Page 23 of Enthrall
“Maybe they’d transfer her care to a city hospital?” said Bailey.
Tara gave me a look of sympathy.
“I have no choice but to get that job back,” I said. “Nowhere else pays the same.”
“Well,” said Tara, thoughtfully. “There is something you can do.” She shook her head. “You’re not going to like it though.”
“She’s not becoming a stripper,” snapped Bailey.
Tara threw her an amused glance and zeroed in on me. “Richard’s into extremes. Do something that will be so unexpected you’ll blow his mind.”
“His mind and not him, right?” Bailey’s stare jumped between us.
“Show yourself to him.” Tara tilted her head. “Elegantly, of course.”
“You mean tell him how bad things have been for me lately?” I said.
Tara frowned. “No, I meanshowyourself to him.” She pointed between my legs.
“What?” said Bailey. “We are talking about Mia Lauren, the girl who hates even looking down there.”
I cringed when that revelation came out.
“Really?” said Tara. “We’ve got to get you a toy.”
I gulped more wine, not sure we were on the same page.
“I know this man,” said Tara. “Richard’s into risk taking. Do this and you’ll get his attention and you’ll prove you’re more than capable of working there.”
“What do you have in mind?” Bailey sounded suspicious.
“Put the notebook away,” said Tara. “What I’m about to tell you to do will be easy to remember. And it’ll guarantee you’ll get your job back.”
I downed the rest of the wine.
“READY?”
Asked Cameron. He arrived at Enthrall right after me and buzzed me in.
Hands shaking, heart pounding, I forced a smile. “Absolutely.”
“You’ll do great.” He led me into the elevator.
Cameron looked clean cut and had effortlessly dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt. He couldn’t even make that look casual. Despite his confident posture offering some reassurance, his close proximity made me nervous as his gaze swept up and down my short trenchcoat. His focus never wavered and it made me wonder if he ever took a day off from studying people. Stepping out, I tried to keep up with his determined pace.
“You never gave me your car insurance yesterday,” I said.
“I’ll put it on mine,” he said. “After careful consideration, I realized it was my fault.”
“Um…no, I think I backed into you.”
“We’ll agree to disagree. How about that?” He glanced at his watch. “I know a great body shop. I’ll have them check out your Mini while they’re working on mine. We’ll get them to fix that oil leak too. How does that sound?” He gave a nod to confirm he liked this plan and opened the door to the staff hallway, gesturing for me to go ahead.
Taken aback by his kindness, my spirit lifted and I almost forgot what I’d come here for.
Was I really going through with this?
As I passed the reception desk, it felt eerie to see no one there. That should be you sitting there, I mused, trying to distract myself from having to face Richard again and the impending drama I was about summon. Excitement mixed with trepidation spiraled tingles in my chest.
