the brand to the next level.
Sales are up, across the board and in every sector. Sure, I know we take a hit when it comes to our twice-yearly sales, and die-hard fans have complained that the brand is more accessible now, no longer so exclusive. Some have even said we’ve sold out.
But selling out just brings in money, and in the end, that’s all that matters with our family. Money is our legacy. Greed is our strength.
And getting what I want is where I really shine.
Currently what I want is a new fucking maid, so when noon rolls around and Gabrielle hasn’t shown up to the office, I get a bit pissy. I text my mother to talk to Jolie, berating myself for not getting Jolie’s contact info myself; then once I discover where Gabrielle is staying, I head on out of the office.
Of course there’s a chance she could be on her way over to see me and is running late, but texts to Gabrielle’s cell aren’t going through (maybe because she still has a New York number). I only have her hotel.
Surprisingly, she’s staying at a nice one. Not the Dumont brand, of course, owned by my cousin Olivier, but definitely not the hostels or cheap hotels I’d expect to find her in. I figured someone who came back in need of work wouldn’t have the extra money to spend.
Even more of a surprise is that I recognize the girl at the front desk.
Her name, however, escapes me, but those plush, dick-sucking lips do not.
“Pascal,” she says to me, giving me a beguiling smile and a fluttering of fake lashes. “Long time no see.”
I quickly glance at her name tag. “Hello, Aurelie,” I tell her. “I have a favor to ask you.” I lower my voice and give her the eye, the one that hints at promises I’ll never keep.
“A favor?” she asks brightly. She eyes the other front desk crew, who are trying not to pay attention to us or, should I say, to me. Since I’m the face of the Dumont men’s cologne, I have quite the recognizable mug. She leans in and whispers, staring up at me through her lashes, “Why should I do you a favor when you never called me back?”
Whoops.
I grin at her. “You can’t blame me for being busy.”
She straightens up and purses her lips. “Mm-hmm.”
Maybe getting a favor out of her will be harder than I thought.
Luckily, I know how to bargain.
“Listen, how about I take you for dinner on Friday night,” I tell her. “You get to pick the spot.”
Her face lights up, and I go on. “I’m sure you get a great discount at this hotel, too, but where I’ll end up fucking you will make this place look like a dump.”
Her eyes widen at that, and she bites those juicy lips of hers. My erection springs to life, pressing against the front of my dress pants. Another sign of how badly I need to get laid.
I can hear the murmurs of the staff and guests, who probably overheard me, but I don’t really care. I turn my charming smile to them, too, just to let them know exactly how I bargain.
They look away, blushing, and I eye Aurelie expectantly. “So about that favor?” She swallows hard and nods, and I lean in closer, my breath on her ear. “You have a guest staying here,” I whisper. “Gabrielle Caron. I need to know what room she’s in.”
She stiffens and pulls back enough to give me a look. A jealous one.
“Don’t worry, she’s an ex-employee. A maid,” I clarify. “She’s here visiting her mother.”
“A maid and she’s staying here?” she asks quietly, a wash of disdain on her face.
I shrug. “Perhaps she’s cleaning the rooms to pay for it. I don’t know. But I did have an appointment with her today, and she never showed up, nor is she answering her phone. So if you could . . .”
Aurelie seems to think about it for a moment and then nods. “Okay. But I could get in trouble for this.”
I lean in closer again, grazing her earlobe with my lips. She smells like vanilla, and if I remember correctly, that’s exactly the way she likes her sex. Oh well.
“I’ll make it worth your while.”
She lets out a shaky breath and checks for Gabrielle on her computer.
“Room 512,” she says quietly.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“And dinner?” she asks, her tone anxious.
“I’ll call you,” I say and then head through the spacious