Page 17 of Ace of Swords

This was not what I had anticipated. Was Sergio setting me up somehow? Was it a trap? Why would Sergio arrange for me to meet Tatiana, of all people?

“Tatiana,” I said as I walked toward her, “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Trust me. I didn’t have a choice in this. It seems you and I are both my dad’s subordinates and subject to his whims.”

Her skirt swished toward the bakery where I’d bought my coffee. It clung to the perfect swell of her ass, a temptation I wasn't handling as well as I hoped I would. I had to keep my dick in my pants and my eyes above her shoulders.

Following her, I waited as she ordered a cappuccino. She was relaxed and didn’t have the air of confusion that I most certainly did. But she wasn’t looking at me. We were standing inches apart and she wouldn’t even acknowledge me. I stood silently by while she added two sugars and a sprinkle of cinnamon to her cappuccino. Then she strode out of the bakery, leaving me behind.

Did I chase after her because of that tight denim skirt and the scent of lavender that wafted behind her? No. I chased after her because I needed my job and to keep her father happy. The sooner I understood my task, the sooner I could complete it and get back to my desk, to the comforting and predictable spreadsheets I didn't want to spread wide and fuck.

Still not glancing at me, she ascended an escalator deeper into the mall. Where was she going, what was all of this? “Tatiana. Tatiana!” I called as I took the escalator steps two by two, trying to reach her. When we got to the top she continued walking, as if she didn’t hear me. “Hey, hold on now!” I raised my voice as I grabbed her shoulder. Rule number one already broken.

She looked at my hand for an instant and then slouched away from me, causing it to fall, but she didn’t run, she stayed and looked me in the eye. “What do you want?” she asked.

“What doIwant? Your dad’s left me in the dark. I have no idea what we’re doing.”

“My dad is taking your advice,” she said, pursing her lips. “He says his days of hemorrhaging money are over. You’re here to babysit me, to make sure I don’t spend too much money. Isn’t that perfect?” she asked sarcastically.

I was at a loss for words. Sergio had taken my advice? I should have been ecstatic. This was like some monkey paw curse, though. “He expects me to curtail your shopping?”

“He sure does.” She rolled her eyes, then pointed over at a department store. “Either follow me, or don't, but I've got clothes to buy, budget limit or not.”

Still reeling from the situation, I walked with her.

****

“So what have you beenup to since the last time I saw you?” Tatiana’s voice carried over the dressing room door in Barneys. It was the first time she’d spoken to me in the past hour that I’d been sitting here in the VIP dressing suite. Apparently when your last name is Montalla, you get special treatment at Barneys and a special attendant named Amy.

I was perched on a stool in the suite outside her dressing room, an untouched glass of champagne by my side, scrolling through market reports on my phone and wondering how much work was piling up on my desk while I was away. Amy came in from time to time to bring new clothes and take the rejects away. So far, Tatiana had chosen about a dozen things to buy, and I had carefully noted each price tag, keeping a running tally to keep her under Sergio’s budget.

“Just the usual. Work. Gym. The unexpected trip to Barneys,” I laughed.

“You don’t have much of a personal life, do you?” she asked.

I didn’t like where this conversation was heading and I was going to cut it off before it even got off the ground. “Let’s not blur the boundaries here, Tatiana.” I walked closer to the stall door so I could speak more quietly. “I really enjoyed the other night. But this...thisthingbetween us, it can’t happen. You know it. So please, let’s just buy a few things and get on with our day.”

She opened the door wearing a tight red gingham dress that stopped just below her knees. “Rolland, get over yourself. I may be a young but I’m not a child. For your information, I’ve moved on. In fact, I’m shopping for a weekend away at the beach with my cousin. I expect I’ll meet lots of guys who are closer to my own age and a lot less...stuffy than you,” she said. Then she turned around, the dress was unzipped to her white lace panties, her dark hair falling down her bare back. “Now zip me up,” she said haughtily.

Zip the dress and then we can leave, I told myself. But my fingers were shaking as I took the tab in my hand. I had to move her hair to the side, and I tried so hard not to notice how silky it was. Tatiana trembled as I zipped the dress, my finger inadvertently skirting over her soft skin.

“What do you think?” she asked, stepping back into the dressing room and turning to the three-way mirror. She smoothed her hands over her body, scrunching up her nose as she studied herself. She reached over to a bench and picked up a straw hat. I couldn’t help but observe how perfectly the dress hugged her ass, and I balled my hands so I wouldn’t reach out and touch her.

“It’s fine,” I said curtly.

“It’s fine,” she mimicked back. “Thanks a lot, Coco Chanel.”

“Fashion advice is above my pay grade, Tatiana,” I said, stepping into the dressing room. She was determined not to make this easy. “I’m here to keep you within budget. If you tell me how much it is, I’ll tell you what I think. I’ve kept a running account on my phone and–“

“Get out. I have one more thing to try on.” She took both hands and placed them on my shoulders, turning me around and shoving me out of the dressing room.

I hated this feeling. This situation had too many variables. Tatiana was exasperating. She was sexy. I wanted to bend her over my knee and spank her. I wanted to kiss her.

Downing my ignored glass of champagne seemed like the safest bet at the moment. After I drained that glass, I poured myself another. The workday was a total wash, there was no use pretending otherwise. Even though this was a bullshit assignment, at least I’d earn Sergio’s gratitude by keeping Tatiana under budget. And if I could get through an afternoon with just a door separating me from naked Tatiana without losing my mind, well, that was a major accomplishment.

I heard a whistle come from the dressing room.

“Are you whistling atyourself?” I called over the door. “How many glasses of champagne have you had?”

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