Against the Ropes
Page 75
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A tall, willowy receptionist wearing a skintight red dress rises from the floating desk to greet me. Her ultra chic blond bob swings gently as she walks across the wooden floor on four-inch stilettos. Her face is so perfect she doesn’t need makeup. Or maybe she’s wearing her makeup perfectly. Regardless, she shouldn’t be here in Max’s office. She should be on a runway somewhere far away. Like Milan. Or maybe the Moon.
“Mr. Huntington asked me to stay until you arrived, Miss Delaney.” Her smile is as cold as my heart. Why couldn’t he have hired a frumpy receptionist with unkempt hair and a couple of extra rolls? Maybe a mole on her cheek.
“Thank you for waiting.” We shake hands, my soft, warm fingers closing around her long, bony ones. Her hand is so thin, I could probably break it with just one squeeze.
I imagine we say so much to each other with that handshake.
“So you’re the new girlfriend?”
“Hands off, bitch. He’s mine.”
“I’ve been after him for months. I don’t know what he sees in you.”
“I’m naked under this trench coat.”
“I’m not even worried. Look at you.”
“Completely naked. Except for these heels.”
“One month and he’ll come running to me.”
“Not after I take off this coat.”
“Or maybe, he won’t even wait.”
“I’m going to make him suffer first.”
“You’re hardly a threat. Sniff.”
“When I’m done with him, he won’t even know you exist.”
She breaks the shake first. “May I get you something to drink, Miss Delaney?”
“No, thank you very much, I had a drink in the limo on the way here.”
“May I take your coat?” She gives me a tight smile.
“It’s a bit chilly in here. I think I’ll keep it on.”
Pleasantries over, we share a glare and then she sighs.
“Well, I’ll be going then. Do make yourself comfortable. The meeting is in the boardroom. You can see all the action from the reception area.”
We exchange farewells. I hope I never see her again.
I take a seat on the most uncomfortable bench I have ever had the displeasure to sit on. The slab of cold, hard marble juts out from the wall like a gigantic tongue. But it does give me a good view of the glass-fronted boardroom. Max is sitting at a long, white table facing me. He looks mouthwateringly hot in his blue shirt and red striped tie. An assortment of suited businessmen are sitting on the other side of the table facing him. How did he get six men to all sit on one side of the table? Did he entice them with the view through the massive arched window in the brick wall behind him?
Max glances up and his lips curve into a faint smile. Other than that, he gives no indication he sees me.
My phone buzzes.
Hi baby. I like your coat
Not my coat. Colton chose it. You paid for it. Lewis brought it to me
You’re wearing it
I didn’t think you were serious
When it comes to you, I’m always serious
When it comes to u, I’m always shocked
Are you undressed to play after the meeting?
Maybe. Maybe not
**frowns**
You’re cute when you **frown**
I stand up and stretch, letting my coat fall open just a tiny bit so he can see what isn’t underneath.
You’re cute when you do as I say and sit on the bench until I’m done
Not tonight
**FROWNS**
He should frown. It is his game, but this time we’ll play by my rules. Bondage ice-cream sex on the desk has loosened my inhibitions, and tonight I’m going to fly.
Someone speaks directly to him, and he puts down his phone. I wander around the reception area looking at…nothing. There is nothing to divert the eye except the view. No pictures, no magazines, no television, no area rugs. Like the restaurant, the focus is on the food—or in this case, the work.
I glance over at the boardroom. Max is talking, but his eyes are on me.
Showtime.
My, it’s getting hot. I fluff my hair and lean against the cool brick wall across from the board room. I unbutton the first button on my trench coat and fan myself. Still hot. I unbutton the second button and flap the coat to let cool air brush over my skin. No response from Max. I slide my hand into the coat and cup my breast.
My phone buzzes. I struggle to repress a smile.
What are you doing?
I’m hot
Turn down the heat. There’s a thermostat at Cindy’s desk
I like heat
AFTER the meeting
Someone hands him a file folder, and he tears his eyes away. I saunter over to Cindy’s desk facing the boardroom and perch on the front. Hmmm. It’s a bit too high for comfort. I drag her chair around and sit on the desk with one foot on the chair and one foot on the floor. I rest my elbow on my thigh in Rodin’s “Thinker” pose. But I’m not thinking intellectual thoughts. I let my trench coat fall open, just enough to reveal the shadow of my modesty.
My phone buzzes angrily. This is just way too much fun. Why did I never do anything like this before?
What the FUCK are you doing?
Pondering where the thermostat might be
It’s on the other side of the desk
Ooops. Silly me
I slide off the desk and spin around. The thermostat is indeed on the wall behind the desk. Why waste time walking around? I bend over and lean across the desk. I spread my legs for balance. I flip up the convenient back flap of the trench coat. Then I give a little wiggle. I am a bad, bad girl.
“Mr. Huntington asked me to stay until you arrived, Miss Delaney.” Her smile is as cold as my heart. Why couldn’t he have hired a frumpy receptionist with unkempt hair and a couple of extra rolls? Maybe a mole on her cheek.
“Thank you for waiting.” We shake hands, my soft, warm fingers closing around her long, bony ones. Her hand is so thin, I could probably break it with just one squeeze.
I imagine we say so much to each other with that handshake.
“So you’re the new girlfriend?”
“Hands off, bitch. He’s mine.”
“I’ve been after him for months. I don’t know what he sees in you.”
“I’m naked under this trench coat.”
“I’m not even worried. Look at you.”
“Completely naked. Except for these heels.”
“One month and he’ll come running to me.”
“Not after I take off this coat.”
“Or maybe, he won’t even wait.”
“I’m going to make him suffer first.”
“You’re hardly a threat. Sniff.”
“When I’m done with him, he won’t even know you exist.”
She breaks the shake first. “May I get you something to drink, Miss Delaney?”
“No, thank you very much, I had a drink in the limo on the way here.”
“May I take your coat?” She gives me a tight smile.
“It’s a bit chilly in here. I think I’ll keep it on.”
Pleasantries over, we share a glare and then she sighs.
“Well, I’ll be going then. Do make yourself comfortable. The meeting is in the boardroom. You can see all the action from the reception area.”
We exchange farewells. I hope I never see her again.
I take a seat on the most uncomfortable bench I have ever had the displeasure to sit on. The slab of cold, hard marble juts out from the wall like a gigantic tongue. But it does give me a good view of the glass-fronted boardroom. Max is sitting at a long, white table facing me. He looks mouthwateringly hot in his blue shirt and red striped tie. An assortment of suited businessmen are sitting on the other side of the table facing him. How did he get six men to all sit on one side of the table? Did he entice them with the view through the massive arched window in the brick wall behind him?
Max glances up and his lips curve into a faint smile. Other than that, he gives no indication he sees me.
My phone buzzes.
Hi baby. I like your coat
Not my coat. Colton chose it. You paid for it. Lewis brought it to me
You’re wearing it
I didn’t think you were serious
When it comes to you, I’m always serious
When it comes to u, I’m always shocked
Are you undressed to play after the meeting?
Maybe. Maybe not
**frowns**
You’re cute when you **frown**
I stand up and stretch, letting my coat fall open just a tiny bit so he can see what isn’t underneath.
You’re cute when you do as I say and sit on the bench until I’m done
Not tonight
**FROWNS**
He should frown. It is his game, but this time we’ll play by my rules. Bondage ice-cream sex on the desk has loosened my inhibitions, and tonight I’m going to fly.
Someone speaks directly to him, and he puts down his phone. I wander around the reception area looking at…nothing. There is nothing to divert the eye except the view. No pictures, no magazines, no television, no area rugs. Like the restaurant, the focus is on the food—or in this case, the work.
I glance over at the boardroom. Max is talking, but his eyes are on me.
Showtime.
My, it’s getting hot. I fluff my hair and lean against the cool brick wall across from the board room. I unbutton the first button on my trench coat and fan myself. Still hot. I unbutton the second button and flap the coat to let cool air brush over my skin. No response from Max. I slide my hand into the coat and cup my breast.
My phone buzzes. I struggle to repress a smile.
What are you doing?
I’m hot
Turn down the heat. There’s a thermostat at Cindy’s desk
I like heat
AFTER the meeting
Someone hands him a file folder, and he tears his eyes away. I saunter over to Cindy’s desk facing the boardroom and perch on the front. Hmmm. It’s a bit too high for comfort. I drag her chair around and sit on the desk with one foot on the chair and one foot on the floor. I rest my elbow on my thigh in Rodin’s “Thinker” pose. But I’m not thinking intellectual thoughts. I let my trench coat fall open, just enough to reveal the shadow of my modesty.
My phone buzzes angrily. This is just way too much fun. Why did I never do anything like this before?
What the FUCK are you doing?
Pondering where the thermostat might be
It’s on the other side of the desk
Ooops. Silly me
I slide off the desk and spin around. The thermostat is indeed on the wall behind the desk. Why waste time walking around? I bend over and lean across the desk. I spread my legs for balance. I flip up the convenient back flap of the trench coat. Then I give a little wiggle. I am a bad, bad girl.
