Page 5 of Concealed Deception

“Listen, Reginald, you know why you’re here, Tony knows why you’re here, and I sure as hell am not happy that you’re putting me in this position.I’ll tell you this once and once only, and it’s because I need you that I haven’t painted my office with your brain matter.When a woman inmyclub uses her safe word, you fucking listen.This is your last chance, so don’t fucking blow it, or I’ll have Tony blow your head off.Understood?”I wait for his understanding and I’m not disappointed.He nods then reaches his arm across my desk to uphold his word.

I dismiss him before I have a chance to pull him across my desk and imprint his face with my fist.

Before he has a chance to reply, Tony pulls him out of his seat by the scruff of his neck and is pushing him through the door.He’ll be whispering threats of his own, no doubt.

Once he’s back in my office, he’s straight back to the woman who makes my blood boil and my dick hard at the same time.

“I’m through.”Those simple words from Tony’s mouth speak volumes.

“Good.Let me know when you have her.Don’t make me remind you how important this is.William cannot find out about this.”

With a nod and quick feet, Tony’s out of my office and leaving me to prepare my next move.It’s time to collect.

Three

Ava

Talk about letting the alcohol do the talking.I’m now shaking as the adrenaline wears off and my senses come back.“What the hell were you thinking?”I’m lashing out at Lacey because I’m petrified.I just called that man a demanding, arrogant asshole.Never mind the predatorial perusal his sociopathic looking friend was giving Lacey.

“Ouch, stop hitting me with your purse!”She bats away the rest of my assault then puts her palms in front of her chest in surrender.“Fine, I’m sorry.But you have to admit, Mr.Brooding, Mysterious and Handsome couldn’t stop eye fucking you, and you enjoyed it.”Fanning her face, Lacey starts mocking me.“You were equally as hot under your dress as he was hot under his collar.Admit it, you had a little fun tonight.”

I admit to her I did until the end.Though, there’s something about those eyes that call to me.Something forbidden and dangerous that has my body heating.

“So, where to next?Do you want to continue our night out or go home and perhaps do some stalking of our own?”Lacey awaits my answer, with her perfect brow raised and know-it-all smirk.

“Home.There’s no amount of alcohol that’ll salvage this night.”I’m betting her form of stalking involves checking our online dating profiles.If we ever have an uneventful night, online dating is her backup go-to for finding men.

She has an Uber pulled up beside the curb by the time I’ve stopped ogling the building we not long exited.After that encounter, I can’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Before I have any more time to think over what might have happened if I had stayed, I’m being pushed toward the car by my friend, then we’re on our way home.

Still deep in thought, I watch all the skyscrapers flash by my window in a stream of blended light.One comment confuses me; how can my father have taught me anything if I don’t have one?

“What’s wrong, Ava?”

My friends concerning voice jolts me back to reality.“How long until we’re home?I still can’t grasp how big this city is.I’m going to need to drop a pin on maps just to be able to find my way around every day.”

“Stop deflecting.Did Tony and his boss-friend scare you that much?I can tell you now, we’re in no harm.After all, they let us leave, didn’t they?”

Trying to reassure me that I’m not in any danger isn’t going to help, especially when they know who I am.How am I meant to believe her?

“I suppose, but I can’t shake the uneasiness inside, like we’re being watched.”

“Honey cake, if you want access to any high-end club, you bet they know every detail about you.Especially if it’s Envy.Now stop worrying about it, we’re almost home.”

“I still don’t understand your need to live in a small apartment with me when you can have any condo of your choosing.”I lock down all future conversation regarding Envy and its occupants.Instead, I make Lacey our new focus.

“Well, obviously it’s to piss Daddy off.Why must our parents have two prim and proper daughters?My sister is doing well enough to please them.Why can’t I be the rebellious one?Besides, you were the one to insist on paying half of the rent.Hence, a small apartment.At least it’s got a great view from the balcony.”

“Um, Lacey, we don’t have a balcony.What are you talking about?”

“Pssh, sure we do.It’s on the top floor.”

“Babe, that’s the roof.”I sense I’m about to have a special kind of talk with Lacey.The kind where you bring the intoxicated back to earth.Then she bursts out laughing at my expense.“What?What’s so funny?”

“You know how our apartment is the fourth from the top?I own the top floor.”She shrugs as if dropping that bomb isn’t a big deal.

“Ladies, your stop.”The Uber driver bids us a good night while Lacey is nearly falling out of the car from me pushing her.

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