Providence

by Leigh Hays

  Sabine waved her off. “Go.”

  Lindsey left her and walked back across the open space. More people ducked in and out of her way with a greeting here and a check-in there, so it took her twice as long to walk the same distance back to the elevators and beyond to Cathryn’s office. She paused at the edge of Cathryn’s work area and nodded at the admin assistant who motioned her through. She knocked on the half-open door.

  “Come in,” Cathryn shouted.

  Cathryn’s office was cut in clean lines. Modern furniture mixed with glass tables and neutral colors gave off a sterile feel. There were no pictures on her wall, just a bank of clocks on one side and a large screen TV on another. Floor to ceiling windows behind her looked down at Westminster Street and across to the Turk’s Head building. Reaching down, she pointed her remote at the TV and shut it off. She shook her head and said, “We’re getting crushed in Asia.”

  Lindsey nodded and took a seat on one of the armless couches. “I know.” Lindsey’s local institutional clients—Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design—had portions of their endowments tied into the Asian markets. She’d already placed a few calls to the brokerage firms she worked with in Tokyo and Shanghai. If the trend continued, she’d need to move quickly to minimize any losses.

  Cathryn walked past her and shut the door. She settled across from her and said, “I fired Roger.”

  Lindsey’s mind snapped back to Providence. “What? Why?” Roger handled estates and trusts for their firm.

  “Our auditors came back with irregularities in his department.”

  “Irregularities? What kind of irregularities?” Stunned, Lindsey leaned back and shook her head. Roger was the third partner and the last person she expected they’d have to fire, especially for financial reasons. She’d known him her entire professional life.

  Cathryn sighed. “A few accounts didn’t add up. Nothing I can prove but enough to make me think he’s been stealing from us for the past two years.”

  Lindsey leaned back and exhaled. Roger. Damn. “Jesus. Does the staff know?”

  Cathryn stood and headed over to her credenza. She poured herself a cup of coffee and offered one to Lindsey. She declined. “Not yet. Let’s keep the details between us, but I need you to look over his clients. Delegate what you can and meet with any new prospects until we get someone in.” She sat back down. “I’m sorry to do this to you.”

  “It’s fine.” Lindsey nodded. “Do we have anyone internally that you’re thinking about?”

  Cathryn shook her head. “No. Not yet.” She drank her coffee and sighed. Her phone chirped, and she stood. “That’s my conference call with New York. Do what you can.”

  Lindsey went back to her office. Sabine stopped her on the way. “Your mother’s office called to remind you about tonight’s fundraiser.”

  Lindsey groaned and hung her head. “I swear that woman has an RFID chip in my head. I just got back. How does she know when I’m in town?”

  Sabine gave her a sympathetic look.

  She’d call her mother’s press secretary later. She walked into her office and paused. “Sabine, can you come in?” She headed over to the windows in her sitting area and looked out at the view. She watched the pedestrian traffic and a russet dog chase a pigeon across Burnside Park before she heard Sabine close the door behind her.

  Taking a deep breath, Lindsey focused inward and spun around. “Okay, change of plans. Roger’s been let go, and we need to focus on his stuff before we get to ours.”

  Sabine gasped and glanced up from her tablet.

  Lindsey nodded. “I know. Me, too.” She headed over to her desk and sat down in the black Aero chair. “Let’s get everyone together in half an hour.” Picking up her coffee, she hauled her iPad and laptop out of her bag and set to work.

  Chapter Two

  Rebekiah had been pleasantly surprised when Nicole emailed her a few days ago, asking for more details. They’d met for coffee, and after a few minutes of casual flirting, got right to the point. “Just to be clear, this is not a boudoir shoot. You’re willing to have sex on camera.”

  Nicole had flushed. “Well, not on video.”

  Rebekiah had frowned. Did she think she was doing porn? Her initial confusion turned to irritation. “This isn’t porn.”

  Nicole had held up her hands. “I didn’t think it was.”

  Whoops, she must have sounded as irritated as she felt. Well, whatever her reasons, she needed to trust Nicole’s intentions if she wanted to shoot her, so she’d outlined her general approach and ended with, “I’m not sure what I’m looking for. Are you willing to take my lead?”

  “Yes.”

  Now, a few days later, Rebekiah called, “How’s it going?” over her shoulder as she tucked a piece of paper into Nicole’s file. It was a standard consent and release form that allowed her to display and alter images from the signee. She was pleased Nicole had the foresight to read and sign it before coming. Having it out of the way beforehand set the mood earlier. As far as Rebekiah was concerned, nothing happened until it was signed. She’d been around the art world and worked in it long enough to know how to protect herself.

  “Good.” Nicole’s voice emanated from behind the deep blue drape hung on an L-shaped rod in the corner.

  “Are you warm enough?” Rebekiah asked as she paused at the thermostat. Sera snorted and snuffled in her bed behind Rebekiah’s desk. “Not you,” she whispered. The russet American Staffordshire terrier twirled and turned her butt toward her owner. “Really?” Rebekiah rolled her eyes and glanced toward the dressing area. Raising her voice, she said, “Nicole?”

  Nicole pushed back the heavy curtain with a muted whoosh. She crossed her arms over her chest and shuffled her feet.

  Rebekiah studied her, a grad student standing in expensive black lingerie in her studio. She wasn’t built like those skinny girls starving their bodies until every single bone stuck out, defined and prominent under their skin. Nicole’s breasts were average size with a bit of droop, not perky but not saggy. The stomach above her pubis bulged slightly but in a way that gave her curves a sensuality lacking in the current definition of mainstream feminine beauty. Rebekiah turned the thermostat up another degree and crossed to her.

  “May I?” She slowly pulled Nicole’s arms away from her chest, smiled, and said, “You look lovely.”

  Nicole blushed and ducked her head.

  Rebekiah felt a slight tug on her hands and stepped back. “This is about you, Nicole. If you’re not comfortable, you need to let me know.”

  Nicole nodded. “I’m okay.”

  “Good. Then let’s get started.” Rebekiah backed up into the open floor plan of her photography studio. Sunlight filtered through arched windows and bounced off the pale hardwood floors and bright white paint that bookended the studio’s long end. Brick walls and heavy black shades provided contrast in the room. Her current work area was centered around a low bed covered with a white sheet and a collection of gray cushions. A couple of white and gray light umbrellas surrounded the bed.

  Rebekiah gestured toward the cushions. “Why don’t you get settled?” She stopped behind a camera on a tripod and took a few shots to test the exposure settings. She adjusted the aperture for more light and made sure the shutter speed and the ISO matched the aperture change. Then she started grabbing the light umbrellas by their black stands and positioning them.

  While she worked, Nicole sat down and shifted, moving a pillow here and there. She fumbled with her hands, looking unsure about covering up or not. Rebekiah took a few more shots. She had no intention of using them, but she needed to get Nicole into the space of being photographed. “Why don’t you move your hands away from your chest?”

  Nicole stared at her. “Where do I put them?”

  Rebekiah kept her eye against the camera and gestured above her head. “Put one across your stomach…right there…good. And the other…yeah just a little…perfect. Okay, now why don’t you lean back?”

  �
��Like this?”

  Rebekiah pulled the camera from the tripod and cradled it in her hand. She nodded. “Yeah. Perfect. Pull your leg up. Chin on your knee.” She brought the camera up and bent back to her work.

  Nicole nodded and situated herself. The position opened her legs a bit more, and her face changed.

  Rebekiah lifted her head away from the camera and knelt in front of her. “Are you okay with this?”

  Nicole picked at the fabric on the pillow next to her. She gave a quick nod. “Yeah, yeah of course.”

  This approach was all wrong. There was too much distance between them. She felt no connection with her. Rebekiah took a deep breath and said, “Your body language says otherwise.” She clapped her hands and held them against her lips before she asked, “How can I help you here?”

  “Can I wear some more clothes?”

  Rebekiah smiled and rocked back on her heels. “Of course.” She jumped up and walked away. She came back with a white dress shirt and held it out for her.

  Nicole got up and put it on. The tails came down to mid-thigh and the sleeves went four inches past her hand. She quickly buttoned it up and then struggled with rolling the sleeves up.

  Rebekiah stepped in and adjusted them into neat folds that draped against her mid-forearm. She stepped back and surveyed the final look. Pursing her lips, she cocked her head to the side. She moved in, unbuttoned the top two buttons and the bottom one. It gave Nicole just the right ratio between revealing and on display. She gave a quick decisive nod and backed away. “Better?”

  Nicole glanced at the billowing fabric held together by two buttons instead of five and smiled. “Yeah. This is better.” She sat back down and kept shifting her position.

  “Just relax.” Rebekiah reached out and moved her hand along her thigh. “Like this.” She pushed her thigh outward so that just a hint of her lace appeared. Nicole sighed and leaned back. Finally. So much work to get her here. It was easier doing this with friends. “Perfect.”

  Determined to make the best of it, Rebekiah picked up her camera. “You’re doing great, Nicole.” She centered her subject in the viewfinder and started clicking off a round of shots. “Just great.” She adjusted for light, focus, and distance, getting a range of long and short shots. “Move your hand.” She stood on a stool and shot down. “A little higher. Right there. Catch your nipple…yeah, you got it.” She stepped off the stool and circled the bed. She crouched down next to her and smoothed her hand along her calf. “It’s just you and me here. No one else.”

  With her mind working on logistics, Rebekiah kept her hand on Nicole’s leg. “I want you to close your eyes. Think about the way you like your body to be touched.”

  Nicole smiled.

  Rebekiah moved back. “Good. Now I want you to show me.” Nicole’s hand moved down her body, caressing her skin and slipping into her shirt. “That’s right. Tease yourself. Now slowly.” Nicole’s entire demeanor changed. Her face flushed, her body uncoiled, and her legs spread. “That’s good. I want you to touch yourself.”

  Nicole’s eyes closed, and she moved her hand down her stomach and toward her underwear. “That’s it.” Her fingers brushed against the fabric. “Nice.” Rebekiah crab-walked to the side to switch angles and lifted her camera again. “You’re gorgeous. Just a little…oh, yes.”

  Nicole’s hand slipped into her underwear.

  “Just like that. So good, darling. So good.” The more she spoke to her, the more aroused she became. What started as stilted and off-putting was becoming sexier by the moment. She moved closer. Her hand rested on Nicole’s upper thigh, and the tips of her fingers brushed along her. She wanted to touch her but held back. “Take those off and open your legs so I can see how good you make yourself feel.”

  Nicole swallowed hard and stared into Rebekiah’s eyes as she slid her underwear off. She never broke eye contact as her left hand slid across the dip in her hip and toward her dark patch of hair. Rebekiah’s breath quickened and her hands shook, and still she eased back and lifted her camera again.

  “Just you and me. You’re gorgeous. Do you know how much I want to fuck you right now?” The words slipped out of her mouth before she had a chance to censor them.

  Nicole gasped.

  Giving into the mood, Rebekiah grinned. “So good. So good,” she murmured. Nicole’s finger brushed a sensitive spot—her eyes snapped shut, and her hips rolled. Rebekiah focused on that open-mouthed vulnerability when she whispered, “Come for me, Nicole. Come for me.”

  After Nicole’s climax, she took a few more shots before the afterglow wore off. She put the camera down and, tamping down her desire, asked, “Thirsty?”

  Nicole started to sit up and nodded. Rebekiah handed her a glass of water and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. Nicole sank into the soft cotton and took a long drink.

  “That was…” Nicole shook her head. “Amazing.”

  Rebekiah smiled. Despite the rough start, Nicole had given her exactly what she wanted. “I’m glad you liked it.”

  Nicole set the glass down, then glanced up at Rebekiah. “Do you still want to fuck me?”

  Her desire returned full force, she knelt down on the edge of the bed. “Absolutely.”

  Nicole dropped the blanket, and Rebekiah crawled forward.

  * * *

  Lindsey looked up as Sabine knocked on her door and ducked inside her office. “Jennifer Winslow is here to see you.”

  Lindsey glanced at her calendar and cursed. “I forgot.” Jen worked for Brown University Alumni Affairs and Development, but her relationship with Lindsey predated her current job. The pair were both children of prominent Rhode Island families and spent their childhood in the same social circles. They figured out quickly they had both queer and social connections. Jen helped Lindsey forge relationships with her first clients, and as Lindsey’s business acumen grew, she returned the favor, introducing Jen to major donors along the way.

  Sabine shook her head. “Do you want me to send her away?”

  Lindsey hit save and pushed away from her desk. “No. I’ll go talk with her.”

  Sabine followed her out of her office and settled back at her desk. Lindsey continued toward the reception area. She spotted Jen lounging on the leather couch idly flipping through a magazine. In her early forties, she wore tailored black pants, a red shell, and a matching suit jacket. Her brown hair framed a serious face with minimal makeup and a slightly less corporate version of Lindsey’s heels and skirt.

  Jen tossed the magazine back on the pile and stood. “Welcome back. You almost look rested.” Her serious demeanor evaporated with her smile.

  “So do you.” Lindsey matched her smile and stepped into her open arms. She always forgot how much taller Jen was until she stood next to her. A master of projection, Jen could make herself smaller or larger if the situation called for it. Lindsey pulled back and took a deep breath.

  Jen eyed her before crossing her arms. “You’re canceling.”

  Lindsey winced. Now that Jen was here, she didn’t want to cancel. “Yeah.”

  Jen leaned in. “It better be a meeting.”

  Lindsey knew she meant an AA meeting. She shook her head. “No. Just work.”

  Jen rolled her eyes. “Have you had lunch?”

  “No.”

  “Let’s go and grab takeout.” She held up her hand. “You can bring it back and eat at your desk.”

  She had a client meeting in a half hour. She didn’t really have time to go, but when she opened her mouth to protest, the look on Jen’s face said no excuses. She smiled. “Let me get my wallet.”

  Jen waved. “It’s on me. Let’s go.” She nodded toward the elevators and called over her shoulder, “If I let you get away, there’s no telling how long it’ll take to get you back.”

  Lindsey laughed and followed. The doors closed, and Jen punched the bottom floor. “So, what’s got you so busy you can’t eat today?”

  Lindsey sighed and leaned against the wall. Her work moved at
breakneck pace at times, but she was still reeling from Roger’s dismissal. Her instinct was to protect the firm and her reputation, so she hesitated. She almost didn’t say, but Jen had always kept her secrets for her. “Cathryn fired Roger.”

  Jen’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

  Now that the seal was broken, she relaxed and let it all out. “Audit found something. She thinks he was stealing from the company.”

  Jen exhaled. “Shit. Are you pressing charges?”

  Lindsey shook her head. “There’s nothing concrete.” The elevator opened, and she glanced around to make sure no one would hear. “But I’m going through his files today.”

  “Shouldn’t audit do that?”

  “Not those files. Client files. I’m picking up where he left off.” When they got outside the building, she paused. “Which way?”

  “Left.” Jen pointed. “The Thai Palace.”

  Lindsey nodded and continued her conversation. “It sucks. I’ve known Roger since B-school.” She exhaled. “Hell, I brought him into this business.”

  Jen shook her head. “You can never tell. A few years ago, this woman retired—well-liked and respected—but six months after she left, we start getting these calls from people wanting to know where their money went. Turns out she was running a pyramid scheme out of the office and using university funds to bankroll it.”

  “Want happened to her?”

  Jen shrugged. “Last I heard, she’s living on one of the Caribbean islands that doesn’t extradite to the US. You just never know.” They ducked in and out of the lunch-hour pedestrian traffic until they came up the restaurant.

  After they ordered, Jen paid, and they shuffled to the side. “Are you going to talk to him?”

  “Roger? I don’t know. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

  Jen snagged an empty table and they sat. “Are you still with Karen?”