the bartender put down.
"Really?" He laughed. "You're pissed I paid? Damn, woman, what do you want from me?"
"I asked you to call me."
"Yeah, and I tried to call you a few times over the weekend. I thought I'd be doing you a favor giving you business. Is it 'cause you don't want to see me?"
"You're not doing me a favor! I've been working my ass off, and yes, of course I want to see you. Just, it would have been nice to be able to relax. When I'm on dates I'm not as relaxed as I would be just hanging out with a friend."
"What, why?" he snickered.
"Because I'm working. I have to make sure everything is done by the book, Justin. Tony watches me."
"You were okay at the cider mill the other day."
"That's because Tony wasn't there."
"What's the book say?"
"You pay for no contact dates." The insolence in her tone almost made him wince.
"I never thought about it. It's cheaper." He let out a laugh and she rolled her eyes. "Not that you're not worth more." Unable to hold back, he brushed his knuckle down the soft skin of her cheek.
Turning away from him, she mumbled, "Tony can break your hand for that." She leaned against the bar.
