City of Sin

by Ivy Smoak

  "What is wrong with you? She's been through enough. She doesn't need someone like you in her life right now. Just leave her alone."

  I can't leave her alone. I can't stop thinking about her. I ran my hand through my hair. "This whole thing is just a misunderstanding."

  "Do you or do you not give your father's new employees certain perks for signing with MAC International?"

  I laughed. That was an interesting spin on it. "I don't work for my father. I work for an ad agency across town. Finance isn't really my thing. Come on, sugar, just let me up to see Bee."

  "That doesn't answer my question."

  "Look, I like her, okay? We had an amazing date until she just ran off in a taxi without any explanation. I'm not trying to mess with her life. I just want to talk to her."

  She stared at me for a second. "She doesn't want to see you. I'm sorry."

  "Okay. I respect that." I stood there, staring at her.

  "If you respect that, then why aren't you walking away?"

  Because I'm going to follow you back into the building. This woman was infuriating. "Do you work at Blue Media too? You look familiar."

  "No. I work at Kruger Advertising with Bee."

  "Oh. Never mind." I turned away and smiled. That's all I needed to know. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contact list. I pressed the call button and held my phone to my ear as I hailed down a taxi.

  "Vargas."

  "Hey, Vargas. It's Mason. I'm calling about that favor you owe me."

  "Whatever you need, man."

  "I need you to find out the last name of an employee at Kruger Advertising. Her first name is Bridget and she works as a secretary there."

  "That's all you need?"

  "Run her name through the system too. I want to know everything about her. And the name of her ex-fiancé. He works at MAC International but that's all I know about him."

  "He works for your father?"

  "Yeah."

  "What's this all about? Something juicy I hope?"

  "Just run the name, Vargas." I hung up the phone. If Bee wanted chivalrous, I'd give her chivalrous. No one ever refused to talk to me. I was used to getting what I wanted. And right now, all I wanted was Bee.

  Chapter 24

  Bee

  I poured myself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter in the break room. It was a new week, so it was time for a fresh start. I just needed to stop dwelling on the past so much. One stupid date and one very bad day at work wasn't enough to make me give up on the life I had made for myself here. I had stuck it out after Patrick had left me. And that was the worst thing that was going to happen. It could only get better from here.

  Just because Mr. Ellington said I didn't have thick skin and Mason Caldwell said I was soft, didn't mean those things were true. I was going to make it in advertising. And I was going to find a guy that was worthy of my time. I wanted to prove everyone wrong.

  Thinking about Mason made me so angry but at the same time it made my skin tingle. I walked back toward my desk and froze. There was a huge bouquet of roses on the middle of my desk. I pulled out the card that was attached to them.

  Bee,

  I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to keep calling you that. I had an amazing time with you on Friday. I can't stop thinking about you. And I don't want to stop. I'm sorry about what happened with you and your fiancé. Let me help you get your mind off him. I'm taking you to dinner tonight.

  -Mason

  What? He couldn't come here! How did he even know where I worked? God, my mom was right. He's a serial killer. I pushed the vase to the side and sat down in my chair.

  "Wow, nice flowers," Kendra said and perched herself on the side of my desk. "Who are they from?" She arched her eyebrow.

  "They're from Mason."

  "How romantic."

  "No. He's not romantic."

  "I know I already told you this after I talked to him, but I think he really likes you. He was pretty persistent about talking to you. What kind of guy goes through all this trouble for a hook up?"

  "A lunatic."

  Kendra laughed. "Those roses are beautiful."

  "They're okay."

  "So, what did you mean when you said you didn't exactly have sex with him?"

  "I meant I didn't have sex with him. Don't you have work to do?"

  "Well, maybe whatever weird non-sex thing you did is what has him hooked? You'll have to tell me sometime. Because I never get roses. And you're welcome. While I was talking to him, I may have let it slip that you work at Kruger Advertising." She smiled at me.

  "Kendra!"

  She walked back to her desk without responding.

  ***

  Each minute that passed made me more and more nervous. He isn't seriously coming here, is he? He can't just show up at my work. I tried to focus on the document I was editing, but my mind was scattered. I couldn't stop thinking about the spark I felt when he touched me. I wasn't sure if I could control myself around him.

  It was almost 5 o'clock. As soon as it was time to go, I was going to race out of here as quickly as possible. Maybe I'd miss him.

  "Jenkins! Good to see you, man."

  Oh my God, it's him. And of course he knows Jenkins. He probably set up all the men here with prostitutes too.

  "You too, Caldwell. What are you doing here? Trying to spy on the competition?"

  "At Kruger? I don't think so."

  They both laughed.

  "I'm actually here for pleasure, not business. If you'll excuse me," Mason said.

  Pleasure? Gross. Who talks like that? There was no way I was going to dinner with him. I ducked down behind my desk. What the hell am I doing? But it was too late. I could already hear footsteps approaching my desk. Maybe he'd think I had left for the day. Shit. My coat was still on my chair. The footsteps stopped right in front of me. I leaned down farther to peer under the desk. He had really big feet. Feet really must be a sign of endowment. I had always thought that was a rumor.

  I could smell his cologne from where I was. Just the smell of him made me slightly aroused. What is happening to me?

  Mason began to walk around my desk. I closed my eyes, hoping that if I couldn't see him, he couldn't see me.

  "As much as I like you on your knees, how about we have dinner first?" Mason said.

  I slowly opened my eyes. His hand was in front of my face.

  "Oh, yeah, I was just looking for a pen I dropped. I can't find the darn thing anywhere. Slippery devil." What did I just say?

  He laughed.

  It was deep and sexy. God. I got to my feet without taking his hand.

  "You look beautiful tonight, Bee."

  "Thanks. I'm sorry, though, I'm really busy. I don't have time to go to dinner. I have to stay late. I would have called you, but I didn't have your number."

  "Are you asking for my number?" He flashed me his jaw dropping smile.

  "Nope."

  "Mhm. After dinner I promise that you'll want it."

  "I just said I can't. So if you'll excuse me." I tried to walk past him, but he sidestepped, blocking my path, so that I ended up just a few inches in front of him. He smelled amazing.

  "Are you saying no to me?"

  Am I? "Yes."

  "So, it's a yes?" he said.

  "What? No."

  "Bee," he said and picked up my jacket. "You have a lot to learn. For one, you should never say no to me." He grabbed my hand.

  I felt the same electricity shoot through my body. I quickly pulled my hand out of his. "I'm sorry, Mason. But I'm not interested in pursuing whatever this is."

  He bent down so that his lips were by my ear. "I promise you that tonight will be worth your time, Bee."

  I pressed my thighs together.

  "Bridget, do you have those papers I asked for?" Mr. Ellington came out of his office. He frowned when he saw Mason.

  Maybe this was exactly what I needed to get Mr. Ellington to stop hitting on me.

  "Stop, Mason,
not at the office." I giggled and pushed on his chest. I internally rolled my eyes at myself.

  Mr. Ellington's frown deepened.

  "Yes, Mr. Ellington." I smoothed down my skirt even thought it didn't need it. I picked up a folder off my desk and handed it to him. "Is there anything else I can do for you tonight?"

  "Not tonight, no."

  "Okay, great. Let's get going, baby," I said and put my arm through Mason's. I tried not to look at either him or Mr. Ellington. What was I doing? Getting away from one snake and into bed with another.

  Mr. Ellington turned and walked back into this office.

  Thank God. I sighed and tried to take a step away from Mason, but he held me in place.

  "I'd like to know what that was about," he said. He kept his hand on my arm. "I think you owe me an explanation."

  "I owe you an explanation? You're the one that owes me an explanation."

  "Let's discuss it over dinner then. My treat."

  What if Kendra was right? Maybe I should hear him out. Guys like him didn't need to do stuff like this. Maybe Patrick had made the whole thing up. All he did the last few months of our relationship was lie to me. I grabbed my jacket out of Mason's hand and walked past him. "We'll split the cost," I said over my shoulder.

  Chapter 25

  Mason

  I watched her ass sway back and forth. Being chivalrous was not going to be easy. I quickly caught up to her. She didn't look at me until we both got onto the elevator. She leaned against the side of the elevator and crossed her arms over her chest. It pressed her tits together. I had to force myself to look up at her face. She was pouting slightly, her lips full and sultry. All I wanted to do was fuck her pretty little face again.

  "Just so we're both clear, this is not a date. I'm going to dinner with you to hear you out. That's it."

  "It seems like a date to me. I sent you flowers. And picked you up at work. And you're already calling me baby. It's all moving a little fast, but I think I'm okay with that."

  Bee laughed. "You didn't pick me up. You just walked over here from Blue Media."

  "Hmm." The doors opened and I held my hand out, motioning for her to go first. I saw it, but only for a second. She looked surprised that I was letting her exit the elevator first. I wasn't even trying to be chivalrous. That's just what men did. Clearly her ex hadn't been a man. Vargas was still working on getting me his name. But I had already found out a lot about Bee. I opened up the door to her office building for her.

  "Thanks," she said, and walked through.

  "You're quite welcome." I put my arm around her shoulders as we walked down the sidewalk.

  She immediately dropped her shoulder. "Please don't touch me, Mason." Her face was flushed.

  She still wants me. She was stubborn. And I liked the fight in her. Everything about her was refreshing.

  "You just looked cold."

  "Yeah, well, I'm fine, thank you," she said and pulled her coat tighter around her slim frame.

  "I don't know what you think you know, but I promise that it isn't everything you need to know about me," I said.

  "It is." She had a cute scowl on her face. I wanted to rip all her clothes off right in the middle of the sidewalk. And I bet she'd let me. But I didn't want to just fuck her. I wanted her to beg me for it.

  "It's not. How about you tell me exactly why you're so upset?"

  "I know what kind of perks your father's business has."

  "Perks?" I raised my eyebrow. It was the same thing her friend had said to me. Apparently her ex was just at good at spinning a web of lies as I was. Handing out perks didn't pay the bills.

  "Yes, perks. Don't act so innocent. I know all about you, Mason Caldwell. And I don't want to know anything else."

  "Like I told your friend, I don't work for my father. Finance is not my forte. I work at Blue Media with Carter. You know that."

  She looked flustered. "That's not what Patrick said."

  I couldn't help but laugh. Patrick was an ass. A complete suck up. "Patrick? Patrick is you ex-fiancé?"

  "Why are you laughing?"

  "I'm sorry. He just doesn't seem like your type."

  "Yeah, well he's not now. You taught him how to cheat on me. And how to not care. You turned him into a monster."

  "I just unleashed what was already there. Patrick is a dick."

  "He didn't used to be. Not before we moved here. Not before he met you."

  "Honey..."

  "Don't call me that!" she yelled.

  I smiled at her. "You're welcome, by the way."

  "What are you talking about?" She looked so mad. I wish all that passion was being used in a better way.

  "If he couldn't make you orgasm, then you shouldn't have been with him anyway."

  "Seriously? You think I should be thanking you?"

  "Yes. And I can think of one way you can thank me right now."

  Her eyes shone with lust for a second. She shook her head back and forth. "What, so your dad asks you to show all his new hires the city? So instead of showing them normal things like the Chrysler Building, you show them all the underground clubs where they can fuck whoever they want? And set them up with prostitutes? You tell them there's no consequences? Well there are. He hurt me."

  I could see that hurt in her eyes. She was broken. I wanted to be the one that fixed her. I was pretty sure I was exactly what she needed. And right now, she was exactly what I needed. "I show people that are new to the city how to have a good time. It's not like I forced him to do the things he did."

  "So you admit it?"

  "Admit what?"

  "That you're...that you..." She bit her lip. She didn't have the guts to say what was on her mind. It was that unspeakable and wrong. And she loved it. She loved what I was. "Did you even care that he was seeing someone?"

  "Bee, he never mentioned you." I never asked questions. Some of the men even had wedding rings, but it was none of my business. None of them ever mentioned if they were with someone. I had assumed it, but I never knew it. Bee didn't need to know that. Finance jobs were as rough as advertising. Every man in a high level gig in this city needed to let off steam. Women had a hard time understanding that.

  I'd tell her whatever she wanted to hear, though. I needed my cock deep inside of her. I was done messing around. She didn't need to know anything about my second business. I'd fuck her and be done with her, just like all the rest of them.

  She looked down at her feet. I let my eyes wander down her curves.

  Chapter 26

  Bee

  "So you didn't know he was cheating on someone?" Maybe I was overreacting. Patrick was a cheater. Which meant he was also a liar. He had made it seem like no one was faithful. Like his new friend Mason had told him that women were expendable. He made it seem like Mason was basically a pimp. Which was ridiculous. Mason had a job as an ad executive. He was sophisticated and well off. He wasn't a pimp.

  "No, I didn't."

  I took a deep breath. "Why do you even know where places like that are?"

  "Places like what?"

  "I don't know what they're called. Sex bars?"

  Mason laughed. "I told you what my hobby was."

  I gulped. "I thought you were joking."

  "We need to cross here." He lightly touched my elbow.

  This time I didn't flinch. I still wasn't sure what kind of man he was. But I did know that I wanted him. I wanted him in a way that I had never wanted anyone else. I wasn't sure what it was about him. But I just wanted to kiss his beautiful face.

  He leaned toward me as we crossed the street. "I don't joke when it comes to sex."

  "No?" I could hear how breathless my voice was. I hated how it sounded.

  "No." He leaned down and nipped my earlobe.

  Holy shit.

  "And I promised you the best night of your life. I still need to deliver."

  I gulped. Friday night had been one of the best nights of my life. What we had done should have been embarrassing. But it w
asn't. Mason made me feel so sexy. No one had ever wanted me like this before. He made me feel desired.

  "Here we are," he said.

  I stopped in my tracks. We were standing outside La Masseria dei Vini. "This is my favorite restaurant." I smiled up at him. What a weird coincidence. Maybe we had more in common than I thought.

  "Is it? I love it here too. They have the best gnocchi in the whole city."

  "I know. That's what I always order here."

  He smiled and opened up the door for me.

  I was completely torn. Tonight he was acting like such a gentleman. On Friday he had acted like a sex god. And from what Patrick had said, he was a complete douche bag. How was I supposed to know which one he really was? I bit my lip and walked into the restaurant.

  Mason walked up to the hostess stand. "We have a reservation under Mason Caldwell."

  The hostess looked up at him. I noticed her face blush. No matter what kind of guy Mason was, he definitely had a reputation.

  "Of course. Right this way, Mr. Caldwell."

  Mason put his hand on the small of my back and led me to our table. He pulled my chair out for me. Patrick had never done that. I quickly sat down.

  "So tell me," he said as he looked at his menu. "Why do you want your boss to think that we're together?"

  "I don't."

  He lowered his eyebrows slightly. "I know when a girl is flirting with me. You were pretending to. Tell me why."

  He didn't really ask it as a question. More as a command. It sent a chill down my spine. I was relieved when the waiter walked over.

  "Good evening, and welcome to La Masseria dei Vini. I'm Franco and I'll be your waiter tonight. Can I start you off with something to drink? We have a featured..."

  "We'll have a bottle of Chateau Bordeaux. And we'd both like Gnocchi Verdi for our entrees. Thank you, Franco." Mason kept his eyes on me. Everything he did was so unnerving.

  "Yes, sir. I'll put your order in right away." Franco left the table.

  "You should have let him finish," I said. "It's kind of rude to cut the waiter off when..."