I ate with chopsticks while I read another file. The curry tofu dish was extremely spicy, just how I liked it. I breathed out of my mouth to cool my tongue, now on fire, as I drank copious amounts of Thai tea. It was loaded with sugar, but I was thankful April had ordered one for me.
The file before me was a lawyer in her mid-thirties. Her stark black hair adorned a beautiful face that blue eyes shone out from. During our interview, I remembered her as being an assertive and confident woman. Yet when she told me about her ideal man, it somehow contradicted the image she put forth of herself.
“I just want a man to take control,” she said. “I want a man who’s not afraid to be dominant, although not aggressive, of course.”
I thought about the word dominant. Going over her file, a lot seemed to match up with Leon. Even my memory of our meeting a few weeks ago lined up with my idea of a woman who might work for Leon. Why was it just now that I had found this file? I wracked my brain for answers as to why I had not thought of her before. Andrea Locke, a beautiful lawyer looking for a man just like Leon Christensen.
I tossed the folder to the side in disgust. The idea of hooking her up with Leon immediately brought a sense of revulsion in me, as though I was betraying myself by matching them. I took a large bite of food and chewed angrily, unsure as to why I was all of a sudden so distraught. If I didn’t think they’d be a good match, I simply wouldn’t match them. So what was the problem?
The problem was that I did think they’d make a good match. I didn’t want to match them simply because I held onto some misplaced notion about Leon.
You have feelings for him, I thought suddenly.
As quickly as the thought came, I crushed it. I would not behave as if I cared for this man. I might hold him in high esteem when it came to sex, but it was laughable to think that I was falling in love with Leon Christensen. Even the idea of falling in love was far-fetched for me, let alone with a guy like Leon Christensen, gorgeous or not.
The file loomed large on my desk. It became instantly clear to me that this was the solution. While I had tried to find my way out through Marilyn, I was now going to match him with Andrea Locke. It was final.
My heart racing, I picked up the folder and ran out of my office. The food was still open and hot on my desk, half-finished. As I ran out, I turned to April.
“April, I’m going out for a little while. I should be back before we close for the day, but if you’re done with your work today, feel free to take off early.”
“Thank you, Miss Facet,” April said to my back as I hurried out of the office.
Chapter 12
I drove fast. My foot became lead against the gas pedal as I raced towards Leon’s office. It dawned on me suddenly that I had no idea if he was even there, but I didn’t want to call him. Instead, I brought up Stills’s number and rang him.
“Hello?” Stills said.
“Stills, this is Julie Faucet,” I said. My heart beat like a snare drum roll. What if Leon was right beside him? Worse, what is Leon had already told Stills about last night?
“Hey Julie, what’s up?” Stills asked warmly. If he knew or not, it was obvious he didn’t care.
“Well, I’m looking for Leon. I have a match for him and it’s imperative that I present it to him soon.”
“Oh yeah?” Stills asked, his voice growing excited. “Well, I just left his office like half an hour ago and he was still there. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be there till the end of the day, so you can catch him on his office line if he’s not picking up his cell phone. You need the number?”
“No, thanks, but I already have it,” I lied. “Thanks Stills. When I know any more I’ll definitely let you know how Leon’s case is going.”
“Excellent, thanks!”
I hung up. I raced down the highway even faster, not caring if any cops were around. Miraculously, I arrived at Leon’s office without incident or speeding ticket. When I pulled up the building, my stomach was tied in a knot and my heart pounded against my ribcage like a jackhammer. I breathed in and out slowly, following my breath in order to calm myself down. After a full minute of this, I finally felt composed enough to go inside.
The security guard recognized me instantly. He escorted me to an elevator and told me to have a nice day. I smiled brightly at him and thanked him for being so helpful. At no point did he ask me if Leon was expecting me or if I had an appointment. As the elevator rose, I wondered if Leon had told his staff to let me come up. Or maybe he had seen me in a security camera, although I didn’t remember seeing any security monitors in his office. No, it was probably that I was a non-threatening woman who was seen with him before. I wondered how Marilyn would have been treated if she had just waltzed in like I did.
The elevator doors opened. I stormed into Leon’s office. When I saw him sitting behind his desk, I felt a wave of conflicting emotions. I immediately wanted to run over to him and embrace him and then slap him. Instead, I stood before his desk and eyed him angrily. The folder weighed heavily under my arm.
“Julie,” Leon said, his voice giving away a hint of confusion. His face looked surprised when he saw me. I saw a flash of the previous night’s warmth in his face before it vanished. His smile, full of white teeth and snarky wit, returned to quickly mask any actual emotion.
“It’s such a pleasure to see you,” he said, holding out the word pleasure like the sound of it filled him with ecstasy.
“It’s so nice to see you,” I said curtly. “You left like a criminal this morning. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you.”
Leon held his hands out palms open. “Oh yeah, I’m sorry about that. I had to run. Work beckoned.” He motioned around his office as if it were all the explanation necessary. “Did you want me to wake you up for a little morning fun?”
I made every effort not to show that he had hit a nerve. The truth was that I had actually wanted him again in the morning. Standing before him, I was not about to admit that.
“Please, sit,” Leon said, his arm extended towards one of the chairs. I sat down and crossed my legs before him. His eyes scanned me from feet to breasts and then returned to my face. “You look absolutely delicious this afternoon. Although I must say I preferred how you looked last night.”
Leon Christensen had returned to his old, crude self. I felt my annoyance grow hotter until it bubbled into anger. Last night was a distant memory for him, as though it had never even happened.
“Leon,” I said, unsure as to what to say next. I had come over here to present this file to him and show him that I didn’t care about him, but now I wondered if this had been a mistake. He was staring at me, curious as to what I was about to say. “I’d like to talk about last night. That was highly unorthodox for me.”
Leon raised an eyebrow. For a moment, I saw something in his face that echoed his vulnerability from the previous night. It vanished like a ghost at sunrise.
“Well, we can arrange for something more orthodox in the future, if that would better suit you. Is that what you’d like for next time?” He asked, grinning madly at me. Leon leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said. His tone had hurt me. Despite my fantasy in my office bathroom, I was not looking for a fuck from him. I felt a flux of confusion over my own feelings at what exactly I wanted from this man.
Leon Christensen could seem to care less about what had happened last night. His attitude was dismissive, as though we had simply been sparring partners at the gym or had an informal business meeting. Yet I had seen tears flow from those eyes that rivaled the rain that fell against the roof. Had that all been a lie?
“Oh, my mistake,” Leon said slyly. “I’m such a fool. Of course you don’t want to be orthodox. I do have leather straps and harnesses at my house. I can tie you up. Would you like that?”
I was speechless. Leon stared at me and continued on.
“You definitely come with ease, so I’ll have to hold off on too much pleasure
, but I can see that you’d just love being teased. And I’d really love to see just how far you can take my cock down your throat. You certainly had no problem riding me last night. Believe me, a lot of women have trouble with a man of my caliber.” He motioned towards his crotch crudely.
“I’ll start by tying you up and laying you face down on the bed. I’ll run a feather over your back, barely touching the skin. I can do this for as long as you want or as long as I want, but you’ll writhe in agony before I let you even touch me. Of course, with your hands bound, you can only use your mouth. But I know that your tongue moves just to my liking.”
Leon stood up. He walked over to the sink and poured himself a glass of water. Then he poured another one and placed it down before me. I stared at him, too angry to speak. I still held the folder under my arm, staring at him incredulously.
Was he really this much of an asshole?
“I’ll stand before you, and you’ll suck on me for a while. Maybe if you’re really good, I’ll let you swallow every drop of me. It’s always nice to come a couple of time during sex, wouldn’t you agree?” He asked, pausing to study me. “Of course. But then I’ll work on you with some of my toys. Are you into butt play?”
I felt my anger well inside of me, mixing with my hurt feelings. It was like a repeat of our first meeting, only worsened because now we had already had sex. His words were like blades to me, cutting deep. One night stands and limited sexual encounters were no problem for me, but to be insulted this way afterwards?
“Leon, I’m not here to talk about your childish and perverted little fucking fantasies,” I snarled. I contemplated throwing my glass of water into his face and storming out and decided against it. However crude he was being, I was not going to lower myself to such an act of outright anger.
“I’m just full of mistakes today, I know. I apologize, I really do,” Leon said, his voice sardonic and harsh. “I mean, why just talk, right? Although imagining you wrapped in leather, my cock down your throat, it sounds so wonderful. I’m already growing hard. Do you want to come around and feel it?”
“Are you going to just sit there and sexually harass me or do you want to hear why I’m here? Your bullshit is growing old.” I was growing red in the face with anger. He was pushing me, hard. Even though I knew he was doing it, it didn’t stop it from hurting. “You can stop trying to push me away by being such a tool. I didn’t come here to profess my love for you, you big hunk, you.”
Leon smiled. “I imagine not,” he said. I could almost detect the slightest hint of sadness in his voice and I dismissed it as part of his act. “But if you want, I can bend you over the desk? In all seriousness, why not?”
He put his feet up on his desk and eyed me curiously. If I hadn’t been so angry and offended, it was possible that I might have slept with him one more time before finally writing him off as a client forever. But Leon was acting like an angry little boy, lashing out at those around him. Although I admitted to myself that I was glad that I had relieved some of my tension before heading over here. It helped me to turn him down.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I came here to talk business with you, Leon. Although it’s beyond difficult to resist your charm,” I said sarcastically.
Leon laughed. “I’ve been told my charm is without equal. Alright, we’ll talk business. Have you come here to reconsider my offer?”
I paused to think. What was Leon’s offer? I searched through my memory for any clues as to what he was talking about.
“What offer?” I asked, capitulating to my cluelessness about what he was talking about.
“The job offer,” he said, the edge in his voice increasing. “You know, at my club. You could be a performer.”
The anger flared up again. With it, I felt a bitter disappointment. Whatever I had seen in Leon Christensen last night was gone, locked up behind the crass person that sat before me.
“I’m gainfully employed, thank you,” I said bitterly. “Is that all? Are there any more brilliant quips from the witty Leon Christensen? ‘Oh, would you like me to strap you down or put you on stage to be fucked in front of a nightclub?’’’ I said, mocking his voice. “You hold yourself in such high esteem, don’t you?” I asked angrily.
My anger turned against me more than it focused on Leon. The idea that I could have cared for this miscreant was even more laughable now, but I was in no mood for laughter. I couldn’t believe that I had allowed myself to have any feelings for him. I’d had sex with assholes before, absolutely, but I never allowed them to linger for much longer than an evening after the act. Now, I was standing before one that I had been sure I was growing attached to.
“Of course,” Leon said, smiling.
I tossed the folder on his desk. It slid across the slick wood and stopped right before Leon’s fingers. He picked it up curiously and opened it, his eyes scanning the sheets. A look of understanding dawned on him and he turned to look back at me.
“Maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for in her,” I said harshly. Leon disregarded me completely as he leafed through the file. He read through the pages, feigning interest.
“She looks fantastic,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “So this visit really is all about business. If I go out with Miss Locke here, does this mean our business is concluded?”
I put back on my professionalism and contemplated his question like I would have if somebody else had asked it.
“Not exactly. If the match goes well, your file will be put on hold. But given our brief and unpleasant history, I’m going to say that once you go on a date, I’m closing your file.”
“Unpleasant? That’s certainly not what your face said last night while you bounced up and down on me. The fireplace roaring next to us, your wonderful breasts moving with our rhythm. Coming inside of you was so pleasant.”
I stood up and kicked the chair back. My temper shattered and I stared at Leon furiously.
“Shut up, you fucking boy,” I hissed. “You may be able to push around the women who like to be your little submissives, but not me. You’re all gusto now, but last night you were a scared little boy, crying about his dead friend. Your tears were so touching. Poor little Leon Christensen, a little rich kid whose other rich friend killed himself over a girl.”
The humor vanished from Leon’s face. He looked at me coolly, as if I had slapped him in the face. I laughed out viciously in a grunt and shook my head at him.
“You’re pathetic. Have a wonderful, lonely life,” I said. I turned and walked out of his office. Leon made no sound as I opened the door and walked out.
I drove much slower on the way home. I felt no satisfaction from my meeting with Leon. Everything had gone so poorly that I felt completely dejected. I pulled into a fast food joint and ordered a double cheeseburger and fries. Extra large Coke, not that diet stuff. I drank the Coke greedily and ate the cheeseburger in a few bites in the parking lot while I tried to force back tears.
Leon Christensen had been his old self, offensive and crude. It had struck a nerve when he actually referenced our sex from the previous night. It was something about the way he made it perverse that had riled me so much because it hadn’t been like that. Our sex had been tender, emotional, and special. The dead meat in my mouth tasted like processed garbage as I swallowed the truth about the previous night.
At the office, April was gone. I sat down at my desk, thankful to be alone. I sat there in silence for a long while, trying not to think about the ramifications of my meeting with Leon. What would this mean for me professionally?
I had never acted so rashly. Even if a client had offended me or acted improperly, I would never have lashed out in the past. I would have simply charged the client for time spent on his file and then closed his file, no recourse allowed. With the offending client gone, I would maintain my professionalism while dealing with the problem.
Now I had attacked a client personally after I spent a night having sex with him at my own apartment. It was a huge mess. If
this leaked out, it would be incredibly damaging to my career and my reputation. Would any woman use my service if she suspected that I was sleeping with the male clients? What woman would want a suitor who was sleeping with the matchmaker like she was some sort of prostitute.
Those rumors would fly as well. I would be accused of being a high-class escort. The women I matched up might be construed as a front or even whores themselves. It wouldn’t be the first time that an escort service masked itself as a matchmaking agency. Hell, that’s even how they marketed themselves in the classifieds!
I fell into despair over my imagined demise. If Leon used some of his influence and wealth to start a smear campaign against me, I was finished. Even if he didn’t, if any of this leaked to anybody that I slept with a client, it would still be damaging. Guys would sign up for my service with the intent of trying to sleep with me. Sure, I could charge them for meetings that never led anywhere, but rumors were powerful things. And with the internet, rumors became tangible things that lingered in message boards and websites.
I wanted a drink. I needed to wash away the anxiety of the day with a very stiff drink. When I looked around my office, I knew that I had no liquor there and there was no way I was going to sit alone in a bar drowning away my sorrows. I was still full from the nasty fast food that sat like a lump in my stomach, so even a restaurant was out of the question.
My stomach turned over and I felt nauseated. Whether from stress or fast food, I didn’t know. It didn’t really matter. If I vomited now, I would probably feel better. Instead, I got up and made myself a cup of tea.
I looked around the office. April’s computer was dark, turned off for the day. Her chair was neatly tucked in against the desk and everything on the desk neat and organized. I studied every single inch the office, praying that no matter what happened, this would not be threatened. It was then that I realized I would miss April if she were gone. The next time I saw her, I was going to make sure she began calling me by my first name.
Billionaire Erotic Romance Boxed Set: 7 Steamy Full-Length Novels Page 38
