Page 51 of Shadow

She chewed on the corner of her lip and her brows drew together while she listened to whoever was on the other line.

“I don’t understand. Where’s Fiona?”

Another pause.

“I’m sorry, she what? Is Jack working?”

She put her hand over the phone and pulled it away from her ear. “Fiona didn’t put any of Niki’s people on the schedule and then she left for a vacation.”

Ripley frowned. That sounded like a mess.

“Jack, it’s Olivia.”

A pause, followed by, “I told you Jade can be an asshole sometimes. But thanks for keeping her for me while I’m gone. Can you forward me the schedule? And call in Angie and one of the other new people. We have to get them some hours. I don’t know what Fiona was thinking. If I can’t reach her, I’ll just fill in the schedule myself.”

Ripley admired the way she handled her employees. Always firm but never unkind, and always helpful whenever she could be.

“So, what’s up with Fiona?” he asked when she put the phone down, shaking her head.

“I have no fucking idea. This is the weirdest thing ever. Fiona has always been a little… eccentric, but she’s always done an excellent job. I didn’t expect needing to work in a few extra employees to throw her off this much. And the vacation? That was definitely not on my radar. I ask my managers to let me know in writing when they’re going on vacation. I never tell them no, but I still need a heads up. She didn’t ask.”

Ripley was put off by Fiona because she never told Olivia about his phone calls. It sounded like she wasn’t as great of a manager as Olivia thought. But it wasn’t his place to say that. Instead, he picked up her hand and squeezed. “Maybe she just forgot. Do you need to handle anything down here, or can I take you back to the room before the pool party so you can take care of your business?”

“Everything here is fine. But I clearly have some stuff to deal with at home. Let’s go upstairs.”

He stood and held out his hand, flashing her a salacious smile. “Let’s. And I believe you were about to tell me how much you want me to turn your ass red before your phone rang.”

Chapter 14

“WHAT’Sthematter,Olivia?Don’t you want to swim?” Ripley teased.

She bit her lip and looked around the crowded pool area. They’d just arrived at the party, and her ass was on fire. He’d taken her seriously when she’d teased that she might be into the idea of going to the pool with a red ass. After she’d tried to track down Fiona—with no luck—and made a rough draft schedule for the following week at Liv’s place, he declared it was time for her spanking. He’d made it a good one and had even used his belt on the tops of her thighs.

And to top it off the bastard wouldn’t let her come.

“I have plans that involve your pussy and my fingers later, and I need you nice and needy until then,” he’d said as he put the belt away.

Now that they were here in the crowd, she wasn’t so sure about taking her wrap dress off to reveal her two-piece bathing suit. It had taken her years to feel comfortable in a two-piece, and now she normally didn’t give it another thought. But she also didn’t typically have bright red belt marks on her ass cheeks, either.

“I’m more nervous than I thought I would be,” she admitted.

He chuckled and leaned in close to her ear. “Well, if you didn’t want anyone knowing your Daddy spanks you, then maybe you shouldn’t have been such a mouthy brat in the hotel room.”

Being mouthy was his excuse for giving her the spanking, but they both knew he was just making good on the conversation they’d had at dinner.

“Pick a spot for us to set up. Somewhere in the shadows,” he murmured.

She scanned the crowded deck space and spotted two loungers side by side in the back. “Over there.” She pointed toward the empty chairs and together they headed for them.

The first thing Ripley did was push them both together, so it made one big lounger. Then he winked and kissed her cheek. “I’m going to go get us some drinks. You don’t have to swim… yet.”

He returned a few minutes later with drinks for both of them. “Thank you,” she said with a smile as he passed her a large, slushy cocktail

“What’s Niki up to tonight?” he asked as he stretched out on the lounge next to her and took a sip of his overpriced beer.

“She met someone in a workshop and they’re getting drinks on their own. I told her all the evening activities were optional, so she’s going to make her own fun.”

Ripley smiled and picked up her hand. “Good for her. What’s your favorite thing about today so far?”

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