I handed him the cash and then pulled a writing pad that was resting near one of the many phones on the table closer to me. I scribbled down a short to-do list and then handed it to him, along with my black business debit card. “That’s for the expenses.”
He read over the list, and then glanced at me before looking back at the list. “No disrespect, Erik, but what the fuck?”
I grinned, thinking about the many insults he’d hurled my way over my choice in dress. “Like I said before, I love my games.” With that, I capped my pen, placed it into my pocket, and then clapped him on the shoulder before going back to my office with the mask.
Stacy would handle the evening gown for me, along with a suit worthy of such a beautiful voice.
3
Aria
Ari?” my mother yelled into my phone as I drove through the streets of downtown Huntsville. “Something is wrong with my phone again! It’s doing that thing where the fudging screen is blank!”
I lowered my visor to keep the yellow light that slipped off the horizon out of my eyes and sighed. “Mom,” I said in a tight voice, trying to hold on to my patience. “Once again, you have to turn the camera around.”
She yelled, “How do you do that?”
My speakers crackled.
I sucked on my bottom lip and turned the next corner a little too sharply, blowing by a cop and mashing on the brake. I winced and sat up straighter as if to say, “Look, officer, I’m the most law-abiding citizen you ever saw,” and inched by the officer as slow as possible. Then, I glanced at my phone attached to my center console with one of those sticky things.
“Aria! It’s still blank!”
I gritted my teeth, pulled into the parking lot of the local children’s museum, and then put my car into park. I swiped my hand down my face and then massaged my temples. “Do you see the little icon in the bottom corner that looks like a little phone?”
“I, uh… No… Oh, yeah!”
“Press it,” I said through my teeth.
There was the sound of her muttering along with a bunch of banging. What felt like hours later, her pinched expression appeared on the screen of my cell phone.
“Ah!” She smiled. “There you are!”
It was amazing. Every time my mother used her phone, I had to teach her everything all over again.
“Aria?” she yelled, because she still thought she had to shout to be heard on her magic device. “Are you still coming over for dinner?”
“No, Mom. Remember? I had to cancel. Researching some bull—something about legends where I work.”
She clapped her wrinkled hands in front of her. “Oh! Are you finally writing something creative?”
“No, still sex.”
She sighed and stared down her glasses at me. “I wish you’d write a column my friends could actually read.”
I forced a tight smile onto my face. “You mean a blog post?”
“Oh!” She waved a hand at me. “You work for the most read publication in the world. You should be proud!”
I snorted. “Didn’t you just say you couldn’t even let your friends read my work?”
She gasped. “Because it’s racy! Not because I’m not proud!”
My tight smile widened. “Okay, Mom. I have to ask you something.”
“Ask away, dear.”
I took in a deep breath. “Did you show my boss that old footage of me in college?”
Her face lit up, and it was like whatever switched on the light inside her also switched on the dark inside me. I was instantly annoyed.
“Oh, he’s so charming! And handsome! Yes, he contacted me, and we talked about you for hours! He loves musicals, and when I sent him that video, oh, he just loves your voice—”
“Mom!” I snapped.
She widened her eyes at me.
I took in another few deep breaths. “Mom! I’m not a child. You can’t just…”
“Oh, Ari.” She sighed. “I just miss your singing so much.”
I held up my hands like I was going to wrap them around her neck. Not in her line of sight, but it still made me feel better. “Mom,” I said with my eyes closed. “The next time my boss calls you about me, you need to tell him to take it up with me. Okay?”
My request was met with silence. Finally, she said, “You’re upset.”
I opened my eyes. “Not upset,” I lied. “Just professional. It’s totally inappropriate for my boss and my mother to be discussing me without my knowing.”
She frowned. “Well, you sure look upset.”
I sighed and turned my head. “Okay, Mom. I have to go. I’m going to be late.”
“Honey, I really don’t want you to be upset.”
I forced another tight smile onto my lips. “I’m not. I just…really need to go. I’ll call you tomorrow!” With that, I ended the video call before she could say another word.
My mother had a tendency to drag conversations on forever. Blowing out a breath, I gripped the steering wheel with both hands and allowed myself to calm down. When my heart rate was back to normal, I pulled back onto the road and drove the two minutes to the office.
When I pulled into the parking lot, it was empty. I drove past my boss’s spot, only to slam on the brakes. A smug smile pulled at my lips. I put the car into reverse, and then backed into the space marked Erik Ross.
“Ha!” Putting the car into park, I almost stuck my tongue out. “Next time, be early.” I gathered up my things, including all the research I’d managed to gather on the old building, sucked down the rest of my coffee, which had gone cold, and stepped out into the crisp evening.
As I walked into the now famous building that towered over all its surroundings, I muttered curse words to myself. This was ridiculous. I should sue his ass. I had to have some basis, because after all, your boss couldn’t force you to spend time with him. I mean, he wasn’t forcing me per se, but it sure as shit felt like it. By the time I reached the elevator and hit the button for the top floor, I was livid. The elevator dinged, and the doors swooshed open. When I stared out at the office I’d worked at for the past three years, my anger dissolved into confusion.
Tilting my head, I muttered, “What the hell?” I stood there so long, the doors started to close again, and I had to reach out to stop them. Slowly, I inched out of the elevator and swept my gaze around the room.
Everything was gone. Well, not everything. Ahead of me, there was a white microphone stand and a matching microphone set up, and behind that, two desks were pushed together. On top of them sat a mannequin that was draped in the sexiest gown I’d ever seen in my life. Stumbling forward, I let my bag fall to the ground, and then turned in a slow circle.
“Hello?” I called out.
The silence around me seemed to echo, and I hugged myself to keep warm against the slight shiver. I was about to call out again when the office lights snapped off. I jumped, and almost fell to the ground.
Gritting my teeth, I yelled, “Erik! This isn’t funny!” I narrowed my eyes and swung around.
There was a loud clang and then a light snapped on, lighting up the dress and the microphone.
What the hell is this? Now that the dress was lit up, I noticed a note was pinned to the mannequin’s arm. I lifted an eyebrow and started forward.
“Put the dress on,” I read out loud. I blinked several times, and then read it again. Turning around, I laughed. “Are you kidding?” I asked Erik, who I couldn’t see, but I knew was somewhere nearby, screwing with me. “What, are you trying to convince me this place is actually haunted?”
As I crumbled the note up, I headed back for my stuff and tossed the paper over my shoulder. When I bent down, there was a crackle in my ear, and then the opening score from Phantom of the Opera pumped into the room.
I froze for a moment, and then slowly stood up straight, trying to figure out what the hell my boss was playing at. Part of me was slightly intrigued, but not enough to admit it, or to stick around. Waving my hand through the air, I leaned
over to grab my stuff and headed back to the elevator.
On the shiny doors of the lift, the words Just put on the dress were scrawled in black marker.
My heart shot off in surprise, and I dropped my bag to the floor again. I raked my hands through my hair and darted my gaze around. Either that was written there when I got here and I just didn’t notice, or my boss had the lightest feet in the history of ever.
I spun around again and called out, “Erik?”
The music blaring into the room got louder, and that was the only response I received.
I stomped my foot. “Damnit, Mr. Ross! This is a waste of my time.”
The song cut off right at the climax, and a dark chuckle echoed in my ears. “Oh, come on, Ms. Evans. I’m simply not coming out until you put the dress on.”
Lifting an eyebrow, I hugged myself and stared across the room at a speaker that was mounted in the corner. “Can you see me?”
He laughed. “Come now, Aria. What do you take me for?” The tone of his voice changed into something dark I could almost picture myself slipping into. “Now please, put on the dress.”
I opened my mouth, but there was a low squeal, and the music snapped back on. Crossing my arms, I tapped my foot and stared back at the dress. Then, I snorted at myself when I realized I was actually considering putting the damn thing on.
I mean, I was only human, and that was a hell of a dress.
Pursing my lips, I snatched my phone out of my back pocket and turned the camera on. “Okay, Mr. Ross. You want to play games?” With a smile, I taped the entire room, including the weird notes. “I’ll put on your little dress.”
After all, with as weird as this tape would be, I’d be able to write whatever I wanted for The Feed. Hell, I might even be able to own it. That thought left a smile on my face.
I climbed onto the desk, carefully removed the delicate dress from the mannequin, and stepped into a separate room to slip it on.
4
Erik
My heart shot blood through my body so fast that it felt like I was on fire. Just the thought that she might be willing to play my game set me to pacing in the conference room. I slid my hands into the pockets of the trousers that Stacy picked out for me, and eyed the iconic mask from Phantom of the Opera that sat in the middle of my conference table. I couldn’t swat away the vision I had in my head of Aria in that damned dress.
Of course, getting her to actually put it on was highly unlikely. She was, after all, suspicious by nature, and even I had to admit this was weird. But it was fun. I tucked my arms behind my back, and kept pacing the room, forcing myself to wait. The entire time, I let the music flow through me. I pictured her at that mic, her eyes bright, singing a song that was only for me.
My imagination tended to run off anywhere it wanted to. I was still in the middle of a daydream when she called out, “Erik! Get out here, or I’m going home!”
I grinned and forced myself to stop pacing. Then, I reached for the mask and slid it on. It was cold against my skin and smelled like old, treated leather. I started for the door, considered checking my appearance, but seeing as how I had to be dressed for the occasion, decided to let her reaction check it for me. Clearing my throat, I crept down the hall and peered around the corner.
Aria was in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, spinning in a slow circle. I took a moment to appreciate how the lace hugged her tight body. Licking my lips, I slid my hands into my pockets and crept toward her. Before she could turn back around, I grabbed her by the hips and she froze.
“What the—”
“Don’t turn around,” I muttered into her ear.
She kind of snarled and tried to twist around in my grasp. I held on tighter.
“I don’t know what the hell this is, Erik, but you have the wrong one. I will fuck you up.”
I grinned. “I don’t doubt that,” I said, forcing myself to keep my tone gentle. “That’s the last thing I want. But may I ask a favor?”
“You better let me go. Now.”
I released her. To my surprise, she didn’t turn around. I waited a few moments before repeating, “May I ask you a favor?”
There were a few more beats of silence. Then, she sighed. “You might as well.”
My grin widened. “Well, first, where are you hiding the cell phone?”
Her back tensed, and I rocked back and forth on my feet. Her shoulders squared, defining the lean muscles there, and I licked my lips again.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I laughed. “Sure. If you’re not recording this, then I made a serious error in hiring you.”
She didn’t respond, but she did slowly turn around to face me. Her dark eyes popped open, and her gaze slid up and down my body—once, twice, three times. I managed to keep a neutral expression on my face.
Lifting an eyebrow, I took my hands out of my pockets and smoothed them across the black silk vest Stacy had chosen for me. Aria’s gaze followed my movements, and I was immediately grateful I’d listened to Stacy and decided to wear the damned thing without a shirt… Or a jacket.
“So?” I asked with a half smile. “Did I make a serious error in hiring you?”
Her mouth gaped.
I cleared my throat and then inched closer to her. “Aria? Are you all right?”
Her mouth closed, and she shook her head.
“No?” I stopped when I was close enough that if I leaned over even an inch, I would be touching that smooth skin. “What is it?”
She actually giggled and then covered her mouth with her hands. The look on her face was infectious, and I crossed my arms, curious as to what was going on in her head.
Backing away, she held up a hand and gestured toward me. “Um. I just need a moment.”
I nodded, went to get a chair from the corner, and sat down, propping my right foot on top of the opposite knee. “Please, take your time.”
She laughed again, and I couldn’t tell if she was in shock, or if I amused her. When she gazed over at me, the look in her eyes sent a shiver through me. She didn’t look amused. Interesting.
“Mr. Ross,” she said in a hoarse voice. “What’s this about?”
I grinned and tilted my head. Gesturing toward the mic, I said, “I was hoping you’d sing for me. In person.”
She laughed again, and this time I could tell she was laughing at me. I smiled and waited for her to finish.
“Are you serious?”
I stood up and nodded. “Oh, absolutely.”
The smile left her face, and she stared at me, once again speechless.
I swept a hand around the room. “The theme of the evening is Phantom of the Opera.” With a wink, I added, “And, well, I just don’t have the voice to pull that off.” Again, I crept closer to her. “But I can damn sure be the masked man.”
I expected her to laugh again, but her eyelids fluttered, and then she continued to stare at me. “Um. I thought…you wanted to research the building.”
With a nod, I let my gaze scan her up and down. “Well, we’re doing research of a certain kind, aren’t we?” When she didn’t answer, I peered into her eyes and waited.
Finally, she threw her hands up into the air. “I, uh…I don’t know what to say.”
“Hm.” I turned my side to her and offered up my arm. “Good, I didn’t lure you here to talk.”
“This is a little creepy,” she told me. Only, she didn’t sound creeped out. Or annoyed. Or anything else I was used to getting from her.
“I understand,” I said, gently leading her over to the microphone. Her shock worked to my advantage, because I was able to position her in front of the mic. “I deal with facts so often, Aria, that sometimes, I like to deal in make-believe.” Taking in a breath, I tried a bold move. Once again, I planted my hands on her hips and hugged myself against her. “When I heard your voice, it made me feel alive,” I whispered against her ear.
She shivered, and I had to work hard for control.
5
Aria
I didn’t know what was going on, and I couldn’t move. Part of me must have gone crazy, because I was letting him touch me. In fact, I think I wanted him to touch me. As his stomach pressed against my navel, and his voice echoed in my ear, I knew I should have felt stupid. I should have laughed at him. I mean, make-believe? Come on.
Only, I didn’t feel stupid.
I felt high. The way I used to feel on stage. The way I used to feel in bed. I opened my mouth to answer him, but a flash of him walking out in that silk vest and fitted trousers swept across my thoughts, and I began to tingle. Who knew that tight body was hidden under the ridiculously baggy suits he chose to wear to work every day. The way he looked that night, he could have asked me to play Alice, and I would have jumped down the frickin’ rabbit hole.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, which were all over the place.
“Aria?” he said, growling my name against my ear. “Tell me, how can I make you sing?”
I opened my mouth wider, stymied by what had to be the sexiest question anyone had ever asked me. Clearing my throat, I finally managed to say: “Erik, this is insane.”
He chuckled and then swept my hair back. I should have pulled away from him. I’d never felt so much as a spark for this man, and now I was practically going into shock from them.
“I know, it’s…eccentric.”
I grinned. “A term only millionaires get to use.”
“Mm. Billionaires,” he corrected in a way that somehow managed to sound humble. “But I learned long ago you have to chase your fantasies. And I can’t stop casting you in all of mine.”
I flicked my tongue across my bottom lip. “I…don’t sing anymore. I wouldn’t even be any good…” I left out the fact that I still took weekly voice lessons to keep my instrument tuned. He didn’t need to know that.
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 129