Corporate Lines

by Donna Jay

  The thought of never seeing her again made Simone’s chest tight. Holding onto her last shred of dignity, she stepped aside. “You’ve got five minutes.”

  “Thank you.” Nadia pushed past leaving her intoxicating scent in her wake. Simone inhaled deeply, hating herself for doing so.

  On an exhale, she shut the door. She turned and was met by eyes full of remorse. She looked away, a pitiful attempt to protect her heart. Nadia had hurt her badly, yet she still wanted her. Wanted her warmth, the intimacy, the sheer presence that was Nadia.

  Before she knew what was happening, her hand was in Nadia’s and she was being dragged across the living room.

  “Sit.” Nadia pointed to the sofa.

  “Do I have a choice?” Simone remained on her feet.

  “Always. Do you want me to go?”

  Too damn proud to admit she didn’t, Simone gritted her teeth.

  “Didn’t think so.” Nadia pulled her down beside her.

  “You’ve got two minutes,” Simone said, trying to regain some ground.

  “Okay.” Nadia nodded. “As you know, Helen thought you were rather uptight.”

  That was hardly news, and right then Simone wished she’d never crossed paths with Helen, and she wouldn’t be in this mess. She could’ve continued to live her very comfortable, very boring life.

  “As you know,” Nadia continued, “Blake got sick, and I filled in for Helen to spare her from losing her job.”

  “How noble.” Simone yanked her hand out of Nadia’s. “I could’ve laid a complaint and she could’ve lost it.”

  “True, but you didn’t.”

  “And you won your bet.” Simone huffed out an annoyed breath.

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Oh, really? What was it like? Just some harmless fun between friends?”

  “Exactly—”

  “It was a fucking joke!” Simone’s voice cracked but she refused to let the tears fall. “Just like I was. Was the toy a setup too?” At the same time as she said it, the reality of the situation punched Simone in the gut. “Oh my God. This entire fucked up situation has been one laugh after another for you, hasn’t it? Fuck.” Simone smacked her forehead. “I’m such an idiot.”

  “No! Never.” Nadia shook her head adamantly, blonde hair flying around her face. “I’m the idiot. I never meant to hurt you.”

  “Humiliate…”

  “I’m sorry,” Nadia said softly.

  “Are you done?” Simone asked, not willing to concede just yet.

  “No.” Nadia reached for her hands and Simone tucked them behind her back.

  “I deserved that.”

  “And then some.” Simone stared her down.

  “And then some.” Nadia’s lip kicked up.

  Simone diverted her gaze, protecting her heart from that killer smile, from those deep blue eyes she’d lost herself in over and over again.

  “Helen gave me a rundown of all the people I might come across,” Nadia continued, and Simone held her tongue.

  If Nadia wanted to feed her some cock ‘n bull story, surely it couldn’t hurt to hear her out.

  “She told me the woman at KB Incorporated, you”—Nadia smiled, and Simone fought the urge to return it—“often worked late, and didn’t like to be interrupted. She made a joke about lesbians being uptight. That was a dig at me, not you.”

  Simone frowned. Until recently, she hadn’t exchanged more than five words with Helen. “How’d she know I was gay?”

  It was a big assumption considering Simone was the epitome of femininity. Long hair, makeup done just so, wardrobe full of tailored suits.

  “A friend of a friend of a friend, or something like that, went to Waikato University with you.”

  The explanation was plausible. But what did it matter how Helen knew anyway?

  “I joked that it was a secret language and us lesbo’s had to stick together. Helen laughed and said, ‘good luck thawing that one out.’ I was like, ‘I bet I could steal a kiss.’ She said, ‘you’re on.’”

  Simone’s mouth fell open. She wanted to cry but she was too angry. “So I was the brunt of some terrible joke?”

  “Exactly!”

  Simone recoiled, head snapping back as if Nadia had just delivered the knockout blow.

  “Way to kick a girl when she’s down.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Nadia pleaded. “Don’t you see? It was all a lark. I never intended to go through with it. There was no handshake or money at stake. It was us goofing around.” She cupped Simone’s cheek. “And then I saw you, and I knew.”

  “Knew what?” Simone held her breath, heart pounding.

  “I knew I had to have you.”

  “You didn’t even know me,” Simone said.

  “Or you me, but you felt it too, right?”

  Simone couldn’t lie, but she wasn’t about to admit the truth of it. She’d fallen just as hard for Nadia as Nadia had for her…if Nadia was to be believed.

  The disappointment she’d felt watching Nadia walk out of her life that night, dragging the squeaky vacuum cleaner behind her, came back to Simone. “You ran out on me.”

  “I didn’t want to, but I had to. What I did was crazy on so many levels. Helen could’ve lost her job. You could’ve made a complaint. It could’ve impacted on my business. I cursed myself. Tried to put it behind me.” She paused. “But I couldn’t forget you. I came looking for you, remember? Sent you flowers, courted you. Nobody made me do those things. I did those things because I fell for you the minute I laid eyes on you.”

  Simone managed a weak smile. “Laid eyes on my backside.”

  “Yes. But more than that, I could see the loving woman beneath the tough exterior.” Nadia tapped Simone’s chest.

  “You really hurt me,” Simone said softly.

  “I know, and I can’t begin to explain how much pain that causes me,” Nadia said, the pain she professed to feel evident on her face.

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “Because I was scared.” Nadia lowered her gaze. “Scared this would happen.”

  It was the first crack in her armour Simone had ever seen.

  “Your best friend must think I’m an idiot.”

  A small smile danced across Nadia’s lips, “She’s kind of in awe of you.”

  Confusion slammed into Simone, derailing her train of thought. Why would Helen be in awe of her? She’d been nothing but an ice-queen-come-drama-queen in her presence.

  “Cast your mind back to your panties.”

  Why? She’d worn her black high-cut briefs. She was still wearing them, actually.

  Oh, shit! The penny dropped. The panty vibe.

  The memory of the toy smacking Nadia in the face flashed through her mind, only this time she saw it through Helen’s eyes.

  A chuckle bubbled up inside Simone. “Is it bad of me to laugh?” She gripped her sides, unable to hold back. “Oh my God, your face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so shocked.”

  Nadia returned her smile. “Not as shocked as Helen, and for different reasons, of course. I was stunned because I couldn’t believe the night had gone to shit in a handbasket. Helen, though, she hadn’t pegged you as the type.” Nadia finger quoted the word. “Always thought you were too conservative.”

  “Oh, really,” Simone said, her defences going back up. Just how much had she told her best friend?

  “I don’t discuss our sex life with Helen,” Nadia said as if she could read Simone’s mind. “She doesn’t know I get off on kink.” The corner of her mouth kicked up. “You let that cat out of the bag.”

  She had to. Mortified, Simone covered her face, peering between her fingers. “God, how am I going to face her at work?”

  “Are you saying you’re going to start staying late again?” Uncertainty flashed in Nadia’s eyes, and Simone was fairly sure she knew why.

  Since she’d met Nadia, it was a rare occasion Simone put in overtime. If she said she intended to star
t staying late again, she was as good as saying their relationship was over, because God knew, Simone would need every distraction possible to keep her mind from drifting to Nadia.

  But if she said no, that would let Nadia off the hook too easily. Sitting on the proverbial fence, Simone shrugged. “Not sure.”

  Nadia got down on bended knee, and Simone’s heart leapt into her throat.

  “I know I don’t deserve it, but please give me a second chance.”

  Putting on her best boardroom face, Simone straightened her spine. “Give me one good reason why I should.” She couldn’t have sounded more business-like if she’d tried.

  “So I can prove to you how much you mean to me. So I can spend the rest of my days making it up to you.”

  “That was two reasons.” Simone chuckled, her heart melting ever so slightly. “And how do you propose to go about this?” she asked as if they were discussing a business merger.

  “Let me show you.” Nadia jumped to her feet and raced to the door.

  “Wait. Where are you going?” Simone ran after her, feeling like she was about to lose the woman she’d just got back.

  Nadia pecked her on the lips. “Be right back.”

  The door closed and Simone stared at the solid wood. The house was quiet. Her mind wasn’t. Turns out Leah was right.

  No one had made Nadia date her, and if she thought about it, what Helen had said as a joke was something Leah would do. Come to think of it, there was this one time at school when Simone had dared Leah to ask a guy out, and Leah being Leah had totally gone through with it.

  A thud on the door put an end to Simone’s trip down memory lane.

  “For you.” Nadia held up a cardboard box.

  Eyeing it dubiously, Simone peeked inside. She recoiled, then laughed, and then cooed when a furry little head popped out.

  “Oh, come here, sweetheart.” She fished out the wee kitten. He meowed, and she nuzzled his fur.

  “What’s his name?”

  “Her, and it’s Precious.”

  “Precious? Why?”

  “Because she’s butt-ugly.”

  “Don’t you listen to her.” Simone covered the kitten’s ears. Her face was ginger and grey with a black ring circling one eye. The rest of her body was a hodgepodge of colour, and one of her back paws was completely white.

  “Where’d you get her?”

  “The SPCA. Rose said I could take her back if you don’t want her. She was the last of a litter. The others were homed quickly.”

  “Naw, you poor thing. Mama thinks your beautiful.”

  Until that moment, Simone didn’t think she was ready for another cat, but she was already bonding with Precious. She nuzzled her fur. “Are you hungry, sweetie?”

  Shit, she didn’t have any cat food. “We have to go shopping. Actually, can you?” Simone asked.

  She still needed to retrieve her car and overnight bag from Nadia’s, but there would be time for that later. She wanted to get this wee girl settled first.

  Smiling, Nadia exited the house and was back in a flash; kitten food, litter tray, and toys in hand. She dropped a tinkering ball on the floor. Precious looked down, struggling in Simone’s arms.

  She set her on her feet, and she was off, chasing the ball around the kitchen.

  “So…do I get another chance?” Nadia’s voice held a hint of uncertainty.

  “Mm, let me see.” Simone thought about it for all of two seconds. “Okay.”

  Nadia pulled her into her arms and their lips met. The kiss was long and languid, open-mouthed and evocative. It only ended when Precious meowed at Simone’s feet.

  Nadia scooped her up, nuzzling her fur. “Hey, it’s not too late to take you back.”

  “You wouldn’t da—” Simone cut herself off. “Never mind.”

  “You’re going to have to get past that word.”

  “It was a figure of speech,” Simone said in her defence.

  Nadia tickled Precious under the chin, talking in a sing-song voice, “We know that, don’t we? Not every dare’s meant literally, is it? No, no, no.” She tapped her little nose.

  Point taken.

  And whether the dare had been meant literally or not, the outcome had been spectacular. With that thought, Simone took the chip off her shoulder and focused on the here and now. A fresh start with Nadia and getting to know her new fur baby.

  “I’ll need to buy her a scratching post.”

  “Here.” Nadia handed over Precious, her little motorbike purring loudly. “I got one of those, too, but I ran out of hands.”

  If Simone’s heart melted anymore, it would turn to liquid in her chest. “You thought of everything.”

  “As much as I’d love to take all the credit, I have to admit, Rose helped.”

  “Please tell her I said thank you.”

  “I will. She likes you.”

  Simone liked Rose too. And it was good to know she would see both Rose and Darrin again. They were good people.

  ***

  An hour later, Simone brewed a long overdue coffee. Precious was sound asleep in a basket, having worn herself out exploring her new environment.

  “Can I help?” Nadia nuzzled Simone’s neck, hugging her from behind.

  Coffee forgotten, Simone turned in her arms. They gazed longingly into each other’s eyes.

  “Depends what you’re talking about.” Simone pulled her lip between her teeth.

  Nadia twirled a lock of Simone’s auburn hair around her finger. “Well, there are certain things I’d like to do to make it up to you.”

  “Yeah, like what?”

  Simone’s eyes bugged out when she was abruptly shoved into the air. Her backside landed on the kitchen bench. Their eyes met, and the desperation she saw in Nadia’s eyes robbed her of breath.

  Simone reached behind her and shoved the coffee cups aside as Nadia slid her backward until Simone’s back hit the wall. With her gaze locked on Simone, Nadia reached under her robe and tugged on her briefs.

  The need to be taken flared hot and urgent between Simone’s thighs. She rocked her backside as Nadia slid her underwear down her legs and over her feet.

  She put her hands on Simone’s knees. “Open for me.” Her voice was soft, tentative.

  Unaccustomed to this softer side of Nadia, not that she was complaining, Simone studied her closely. “Not Emmett?”

  “Nope, no games, no power exchange. This is just me wanting you. Needing you.” She parted Simone’s thighs, and with the first swipe of her tongue, Simone was lost to her.

  Her body blazed to life as Nadia took her to the edge, putting the pieces of her heart back together with each loving caress.

  Chapter 26

  Nadia

  Elated to have a second chance, over the next few weeks Nadia did everything within her power to make it up to Simone. Flowers, chocolates, dinner-dates, and play-dates.

  October was nearing an end and summer was just around the corner. Nadia pulled to a stop in the carpark running along the back of her shop. She climbed out and waved to Trish, the manager of the neighbouring store.

  Taking a minute to enjoy the sun on her face, she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Her cell phone rang, interrupting the peaceful moment.

  The working day had begun. “Hello, this is Nadia Jamison.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you you should be a phone sex worker?”

  The sound of Simone’s voice brought a smile to her lips. “I think they might’ve. And to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

  “Do I need a reason to phone my girlfriend?”

  She loved the way the word girlfriend rolled off Simone’s tongue. “Of course not, but you didn’t want to know me two hours ago.”

  At five-thirty, Nadia had bounded out of bed to make it to a cross-fit class by six. Simone had rolled over muttering something under her breath and pulled the pillow over her head.

  “Well, I want to know you now.”

  Pausing at the back door to
her store, Nadia propped her phone on her shoulder and turned the key. She was greeted by the aroma of vanilla and spice drifting over from the reed diffuser.

  “Hey, what are you up to this weekend?” Nadia asked on impulse. It was Labour Day on Monday which meant a long weekend.

  Shutting up shop for three days would no doubt piss off a few diehard shoppers, but she refused to open on a long weekend. Her employees appreciated the time off, and happy staff were productive staff.

  “I’m not sure,” Simone said. “Why, what did you have in mind?”

  Nadia disabled the alarm and successfully dropped her phone in the process.

  “Shit.” She retrieved her phone from the beige carpet. “Sorry about that.”

  “What are you doing?” Simone asked.

  Nadia kicked the door closed behind her. “Opening shop. Have you ever been to Hobbiton?”

  “Nope, can’t say I have.”

  “Me either, and it’s about time I checked out where The Lord of the Rings trilogy came to life.” When she was younger, Nadia had travelled overseas, but for some reason she was yet to visit many tourist spots in her own country.

  “I’ve been meaning to go forever. Imagine exploring all those hobbit holes. I want to see where Frodo lived.” Simone’s excitement was palpable.

  “Are you free this weekend?”

  “I think I just might be.”

  A wide grin broke out on Nadia’s face. “Great, I’ll book a hotel and pay for our tickets online. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

  “Oh.” Simone sounded worried.

  Nadia recalled the look on Simone’s face when she’d offered to pay for her drink. Two words came to mind. Proud. Independent.

  Letting Nadia treat her to a weekend away would be huge to her.

  “I can claim most of it back as business expenses,” Nadia said. She could claim fuel and accommodation expenses anyway, but she couldn’t really justify a trip to Hobbiton as a business expense.

  “It’s not that,” Simone said softly.

  When she didn’t continue, Nadia grabbed the money out of the safe, waiting Simone out.

  “I know this is going to sound lame,” Simone said.

  “I like lame.”