Page 8 of Dirty Arrangement

“Alice. This is unacceptable.” Through the phone, I picture his fierce eyes. It sends a thrill down my spine. His intimidating tone is exhilarating. “I'm sending a car for you. Put on one of the outfits I had sent over. I'll see you soon.”

I fall back onto the bed in surprise. “You want to see me now? But what about work?”

“Forget it. You missed your busiest sales window, the day is wasted. You'll have to be reprimanded for the money you've lost.Mymoney. Be ready.” The phone clicks.

I stare at my phone with growing unease.Reprimanded?What is he going to do to me?

In a daze, I wander into my living room and pick out a pale blouse and white pants from the outfits covering my couch. I feel like I'm walking to the gallows as I head for my apartment door.

If I'm honest, I'm a little excited, too.

The car that arrives is glossy black with tinted windows, the kind that brings celebrities to red carpet events. The driver's window slides down—I'm disappointed that it's not Thomas, but an older man with a flat cap. “Ms. Brighton?” he asks. I nod. “I'm here to pick you up. Please, climb inside.”

Looking around my street, I debate not getting in. But angering Thomas would be foolish. Plus, Idowant to know what he's planning. The hot ball in my belly is throbbing with anticipation.

Once I'm in, I notice the divider separating me from the driver. It gives the car a sense of solitude, which I might have liked, if I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. I'm seriously freaking out.

The car carries me silently down the streets for some time. Suddenly we roll down a dip—through my window I see we entered an underground garage. The divider slides down an inch. “Here we are,” the man says. “There's an elevator straight ahead.”

“Which floor do I get off on?”

“Mr. Volt just said for you to go into the elevator.”

My fingers shake on the handle as I step out of the car. I scan side to side—there's a few other vehicles parked here. I don't know the makes or models, but I can still tell they're pricey.

I walk into the elevator, wondering what I should do next. I'm about to start pushing random buttons when a voice floats from the speaker box. “Hello Alice.” It's Thomas. “Just press the button for the basement, I'll be waiting.”

A new rush of anxiousness hits my core. I tap the button, the elevator sinking as fast as my stomach. There's a 'ding' before the doors spread to reveal a long hallway. My shoes click on the polished wood floor, taking me towards the single door that's waiting for me. Lifting my fist, I hover there, debating if I should knock.Unless you plan on getting back in the elevator and abandoning this when you've gone this far...My knuckles tap.

The door opens inwards. I'd imagined some dank dungeon after all my nervous fretting, but I can see in the low lights that it's a quaint room with a shaggy yellow rug. The walls are the same color, just darker. I can see a large television and a few couches, a single bookshelf, but otherwise it's sparse.

“Glad to see you made it,” Thomas says from beside me. He was the one who opened the door. He shuts it gently, sipping from a glass. His eyes never leave me.

“Hello, Mr. Volt.”Maybe I should apologize about not waking up in time this morning.“I just want to say—”

“Have a seat on the couch,” he cuts me off.

His briskness leaves me quiet. I eyeball the couch—a large red leather chaise—and swallow. I carefully sit myself on the cushions, perching like I'm ready to jump and run.

Thomas folds himself gracefully a foot away from me, his long legs crossing, dark brown loafers glistening in the lights. He takes one more sip from his glass—whiskey, I think, when I sniff the air—then places it on the nearby coffee table. “Do you know why I asked you here?”

I swallow audibly. “You mentioned something on the phone about... reprimanding me. Again, I want to emphasize how sorry I am! I've never been late to work!”

He lifts his hand, ending my plea as easily as if he had covered my mouth. “Youbeggedfor a chance to prove yourself to me. I trusted you to keep that place running.”

“I know,” I whisper. I'm struggling to look him in the eye. I've never felt so miserable.

“You failed,” he purrs. “It's my job as your boss to make sure you don't again.”

Lifting my eyes, I see that his lips are curled in a smirk. That confusing, alluring thrill rumbles through me again. His dominance makes me hot—so hot, I push my knees together. “You're right, I messed up. What are you going to do to me?”

Thomas sits back, getting comfortable. Spreading his knees, he sets his palms on his thighs, tapping them. “I know exactly what you need, Alice.”

I stare in disbelief.

His smile grows. “I'm going to spank you,” he says.

An awkward laugh explodes out of me. “You're joking.”

---