Page 6 of Gluttony

“Yeah, and none of those words say sexy.” Coming up behind me, Mickey holds our gazes as he places a wet kiss on my still-bare shoulder. “Leave it down.” Then he winks and walks away.

He’s right, of course. When I leave it down it reaches just below the middle of my back like a shiny curtain, but I just don’t have the time to style it all over again.

When Mickey disappears back into the bathroom, I grab my gloss and swipe my purse from the bed, hurrying before he sees. Is it really defying him if he doesn’t know I have?

“See you later!” I call out as I rush out of our suite and close the door, just in case. He doesn’t answer, probably didn’t even hear me.

On the ride down the elevator, I dab my lips with clear, watermelon gloss then turn one way and the other to check out my outfit in the full-length mirror. I really need to get another one for the apartment. The only one we have is in our bathroom.

Just as the doors slide open, I take a deep breath before letting it out slow and steady.

I can do this. Not my first rodeo but for some reason, I’m nervous. Maybe because I’ve already tried seducing them and it didn’t work out the way I’d hoped.

Also, we haven’t talked about it in detail, but whatever happens with this job, Mickey and I know we’ll have to hop on the first plane out of Manhattan, maybe even the U.S. because these guys are ruthless and they have the reach to hurt us.

And not in a good way.

Chapter Four

Hayes

“The role of executive assistant motivates me. I thrive in an environment where each day is different and poses a new challenge. I’m also detail oriented…”

Miss Jones continues her spiel in response to my interview question, and it’s boring the fuck out of me. She sounds like every cookie-cutter version of every executive assistant candidate we’ve paraded through here in the last few hours. Pretty, though. Her résumé looks good too. She’s saying all the right things, sitting with her back straight, and her eye contact is solid…confident.

“Thank you, Miss Jones. Do you have any questions for me?” She’s the last candidate of the day and I don’t really have time for this shit, but needs must when the devil drives.

“Yes, Sir.” I like the way she says that, the slight roll of her tongue. She has my full attention now. “How could I impress you in the first three months?”

“By doing exactly what we ask of you, exactly when we ask it. We won’t accept excuses or sob-stories as to why a task hasn’t been carried out. Being the executive assistant to three CEOs isgoing to require a lot of your time. Are you truly prepared to give it your all? Because this isn’t the job that’s going to get you a record contract if that’s what you’re after.” So many people who want a job in our offices have alternative agendas to get into the music business, but a high turnover in staff isn’t productive so we have to weed out the ones with stars in their eyes.

“Even if I could hold a tune, being in the public eye is not for me. So you don’t have to worry about me trying to become the next Taylor Swift, Sir.” Her body language shows me she’s telling the truth. No fidgeting, excellent posture while remaining relaxed, and her eye contact is still on point. Dark green, like the leaves on a rose bush. “I am, however, fully prepared to do everything in my power to be the best executive assistant you’ve ever had.” She grins, her perfectly made-up lips stretching upward in what is clearly a well-rehearsed smile.

“The position is only for three months, but if you do happen to impress us then we may be able to find another position within the company for you. Is that something you’re looking for?” I want to see where her loyalties are going to lie, because if she’s happy to just skip off somewhere else then we can’t trust her with anything substantial.

“Absolutely. The inner workings of a record company like this have always interested me. Seeing how the music gets made, the behind the scenes work that has to be done, all the forgotten people that have a hand in one song…” She sighs, as though she’s in a happy memory. “It all seems pretty magical to me, Sir.”

Does she know what that word is doing to my cock? Because she keeps saying it, and there’s something darker behind her light smile that makes me think she is fully aware.

Her answers to my questions are too over the top, though. Too rehearsed. I know people like to prepare before an interview so they make a good impression, but everything about Bella Jones feels fake to me.

Behind my large oak desk, I sit forward in my leather chair and narrow my eyes. Assessing.

She doesn’t move, doesn’t flinch, doesn’t squirm…suspicious.

The candidate before her is more qualified anyway.

I bring my elbows up to the desk and clasp my hands together.

“Thank you for your time today, Miss Jones. We—”

“S’up, fuckface! That ba—Oh…” Hadley slams my office door open and saunters in without a care in the fucking world. Standard. “Hello, Little Rabbit.”

“We’re just finishing up her interview, Mr. Beckett. If you wait outside for a few minutes, Crosby will get you a coffee.” On the surface, I’m the picture of calm and polite. On the inside, I’m imagining all the ways I can torture my twin brother for being an unprofessional nutsack.

“How about our new executive assistant gets me a coffee? Black like my soul and no sugar…because I’m sweet enough.” He wags his brows at Miss Jones, crunching on what are unmistakably his trademark Tic Tacs, and if I’m not mistaken, she likes it.

Definitely not H2O material. We need an executive assistant for three months, not a distraction.

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