Page 48 of Love Her

“No, my kind, we’re more likely to sell the guillotines,” he said, and the other man laughed. “But let’s get busy, eh?” he went on—and something made a loud rapping sound.

It took me a moment to realize Rhaim’d tapped the desk his phone was placed on—reminding me of what my current duty was here.

To come before his current meeting was over.

I blanched in horror as their conversation continued—it was about the IPO, of course, and I wanted to listen in, but if I did, I wouldn’t be following his instructions.

I knew where Rhaim’s computer was on his desk—not where anyone else could see the screen and my head was down besides. There wasn’t anyone else in America who could identify me solely by my ass.

But it wasn’t fair that he should be getting off easy here—I pulled out the toy and crawled off my bed like a ninja, hunting down the lingerie set I’d bought for Rhaim two months ago from my closet, and hauling the white thigh-highs and garter belts on,along with impossibly high white heels, before slinking back into screen, my hair across my face just in case.

I resumed the position I’d had prior, and put the toy back in—then reached back to make one of the straps of the garter belt snap against my ass.

Rhaim loudly cleared his throat, covering up the sound, as their conversation continued.

I put on a show for him—arcing back, thrusting forward, swaying from side to side, wriggling my ass—as his conversation continued, ever so dryly, talking about margins and math—until I splayed my legs and canted my hips up so he could see me rubbing my clit in exaggerated circles.

I was so turned on I almost forgot to be quiet—until Rhaim had to clear his throat again—and then I had to bite my lips not to laugh—and knowing he really was paying attention to me, thatIwas torturinghimthis time, that he was the one that couldn’t let it on—I only barely remembered to grab my pillow to smother my face in as I came—and because of that I forgot to hold onto the toy as my “tight pussy”—the one that Rhaim loved!—squeezed it right out, and it fell on the ground with a thump.

“I think that’s all we need to talk about today,” Rhaim said to the other CFO quickly, after another loud cough.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes and no. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends with the IPO—I might be coming down with something,” Rhaim said.

“Fuck. I don’t have time to be ill,” the other man snapped. “Just stay over there—I’ve got hand sanitizer in my car.”

“And I’ll have my secretary send you some vitamin C, along with the terms we decided.”

“You do that,” the other man said, from further away—then I heard Rhaim pick up his phone and his voice come on the line.

“Question: were you trying to kill me?”

“Yes and no?” I said, casually repeating the line that he’d just given the other man. He remained quiet, but I giggled, I couldn’t help myself, and I only had the wisdom to wonder if he was mad at me right before he laughed.

25

RHAIM

Inormally didn’t watch the news, muchless the Morning Moment—but I couldn’t not watch if Lia was going to be on the air. I texted her,Break a leg,and then drove into work, timing it so that I could be running on one of the treadmills in the gym when she came on, giving me plausible deniability for watching morning TV.

I made sure that I was already in a lather before the show started, and was doomed to run through the entire thing. It was only a local show, for half-an-hour, but I knew it was St. Clair testing safer waters with Lia first, before he chopped her up for chum.

Katerina made it to the first commercial break, and then Lia appeared, pulled together as ever, in a form fitting cream sweater, and neutral make-up that toned down her sexuality, but hid it from no one.

“I’m so happy to get to be the first to talk to you, Lia!” Katerina exclaimed, the second Lia sat down.

“Thank you, me too,” Lia said, giving the other woman an easy smile, keeping her hands folded in her lap.

“This is such a scoop—” Katreina went on. “And now that you’re here, I want to know everything. How long have you and the senator been an item?”

“Ever since I got back into the country, a few months ago. We met at one of my father’s parties, and we hit it off.”

“And no one ever saw the two of you together? Before your very public engagement on Friday night?”

Lia let nothing on. My girl was made of ice. “The timing wasn’t right.”

“Well,” Katerina said, tapping her cue cards on her knee. “I think we both know your father can afford to buy off a few paparazzi.” Lia laughed, until Katerina continued. “Or,” the host said, giving Lia a knowing look.

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