Page 6 of Playing to Win

Cave Man for Theo’s name in my phone seemed quite fitting, and the next time I actually do get to see him, I’ll be telling him exactly what I think about his idea of carting me around via Bellamy.

Cave Man: The word fine coming from a woman is bad news…

Me: You’d be right. This is ridiculous, Theo. Seriously.

Cave Man: It’s not. You’re safer this way. And so are my balls, since I’m not the one driving you around.

Me: For now, they are. The next time I see you, the same can’t be said.

Cave Man: Are you asking me out on a date? I accept. I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock. See you tonight.

Me: I did not ask you out, you Neanderthal! You can try and pick me up, but I won’t be home.

I put our text thread on mute. I didn’t ask him on a date at all. How he got that from our very short conversation, I have no idea. I’m beginning to think the man doesn’t know how to take a clue.

“We’re here, Miss Powers,” Bellamy announces. I’m still looking down at my phone. Yes, I’m looking at my text app waiting for a notification to appear yet not alert me.

“Thank you, Bellamy. I hope you have a good rest of your day,” I tell him, sliding my phone in my backpack, then I open the door and step out before he can open my door for me.

“You’re welcome, and you too, Danica,” I hear him reply. Mallory and I are going to have a very lengthy conversation. She’s not going to believe how the last sixteen hours went. Crap, I’m still slightly confused, annoyed, and damn it all to hell, a smile has been plastered on my face the entire time, minus Brian. Talk about major ick. I’ll bet he’s insinuating the same type of favors to other tenants as he is me. God, someone really needs to kick his ass, especially if his threats went further than the ones he’s given me.

TEN

Danica

“I’m sorry,what did you just say?” I ask Mallory after I’ve made my second cup of coffee for the day. Today is only a workday, which means I’ll have to lay off the caffeine soon if I hope to sleep later tonight. After work, the only thing on my agenda is homework.

“He’s offering double your pay, Danica,” Mallory repeats.

“What’s the catch?” Theo’s balls are going need ice after I knee him and kick him in his prized jewels.

“You only work at his penthouse, Monday through Friday, eight o’clock in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon.” I was going to tell her all about Theo Goldman and his penchant for carting me around until she started off the conversation with a work proposition.

“No, I don’t need twice the pay for half the work.” I take a sip of the caramel goodness, uncaring when I burn my tongue on the delicious coffee. Mallory has the good creamer, unlike mine at home, which is off-brand and also tastes far less real than what she supplies the hub of her office.

“I told him you’d say that. Theo Goldman is prepared to pay three times your pay and asked to throw in cooking dinner as well.” She snickers. My head tips back a laughter bubbling in my chest. I don’t cook. If I had let him in my apartment, he’d see that the stove is hardly ever used. My arteries probably hate me for all the salt I take in from the microwave and rare oven-ready meals I make.

“You didn’t tell him I can’t cook, right?” I ask after recovering. A plan formulates. I’m going to take Theo up on his offer even though I shouldn’t. If I were doing this on my own and relying only on Theo’s money, I would never. I’m not, though. I have Clean and Gleam writing my paycheck.

“Nope.” Mallory pops thep.Another role of laughter runs through us, and I place my cup of coffee carefully on her desk so I don’t make a mess of my standard uniform—another tank top, this one not white but black, a pair of jean shorts, and my white canvas sneakers. I had no idea where or what time I’d be working for Clean and Gleam. If it’s in the office building after dark, no one cares about your uniform. If it’s at a client’s home, like, say Theo’s, we usually wear a company shirt. Yesterday was a rarity and a last-minute change. The goal was to fix the last employee’s fuckup, to get in and out, but the disarray in the penthouse did not allow that.

“So, are you going to tell me why Theo Goldman called, specifically requesting you? Not that I doubt your capabilities. You’re one of my best employees and a friend.” She’s tried to bring me on in a fuller capacity, but my schedule wouldn’t allow it. I needed certain hours, and while she mainly works during the day, Clean and Gleam also needs someone on call during the night. College professors won’t necessarily allow you to take an emergency work call in the middle of a lecture.

“I have no idea. He walked in on me in the worst position possible, on hands and knees, Mallory. Hands and freaking knees.” I flail my hands around, talking animatedly. “Words were said, he mouthed off, I mouthed back, and the next thing I know, we’re in this verbal foreplay match. It all unfolded from there. Then I was an absolute idiot and ran into him with a bucket full of dirty water, dropping it at our feet, and that’s when Theo told me he was taking me home.”

“And you went willingly? My, my, my, Theo Goldman definitely has an effect on you, woman. I didn’t see this coming.” Mallory has her hands propped beneath her chin, elbows on her desk, and a twinkle in her eye.

“I know! Now I can’t even say no to him. It’s like he has some kind of spell cast on me. Is that real, do you know? Because it must be. Even his driver is taking me everywhere. Pinch me. Make it hurt.” I offer my arm up as a sacrifice. She doesn’t take the bait. Damn it, I guess I’m going to have to resort to doing it myself.

“Yeah, a spell. More like you’re dick drunk on Theo Goldman’s cock.” My face flames red. The temperature heating up in her office and the summer clothes I am wearing are not cooling me off. “Wait, you didn’t tell me things went that far.”

“What? No. Nope. It didn’t.” I cover my face with my hands, fingers opening a little to get a look at Mallory. She’s not going to give up this conversation, so I may as well admit what did happen. “Okay, fine, I felt a very big impressionable presence after he finally let me down from his fireman hold. Remind me to never mouth off at Theo again.” I don’t elaborate on how he held me pressed up against him for more than a second. His thick dick notched at my center about had me dropping to my knees. Me, Danica Powers, on her knees voluntarily to beg for a look of a man’s cock? Who am I?

“Are you sure this is okay, you working for him? I told him it’s ultimately up to you.” I shrug my shoulders. Is working for Theo Goldman up close and personal a good idea? Probably not. Am I going to take the job for the sheer joy of watching him eat a dinner I prepared? Hell yes.

“I’m sure, and when or if I have my doubts, we’ll talk them out.”

“My door is always open. You’re also aware that there isn’t a fraternization policy in place. Your job is always safe here, no matter what. I’d take that man for a ride myself if I were about fifteen years younger.” We both laugh. She could absolutely go after Theo or any other man younger than her. Mallory may be hitting her mid-fifties, but she’s still a fox.

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