by Jenesi Ash
“Of course!” Brianna says with a smile. She doesn’t question the urgency and hurries out of the room.
Vincent and Denise are still coming up with ideas on how my negligee can look better when Brianna rushes in, clipping the sales tag off the bustier with a pair of scissors. She puts it in my dressing room and I glance at the clock again. I can’t hold it off anymore.
I turn to the designer and brace myself. “Vincent, I’m sorry, but I need to take a break. I have to meet Leon.”
“But we’ve just started!” Vincent clutches the top of his bald head with both hands and gives an outraged huff.
That’s not my fault, but I barely hold my tongue. “I’ll come back. This is unavoidable.”
He tosses his hands in the air. “We have so much to do if you want the last Vincent original!”
That stops me in my tracks. “What do you mean the last?”
He waves away my question with the flick of his wrist and abruptly stops. “I haven’t announced it yet,” he says quietly, almost sadly, “but I’m retiring.”
“Retiring!” The word hits me like a punch in the stomach. I look at the other women in the room for verification, but they look as stunned as I feel.
This will not do. Vincent can’t quit. The man is my secret weapon. I can’t go back to buying chain-store lingerie.
“Don’t worry, my dear.” He gives me a pat on my bare shoulder. “I’m staying on in an advisory capacity.”
Relief crashes through me and I feel so much better. What Vincent is proposing is essentially what he does now, whether he knows it or not. He tosses his arms around and makes declarations, but I have never seen him work up a sweat.
I hurry back into the dressing room and grab the bustier. As I carefully remove my negligee, I hear a harsh whisper outside my room. I press my ear to the wall, wondering if they’re talking about me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re retiring, Vincent?” Brianna asks, her voice shaking with anger. “I’m your heir.”
Heir? My fingers still on the hooks of my bustier. Is she his daughter? Why haven’t they mentioned that? Maybe Vincent doesn’t want people to know he had a grown daughter.
“I never decided that,” Vincent says.
“I may only be your niece, but you told my mom you wanted to keep the business in the family. I’m the only one who’s showed an interest in it.”
I’m adjusting the bustier as I hear Vincent say, “You still have a lot to learn.”
“Bullshit!” she whispers fiercely. “You’ve been using me. You got cheap labor and dangled the possibility of me owning this business.”
I didn’t hear what Vincent’s response was to that. I could say he lowered his voice, but frankly, I lost interest once I caught sight of myself in the mirror.
I look freaking fantastic! I stand straight and notice how the bustier plumps up my breasts while making my waist look smaller. I put on the garter belt and then my panties. I learned this trick after the first time Leon wanted me to keep my garter belt on while we had sex. I carefully slide on my stockings and put on my black heels before I look at my reflection in the mirror.
My stomach gives a naughty flip and my heart starts to pound with anticipation. Leon is going to go crazy when he gets a look at me.
I put on my satin raincoat and tie the sash firmly against my waist, then open the door to my dressing room. No one is around. I guess they decided to do their fighting out of range.
I check my watch and hurry out to the reception area, barely managing a goodbye to Brianna, who is definitely making a personal call as she speaks angrily on the phone while I make my exit.
Once the elevator arrives, I’m the only one who gets on. That’s kind of a disappointment. What’s the fun of wearing next to nothing if you can’t tease anyone with it?
When I get off the elevator, I march straight to Leon’s offices. I get past the snobby receptionist only to come toe-to-toe with his loyal secretary. From the disapproving look on her pinched face, I can safely say she knows all about me. I’m tempted to open my raincoat and flash her, but I don’t give out freebies.
I’m immediately escorted inside Leon’s office. He greets me with a smile, but doesn’t rise from his chair as he would for any other visitor. Instead he asks his secretary to hold his calls.
The minute we’re alone, I untie my raincoat and allow it to fall to the floor. I lean against the door, my hands flat against the wood. I jut my hips out, silently inviting him closer.
Leon doesn’t move. He’s mesmerized, and I’ve never felt this kind of sexual power.
“Come here,” he says in a gruff voice.
I should have known he wouldn’t grovel for me. I walk over to him, letting my hips roll provocatively until I reach his desk. I perch on the edge close to where he sits. Tilting my head back, the sunlight gets into my eyes.
That’s when it occurs to me that the shades aren’t closed. I glance outside and see men and women in the high tower across the street. They are working intently, but if they were to look out their window, they would clearly see into this office. Anyone could get a good view of me seducing Leon.
I get wet just thinking about it. I rub my thighs together as excitement rushes through me. I want an audience see me take Leon and watch me go wild. I widen my legs, drawing Leon’s attention to my pussy. “I’m going to give you a lap dance.”
Leon’s eyes gleam with approval. “Make it slow,” he suggests, propping his chin in his hand as he watches. He isn’t as relaxed and indifferent as he tries to appear. I can see his cock pressing against his pants. “And take off your panties. Nothing else.”
He really loves seeing me in this bustier. I wiggle out of the panties and kick them off. I’m aroused and ready for action, my core pulsing and greedy for Leon’s cock.
I glance out the window. Not one person has seen me yet. Damn. I want to catch their attention. Make them press against the glass, their tongues hanging out of their slack jaws, panting for me.
I grab the headrest of Leon’s chair and straddle him. I grin as the chair rocks and swivels with every move I make. I know each sudden motion is going to add to the feel of his cock inside me.
My knees dig into the cushioned seat and my breasts are level with Leon’s harsh mouth. I feel the heat emanating from him as my wet slit hovers above his aroused cock.
I look down at Leon and meet his gaze. He grabs my breasts and squeezes hard. His eyes darken with pleasure and he drags my bustier down, slowly unpeeling the fabric from my breasts. His face tightens as he exposes my tightly puckered nipples. Leon groans deep in his throat before he takes one nipple in his mouth and bites down.
I give a little scream and arch back. The chair tilts wildly and my pussy rubs against his cock. I hiss when his cold belt buckle presses against my hot skin.
Deciding I’ve been patient long enough, I let go of the headrest and grab his belt. My hands fumble as Leon continues to tease my breasts with his fingers and tongue. When he draws me deep into his mouth I almost orgasm right there.
I tug his belt free and lift myself up just a little to unzip his pants. Leon skims his hands down my hips and holds me still. “Stay like that,” he says softly against the underside of my breast.
I can’t think straight with his hands squeezing and massaging my ass. He flattens his palm and my knees start to tremble. I know what he’s planning just as he gives me a hard smack.
I gasp as the spank echoes in the room. Sizzling heat spreads through my buttocks and he smacks me again. I swallow back a whimper as my clit pulses for attention.
Leon spanks me again, only harder. I glance at the shut door. Can his secretary hear Leon spanking me? The idea drenches my pussy.
I need Leon’s cock now. I drag his zipper down and he raises his hips so I can push down his pants and underwear. This time I don’t stop to fondle his cock and balls. Heat streaks through my pelvis as I lower myself onto his cock. I bite my lip as he slowly fills me. I rock against him
, the chair tilting as the small of my back tingles. I sway my hips and the world spins.
White-hot lust claws my insides, desperate to break free. I grip Leon’s shoulders and meet each of his thrusts. The chair swivels and squeaks as I stare over his head. It bucks, tilts and turns and I can’t fight the feeling anymore.
I feel dizzy, but I can’t climax. I don’t know what’s wrong. And then someone in the other building looks out the window. A businesswoman frowns as she watches me. My pulse quickens as her brow clears and understanding hits.
Leon’s fingers press into my hips as he thrusts deeper. Harder. My breath snags in my throat as the pleasure breaks free, whipping through my body as Leon’s release triggers my own.
I stare out the window, gulping for air, my heart racing. The woman from across the street guiltily looks away and my satisfaction evaporates. I gingerly disentangle myself from Leon. “I take it you like this outfit.”
“Get one in every color.”
I adjust the bustier until it covers my breasts while Leon reaches out and spans his fingers over my mound. His possessive touch makes me shiver. I almost sink to my knees when he strokes my clit with his thumb.
A firm knock on the door gives me a jolt. I don’t have time to jump back as Leon tells the intruder to enter.
My eyes widen as the door opens and a gorgeous man in an expensive suit steps in. He’s looking at a file in his hands and doesn’t notice that he steps on my discarded raincoat. My heart is stuck in my throat, waiting for the inevitable.
He looks up and pauses. His face tightens for the briefest moment and then his expression turns blank. “Sorry, I thought you told me to enter.”
“It’s all right,” Leon says, as if he’s not concerned our encounter has been disrupted. “Kyler, this is Amaris Martin. Amaris, this is Kyler Thorn, my new assistant.”
This is his assistant? There’s something about this tall man that would intimidate his enemies and comfort his allies. And it is more than his impressive height, the ruthless cut of his hair or the aggressive lines of his face.
Kyler Thorn doesn’t look like a guy who takes orders well. He looks like someone who would take heart-stopping risks and violate a few ethics to get what he wants. The intelligence shining in his dark eyes shows that he has the mind of a scholar, but his lethal grace and muscular body makes me think more of a warrior. Then again, the commanding way he stands and the power pulsing from him is better suited for a ruler than a follower.
I step away from Leon. My skin feels hot and my legs are wobbly, but I’m excited. Someone is seeing me half-naked and enjoying an afterglow. If only he’d walked in a few minutes earlier.
I stroll toward him, my heart racing. I try to appear casual as my state of arousal zooms up to another level. I offer him my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He takes my hand and I swear I feel a zing that goes straight to my core. I give him a startled glance, but he shows no emotion whatsoever.
Damn. I want him to be shocked. Aroused. Even disgusted or confused. Anything but this indifference.
His lack of emotion is like a splash of cold water. I withdraw my hand and look at Leon, who continues to sit back in his chair, his desk hiding his unzipped pants and softening cock. My panties are probably under his feet.
I decide it’s time to go. “I’ll get out of your way, Leon.” I give his assistant a curt nod. “Kyler.”
I walk to the door, which is still open, but no one is in my line of vision. I pick up my raincoat and put it on as Kyler tells Leon to sign some document.
I give the satin sash one final tug and quietly leave. As I close the door behind me, I look over my shoulder. Leon’s attention has already turned back to business. His head is lowered as he scrawls his name on the document.
But it’s Kyler who is watching my every move with a hot, dangerous intensity. I feel the power of it hitting me with the force of a sledgehammer. My lips tug into a knowing smile as I pull the door shut.
Kyler wants me. Badly. It’s a shame he can’t afford me.
I stride out of the office and back to the elevators, shaking my hair loose as I feel more masculine gazes and a few feminine ones. The ride down to the lobby goes by fast and I glance at my watch. I’ve been gone for barely a half an hour.
I march to Vincent’s boutique. Brianna hurriedly rounds her desk to open the door. “That was quick!”
“Vincent wasn’t happy that I had to leave,” I explain as I walk toward the fitting room with her. “What kind of mood is he in?”
“I don’t know,” Brianna confesses. “I haven’t seen him since you left.”
Great. He’s probably sulking in his office. I decided to go play nice even though Vincent is acting unreasonable. I go to his office and the door is closed shut. I give it a knock, but there’s no answer. “Vincent?” I call out. “I’m back now.”
He still doesn’t reply. I knock harder and raise my voice. “Vincent?”
Wow, this guy can take sulking to the extreme. That’s the problem with dealing with creative types.
“Let me talk to him,” Brianna offers, looking embarrassed by her uncle’s childish behavior. She opens the door. “Vincent?”
He’s sitting at his desk, but I don’t understand what I’m seeing until I hear Brianna’s scream. Then it’s as if all the pieces suddenly fit.
Vincent is slumped forward, his head lying on his desk, almost as if he’s taking a nap. But his eyes and mouth are wide-open. A pair of stainless steel scissors have been plunged into his back, and blood seeps into his crisp shirt, leaving a crimson stain.
I grab Brianna as she moves to touch him. “Call the police,” I tell her. I almost say the ambulance, but it’s clear that there is no saving Vincent. The guy is definitely dead.
There goes my competitive advantage, I realize with the cluck of my tongue as I stare at Vincent. I’m going to be wearing Victoria’s Secret like everyone else. Damn.
Brianna hurries to her desk to call for help and I grab my cell phone. My fingers shake when I hit the speed dial. I’m not sure why I feel the need to call Leon. Probably because he is the most powerful person I know and my world just went belly-up.
I get his voice mail and that irritates me to no end. I’m there whenever he wants me. Can’t he be there the one time I need him?
I wait for the beep. “This is Amaris. Vincent is dead.” I pause and then look away from the body. “Murdered, really.”
The police get here faster than I anticipate. In fact, I’m still walking around without panties because I decided to do the nice thing and inform Mary and Denise, who were wondering why Brianna was bawling. That’ll teach me.
So I’m stuck wearing a raincoat, bustier, garter belt and stockings and black heels. I have a feeling I’m going to be fined for indecent exposure by the end of investigation. It’s been that kind of day.
Mary and Denise are not taking the news any better than Brianna. The crying and screaming is getting on my nerves. I can’t stand drama, unless it’s mine, of course. I especially hate the waterworks when they’re hypocritical. These women weren’t fond of Vincent and they hate each other. So why are they sobbing over the man while clinging to and hugging each other?
The doorbell rings and Brianna blots her eyes to deal with the uninvited client. Imagine my surprise when moments later I see Kyler Thorn enter the room.
“Kyler?” I hurry over to him and pull him to the side. “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t look at me, too busy scanning the room. “I’m here for you.”
Those words give me an odd buzz until I realize he doesn’t look too happy about it. “Where’s Leon?”
“He asked me to come in his place. In fact—” Kyler leans down and I get a faint whiff of his cologne that makes my mouth water “—it would be best if you don’t mention Leon’s appearance here earlier today.”
Oh, I get it. I pull away from Kyler and try to hold back my anger. Leon doesn’t want his appearance
in a lingerie boutique questioned or revealed. He can do me in his office in front of a window for the world to see, but he can’t have our association detailed in a police record.
“Kyler,” I say sweetly as I bat my eyelashes, “are you asking me to obstruct justice?”
A ghost of a smile tugs at his full lips. “No, I want you to use discretion and good judgment.”
“In other words, you want me to lie.”
He finds no reason to answer that. Instead, Kyler strolls over to the crime scene. He unflinchingly assesses Vincent’s body. “Did you do this?”
His casual tone almost shocks me as much as his words. “Hell, no!” I put my hands on my hips and glare at him. “Why would you think something like that?”
He shrugs. “Why else would you call unless it had something to do with you?”
Hmm. The guy only met me for a minute and he thinks he knows me. “Vincent was killed with a pair of scissors. Does that sound like me?” I ask with a tight smile.
Kyler looks at the body again. “I guess not. You’re more of the stiletto-heel type of killer.” He surveys the little group of boutique employees. “Which one do you think did it?”
I look at the women huddled to the side. “Mary,” I decide. Anyone who suggests that I’m getting fat deserves the death penalty.
A police officer steps out of the office and gestures for us to move away. “This is a homicide scene. I need everyone out of the area so we can rope it off.”
“Great,” I hear Denise mutter. “That’s really going to drive clients away.”
“How long do you think they’ll close us?” Mary asks.
I’m beginning to believe that they aren’t crying so much for the passing of Vincent as much as from worry over their next paycheck.
Brianna dabs her eyes with a tissue. “I think we should close the store for a week in respect to Vincent.”
Mary rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. When did you ever respect Vincent?”
“Excuse me?” Brianna clasps her hand to her chest. “Vincent was my uncle.”