Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
I merely chuckle and shake my head in amusement at her horror.
“The door was unlocked,” I say matter-of-factly. “I came in because I wanted to buy candy. By the way, honey, you’re still on display,” I drawl, gesturing to her sweater. The beautiful brunette looks down and gasps at how the vee of her top has loosened before hurriedly stuffing one big breast back into the soft fabric.
Then, she turns and stares at me, her cheeks flaming.
“Well, we’re closed,” she says in a tight voice. “So please leave.”
But there’s no way I’m leaving now. Not after that show. Instead, I merely grin at the sassy brunette.
“I understand this isn’t a great time for you, but let me introduce myself. My name is Clay Towning, and I’m a principal with Ares Global Capital. We’re interested in learning more about your store, and potentially even investing in it.”
The beautiful girl gasps and then her head drops.
“Oh my god, my boss is totally going to fire me when she finds out about this,” she mutters, unable to meet my eyes. “Shit.”
I merely chuckle again, sympathetically shaking my head.
“So you don’t own this store? Then who are you?” I ask in a silky voice.
The buxom girl takes a deep breath and finally lifts her chin to look me fully in the eye.
“I’m Kitty, and I work here,” she says in a short tone. “My boss is Sansa Carson, and she owns this place. I’ll let her know you came by. Do you have a card or something? I’ll pass it on to her.”
But Kitty can’t get rid of me so easily.
“So should I tell Sansa about what I saw tonight?” I drawl, one black brow lifted. “I assume that you don’t usually put on a show when you’re alone at night. Or do you?”
Kitty looks really panicked now.
“I swear I locked that door,” she grits through her teeth, shooting daggers at me. Then, she takes a deep breath and maintains her composure. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to Sansa,” she says with exaggerated courtesy. “If you would be so kind.”
I chuckle low in my chest.
“I won’t tell your boss,” I begin. Kitty looks relieved, but then I shrug. “For a price, that is.”
She stares at me, still spitting nails.
“Okay, fine,” she mutters. “Then what do you want? I’m warning you that I don’t have much. I’m just a salesgirl, and I have a lot of bills to pay—”
But I cut her off.
“No, actually there is something you can do for me in return,” I say in a mischievous tone.
She stare at me.
“Oh really? And what would that be?” she asks in a low voice.
I shrug.
“I want you to come to a party with me tomorrow night,” I say lightly. She looks dumbstruck, and I clarify. “The party’s a very specific type of party, and single men aren’t allowed to attend on their own. Thus, I need a date, and a pretty female companion like you would be perfect.”
Kitty’s still confused.
“But why me? Don’t you have some female friends? You don’t even know me! And what kind of party is this, anyways?”
I shrug.
“Based on what I just saw, I think you’d like the shindig. It’s nothing dangerous, or crazy, or anything like that. But it is a private party, and only a select few are invited to attend. To be honest, I’d given up hope finding a companion, but you know what? It turns out that the woman I’m looking for is right under my nose.”
Kitty’s not going for it, and she shakes her head emphatically, making those brown curls bounce.
“Hell no,” she says. “I’m not going to some weird party with a stranger. Do you think I’m dumb? There are probably going to be naked people and whips and chains and whatnot.”
I nod, a sly smile on my face.
“There will indeed be naked people, but I assure you, everyone in attendance will be extremely good-looking. There might be some whips and chains, but I promise that you won’t have to indulge. It’s just something to witness and have fun with.”
Kitty stares at me, biting her lip. I can tell she’s intrigued, but then she shakes her head again.
“Absolutely not. I don’t even know you!”
I merely shrug my broad shoulders once more.
“Then I guess I’ll have to tell Sansa about how her salesgirl greets guests. Your boss’s name was Sansa, right? Sansa Carson, the one who’s married to John Carson of Carson’s Sporting Goods?” I’d done a bit of research on A Mouthful of Sweets, and its owner was easy enough to ascertain. With that, Kitty bites her lip, her cheeks flushing as she looks down.
“Listen, I really like this job, okay? And if you tell Sansa, you can guess what she’s going to do. I mean, we’re friends and all, but still, we’re not that close. She’s my boss and she’s going to fire me on the spot when she finds out.”