Page 36 of On Your Knees

I snort. “She’s not a man. With how protective her roommates are, I’m pretty confident she is a beautiful woman and they’re afraid I’m the old guy in the basement.”

“It’s not far from the truth.”

“Mom!” I say in shock.

“What?” she says with a chuckle. “You do live in the basement, by your own choice. There’s a perfectly fine bedroom up here.”

She keeps teasing me, and we eat until we are so full I couldn’t possibly eat anymore. By the time I head back down to my room, I feel a lot better about my decision to take part in a video, especially when sex is up to the discretion of all parties. The filming is just the chase, and the forms did state that unless I used my safe word, there could be some minor injuries—I suppose it covers their ass. There is also a payment which is determined by how much the content makes, and a bonus if she exceeds a certain number of views.

The date will be set once I send in my blood panel to check for diseases and a background check is performed, both of which I consented to undergo. The View4U app is very strict about who can appear on their content creator channels, and one creator complained she couldn’t do more sexual content because the process takes forever to be screened. I guess it’s better to cover your ass, and Ridgeland is even strict when hiring new staff. The amount of videos I had to watch on how seriously they take their privacy, plus all the forms and NDAs I signed, was overwhelming.

To avoid making myself sick with worry about whether I’ll be laughed at for my inexperience, I decide to jump into a mindless game, one where there are hundreds of teenagers talking smack. The best way to deal with them is to beat them all and laugh at them. Is it petty at my age? Yes. But does it make me feel better? Also yes. If their parents don’t like it, maybe they should monitor what their kids are playing on the internet.

Anxiety plagues me. Earlier I received a message that I will be sent the details of a location tonight. I have been off my game, and I think Aspen knows because she has been watching me carefully for the last half an hour.

“Are you okay? You seem weird today. Notweirdweird, but different to your normal self.”

I chuckle—she acts like me when I try to talk to girls. “I’m fine. Didn’t sleep well last night.”

I hate lying, but I’m not about to tell her I’mhoping some masked stranger likes the way I look enough to fuck me. It makes me sound desperate, even if I kind of am. Girls like Aspen don’t fall for guys like me. I see the way the bosses look at her and have noticed how they pop down at least once a day, pulling her aside to chat. Men like them get women like her.

My phone pings with an email notification, and I open it to see it’s another email from Zeland.

Subject:Still impressive. Still distracting.

Hey Arlo,

I’ve been watching your progress—on the game, of course. I’ve got to say... you’re making quite an impression. Theo is already singing your praises, and even Ridge hasn’t found something to grumble about yet. That’s basically a standing ovation coming from him.

You’re doingsowell, and it’s honestly becoming a little distracting. Every time I walk past your office, I catch myself wondering whether you’re this good at everything you do. Dangerous thoughts, I know.

Keep up the amazing work. And maybe let me steal a minute of your time soon? Forstrictly professionalreasons. Probably.

Zeland Reid-Ellington

COO | Ridgeland Enterprises

I blush as I read it. Zeland doesn’t even work on this floor, but he comes down to see Aspen, or so I thought. I don’t reply, I can’t. Risking this job is not an option.

I need to distract myself, and that’s when I remember what UrNewStep_Mom said about starting a conversation with Aspen, and while she may not be into me, I need to learn to talk to women without going bright red or saying something weird.

“Did you do anything fun over the weekend?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “Not unless you count doing online shopping for new clothes with my roommate exciting. I prefer a good thrift store find. Why are new clothes so itchy and you have to wear them in?”

Interesting, her roommate helps her shop. “I’m guilty of letting my mom shop for me still.” I feel my cheeks heat as soon as I say it. What woman in their right mind would not see that as a red flag?

“I wish my mom was around to shop with me. You’re lucky if you have a good relationship with her.”

“When I tell people she is my best friend, they normally laugh, but it’s always just been us against the world.”

She smiles at my words. “Keep her close, and fuck anyone who says different. They clearly never had a good parent-child relationship. I’m so glad I at least had a grandparent fill that role.”

The door to the room opens and Mr. Ellington walks in. I straighten my spine, feeling inferior to the man who screams wealth and power.

“S—Aspen,” he says, almost barking at her.

“Mr. Ellington, what can I do for you?”

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