Page 7 of Best Friend's Dirty Ex

I stand near her, but not touching, hoping she understands I’m offering her the option to lean on me. She takes in a deep breath and exhales, visibly relaxing. When the elevator comes to a halt, I hear the breath squeeze out of her lungs and prepare to catch her in case she faints.

She doesn't, but she leans into me for half a second before bolting out the door the moment it opens. I watch her go, loving the movement of her body before following her out. I step into the hallway that leads to my penthouse and she falls into step beside me. When I open the door, she gasps and stares around us.

The penthouse is a marvel of glass and steel, huge white columns supporting the ceiling that towers overhead and no expense spared in every detail of the place. It’s where I spend my most time, so it makes sense that it would be a beautiful, usable, functional space.

She exhales, her eyes turned upward as she spins in a slow circle. “This place is beautiful; I’m not going to lie.”

“Thank you.” After giving her a moment to soak in the details, I head toward the office that she'll be redesigning. “I do have a guest room that you're welcome to stay in if you'd like while you are redesigning this place. Consider it a perk of the job.”

I feel her stiffen as she looks up at me. “I've never been asked to stay on site before, and I'm not sure that's necessary.”

“It's just an offer; you’re welcome to take me up on it or not - your choice.” I'm not here to pressure her into a situation she’s not comfortable with, but I can tell by her excitement that there's nothing she'd like more than to stay... except maybe the option to stay if I'm not around.

“I appreciate the gesture. Thank you.” There's something so calm and almost patronizing in her words that I can't help but feel she knows exactly what I'm up to. That's fine - I don't mind this dance. She may not know it yet, but I'm going to win; she will wind up in my bed one way or another.

As I guide her into my penthouse office, she sucks in a deep breath as her lip curls slightly.

I want her to know that I recognize her reaction to this space and I'm not angry. “I'm sure you can see why this place needs a complete overhaul.” We both study the dark wooden colors that are in complete stark contrast to the rest of the penthouse, which is light and bright, airy. This room reminds me more of a stuffy Victorian era cigar room than an upscale penthouse office.

“I'm guessing the rest of the place is more your taste and this is just a throwback from the original design that you’ve planned to have redesigned but haven’t gotten around to yet?” She glances up at me with curious eyes, and I nod my head.

“Exactly.” I'm glad she understands.

I watch her scan the space again and I can see the wheels turning in her head as she thinks. Before I can say or do anything else, she pulls out her phone, lifts it up, and begins to scan the room. Thinking fast, I move behind her and continue to circle around her so that I don't obscure any detail of the room with my presence. This also gives me an excellent opportunity to stare at her rounded, sexy ass and watch her move while she’s in her element. I didn't get to see the lit up side of her like this before and she is absolutely enchanting while she’s working. She pulls her lower teeth between her lips and lets it out slowly as she completes her turn, then watches back the video she took.

Then she turns to me. “And you wanted this room to be inspired by another location?” Her bright eyes tell me she has no idea what she's about to get into, and I can't help but feel a sense of twisting pleasure as I think about what I’m about to ask of her.

“Yes. I'd like the space to be inspired by Club Red.”

Other than a slight widening of her eyes, she has no external response to my words other than a professional, curt nod. “Understood. I'm familiar with the place, but I've never been inside. Do you have any images that would give me a better understanding of what you might be looking for?”

Ah, she's such a sweet, naive little one. “Club Red does not allow cameras or video to be taken inside.” I'll leave out the fact that there are plenty of security cameras, that footage is not something that can be shared with anyone outside, and I highly doubt either Rico or Blake would allow me to make use of those videos.

No, I'm going to have to take Everly inside the club so she can get a feel for what I’m looking for.

“So I guess we'll have to go there in person.” She lifts her chin, a challenge in her eyes, and I know that she is calling my bluff. The problem is it's not a bluff. I have every intention of taking her inside Club Red and letting her see what happens there. I can't help but wonder if her response will be to be heated and turned on, or to shut me down entirely. How professional can she keep herself when she's watching strangers have sex in every position, configuration, and combination of partners possible?

I pull my keys out of my pocket and arch an eyebrow at her. “Would you like me to drive?” The words are a quiet challenge. Does she want to take her own vehicle and know that people will be aware that she visited Club Red? Or does she want to ride with me and potentially be at my mercy for whatever dirty things she expects me to do to her while we’re alone?

I see my words sink in and watch her grit her teeth, her jaw rippling with the motion. She hadn't considered the ramifications of this ask, and now she’s faced with a dilemma; Tell me no and refuse to do the job, come to Club Red with me, alone in my car and at my mercy, or take her vehicle to a club that is a well-known sexual hotspot full of rich deviants.

The choice is hers, and some sick part of me can't wait to see what she picks.

To my surprise, there's very little hesitation in her response, and she says, “Take me.”

Her words instantly make me hard. “Right now? Or after the club?” I keep my voice even and calm and her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, then her face turns bright red.

She didn’t mean to tell me to take her like that, and fuck if her reaction isn’t the sexiest damn thing, right down to the way she’s squeezing her thighs together. “I'm ready when you are,” I add, making sure she knows I mean those words in whatever way she wants to take them - ready to take her, or ready to go to the club.

To my surprise and delight, she snatches the keys out of my hand and heads for the front door. She talks over her shoulder as she walks. “Let's hurry up and get this out of the way.”

With a grin I can't hold back, I follow her.

Twenty minutes later, I pull into a parking spot in front of the club. I fully expect her to be nervous and uncomfortable, but instead she seems completely in her element. She doesn't even wait for me to get out before opening her door and standing tall, looking at the front of the club with curiosity.

“You look disappointed.”

She glances at me as if surprised I called her out for the emotion visible on her face and lifts a shoulder. “I expected more, I guess.”

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