by Amy Brent
I spent every moment talking to Phil when I wasn’t working. We planned our night repeatedly, giving into different fantasies every night. I grew more knotted with anticipation as the days passed, tired and edgy every single day at work. I worked through it, but I know that it didn’t go unnoticed. In fact, Brett seemed to be the same way when I looked closely at him.
I was working on something at my desk, sipping another cup of coffee as he paused one day. “Are you all right, Amy? You seem a bit…jumpy. Is something going on?”
“I’m working a lot. I have a freelance job on the side,” I told him, going on to tell him that I was a writer of short stories and blogs for a few clients. He asked me if I didn’t overdo it working so much and I shrugged, admitting that I liked the extra income so I could get ahead of the game while I was still young. I didn’t see the want in his eyes as he looked at me and nodded, telling me that he appreciated a woman that worked hard. He mentioned that he knew someone like that with warmth in his eyes, making me realize that he’d fallen in love. I was happy and envious all at once as he looked at me with genuine respect before telling me to take care of myself. That was all there was now; respect.
I started with my pampering the second week of what I termed as the wait. I had my curly hair trimmed and highlighted with shared of honey and caramel, loving the way the colors bounced around my shoulders with the layers as I looked into the mirror after the cut. I had shopped a bit, changing up my style just a little bit with the prospect of a new life and I picked a special dress for the night at the hotel. It was a slip of a plum silk dress, with tiny straps and a short skirt that was going to be covered with a long black cardigan for reasons of my own, at least until I stripped it off and gave myself to Phil. I was going to pair it with black heels that matched the black of my mascara that I was planning to wear that night.
I also got a Brazilian wax one night after work, gritting my teeth through the pain as the layers of wax were ripped off my most sensitive area. I knew that Phil liked bare skin and I was going to give that to him.
Brett gave me a double take when he saw me for the first time with my cut and color, pausing to smile at me. “Very pretty,” he complimented me as I blush, still aware that he got to me even in my Phil fog. He was a handsome man that wanted me once, and I’d always be proud of that. Phil, while I didn’t know what he looked like yet, reminded me of Brett somehow in the way he spoke though the voice wasn’t spot on. How lucky could a girl get?
“Thanks,” I told him as I smiled at him.
“You seem so happy,” Brett observed as I shrugged.
“I hope it ends up that way. It’s new, you know.” He nodded, and I could see the same look in his eyes.
“I understand. I hope your dreams work out for you, Amy. You deserve it.” Brett headed into his office, and I turned my attention back to the report open on my computer, appreciating the way we worked so well together. I loved my job, feeling good about it as I risked my night job meeting Phil. I didn’t know how that would end, but it was risking my job as an operator on some level. That was the first thing that I thought about when he asked me to meet him, but why couldn’t I do something else instead?
It was an option, something that I was comfortable with as the days passed by.
CHAPTER 10
Brett
I was getting restless as the days seemed to drag. I pried everything that I could out of Cherie about her likes and dislikes. I was planning to have a dinner set up for her, even though I’d want her naked and on the bed before anything else. The talks were getting hotter as we discussed what we wanted to do to one another and I was so relieved that I’d be inside of her soon. I was tired of my hand, holding out for my night with her as opposed to my usual behavior. I didn’t want anyone else, at least not for now. There was a chance that we would tank once we met, and I’d be left to start over, though I doubted that. She’d let her walls down some but was keeping what she looked like as a surprise.
I secretly hoped that she would look something like Amy, who was getting more gorgeous by the day. She seemed like she was falling in love with someone and I knew that he was a lucky man. She was changing just a little, her clothes getting sexier while keeping her classic style with an edge. There was the hair cut as well and the anticipation shining in her dark blue eyes and the smile on her face.
I let her go completely, wishing her the best in my heart as I looked ahead to meeting Cherie.
It was the last week before we met at the Sunset Marquis. It was a beautiful hotel, and I reserved a villa for us along with some of the best seafood in the area, since she’d confessed to it being her favorite food. I planned a spread that we could nibble on in between long sessions together on the bed in the room filled with the scent of vanilla and roses that were going to be on the dresser as well as a night stand. I had a small kitchen in the suite so we could reheat if needed, realizing that I was going a long way to woo this woman. I had it all mapped out.
I knew that I was living off adrenaline at the end of the week approached. We were meeting at four on Saturday, and I was already going to be in the room waiting for Cherie. I had the fear that she’d back out at the last minute deep inside even though she sounded as excited as I was when we spoke. I hated the idea of this falling through as well.
I ended up having lunch with Amy in my office as we worked on a report that was due first thing in the morning. She ate sushi as she typed, her hair pulled back from her face as she focused on the words on the MacBook that I’d provided for her. “Why did the client need to change the deadline again?” Amy grumbled as she paused to sip her tea. “We had through next week.” I sensed that she was especially edgy today as I glanced at her, drinking a large gulp of coffee.
“It happens in this business. I’m sure you’re aware of that.” She gave me an irritated look, and I could see her unraveling before my very eyes.
“I know. I’m just out of sorts. I’m sorry,” Amy apologized as she rolled her head around. “It’s a busy week for me.”
“You could work just the one job,” I suggested as I reached for another roll on the tray.
“I’m not wealthy like you,” she replied, sarcastic as always. I heard more in her voice and gazed at her. “I’m sorry. I just should make it on my own, and it requires long hours. Surprises don’t suit me.”
“Don’t I pay you enough?” I asked as she sighed and looked over at me.
“The pay here is amazing. I just have the student loans that I’m attempting to pay off before I die and I am fussy about where I live,” Amy told me with a weary shrug. “It’s my choice. I need to stop whining about it.”
“It’s okay. I’m here to listen,” I assured her as she forced a smile on her face. “There’s that smile. It’s a good one.”
“Am I pretty enough?” Amy asked suddenly as I stared incredulously at her. “I know that I might be a little chubby and have some flaws.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I asked her as she gave me a wide-eyed gaze. “You’re gorgeous. I thought that I made that clear to you. Now, you’re even more beautiful. Why the doubt? Doesn’t your boyfriend tell you nice things?”
“Boyfriend,” I mused aloud as I stared forward. Wait, I was supposed to have one of those. “Of course, he does. He’s great. I’m just a girl, that’s all.” I’d never admit the truth to him. Brett could get any woman that he wanted, and I was certain that they were all beautiful. We kept that part of our lives private and as much as I assumed that he was serious about someone now, I wasn’t sure. He just seemed settled somehow or close, at least.
“Clearly he needs lessons in telling you more.” Brett turned back to his own computer with a supportive smile, and it was back to work.
We had eaten all the sushi before we finished for the night, both groaning that we needed to get to the gym before we walked out of the building. It was home for a few hours and then back to work, cutting deeply into my phone time with Cherie. That used to be my life b
efore she came along, and no woman ever competed. “I’ll see you in the morning. My turn to bring coffee and donuts.” Amy smiled as she walked down the street as I watched her with concern.
“Let me give you a ride. It’s so dark.” I called out as she glanced back. She didn’t live incredibly far, but it wasn’t safe for any women to walk these streets at night.
“I’d love that,” she replied as she followed me to my car, allowing me to open her door for her. I headed down the road and pulled up to the curb to let her out as she smiled her thanks at me. Amy looked tired, and I watched her carefully as she walked to the secured entrance to her complex, wondering if I should walk to her door with her. I felt so protective towards Amy, needing to let that go. She had someone to take care of her.
I sighed and drove home, walking in to take a hot shower and change into shorts before bed. I sat on my bed and looked at the clock before I dialed Cherie’s number. I just wanted to hear her voice but the call went straight to voicemail as I ended the call. I only had three more days before we met but I missed her at work today. I missed her voice, her laugh.
I was tired and climbed under my sheets, needing some rest before the morning. I’d have all night with Cherie soon if not all weekend assuming we hit it off. For now, I had to get through this week with Amy and I was grateful for her help during busy times. She got it, and she knew what to do.
I woke up when the alarm went off, groaning at the abrupt end to a dream about a faceless woman riding me as she screamed my name.
I went for a brief run and showered before dressing for work. I got in the car and listened to the news as I drove, parking with a yawn as I leaned back in my car. It was going to be a long day with more reports, and I vowed to just make it to the weekend when I could work it all off inside of Cherie.
Amy was tired as expected and we both started the morning with strong coffee. She cleaned up the report from last night before sending it off and shifted in her seat before she opened a blank word document. “Here we go with number two.”
I laughed at the reference as she narrowed her eyes at me. “Sorry. It’s funny.”
“You’re a fool.” She grinned. “You need some sleep.”
We ordered lunch in to keep working, and I could see the looks that I got when I went to refresh my cup of coffee. There were rumors about how closely we worked together, but none of the staff knew what was going on in my life. I was sure that they might know that I was a player before but to know that I was talking to a phone sex operator was so much more. The fact that I was planning to meet her since I was falling for her sounded absurd in my head, not to mention saying the words.
Somehow, the rumors about my assistant weren’t so bad.
CHAPTER 11
Amy
I made it through that day, vowing to have some time on the phone with Phil after work. Last night I was beat and fell right to sleep since keeping up with the day job was important to my future. Hell, it was my future since I didn’t have any intention of settling on a man to take care of me. I was going to choose love. If I ended up loving Phil, then everything would be perfect.
I smiled. Life wasn’t that easy.
I got home at six and turned on my phone after I walked into the apartment. There were some missed calls and texts, and I read them as I changed into a t-shirt and dropped onto my bed. I only wanted Phil.
I waited until it rang and saw his name, answering it with a breathy hello. He seemed eager to talk to me too, asking if the weekend was still on. He asked if I was all right since I didn’t answer last night and told him that I had a little cold and slept it off. I assured him that I was looking forward to Saturday and asked again if he’d say what he had in mind for me.
Phil refused teasingly, and I pleaded, adding to my accent as he laughed at me. This was so much more than just sex. It was comfortable and natural, making me hope that it was this easy in person. I knew that I stayed up late talking to him and getting myself off yet again to the idea of Saturday night, but it would be worth it. Tomorrow was Friday and then it would be the weekend, something that had taken forever to come. In two nights, I would be coming around his tongue and his cock, milking him for everything that he had to offer.
We ended the call with just a few hours left to sleep, and if I were a different person I would just call in the following morning. I earned some sick time as well as vacation time, and it made sense, but it just wasn’t me. I dragged myself out of bed and showered, wearing a red dress to work with heels. I was going to be happy today, vibrant. No matter what, I was going to think about Phil and what was going to happen in mere hours, concentrating on that. Brett and I had made a lot of progress the night before and today would be easy in comparison to the last two. I knew that he was tired as well by the coffee that he kept drinking and the circles under his eyes, though he still looked happy. Gorgeous, too.
I worked at my desk and made sure that all the loose ends were tied up for the weekend since there was no way in hell that I would come into the office after five o clock tonight.
I went to lunch with friends and listened to them talk about their dates and plans for the weekend, while I held my own in. Nobody knew about the phone job, to begin with, so how could I explain meeting a client? They did notice the haircut, the color, the mani and pedi as well as just my slight change in style though and hounded me about it since the beginning of last week. I just explained that I had a great job for a change and wanted to make the changes for fun, given that I was a twenty-six-year-old woman and it was completely normal for women to do such things. It was true, in part.
The afternoon dragged when I returned but finally. Finally, it was time to go home. I planned to get some sleep tonight at nearly any cost so I could be prepared for tomorrow. Phil agreed that he was going to try and rest as well, making me not turn my phone on for any calls. Instead, I stood in front of the mirror and stared for several moments, wondering if he’d like me at all. I never told clients what I looked like, choosing instead to make up a glamorous woman of their dreams based on what I knew about their likes. I still didn’t reveal much to Phil, wanting him to be surprised. I wanted a natural reaction on his face the first time that he saw me.
I knew that I was pretty, but I saw every flaw tonight as I looked myself over much harder than I needed to. There were the few extra pounds from sitting too much for work and the good meals that I enjoyed near the office. It wasn’t excessive, but I swore that I saw every pound. My hair was still fresh and vibrant, so I couldn’t criticize that too much, other than the fact that it was wildly curly. That was a fact I wasn’t yet ready to change.
I stepped out of the bathroom in my pajamas, sitting down on the couch to watch a movie to relax my nerves. I thought about the fact the small group of friends and I stopped spending time together when I started working two jobs, not due to a fight but just life happening. I thought about texting someone but what would I say? My plans for tomorrow were insane, and job talk could only last so long, right? I decided to just watch something and go to sleep as early as I could.
I woke up on the couch early the following morning and blinked. I looked around to see the morning new playing and searched for the time on the screen. It was seven, so I had a lot of time today. Meaning I had a lot of time to worry about what could go wrong. I sighed and got up to make some coffee, padding around the kitchen in my bare feet as I looked around. This apartment was beautiful and cost about one thousand more than something in a different area would run me, though it wouldn’t be safe as this one. I lived in a great part of the city, and if I didn’t work both jobs, I wondered if I could afford it.
Brett paid me generously and today wouldn’t affect that job. I could afford this with a little rearranging of my budget and possibly another type of second job. Nothing would pay as well as the phone job, at least nothing that was a lot more intimate and personal. I was getting ahead of myself, and I sipped the strong liquid as I forced my mind to slow down. Nothing might come
from tonight, nothing life changing anyway. I didn’t need to plan everything this morning.
I went shopping to kill time and found some cute clothes to add to my closet. I ate a light lunch, thinking about the dinner that Phil planned for tonight. He didn’t tell me any details other than the hotel room number and the time to arrive. I headed home with time to get ready, taking a fresh shower and letting my hair dry naturally into its trademark curls. I added enough product to keep the frizz under control and stared into the mirror as I planned everything else. I didn’t want to look like I tried too hard for Phil but I wanted to take his breath away, if possible.
I settled on a light foundation to even out my skin and a dark liner on my lid to bring out my eyes. I added a shimmer under my brow and mascara on my lashes before selecting a gloss that matched the dress perfectly. I knew that I looked good since Brett told me that enough at work to mean it. I just had to let nature take its course that night. I grabbed a bigger purse that I could fill with things for an overnight stay and looked around my house as I stepped toward my front door.
I’d arranged for a ride since I didn’t care for driving in the city. I pulled my long sweater around my body and my purse over my shoulder before I locked my front door and went out to look for the Uber. It was a bright blue car, and I slipped inside and smiled at the girl driving as I slipped the belt over my body. Every press of the brakes resonated with me, and I memorized every building that we passed. Tonight was going to be something to remember no matter how it turned out. We stopped in front of the stunning hotel, and I took a slow breath as I stared at it for a moment. “Thank you,” I murmured as I slipped her a bill and stepped onto the curb. It was sunny and breezy out, typical weather for Southern California and I relaxed and let the sweater fall open as I smiled. I could do this.