Corporate Lines

by Donna Jay

  “That one.” He pointed to the door.

  Headlights flashed across the building as a silver van with AAA Cleaning stencilled along the side drove out the gate, and out of Simone’s life.

  “Don’t let her get away.”

  “What?” She snapped her head around, fighting the blush trying to claim her. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  She scrubbed a hand over her face, hating that she was so transparent. She hadn’t meant to linger on the sway of Jane’s hips, the way too short uniform, and what she knew lay beneath. She wouldn’t be surprised if she had drool hanging off her chin.

  “Like I said, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” His expression softened. “It’s not good for you spending so much time at work.”

  “What? Are you a counsellor now?” She folded her arms across her chest, trying to maintain her composure. Could he see right through her or was he fishing?

  “No.” His smile was warm. “Just talking as one friend to another.”

  “Don’t get too comfortable.” She narrowed her eyes. “Get out of here before you find yourself sleeping on the couch.” She turned to head back upstairs.

  “And, boss.”

  She looked skyward. Why wouldn’t he just go home?

  “Yes?” She glanced over her shoulder.

  “It’s not safe down here without shoes on.”

  “Thank you, Hamish. Goodnight, Hamish.” Smiling, she bounded halfway up the stairs then backtracked.

  The double doors opened, and Hamish looked at her in the reflection of the glass.

  “Lock it behind you, please.”

  “What if she comes—”

  “Lock it,” Simone said, unable to keep the smile out of her voice.

  Once he was gone, the reality of the situation hit her and her heart plummeted. Jane wouldn’t be back that night.

  Concentration blown to smithereens, she made sure her office was in order, no panties laying around—she laughed at the ridiculous thought…until Jane’s memento wiped the smile clean off her face.

  She crept toward her chair, unable to believe what she was seeing. The small piece of mauve fabric could be a cleaning rag for all she knew. But it wasn’t.

  Like someone stumbling across a sacred relic, she picked up the panties and clutched them to her chest.

  The last hour had been like a dream. The kind that came in snapshots, constantly shifting. Tiny threads within your grasp then gone again. But it wasn’t a dream. She’d been wide awake.

  Feeling completely off her game, Simone leaned against the filing cabinet and slid down the cool metal until her backside hit the floor.

  What the hell just happened?

  Chapter 2

  Nadia

  Nadia threw the van in gear and peeled out of the carpark, tyres screeching on the asphalt. She laughed at her own idiocy. What the fuck had she been thinking?

  When the headlight beams cut across the glass doors, giving her one last glimpse of the office manager, any humour she might’ve been able to find crashed and burned.

  The woman was everything she looked for in a playmate. On the outside, she exuded control. Hair in a high ponytail, silver-rimmed spectacles framing icy-blue eyes, business suit tailored to perfection, chin held high.

  But within five minutes of being in her presence, Nadia could see beneath the coat of armour that protected her heart.

  She hadn’t been the least bit surprised when she said she wasn’t married. What woman with a loving partner would work so many hours? She was living proof of that.

  If Nadia had someone waiting at home she wouldn’t be scrubbing toilets, no matter how much she adored her best friend.

  Nadia would bet her top-of-the-line bra, the woman would be like putty in her hands and that had called to her.

  She shook her head, manic laughter trying to bubble up inside her.

  Jane? Seriously?

  She doubted she could’ve come up with a worse alias if she tried. She might as well have tacked Doe on the end.

  Hi, I’m Jane Doe. Except I’m not dead. The heartbeat pulsing between my legs tells me I’m very much alive.

  Without the stimulation of the stunning office manager, fatigue set in, settling deep in Nadia’s bones.

  Fuck! She jumped on the brakes, narrowly missing a motorcyclist. Adrenaline surged through her veins. That had been close, too close.

  She was beyond tired, but that was no excuse for losing focus. Twice tonight. She was masquerading as a cleaner, not some temptress out to seduce an uptight woman.

  She had better restraint than that. Nadia was the walking cliché of a dominant woman, control was her middle name.

  She laughed at herself again. Jane Control Doe.

  God, she was tired.

  Stifling a yawn, she pulled into Helen’s driveway and parked on the front lawn. After shutting off the engine, she closed her eyes, taking a minute to ground herself. The acrid aroma of cleaning products crept up her nostrils, burning the back of her throat.

  In desperate need of fresh air, she stepped out into the cool night and locked the van behind her. The scent of damp grass and evergreens flooded her senses.

  A cool breeze swirled under her smock, reminding her she’d left a trophy behind. She shook her head at herself. It was a gutsy move, even for her.

  She imagined icy-blue eyes staring at the lacy offering. Had the sexy brunette taken a closer look, or tossed them in the rubbish bin, face screwed up in disgust?

  Nadia climbed into the passenger’s seat of her car. Making quick work of getting changed, she shimmied a pair of jeans over her hips. After a quick glance to make sure the street was clear, she pulled the smock over her head and replaced it with a long-sleeved tee.

  Feeling more like herself, and able to deal with a couple of rambunctious kids, she locked her car and tucked the smock under her arm.

  Caleb’s bike dumped on its side in the driveway made her shake her head in disapproval. One day he would get up and his bike would be gone. Tears would fall, and Helen wouldn’t be able to console him, because she sure as hell couldn’t afford to buy him a new one.

  After stowing the bike safely around the back of the house, Nadia knocked on the door. It was solid wood with one panel of lead lighting. The glass was so thick and colourful it was impossible to see through.

  The sound of giggles and tiny feet tearing across the kitchen floor brought a smile to her lips. Rather than let herself in, which wasn’t unusual, she waited to see who won the race.

  The door popped opened and Hayley flung her arms around Nadia’s legs, hugging her tightly.

  “Hey, kid.” She picked her up and propped her on her hip, red curls bouncing around Hayley’s shoulders. She was three years old, hell on wheels, and the cutest wee thing.

  Caleb, who turned five last week and had just started school, jumped up and down, yelling. “Mummy, Mummy, it’s Na-na.”

  The nickname made her smile. As a toddler, he couldn’t pronounce Nadia correctly so he’d called her Na-na and the alias stuck. Now, all three kids called her Na-na.

  “Shh.” She pressed a finger to her lips, and Hayley mimicked her, giggling.

  Chances were Helen was trying to settle Blake, and his big brother and sister hollering wasn’t going to help the poor kid.

  Croup was no fun. It was distressing for him and heart-breaking to see him struggle for breath. The only thing that helped was steam and being soothed by his mother.

  In the span of five years, Helen had met a guy who she professed was the one, popped out three kids in quick succession, and ended up a single parent two months after Blake was born.

  If Nadia ever saw Zak again she would cut his nuts off and feed them to him one by one. Maybe then he could grow some balls and do the right thing.

  “Hey, babe.” Helen strolled into the living room. “How’d tonight go?”

  Not wanting to go there just yet, Nadia turned the question around. “More importantly, how’s Blake?”r />
  A smile lit up Helen’s face, replacing the weary look from moments before. “His fever broke, and he’s breathing easier. I should be back at work by next week.”

  Helen had a regular sitter, but Blake didn’t want a bar of anyone else when he was sick. The only one who could soothe him was his mother.

  Nadia got that, she’d been the same as a kid. Even now, at the age of thirty-eight, she missed being fussed over by her mum whenever she was sick.

  “Who wants a story?” Nadia asked, and Helen gave her a grateful smile.

  “Meeeee!” Hayley and Caleb chorused, scrambling around on the floor, digging through a pile of books.

  A large throw rug Nadia had bought for Helen covered most of the thread-bare carpet. The house was old, but what it lacked in material possessions it made up for with love in every nook and cranny.

  “This one, pweease.” Hayley slid a book onto Nadia’s lap and climbed up onto the sofa, nuzzling into her side. Nadia breathed in the scent of her apple shampoo.

  “No, this one.” Caleb swept the book off her lap and dumped another in its place.

  Lip quivering, Hayley looked at Nadia but didn’t argue with her brother.

  “Pick it up.” Nadia eyeballed Caleb, her voice low and controlled.

  “But I want…”

  “If you want a story,” Nadia said, aware Helen was watching and pleased she didn’t intervene, “You will pick up the book and apologise to your sister.”

  Caleb’s lips drew together in a thin line.

  Nadia bit back a smile. She could practically see the cogs turning behind his big brown eyes. After a minute he huffed out a breath, stormed over to the book, and picked it up.

  “Sorry.” He put it in Nadia’s lap.

  “To your sister.”

  “Sorry, Hayley.”

  She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. He toppled sideways and they burst out laughing.

  “Get up here,” Nadia said.

  She didn’t believe in rewarding bad behaviour, but Caleb had done as he was asked, albeit reluctantly.

  “How about I read this one to you out here?” She picked up Hayley’s book. “And if you’re extra good and very quiet, I’ll read this one to you both in bed.” She held up Caleb’s book. For the time being, they had to share a room, so they would both get to hear the story.

  “How does that sound?”

  “Yay.” Two sets of hands shot into the air.

  “Shh.” She pressed a finger to her lips. If they woke Blake it was anyone’s guess how long it would take Helen to settle him again.

  Giggling, Hayley mimicked her actions, pressing a tiny finger across her lips. Caleb climbed up next to Nadia, nuzzling into her side.

  ***

  Half an hour later, with all three kids fast asleep, Nadia flung her feet up onto the scratched coffee table and leaned back on the sofa.

  She should head home, but there was no way Helen would let her out of her sight that easily.

  “Here.” She handed a plate to Nadia.

  The sight of golden crumpets oozing with butter and golden syrup made her mouth water. It’d been hours since she’d last eaten, and now that she had time to tune into her body, she realised she was ravenous.

  “It’s not much, but they were…” Helen trailed off. She was a proud woman and didn’t need to add they were cheap for Nadia to know what she was getting at.

  “I love crumpets,” she said around a mouthful, feeling every drip of butter settling on her hips.

  Helen’s expression was full of gratitude. “You’re a lifesaver, you know?”

  Nadia nodded. “You’d do the same for me.”

  The freckles across the bridge of Helen’s nose crinkled when she smiled. She was a strawberry-blonde with big green eyes and an even bigger heart. “I love your lingerie shop, but I don’t think I could do your job, even in an emergency.”

  “I’ve seen it all, big titties, little titties, lopsided titties. Three nips.”

  “No way!” Helen’s eyes went wide.

  “Once.” Nadia held up a finger.

  “Wow.” Helen pulled out her shirt, complete with food stains, and glanced down her top. “I might only have a handful, but at least they’re the same size and I only have two nipples.”

  Grinning, Nadia put her empty plate down. “Let me see?”

  “Piss off, you perv. Speaking of…” Helen’s smile grew wider, and Nadia braced herself for what was coming. “Did you manage to melt the Ice Queen?”

  “Who?” She scrunched up her face, playing dumb.

  “That woman at KB Incorporated. The stone-cold lesbian I told you about.”

  “Oh, her. Nah, she wasn’t there tonight.” She hated lying, but what had started out as a dare had turned into so very much more.

  She didn’t expect to genuinely want the woman. One stolen kiss to prove her friend wrong, nothing more, nothing less.

  But when it came to attraction, life wasn’t that simple. Why had she looked into the woman’s eyes? The pale blue depths called to her like an oasis.

  There was no ice beneath. She’d known that the second she’d dipped her toes in. And that had been an idiotic, childish move.

  Helen scrutinized her, studying her face. After a beat, she slapped her leg and burst out laughing. “She shut you down, didn’t she?”

  “I said she wasn’t there.”

  “I don’t believe you for a second. You look dejected, or should I say rejected.” Helen jutted out her lip, mocking Nadia. “Did your sapphic charms fail you?”

  They hadn’t failed her at all, and that was the problem. For the first time in her life, she would’ve been happy if the woman had shunned her.

  Movement in the hallway caught Nadia’s eye. She glanced up to see Hayley standing there.

  “What’s up, baby?” Helen held out her arms and a sleepy Hayley climbed into her lap, towing her blankie along with her.

  “I had a bad dream.”

  Helen stroked her daughter’s hair. “Dreams can’t hurt you.”

  Wasn’t that the truth. Real life was far more dangerous. Especially when you played with fire.

  What she’d done tonight was risky on more than one count. If the woman laid a complaint, jobs could be lost.

  Wondering what the fuck she’d been thinking, Nadia stood. “I better get out of here.” She shook her legs to get the circulation going.

  “Thank you, again.” Helen gave her a one-armed hug. “With any luck, Blake will be well enough tomorrow to stay with the sitter.”

  “Let me know if he’s not. You know I’ve got your back.” Sometimes Nadia felt like the man of the house. Scratch that, she was far better than the douchebag who’d abandoned his kids the minute the going got tough.

  Nadia would bend over backwards for this family. This entire crazy week gave testament to that.

  She brushed Hayley’s springy red curls off her face and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “Night, kiddo.”

  “Night-night, Na-na.” Hayley yawned, resting her head on Helen’s shoulder.

  Chapter 3

  Simone

  The following Tuesday, Simone subconsciously selected her favourite lingerie. The soft pink cups trimmed with lace made her feel sexy.

  After showering, she appraised herself in the mirror. Clothes were her guilty indulgence and the cut of her new skirt, tapered to just above the knee, fit her perfectly.

  Her indigo blouse contrasted nicely with her pale blue eyes and silver-rimmed glasses.

  After securing her dark hair in a ponytail, she trailed her finger across her high cheekbones, down the slope of her nose, and across her full lips.

  Feeling like a million bucks, she blew a kiss at her reflection in the mirror.

  If you couldn’t love yourself, who could? And thank goodness she did, because for the last two years self-love had been her best friend.

  Her pale flesh was another sign of the respect she had for her body. New Zealand had the high
est melanoma rate in the world and she didn’t plan on becoming a statistic.

  ***

  By the end of the day, all the financial reports for the month had been completed, and she had no real reason to stay late.

  But thoughts of a certain woman held her back. For the first time in her career at KB Incorporated, she was actually looking forward to seeing the cleaner. How fucked up was that? They’d barely spoken.

  What would they talk about, and why did she care?

  Because when it came to relationships, conversation wasn’t the only thing she thrived on. The woman from last week—Jane—had honed in on a part of her psyche not many people knew about, let alone tried to tap into.

  Her need to let go of control, even just for five minutes. She loved her job, the authority it afforded her, but at times it was exhausting.

  In her last relationship, Renee had been an excellent domme. But outside of the bedroom, they had little in common.

  She was a huge gamer and as long as the bills were paid, meals cooked, and Simone arranged the occasional date, she was little more than a flatmate.

  After three years of living together, Simone felt more like a landlady than an adored girlfriend and asked Renee to move out.

  What hurt the most was the fact Renee didn’t even put up a fight, simply said, “Good luck finding anyone else happy to play with you, princess.”

  Simone was far from a pillow princess, but she feared Renee was right about one thing—she would never find another compatible lover.

  She’d dated a few women since the breakup but none of them had the slightest interest in kink. Except for one who had expected Simone to be the dominant partner solely based on her job. Sure she was in a position of power, but she was far from dominant when it came to the bedroom.

  Of course, what one person considered kinky another might not. Was leaving your panties on an office chair considered kinky? Whether it was or not the gesture had been pretty bloody hot, and a first for Simone.

  With each tick of the minute hand anticipation built. By six o’clock she felt like she’d run a marathon. Her ears felt like they were flapping, listening for every sound. A pipe rattled somewhere in the building. The roof creaked, metal contracting in the cool evening air.