Page 88 of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Tripod

“I do.”

“I’ll speak with payroll.”

“You’repayroll.”

She narrows her eyes at me.

“Then I’ll speak with myself.”

“I like the freedom of being an individual contributor,” I chuckle. “Can’t you let me have that? At least for a few more years?”

“No.”

I roll my eyes. Mel has been trying to promote me to CIO for two years now, asking me at every single monthly lunch. The job description she provided is so simple and boring, it means I’d be retiring. A lot of people would love that–earning an obscene amount of money and doing zero work is the dream. Not mine, of course. I may hate client interactions, but I like the challenges I’m faced with and I like the thrill. I came to terms with what our company does a long time ago.

Mel picks up her cell phone from beside her silverware and taps a few times.

“Your raise will be on your next paycheck.”

“You’ve been trying very hard recently to get me to retire,” I muse, setting my menu down again. I’ll just order the chicken, any chicken. “What’s going on? Is there trouble?”

I can imagine someone upset by their cheating spouse or their scornful parent might want to take their anger out on us. Nothing would ever come of it. Mel is very good at putting people in their place and getting what she wants, but nothing is safe forever. I can also imagine that some of the shadier dealings of Harp Solutions can get dangerous quickly.

“No, nothing like that.” She’s lying. “I just want to show my appreciation. You’ve been by my side from the beginning. You’ve never questioned me or my motives.”

“I don’t have to knowwhyyou’re doing what you’re doing.” I shrug.

“Few people have put their trust in me the way you have. Can I not reward loyalty?”

“You can, just not with a forced retirement.”

Now it’s Mel’s turn to roll her eyes, which she does in a very dramatic fashion, parting her lips with a sigh. If you were to look up ‘eye roll’ in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of her.

“One of these days,” she chuckles.

“When you offer me enough.”

22

Sophie

I pull the sheets from the bed in the studio while Janey Romper gets dressed. Having just finished a scene, I want to quickly take care of this laundry so I can leave for Brody’s on time. I don’t want to feel guilty about leaving it for Natalie to deal with tomorrow.

I’m thankful Janey wanted to play the bottom for the scene. I’m not sure I could have taken on that role before seeing Brody tonight. Strap-ons are great, but toys just don’t have the samegiveas real dicks. I’m not sure how anyone prefers dildos over the real thing.

Janey pulls on her shorts and wiggles as she yanks them up.

“Hey, do you have any local guys you can recommend for me?” she asks. “I’m looking for new ones to work with.”

I pause, my arms full of dirty sheets. We’ve worked together several times over the last two months, but haven’t discussed other co-stars much.

“Well, I just started working with Lance Kixxx,” I offer. It shouldn’t feel weird to recommend him, but somehow it does. It pulls at something in my gut after our time together yesterday.

“Professional?” She pulls her tank top over her head.

“Yeah. Why don’t you reach out and tell him we work together? I’ll give you a glowing review.” I wink, fighting off the oddly possessive feeling.

“I’ll talk to him. Lance Kixxx,” she repeats.

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