Page 6 of Handcuffed Hussy
3
Past - Bailey
I woke to a flurry of texts, mostly from my clients, with events they urgently needed outfits for, or a new style they'd seen a friend wear and absolutely had to have ASAP. This was standard procedure for a personal shopper. Our relationship elevated to besties when they needed my expertise with style. I knew it was an important form of status to be able to say you had a personal shopper on speed dial, and I was happy to provide them with that illusion. As long as I got paid.
Blurry-eyed and fuzzy headed from some interesting dreams featuring you-know-who, I scrolled through my texts while yawning and stretching. Then my eyes shot open and my thumb quit scrolling.
A text from Jack.
How the hell did he even get my number?
I smiled a devious smile, knowing he had to have dug around or asked around in order to get it. That took effort, meaning he had to be interested in me, right?
I clicked on the text and read through quickly. It was easy to read since it was only one sentence.
Jack: Why are you a regular down at the homeless camps on the beach?
Gah! Why was he snooping around in my business? Enough with the damn questions. Why couldn't the man just flirt with me instead of constantly interrogating me?
Me: That's for me to know and you to find out.
That ought to piss him off. He was used to people trembling at his scowl and telling him everything he wanted to know. Well, I wasn't a criminal, and I had no intention of answering his questions.
Unless it was to ask me if I'd like to go back to his place. I'd answer that one in a heartbeat.
I showered, got dressed, and took plenty of time with my hair and make-up before I ventured downstairs to grab coffee and head off to work. I hadn't heard Esa yet this morning so she must be going straight to work from spending the night at Ivan's place. I missed seeing her as often, but I was super duper happy she'd found a good man. I had a really good feeling about this one. And my feelings were never wrong.
As much as I gave them shit for canoodling all over the house, I was envious. I'd never seen Esa so happy and I wanted that for myself. I wanted someone to be there for me no matter what. To warm my bed, text me cute little emojis and rub my feet when I got home from work. Ivan was a manly man through and through, yet he did all those things for Esa. She may have found a unicorn, but I was determined to prove that he wasn't the last one on earth. I just may have to wait a while to find him.
I spent all day texting back clients, finding the clothes they needed, pulling sizes, colors, and accessories. Then they came in to try things on and hopefully, make the purchase. I had just finished ringing up my last client and giving her air kisses before she walked off with two bulging bags when one of my coworkers came to the register.
"Where's that mobile scanner? I want to buy one of the jackets you marked down yesterday but I can't find them." She was looking through the cabinets below the register for our scanner that held info on the location of every item in our store. I had it in my pocket and handed it to her when she stood back up.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, like impending doom was pressing in around me. I already knew the answer to the disappearing jackets, but I wouldn't be the bearer of bad news. Besides, she wasn't too bright, so I shouldn't bother worrying about her putting two and two together.
She jabbed the screen for a bit and then huffed. Her voice had always annoyed me. Too screechy and piercing. She upped the volume on that annoying voice and looked at me in disbelief. "Oh, my God! They all sold. How the hell did that happen?"
I swallowed and pursed my lips in a calm smile. "I'm not sure, honey, but let's keep our voices down, okay?" There were always customers milling about and I didn't need them hearing her bitching. Especially when it was about those coats I'd priced super low and purchased last night.
She covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, sorry. I just wanted one so badly and was waiting for them to be clearanced." She was whispering now but still annoying.
"Snooze you lose, darling. You should know that working here." I was being a bitch, I knew, but I couldn't help myself around her.
She pouted, probably thinking she looked cute and sexy with her lower lip turned out like that. I clenched my teeth to keep from rolling my eyes. I was all about women feeling sexy in their own skin, but finding that sexiness naturally. When women had to force it, or they kept doing things theythoughtwere sexy, but are totally contrived, I just couldn't stand it.
"I'm out, girlie. Make sure you put the scanner back under the register. I'll see you tomorrow?" I had enough time to head home, change, grab Esa from work and hit the beach for a run with her and Brinley. She dropped the pout and lit up in a smile, nodding her head yes. Lucky me, I got to work with her again tomorrow.
On the walk to my car in the parking garage, my phone beeped, alerting me to another text. I didn't bother to look at it. Whichever client it was would just have to wait until tomorrow.
I got in my car and like a glutton for punishment, got my phone out and checked the text. I couldn't handle having an unread text. I know, I know, totally obsessed and chained to my technology.
And what a good thing that turned out to be.
Jack: Your homeless friends had some fancy, brand new blankets. Any idea where those came from?
Me: You're like a dog with a bone. Give it up, nothing to see here. Well...there is, but not for you...
Jack: I saw plenty the other night when you had that short robe on...
