by Nicole Casey
“I thought I lost you,” he said, laughing slightly.
I shook my head, but didn’t look back up. I was getting too involved too fast, and soon this job would end and I would probably never see him again. I had to remain neutral about everything.
We continued working on all the signs, leaving not one empty board left untouched. We had banners, fliers, ads, brochures, and so much more to pass out to the neighbors and anyone else she could think of to share the news.
I had noticed that as we worked, it kept getting darker and darker outside. It wasn’t until we were done working on the signs that I looked at my watch.
“Wow! I’ve been here for six hours. It’s almost midnight.” I stood up, my knees were a little shaky from sitting for so long. “I’ll help you move these to the side and we can start putting them up tomorrow. I can be here earlier than normal, if you want.” I looked up at him and he nodded.
“That would be fine. Whatever works for you.”
We gathered the stuff and moved it to the backroom. I then went to his office to grab my purse. He had followed me. I looked up at him.
“I had a good time tonight,” I said.
He laughed. “A good time working?”
I shrugged. “It sometimes doesn’t feel like work. I know that probably sounds crazy.”
He assured me that it didn’t sound too crazy and then we walked out to the door of the alley. I turned back around to thank him again, when I noticed that his eyes dropped down to my lips.
“Goodbye!” I said. I backed up, but before I could leave, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him.
The shock of his lips on mine, caused me to drop my purse. I was caught by surprise, but I didn’t want the kiss to end. I wrapped my arms around him and snaked my fingers through the back of his head, running them tenderly through his hair.
A soft moan escaped as his tongue pressed in between my lips and we stood in his backroom, making out and neither one pulling away. He lifted his hand up my back, slipping it underneath my sweater and holding onto my bare back. I moved in closer to him, colliding my tongue against his and moaning with every turn.
His hand moved up higher, this time touching the clasp of my bra and my shirt rose up higher, and in an instant, I knew where this could go. I could let all my defenses down and have sex with him, something that I had been craving for, but then that would mean that years of holding onto my virginity would be gone. I wanted to lose it to the man I loved, the man that loved me. I couldn’t be certain if I was just another woman Trevor wanted to bang, or if he felt something.
So pushing him away was where my heart led me in that moment. I put my hand to his chest and slowly ended the perfect kiss, the one thing that felt right for so long. He looked at me; there was obvious lust in his expression. He opened his mouth to say something, but I backed up. His hand fell from behind me.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. I grabbed onto the doorknob and turned away from him, flinging the door open and nearly running from any unanswered questions he had. I ended it and that was all that we needed to know. Tonight was not the night I was going to lose my virginity and I needed to accept that, because I was the one to pull away.
10
Trevor
I didn’t know what went wrong. One minute we were kissing and I thought for sure she wanted to move it to the next level and the next…she was gone. I went home, wondering what I did wrong and questioning everything. I even wondered if she would be at the club the next day.
The next day she did show up at the club, but it was awkward. We barely made eye contact and the only words we spoke was in greeting. So, I really didn’t know what I could say to her that she would want to hear. So, I just let her be.
We got the bar ready for the upcoming Saturday night, where hopefully I would greet the most guests I had had in many years. While she stayed out in the bar, hanging poster boards, I spent much of my time in my office, just making calls.
I called up each of my friends, making them aware that this was all going down on Saturday, asking them to tell friends and shout it from the rooftops if they needed and was confirmed that they would all do their best.
I went through my list of contacts and made a few more calls, before closing off the list. I looked towards the office door, when I spotted Jasmine.
“So, all the signs are hung. I’m going to go and try to get some of these fliers out there.” She barely looked at me; I couldn’t just make up that uneasiness between us.
“Okay. Great! Thank you so much for your help!”
She nodded. “No problem.”
She left the office and instead of forcing her to talk to me, I let her go. The next day, she showed up again and this time, she brought news.
“I handed out the fliers and everyone really seemed interested about the event on Saturday. This could really be much bigger than we thought.”
“That’s awesome!” I said. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She blushed and shrugged. “Just doing my job!” She pushed several strands of her hair behind her ear and I once again got that urge to go to her, but I held back.
“There’s something else I wanted to tell you,” she said. “Well, a couple things actually.”
“Okay. Go ahead!”
“I think that once things are back on an even keel, you really should hire a bookkeeper to do all your financing.” She shrugged. “I just wouldn’t want you to get back into the same predicament.”
She had a valid point there.
“Truer words were never spoken. I’ll definitely take that into consideration,” I said. “And what else?”
“Well, I was thinking that maybe my job is done here,” she said. I felt my face turn white.
“I mean, if the Saturday night doesn’t go as you had hoped, then I can come back, but I have a lot of extra things to do at the office and I just really think that I’m probably not needed here now.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” I started. The thought of her not being there on Saturday didn’t sit well with me. It was all because of her that it was even happening. I didn’t want to have to beg, but I really did want her to be there.
“I can’t force you to come, but I really think you should be there.”
She looked nervous, darting her eyes around my office, fidgeting in place and then she looked back at me.
“I don’t know. I just don’t think it’s really necessary.”
I had to ask her if it had anything to do with the other night.
“Jasmine, does this have something to do with the kiss?” I asked. Her face went a deep shade of red and I had figured just as much.
“If it does, then I’m sorry. I didn’t want to put you in an awkward position.”
She hesitated, before speaking her mind. “It’s not really that. I didn’t feel awkward or anything. In fact…part of the problem is I didn’t exactly hate the kiss.”
“Then, I don’t see the problem,” I said. I knew it was wrong for me to be so happy to hear her say those words.
She looked at me and there was so much distance in her stare.
“I’m working for you. In this moment, you are my boss. I just don’t feel that anything coming of this could be a smart decision.” I moved closer to her, but she backed up. “I just don’t.”
I nodded and stopped trying to approach her. “Alright then. I understand, but don’t let that deter you from seeing what great results come out of your suggestion. I would like you to come.”
After several minutes of considering it. She finally relented. “I’ll be there.”
“Good!” I said.
We didn’t have another conversation the rest of the week. I was going to respect her space and just get through Saturday. Then if she wanted to leave and never look back, then that would be her choice. I had my bar to save and I was that much closer.
11
Jasmine
Trevor was right. I wanted to see this thro
ugh. So, when he asked me again to consider going to the bar on Saturday night for the event, I found myself saying yes. It was a good thing I did, because I don’t think anyone anticipated how crazy it would be.
Every employee was scheduled and even then it wasn’t enough. The minute the doors opened for the event to start at seven o’clock, lines were wrapped around the building and I suddenly forgot how distant Trevor and I had been. I looked at him and he laughed, stunned that we were experiencing that rush.
I put on my apron and played waitress, bartender, and even helped out in the kitchen. Whenever orders were up, I was sure to help them out by taking the orders to the various customers. We were collecting money, like we were holding a telethon. I even had several people stop me to tell me what a great place we had. I didn’t bother telling them that I wasn’t a part of Mercury Wild’s success, I just smiled and thanked them.
When I was clearing off one of the tables, I had another gentleman stop me. “This place is great. Where do I sign up to become a member? I have some money stashed away that would be perfect for this place.”
I smiled. “Thank you so much! You can go to the hostess stand and she’ll be glad to assist you.” I pointed him out to the woman and I felt pretty good about everything going the way it was.
After I walked back to the bar and tossed the rag into a bucket, I spotted Trevor. “This is amazing, Jasmine. I just had three more people ask about memberships. I think I should do this once a year. It’s a great place to drum up business.”
I smiled. “I’m glad it’s working out.”
He nodded and took off. I followed him through the bar as he went to table after table, welcoming new and old customers. I wish things were easier between us, but after I pulled away during the kiss, I didn’t suspect anything like that to happen again.
I went back to the bar and made my way to a few of the private rooms, checking on guests and making sure they didn’t need any more drinks, then wandered around the place and just thought about the past few weeks. It was my first job and proved to be one of the best experiences I could have ever hoped for.
I saw a few people waving down waitresses, so I hurried to their table.
“May I help you?” I asked.
“Can I get another beer?” The man asked. “In fact, let’s make another round of free beers all around for the customers. My treat.” He handed me his credit card and I gawked at him.
“That’s very generous. Thank you so much!”
I couldn’t wait to tell Trevor. With his credit card in hand, I hurried through the bar, finding Trevor at a table. I had seen the men before and Trevor had often talked to them, so figured that was his friends. He looked up when I approached him. I looked down at the credit card to read the man’s name. “Trevor…Mr. Grayson just offered to buy beers for everyone in the club.”
“Really? That’s great!” Trevor said. For a moment it looked like he wanted to hug me, but kept back. “I’ll get everyone to help me out with tallying up the orders,” I said. I then smiled at the table he was standing next to and hurried off. My heart was still caught every time I saw him. I would have to figure out a cure for that.
I was just reaching the bar, when I spotted Sydney, Mary, and a few other women that I wasn’t quite familiar with.
“This is a great event you have going on, girl,” Sydney said. “I’m so proud of you.”
I blushed and turned around to find that Trevor’s eyes were directed my way. I quickly looked away.
“Thanks! It’s going a lot better than I think anyone expected.” I heaved a sigh. “I have work to do. Enjoy the rest of it!” I smiled and went to grab all the bodies I could find to start taking a list of the beers we needed to pass around. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
12
Trevor
She was moving around so gracefully. It was like she had been doing this job forever. I couldn’t stop watching her and that meant my table of friends giving me a hard time. “Hm…Marcus…did you ever look at your beer belly consultant, like Trevor’s looking at his?”
Marcus laughed. “If my beer belly consultant looked half as good in jeans as she does, then maybe I would have.”
The table erupted in laughter, as I turned back around. “Dry up!” I mumbled.
Daxter laughed. “I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect when everyone told me about the new woman in your life, but she definitely could fit the bill.”
I looked back at Daxter and he was grinning from ear to ear. I had to stop myself from hitting him. “You don’t know what you’re saying or rambling about. She’s an employee. That’s all.”
“Oh sure!” The others said.
I rolled my eyes and shot them each a long and agonizing look. “Enjoy the rest of your night, gentleman.” I arched an eyebrow at them and then walked away.
The fact was that I actually enjoyed them teasing me about her, but then it reminded me that in no way was anything going to happen between us. She had made herself perfectly clear.
I went about the rest of the night, helping out as I could and the hours just seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, the tables had started emptying and people had started leaving. I stood at the door and thanked them as they left, one by one, filtering out of the club.
When the last one had left the building, I locked the door and went back in. I spotted Jasmine wiping down a table and I watched her for a few minutes, unbeknownst to her. Several other employees were working away and it was bound to be a late night. So, we all rolled up our sleeves and cleaned up the areas, putting chairs up as each table was done.
An hour later, we had the place back into prime condition. I shot a look at Jasmine and she was pulling her hair out of her ponytail holder. She fluffed her hair and I was enamored by her looks. She looked at me and I saw a passion in her eyes that had me aroused and rearing to go.
“I’m gonna grab my purse. I can get out of here.”
“Don’t you want to see what the earnings were?” I asked. “Sam and Brayton are tallying it up.”
She smiled. “Alright! I’ll just get my purse anyway.”
I nodded and watched her head to the backroom and disappear.
“I’m heading out,” a couple of employees said, leaving just Sam, Brayton, Jasmine, and myself left behind.
“Okay! Thanks for the great teamwork tonight. You all were amazing.”
They nodded and headed through the back door, both looking equally tired. Jasmine came out of the backroom and I moved closer to her, needing to say something, before she walked out my door and my life forever.
“Whatever happens with the total, I just want you to know that you have changed this club for the better. I know that and I will give you a glowing recommendation to your boss.”
She smiled and even snickered slightly. “Well, I’m sure Monday I’ll be back doing secretarial work anyway.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
She looked at me, before revealing her secret.
“You were my first client. I typically am just an assistant at the office. I had been begging for something else to do and it wasn’t until you called, that I was given the opportunity.”
I really couldn’t believe what she was saying.
I would have never guessed that this was her first real job with the consulting firm.
“There was no one else, so you were left with the rookie.”
“Wow!” I muttered. “Jasmine, I had no idea. You seemed perfect for this job and I guess all I can say is lucky me.”
She smiled and we had our first real moment since the kiss the prior week. I wanted to kiss her again, but I held back, being conservative and not rushing anything.
“So, we have the results,” Brayton said. They came up to us and without saying a word, they put a piece of paper in front of us. There was a figure on the paper and I just stared at it. I looked at Jasmine, she looked at me, and we were at a loss. The figure was nearly four times the amount I would take in
one week, let alone one day.
Brayton and Sam laughed.
“Yeah…our thoughts exactly. We’re out of here,” Sam said.
I nodded, barely able to speak, and heard the back door swing open and closed.
“Oh my gosh,” I said.
Jasmine laughed. “You can say that again.”
“Oh. My. Gosh!” Then without thinking, I picked her up in my arms and twirled her around. She laughed and I lowered her to the floor. Our eyes remained locked, as the laughing died down and she opened her mouth, but I had to keep the momentum going, so I closed in on her and latched my lips against hers. I kissed her, releasing a groan that I had been dying to let loose.
“Trevor…” she whispered, trying to pull back.
I held her close and stared deep into her eyes.
“You want this. I know you do. What are you afraid of?”
My head rested against hers, but her breathing was unsteady, raspy.
“Everything!” she whispered.
I wanted to comfort her and show her that everything would be alright if she just trusted me.
“Well, don’t be,” I said. “I’m not going to let you down.”
I lifted her into my arms and placed her ass on the bar, then went back in for a kiss. This time she didn’t pull back and there was no sign of ever stopping.
13
Jasmine
I thought about pulling back from him, but then he started undressing me with ease and it was as if someone else took over my body. I pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the side, then started to undo his jeans. With each thrust of his tongue, I had leverage and was able to get his clothes off of him. I kicked off my shoes, right before my own jeans fell to the floor and then I was left with only my bra and panties on.
