was annoying and innocent at the same time. Of course it was a fake giggle. Everything about these two women were fake.
They were being paid to put on a show. And that show was to make Mr. Pickle and I feel like we were the most important men in the world.
“We should finish our conversation first,” I said.
“What’s there to talk about?” Mr. Pickle asked. “I’m in the last stretch of thinking, Cole. There’s nothing that could be said or done at this point. I just figured between the two of us, it’s been a long road here. We might as well take a second to breathe. Really think it all through. If we come out of this with smiles and a handshake, then we’re good to go. Do you agree?”
“I think…”
Mr. Pickle lifted his eyebrow. “Are you getting soft, Cole? Do you have someplace you’d rather be right now?”
I sucked in a deep breath and shook my head.
I reached for my drink and lifted the glass with a grin.
“Cheers,” I said. “Looks like we’re getting drinks and a show, huh?”
Mr. Pickle laughed. “More than a show, Cole. These beauties are paid through the next few hours. For anything, Cole… anything.”
“Oh.”
“Cole… anything.” Mr. Pickle smiled bigger. “The paperwork’s been signed. They know when to keep their mouths closed. Opened.” He looked at Rachel. “Full… right, baby?”
Rachel groaned and cuddled up on the couch with Mr. Pickle.
She draped her right leg over Mr. Pickle’s legs. Her dress shot all the way up, exposing her ass.
I sighed.
That’s when Danielle touched my chin and turned my head.
She looked down at me. “Don’t cheat on me, Cole. I’m here for you.”
“Why don’t we get more comfortable?” Mr. Pickle offered. “I’ll take Rachel to our private room. Cole, feel free to enjoy Danielle right here. I’ll have the sign flipped on the door, so nobody bothers you.”
I gritted my teeth and nodded. “Good idea. You better get moving fast too. I can’t contain myself much longer here with her.”
How much of an asshole was I?
Mr. Pickle exited the room and I stood up from the chair.
I pulled at my tie to get a little breathing room.
I felt Danielle stand up and approach me.
Her hand touched my back and moved up to my shoulders.
“Tense,” she whispered. “You are so tense. Why don’t we start there. I know just the thing to fix that…”
Her hands stopped touching me.
I stared across the room to a neon-red exit sign.
That’s exactly what I needed here.
A fucking exit.
From a lot of things.
When Danielle remained silent for way too long, I slowly turned.
I wasn’t sure what her next move was going to be, but I did not expect her to be standing there topless.
She had stripped her dress halfway down her body and just stood there.
“We can start here,” she whispered.
She reached for my hands and I pulled away. “Stop.”
“It’s okay, Cole, I know everything,” she said. “I’m here for you. You are my king right now. Enjoy…”
I hurried to take my suit jacket off and did something I never thought I would ever do.
I covered up a topless woman who wanted nothing more than to drop to her knees and take me into her mouth. A topless woman who was hired to do anything I wanted her to do.
When I covered her up, I held her shoulders. “Listen to me, Danielle, we need to have a talk.”
“What is this?”
“This is me doing something insane. Whatever he paid you, I’ll pay you the same to keep… to keep your clothes on. To keep your mouth shut of everything we didn’t do here. Got it?”
“Okay,” Danielle said as she swallowed hard. “So, what do we do then?”
I moved my suit jacket away and held it up. “Please cover yourself. Put your dress back on.”
I could hear Jackson now.
Cole just told a woman to put her clothes back on! He’s in love! Holy fuck, he’s really in love with his secretary!
When Danielle was dressed again, I put my suit jacket around her shoulders the right way and pointed to a chair for her to sit down in..
I sat down in my chair.
There was distance between us.
That was good.
More distance, no temptation, and not even an ounce of regret.
If anything, it was anger.
I was pissed off.
Pissed that Mr. Pickle was dragging his feet on this deal. Pissed off that he thought he could just buy some attention for both of us and that I was the kind of guy that enjoyed that.
Which you were, Cole.