Page 62 of Brassy Bigwig

“If you’re about to tell me you haven’t called because you’ve been getting laid for the past six hours... then I may be able to forgive you. If it’s anything other than that, then I’m still mad.”

“I’ve been getting laid for the past six hours.”

A shrill scream sounds through the phone, and I have to pull it away from my ear before I go deaf.

“So wait. Why are you whispering?”

“D is asleep. I just woke up when I heard my phone ringing. Shelby… Oh. My. God. What we did tonight makes what we did in Greece feel like child’s play.”

“Spill!” she demands.

“Okay, but only in a nutshell. We can get in to more details when I see you on Sunday.”

“Wait. Sunday?”

“D wants me to stay with him all weekend. Including tomorrow. He told everyone I’m taking a vacation day and he’s going to work from home.”

I had plans with Shelby initially this weekend. With me starting this job, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to spend the entire day together like we used to. So I’d told her we could do lunch and shopping on Saturday.

“I’m sorry, I know we were going to go out.” My whisper has risen slightly. “This was completely unplanned, though. D is kind of… persuasive, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I have an idea.” There is a sadness in her tone that kills me.

“But next weekend, I’m all yours,” I promise her.

“You better be. Also, we’re heading to 2-1-2 tomorrow night for drinks and then maybe a club after that if you and D-bag want to tag along.”

“Okay, I’m vetoing that nickname here and now. You can be mad at me all you want, but he had no idea we had plans this weekend. And I’ll let you know about tomorrow. We can’t exactly parade around the city together. Someone from the office might see us, and that would create a shitstorm he doesn’t need right now.”

I think about what happened with his former assistant.

“It wouldn’t bode well for you, either. Don’t think for one second you wouldn’t be painted as a ladder-climbing harlot.”

“No, I know. It would be bad all-around. Listen, I really am sorry. If nothing else, maybe I can slip away by myself tomorrow night for a little while.”

I don’t know how D would feel about that, but I don’t think he’s going to want to go with me, either.

“I would love that, bestie. I miss you.” The smile in her voice has returned a bit, and I make a silent promise to make D understand why I need to go tomorrow.

“Me too,” I pause. “Hey, I’m still pretty tired, so I am going to go back to bed, but I love you, I’m so sorry again for making you worry, and I’ll hopefully see you tomorrow.”

“You better. Love you, too. Good night.”

I take a deep breath when the line goes dead, letting it ease my nerves a little.

“Is everything okay?”

D startles me, and I jump, turning in my seat to look at him.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He leans over the back of the sofa and presses his lips to mine. “I woke up, and you were gone. I panicked that you had left me again.”

He circles the sofa and takes a seat next to me, yawning.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere anytime soon,” I tell him as he pulls me back against him.

“I know you’re not. Besides, I wouldn’t let you even if you tried. I’d follow you to the bottom of the deep blue sea if I had to.”

I’ve never been one to feel aroused by threats and the idea of being held hostage by a crazy, obsessive man. Especially not after having an actual stalker. But it’s different with D. Even though I don’t really know him yet, the idea that he wants me so badly is exhilarating.

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