Page 8 of Duplicity

‘I’m never nice. I’m disappointed you haven’t worked that out already. And no, this isn’t about your land. I’ll let Mairead wear you down about the equestrian centre all on her own. This is because there are a handful of people in this world whom I care about—literally one hand’s worth—and your brother is one, but my friend Marlowe is another.’ She arches an eyebrow, cool as you like. ‘You remember her, don’t you?’

‘You know I do,’ I say mulishly, because not only did I make a gigantic tit of myself the night I met the celestial Marlowe, but I’ve submitted some inelegant requests to Athena since then to put in a good word for me with her mate, and she’s refused point blank.

‘Thought so. Well, Marlowe is joining Seraph, and I thought you might be a good fit for her. From a hiring perspective, I mean.’

She smiles innocently, as if she hasn’t just intentionally dropped a double entendre that goes straight to my groin, because her friend is nothing short of delectable, and I know very fucking well that she’d be astellar “fit” for me.

Butjoining Seraph?That’s a concept I can’t begin to wrap my head around. The Marlowe I met was all wispy blonde hair and long, floaty dress and bohemian elegance. The vibe she projected before I scared her off with my creepy nerves was very much that of the wholesome, unwittingly hot primary school teacher you’d try to fuck if you had a kid in her class. Like Miss Honey fromMatildabut with that virginal sexuality thing ramped up to porno levels, if that makes sense.

It doesn’t make sense.

But neither does her being a professional whore.

‘She has a job, doesn’t she?’ I ask, performing a mental scramble. ‘At the RA? Why the fuck would she want to join Seraph?’

‘Like most people who prostitute themselves, she needs the money,’ Athena says crisply. Clear subtext:Don’t for a single second dare to think that women actually want to be in these roles, you entitled dickhead.

‘What does she need it for?’

She frowns, hesitating before she answers me. ‘Let's just say she's been hit with some... unforeseen expenses recently.’

That sentence is brimming with subtext, but the unspoken has never been my strong point. I’m a guy who takes things at face value. So Marlowe’s got greedy, has she? Either that or she’s in some kind of debt. Well, I can get on board with funding her shopping addiction.

‘And you want me to hire her? Why the hell would you be okay with me hiring her but not okay with helping me date her?’

‘Oh, please.’ She gives me a look that’s beyond disdainful while massaging Mark’s jowls. ‘Firstly, you don’t want to date her, you want to fuck her. I’m under no illusions about guys like you, Brendan, so don’t waste my time or insult my intelligence by trying to pretend otherwise. And secondly, she needs this job. Do you really want to date someone who’s fucking another guy during office hours, Monday to Friday?’

My face, I assume, provides its own answer. On second thought, my brother is welcome to this woman. Smoking she may be, but she’s a piece of work.

‘I thought not. And thirdly, I may not think you’re anywhere near worthy of being dating material for Marlowe, but I suspect you’re a semi-decent guy behind this fuckboy-slash-alphahole exterior you have going on.’ Her expression grows more serious. ‘And, after four years of working for Seraph, I’m all too aware of what kind of clients it attracts. I’m just looking out for my friend,and I trust you, as far as I can trust any man, not to behave like a gigantic twat. I’m trusting that you’d abide by the spirit of the contract and treat her with decency.’

I’m half listening. I think she just said something that, by her standards, could be construed as almost touching. But, honestly, my chimp brain is racing away with me, becausefuuuuuuuuuuck.

Marlowe in my office every day, where Plain Elaine currently sits? Marlowe sucking my dickundermy desk and bendingovermy desk whenever the fuck I like?

Jesus Christ.

‘If you get so much as a semi right now, then I’m out of here,’ Athena warns, pointing her free hand at me.

‘Give me a fucking break,’ I grumble, but I scoot my chair closer towards my desk just in case.

‘Here’s the score, Brendan, just in case you were too busy fantasising about banging my friend to absorb what I’ve been telling you.’Damn it, how does she do that?‘This is the only way you’re going to get your hands on Marlowe. She has a lot going on right now. I won’t let you dick her around, but Iwilllet you dick her down if you play by my rules and the Seraph rules.

‘You don’t even need to be exclusive—she’s your employee. You can have your fun with her at work and then get your end away in whatever wanky nightclubs you like to frequent out of work.’

She literally had me atMarlowe:beautiful, classy, and cultured. Having a woman like her decorate my office would be the ultimate win, but there’s no way I’m caving so easily. For some reason, Athena really wants this. I can tell by the steeliness in her voice and the intensity in her demeanour. I cock my head and chew on my lower lip as I pretend to appraise her offer.

‘I want you to throw in an Alchemy membership.’

‘Done,’ she says immediately.

‘There’s no way you’ll get my brother to budge on that front.’ Gabe’s been dragging his feet on proposing me for the exclusive sex club he joined before he met Athena. Selfish little dog in the manger. I thought former priests were supposed to be more charitable.

‘I don’t need to. I have plenty of ways in. My former boss’s wife, Genevieve, owns the place, and my new friend’s boyfriend has a stake. Adam Wright. I’ve got you covered. If that’s your price, consider it done.’

I sit back and allow myself a smirk. Marlowe, Marlowe, Marlowe. Five minutes in her presence and I knew she served up that ladylike, classy thing I love with aplomb.

I bet she’d be all doe-eyed and tremulous and shy if I fed her my dick. I’ve thought about it since; I’m not going to lie.

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