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“Yeah. It’s a meeting with all of us.”

“Your ex will be there too, huh?”

“Unfortunately. Salt, promise me you’ll treat me like you don’t even know me. I’m going to tell them about us, but after you’re signed. I don’t want to risk your career.”

“I’ll behave,” I promised.

At least, I’d try to.

THIRTY-ONE

PEPPER

I was sweating.

It was Thursday. Over the last couple days, I’d been in a blissful routine with Salt. I’d completely ignored all my concerns about the meeting, and instead just tried to enjoy us.

I’d learned a lot about him. I’d also learned a lot about myself. Like how much I enjoyed being a brat, CNC, and aftercare. I loved cuddling and eating chocolate after an intense scene. The high of it all was addicting.

But today was the day. We were having a meeting with Salt in thirty minutes, and I’d be in the same room with the man I was falling for, in front of people who had known me forever.

My ex-husband. My friend of almost twenty years. Kendra, Lee, and Scott all knew me too well. And then Ellen. Ellen would see straight through my lies.

Hence the sweat dripping down my back. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and swallowed hard.

I looked good. I had this new glow about me that definitely came from being with Salt. Since Sunday night, I’d lost count of how many times we had sex. Our routine was the same every day—we each went to work, then he’d come over to my apartment, and we’d play and make love until falling asleep draped in each other’s bodies.

I wanted it to be like that forever.

My eyes closed and I practiced deep breathing exercises. Filling my lungs, holding the breath, and then exhaling slowly as my stomach did somersaults. It was going to be fine. I didn’t do anything wrong. And Salt knew he needed to be on his best behavior.

Basically, he needed to not look at me the way he always did.

And I needed to be calm. Collected. Cold.

Perfect Pepper.

“Okay,” I whispered.

I fixed my makeup and hair, straightened my blouse, and headed back out into the office. My heels clicked over the floors as I passed by Ellen’s desk.

“Hey,” she said in a loud whisper.

I backtracked a couple steps. “What?”

“The guy is here early. Jeff took him to the meeting room. Do you need me to grab anything?”

“No,” I said. “Just bring yourself to take notes.”

Ellen always took meeting notes when we had new clients. Although I wished that wasn't the case today. Even now, she narrowed her eyes on me.

“You’re acting weird,” she muttered.

“I’m fine. I’ll be in the meeting room in a few.”

Deep breath. Deep breath. Fuck my life.

I measured each step back to my office. This was how I normally walked, right? Everything was fine.

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