Page 21 of Tasty Cherry

“Why don’t you two keep at it? I’m going to check on the other three to see if they’re finding their way back. Raya will watch over your things.”

“Will I?” Raya calls.

Sebastian’s jaw clench is almost imperceptible, but I catch it. “I’ll call a bellboy. In fact, maybe we’ll have them move these young women’s carts to their rooms during the meeting.”

“Much better plan,” Raya says.

I grunt as I lift my bag onto the cart. When I push out the door, Ilsa follows close behind.

“So you know him?” Her legs move swiftly to keep up with me.

“We met once.”

“Where?”

Why is she being so nosy? I don’t even know her. “Here in town.”

“Were you already hired?”

I really don’t like her questions. “Yes. I bumped into him yesterday in town, that’s all.”

“He didn’t bring you on?”

Why does she care? “No.”

This mollifies her, and we separate for different parts of the parking lot.

When I get to my car, though, I sit in the driver’s seat, willing my heart to slow down.

Sebastian seemed awfully pleased I’m an intern. Did I sleep with a scoundrel? Will he dangle the job in exchange for sexual favors?

Or is he faking me out, all broad smiles but ready to kick me out? He’s the general manager. The big boss. Nobody is higher than him at the hotel other than the owner, Havannah.

I glance in my rear-view mirror at all the boxes. The studio apartments here come furnished with a complete kitchen, but I have all my books, my clothes, my electronics. If he’s going to ask me to leave, maybe I shouldn’t bother unloading anything else.

I close my eyes. Bertie said he was a good guy, but he doesn’t know what happened between me and Sebastian.

Seeing him again has filled me with yearning. I just got started on discovering what all the fuss was about.

I can picture him, rising from the edge of the bed, kissing his way up my thigh. And after that, the things he did. I’ve never felt anything like that.

He doesn’t have to pressure me for anything.

I want to do it again.

I won’t bleed this time. I won’t be so naïve or uncertain.

A buzz comes alive in my belly. Thinking about it makes me a little crazy. And he was so happy to see me before he knew. He asked me to dinner.

Will he still try? Is that even possible? I’m sure there’s something in the HR documents about this. Most big companies have a policy.

Dating him in any capacity would be a huge mistake. If we broke up, that could be the end of my job. I’d be stuck starting over at the bottom of some crummy chain hotel, worse off than if I had no experience at all since I couldn’t use this as a reference.

A movement in my rear-view mirror catches my attention. It’s Ilsa, already heading back into the castle.

I lunge out of the seat, open the back door, and pull out one more small box. There’s nothing to be done but to see this through. Maybe I can find a moment to ask him what he plans to do about me before I move in completely.

When I return to the hall, it’s empty. I set down my box and check my phone. Five past the hour. I’m late.

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