Page 63 of Get Undressed With Me

“Oh, okay. Sorry, this is a surprise to me. I guess just let me get my things together and—”

“Fuck that, no. Brittany, stay where you are. Val, my schedule’s opened up, you don’t need to replace me.”

If Gus was a live-wire, Val was nothing but cool, calm water. She gave him a neutral look, then turned back to Brittany.

“Let me speak with my employee for a moment. Curtis will be here if you need anything.”

And with that, Val stepped out of the condo and into the hall, Gus hot on her heels. The room was silent once they left, either speaking incredibly quietly or the door was super thick, because Brittany couldn’t hear anything.

Trying to gather herself, Brittany turned to Curtis. “Can I get you anything?”

He nodded. “I’ll get myself a glass of water. I saw in your file you’ve injured your ankle, so it would be best if you rest it as much as possible. I’ve been briefed on your schedule.”

He went to the kitchen and helped himself, and Brittany didn’t know what to do. He seemed like a nice guy. Capable. Ready and willing to keep her safe.

He just… wasn’t Gus.

But Gus had apparently told his boss to get him off her case. Which meant she needed to move on.

“Curtis, I actually have to set up a stream for today. Could you help me?”

CHAPTER 15

GUS

Gus was so livid he could punch a wall. Several walls, in fact, especially the ones with the stupid wallpaper in front of his nosey neighbor’s door. The second he was in the hall, he spun to Val, ready to tell her to fuck off hard and fast, but she cut him off first.

“Not here.”

Without pausing, she strode to the elevator, leaving Gus no choice but to follow. He hesitated only a moment, not wanting to leave Brittany alone, but she had Curtis, and as much as Gus hated him in this moment, Curtis was damn good at what he did.

In the elevator, Gus opened his mouth to let Val have it, but again she cut him off.

“Before you start yelling at me, I want to remind you that I’m here with a replacement for you, just as you asked me to do last night. If you’re mad at anyone, be mad at yourself.”

“What makes you think I’m not?”

The doors opened, and Val headed straight for the exit.

“Val, where the fuck are you going?”

“We’re going to get coffee, Gus. You’re going to explain to me why you’re being such a shithead, and then you’re going to try to convince me that you’re able to act as security to our client. And your argument better be damn good, because right now, I’m not feeling it.”

It was unfair. But it was unfair because Gus had made it this way, calling Val last night and demanding a replacement after that horrendous fight with Brittany. So he followed her, ready to do whatever he needed to undo the damage.

They went to the usual coffee shop, with Val once again ordering a muffin that tasted like wood chips. Gus ended up with a cup of something that he had no memory of ordering, and they sat themselves in the corner of the café, far enough away from people to have a quiet, private conversation, but close enough to people that if Gus started yelling, he’d cause a scene. Gus dropped into the too-small chair across from her and ran his hand through his hair, knowing he looked like baked shit but not able to do anything about it.

“So,” Val began. “You’ve changed your mind, I take it.”

“Yes. I don’t need a replacement. It was a misunderstanding.”

Val took a long sip of her blended sugar whatever and Gus knew she did it on purpose to drive him nuts.

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

“The private kind.” Like fuck he was going to tell her about last night. About Brittany in his bed, begging for him.

“We have a problem here, Gus.”

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