Page 17 of Audacity

I roll my eyes. ‘The fact that I’m trying to hire you suggests otherwise.’

‘Touché. And now that you’ve brought it up, why don’t you start by telling me exactly how a man who used to be a priest comes to an agency like Seraph. Maybe then we can work out how “this thing” is going to work. It might give me a starting point for how I can help you, at least.’

‘Did Anton tell you anything?’ I ask, watching her face. ‘I know he put in a call.’

Her mouth twists in amusement. ‘He said you were struggling with burning the candle at both ends—you traumatised one of the cleaners at Alchemy, I believe?’

I suck in a rueful breath through my teeth. ‘You could say that, yeah. Anton and Max suggested I might do better to optimise my workdays, shall we say. They both spoke very highly of you.’

She shoots me a proper smile, and it is absolutely dazzling. ‘Ahh, Max. He’s a bad, bad boy.’

If the nostalgia she seems to be indulging in behind that smile is any indication, she really does enjoy the sexual part of her job. That should assuage my lingering guilt over paying this woman for sex, but I donotenjoy the pique that hits me right in my gut. ‘So I’ve heard. Totally reformed now, of course,’ I add hurriedly, lest her stroll down memory lane turn X-rated. ‘Completely loved up, twice over.’

‘I saw that. Wonders will never cease. But yes, those two definitely knew how to “optimise” their working day. And you want to do the same, I assume?’

I hesitate. ‘I won’t pretend this is a no-brainer for me. From celibacy to paying for sex is a far bigger moral leap than I could ever have seen myself making, and I’m working through a lot of shit related to that. But’—I sigh—‘I’m damned anyway. I’m very far from celibate these days, and the Seraph proposition is extremely attractive. As are you, obviously.’

She leans forward, giving me an excellent view of the shadow of her cleavage. ‘Gabriel. I can’t pretend to know what you’ve been through during this transition but I can assure you, there’s no need to feel any guilt on my account. This is purely transactional, just like you hiring me as a regular EA would be transactional.

‘If anything, this shouldrelieveyou of any guilt you have around going after sex. You don’t have to pretend you’re going to call someone, or worry about leading her on. You’re paying me. The boundaries are very clear, and I’m a professional. I can look after myself. You don’t need to cuddle me after sex, or send me flowers, or worry about me falling for you. You fuck me, you pay me, that’s that.’ She sits back in her seat. ‘When you think about it, it’s pretty refreshing, actually.’

I smile at that. ‘That’s reassuring, thank you.’

‘My pleasure,’ she says coquettishly.

‘Can I ask you a question? I realise you may not give me a genuine answer, but if you feel you can be honest, I’d appreciate it.’

‘Of course. Honesty is very important.’

I’m galvanised by her response to Max Hunter’s mention just now. She doesn’t seem traumatised by whatever the fuck he and Anton did to her. On the contrary. ‘Do you enjoy the sexual side of your job, or do you merely tolerate it? Is it just a means to an end?’

She gazes at me and worries her bottom lip between her teeth in a way that tells me she’s giving my question serious consideration.

‘If you want full honesty, then it’s both. It’s a rung on a ladder that everyone has to climb, only my ladder is steeper and gets me much, much further than most people’s. But I enjoy the climb very much, and I’ve chosen this stage in my career very intentionally. I haven’t been forced into it at all. I get unimaginable access to powerful, inspiring men and I learn more than I ever could as a graduate trainee.’

I watch her lips move as she enunciates the next part more deliberately. ‘And, for the most part, I enjoy fucking powerful guys. I fucking love it. It turns me on to have them use me, to know that everyone wants a piece of them and they wantme. These are men who command people’s attention effortlessly, but I’m often the centre oftheirattention. Does that answer your question?’

It’s answered my question so fully that I’m semi-hard under the table now. I believe her. She’s bloody convincing.

‘What do you enjoy the most?’ I ask her, my voice low and rough. The restaurant around us is forgotten. There’s only Athena and her beauty and her wantonness and her candour.

‘I’ll enjoy whatever you enjoy,’ she recites, and I scoff.

‘Athena. I wasn’t born yesterday.’

‘Fine. I told you. Being used. It’s the filth of it that does it for me most of all. My current boss is very… sweet. Respectful. He worships me, which is lovely, but there’s not much throwdown. I’m happy there, but I’d like to try a new sector. Which is why I agreed to meet with you.’

I don’t let my eyes stray from hers, even for a second. ‘I think we established yesterday that my company would present you with plenty of intellectual challenges.’

‘Yes, we did.’

‘So that’s a given. Now, forget the sector for a second andtell me what you like.’

So help me God, I want to imagine it. I’ve met this woman twice and she’s already got under my skin. I’m aware I have my work cut out.

How the hell can a guy who willingly abstained from sex for years begin to satisfy a woman like this, who is so in touch with her needs?

But I already know I want to. I already knowthisis what will be the kindling in my relationship with Athena, however transactional. This is what will bring purpose to my days:

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