by J. P. Comeau
Before taking my old position, she had gone to great lengths to familiarize herself with every service we provided. And that included understanding how our website worked. Even though most of our clients were good people, we still dealt with the occasional person who was looking for a free handout. And it was almost always the people who had the most money.
That seemed to be the case that morning too. Even the way the woman spoke suggested that paying for a luxury spa service was like water under the bridge. Which was odd, since she was looking for a free massage.
I couldn’t help but eavesdrop as Eva showed her our website and asked where she clicked on the two-hour option.
The woman scoffed, saying it wasn’t there anymore.
“And it’s never been there, Mrs. Robinson. So while I’m very sorry for the misunderstanding, we will not be giving you a free treatment, and you do need to pay for services rendered today.”
I giggled as it became quiet, followed by Mrs. Robinson pushing through the glass doors a few minutes later. I’d also heard her unzipping her purse, so clearly, the spa won. Several people started clapping as soon as the door shut, and when I finally poked my head out, I saw Eva hunched over the desk with her head in her hands.
“You handled that so well,” I said while walking out to her.
One of the clients who was cashing out agreed with me. “Good for you. It’s not right when customers pull that crap, and I’d bet good money that she knew exactly what she was doing.”
We watched as Mrs. Robinson drove away from the spa in her expensive car, peeling out of the parking lot and nearly missing a construction worker who was trying to cross the street.
Eva and I made our way into the break room, where we poured ourselves a cup of coffee.
“At least you don’t have a lot of those customers coming in here,” I said while adding cream into my coffee.
“That’s true, and I think that I handle them very well when it does happen. Aside from managing the schedules and some employee stuff, which comes with every job, it’s pretty easy. To be honest, it feels too easy for me.”
“What do you mean?”
Eva stared off into the distance as she spoke. “My life is so…simple, Ginger. All I do is work, hit the gym, watch a movie, and repeat the cycle. I miss having a boyfriend.” Eva was definitely the relationship-type who didn’t do well on her own; I’d come to realize that some people were simply wired that way.
Thankfully I’m not like that…anymore.
“Well, enjoy it now because it won’t be long until a guy snatches you up. And remember that relationships aren’t always fun. When I look back at some of mine, I realize they were more stressful than enjoyable.”
“That’s true, and I’m starting not to miss Anthony anymore. How are things with you and Jorge, by the way?”
Somehow I found a way to hide my excitement. “Great. We’re having dinner tonight.” Eva’s right eyebrow went into a hook, as usual. “As friends, Eva. Just as friends.”
After work, I went straight home to get ready for dinner. My stomach was grumbling loudly, but I fought the urge to eat something ahead of time.
As I took a quick shower, I started thinking about Ria again. It was only a matter of time before Jorge had to deal with her, and based on everything he’d said to me, she sounded like a woman who always got her way. I hadn’t seen what she looked like, though. Ria either had her social media accounts set to private, or she avoided it altogether.
But knowing Jorge, she was probably drop-dead gorgeous.
The good news, I told myself, was that Jorge was suspicious enough of her to have me look over the books. And she really was embezzling money. Anyone who’d just graduated with their accounting degree or was still in college could have figured that out. But what would happen when he confronted her? Would he have the balls to fire her ass and take her to court, or would she seduce him back into bed?
Stop thinking that way, Ginger. He’s just a friend.
I chose a hot-pink dress and black high heels and spent a little too much time applying makeup. I found myself getting angry as I tried to cake on the mascara, only to wipe it all off and start over again.
This is silly. Of course, Jorge isn’t going to go back to Ria! What kind of man would sleep with a woman who’s stolen nearly a million dollars out from underneath him?
A man who avoided relationships and had the money to still take her to court, right after they were done sleeping with each other. Let’s face it: even if Ria showed proof of their physical relationship, Jorge could afford the best attorney to still throw Ria under the bus. And what man wouldn’t want one last romp in the sack with a woman who, from what it sounded like, was as sexy as her?
I spritzed on some rose-scented perfume, tousled my hair a little bit, and then waited for Jorge to show up. It was six o’clock, and he wasn’t due to come over until seven.
Realizing there was no way to think about anything other than Ria and Jorge’s relationship, I opened up my laptop and started reviewing the documents again. Ria had a seven-figure salary, so what did she need all of the extra money for? She was literally his business partner, and both of them could quit tomorrow and never have to worry about money again.
Just as I was about to do some research, my doorbell rang. It scared me so bad that I jumped up, causing my laptop to tumble onto the floor. Thankfully my floor was carpeted, though.
Get it together, Ginger.
I opened the door to see Jorge standing there, holding a bouquet of green hydrangeas.
Why do you have to be so alto, oscuro y guapo?
“Oh, wow, Jorge! They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
After putting them in a vase full of water, we got into his car and drove off to a local Italian restaurant. The hostess sat us at a private, half-circle, red-velvet booth in a dining room I didn’t even know existed.
Just as she was about to flirt with Jorge, since I’d stopped along the way to fix my shoe strap, she saw me sliding into the other side of the booth. “Enjoy your meal.”
Jorge winked at me once I got situated into the booth. “How was work today?”
“It was all right, although Eva had to deal with a customer trying to get a free service.”
“That’s pretty messed up, but it doesn’t surprise me. The world is full of people trying to get something for nothing.”
I wanted to keep that part of the conversation going, hoping he’d mention Ria and his plans, but he fell silent while looking over the menu.
“That’s true. Thankfully Eva put her in her place while keeping it professional. She’s so good at it too. I would have crumbled if that’d happened to me, but that girl knows how to deal with people.”
After placing our orders, Jorge and I spent the evening discussing our careers. He went into great detail about what it took to be a diamond broker and that it wasn’t all about shiny bracelets and massive rings. I, on the other hand, told him about what I did all day at the spa.
“The spa is lucky to have someone as loyal as you are, Ginger.”
“I really am loyal, almost to a fault. I’ve been working for Guadalupe and Yuslan for several years now, and I can’t see going anywhere else. It’s a perfect job. You should get a facial sometime.”
“Are you suggesting that my skin is bad?”
“Oh, God, no! In fact, you have magnificent skin. I just know that a lot of guys think facials are just for women, but we have just as many males as we do female clients who regularly get them done.”
Jorge was doubled over with laughter as I explained what I meant. “I was just kidding, Ginger. I get them all the time back in Belgium, so maybe I’ll book an appointment this week.” He took my hand and slowly rubbed it from across the table. “I’m just dreading having to deal with everything at work, if you know what I mean.”
“I can only imagine what’s going through your mind, but at least you know.”
We sat in silence for a few moments, the only noise comi
ng from the low talking of fellow diners, and I was waiting for him to tell me that he’d be firing her.
Instead, he pulled out the dessert menu and started looking it over. “I’m in the mood for some tiramisu. What about you?”
After dinner, he invited me back to his penthouse. Even though I had no intention of having sex with him again, I accepted since I could just walk home afterward. We rode up in his private elevator, which was plated with gold.
Jorge’s penthouse had floor-to-ceiling windows that gave him a breathtaking view of Miami. His furniture had been custom-made, and he even had a piano in his living room. Even though we’d been friends for a year and lived next door to each other, the other night was the only time I’d been in his home. I had missed the details between his office and his getting me naked in his bedroom. So I took the opportunity to walk around in awe of just how glamorous Jorge’s space was, as he poured each of us a glass of red wine.
“I’m actually somewhat of a minimalist, although you may not be able to tell. I just needed the stuff to fill up all of this space.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t call this a minimalist penthouse. Good for you, though. With all of the long hours you work and everything you put up with, you deserve a place like this.”
He pressed something on his phone and music started playing throughout the entire space. Jorge took my hand, and we started dancing, waltzing across the room just as we had done at my party. I allowed myself to rest my head against his shoulder, even though my intuition was telling me to pull away and go home.
Thank him for a beautiful evening and say that you have an early day tomorrow.
But I couldn’t.
The longer we danced, the harder I pressed my body against his. He was so tall, dark, and handsome, and any other woman in my position would have done the same thing. Hell, practically every woman he ever flirted with had done the exact same thing.
Ria.
I lifted my head, and our eyes met. But instead of pulling away, I let him lead me toward his bedroom, where we continued dancing to the romantic jazz playing throughout the penthouse. Every sway of his hips pulled me closer to him, and by the time the song transitioned into another one, I had lost all control of my senses.
“Jorge,” I whispered as our lips were merely inches away from each other.
“Yes?”
“I…”
And that was it. I leaned in to kiss Jorge, and as our mouths met, I fell backward onto his bed with him on top of me.
8
Jorge
Ginger’s body felt even more delicate than the last time we had made love. As I practically ripped off her hot-pink dress, all I could think about was how I’d told myself this wouldn’t happen again. Ginger simply wasn’t the friends-with-benefits type of woman, nor should she be. A woman of her caliber deserved to be wined, dined, and treated like a queen. But as she lay there on my bed wearing only her black high heels, all I could think about was being deep inside of her again.
My clothes carelessly fell to the floor as I slid out of them, refusing to let my eyes drift away from Ginger’s magnificent body. She leaned against the pillows, resting her head on top of them as I positioned my cock up against her pussy.
“Ginger,” I groaned before kissing her.
She let out a deep moan as I slid my shaft into her warm womanhood, before proceeding to wrap her legs around my waist. The only sounds in the room were of the bed creaking, her heels clacking together, and our lustful sighs of pleasure. I leaned back on my knees, grabbed her hips, and pulled her farther against my cock with every thrust of my body.
“God, yes, Jorge! Harder!”
I flipped her onto all fours, then started pounding her from behind. She didn’t seem like the type of woman to leave high heels on during sex, but that was what I was beginning to love. It was like getting a little surprise once you got back to the bedroom.
Ginger arched her back as she let out a massive moan, screaming so loud as she squirted all over my cock. Her juices drenched my dick as I slammed harder into her, my heavy, aching balls hitting her clit as I pounded away. I reached my arm around and rubbed her sensitive nub, which was growing in size by the minute. I had every intention of finishing that way too.
But Ginger had other plans.
She leaned backward, causing me to fall onto my torso as she rode me reverse cowgirl. Her gorgeous, plump ass cheeks bounced up and down as I stayed inside of her, grinding her wetness all over my pulsating cock. Then she pushed all the way back until our heads were right next to each other.
We looked into each other’s eyes as I kept pounding her, never pulling away as both of us climaxed at the same time. Her legs started shaking as my balls emptied into her core, and her screams of pleasure almost kept me hard for a second round. Unfortunately, my grueling work schedule had left me winded.
Ginger regretfully slid off of me, and we laid next to each other for a few moments. “Jorge, I…didn’t expect that to happen.”
I took her hand in mine and began rubbing her palm with my thumb. “Neither did I, Ginger. Neither did I.”
I woke up the next morning to Ginger sleeping on my chest, which felt so good that I didn’t want to move. And while I couldn’t predict what would become of our relationship, one thing was for sure—Ria had to go.
Sliding carefully out of bed so as not to wake her up, I tiptoed into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Ria often acted as though she had balls bigger than mine, but that morning I would be putting her in place. I prepared my speech to her repeatedly in my head while the coffee brewed, and after guzzling a cup, I gave her a call.
Here goes nothing.
“Good morning, dear. How’s everything going in the States?”
“Cut the bullshit, Ria. I know you’ve been embezzling money out of the company.”
There was an incredibly long pause on her end, which was odd since Ria had never been shy with her words. “Jorge, it’s not what you think. If you hadn’t flown back to Miami without telling me, perhaps we could have discussed this over dinner. I know how much you love my lasagna.”
Your lasagna tastes like rubber covered in cheap ketchup.
“There’s nothing to explain, Ria. You’ve stolen nearly a million dollars out from underneath me, and for what? Is your seven-figure salary not enough for you? Did you not inherit enough money from your father’s estate?”
“I knew this would happen, Jorge. Say no more. I’m hopping on the next flight to Miami so we can straighten out this whole ordeal.”
The sound of Ginger moving around in bed caught my attention until I peeked in and saw that she’d just switched positions.
“There’s no reason for you to come to Miami, Ria. Just know that you and I are done, both personally and professionally!”
“Screw you, Jorge Stein! None of this would be happening if we were married, and you know why? Because all of the accounts would be jointly owned!”
“Have you lost your damn mind? You actually think that I’d want to marry you? Look, I’ve moved on, and you need to as well. I’m going to buy you out of your partnership.” The sound of Ria zipping up a suitcase was all I could hear for a few minutes. “Were you planning on coming here anyway?”
“Of course, darling. You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that quickly, did you? I’ve spent the best years of my life waiting on a proposal, and I intend to get one.”
“You are insane, Ria! I’m buying you out of your partnership, not asking you to be my wife, and that’s final. Or else I’ll go straight to my lawyers.”
“You’re not buying me out of anything, and do you realize how long and drawn out that process would be? And remember that I have just as much leverage in the diamond industry as you, if not more.”
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I realized she was right. Of course, she was right. That was probably why she knew she could steal so much money from me too.
“What are you suggesting, Ria?”
Sh
e chuckled into the phone. “You know damn well what I’m suggesting, Jorge. I can make it so that no diamond-mine union wants anything to do with you. Maybe I’ll start my own company and offer them three times what you’re paying them right now, or maybe I’ll steal all of your employees out from underneath you.”
Ria needed to be out of my life as soon as possible.
“It’ll only be a waste of your time and money, Ria, because I’m in love with another woman.” I heard her gasp, and only wish I’d seen her look of horror in person.
“You are not, Jorge! You’ve never loved any woman besides me.”
“For the record, I’ve never loved you. And not only am I in love, but we’re getting married next week!”
Ria started tapping her long nails against a hard surface. “I don’t believe you, Jorge. You’re not a guy who will ever get married. Don’t you know that by now? You’re a lifelong bachelor who can’t commit to anyone! And with me, you could have had it all. I would have married you and looked the other way when you fooled around with other women. Better yet, I might have even joined you.”
A year ago, those last words would have given me a massive erection. But all I wanted to do was vomit. I wanted to tell her that I never even enjoyed our sex that much to begin with, and it was only out of convenience that we’d slept together.
“You don’t believe me, huh? Then why am I having a small, private wedding ceremony next week, Ria? Because I’m in love, and it sure as hell isn’t with you!” Once again, she went silent, but I knew she wasn’t crying. Ria didn’t have it in her to cry over a man. “I swear to God, Ria, don’t you dare get on that plane and come to Miami. You and I couldn’t be more over, do you hear me? And I don’t know how, but I’ll be getting all of the money you embezzled back! Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I have the best lawyers in all of Miami!”
Ria hung up, and just as I was about to throw my phone into the living room, Ginger walked into the kitchen.