Page 39 of Games We Play
Karlie was the only one embarrassed. Leah lived for the response she received ten minutes later.
“Why are you doing this to me? Don’t you know that I’m in a meeting? You’re making me want to walk out on these professionals and come find you right now.”
“Why are you texting in the middle of a big meeting?”
“Maybe I excused myself to the bathroom so I could tell you to spank yourself on my behalf.”
“I’ll work on that right now.”
Leah put her phone away and suggested to Karlie that they head home before their parents returned from work. It was either that or squirm in her seat.
Chapter 13
Sloan returned to her meeting with a glow to her cheeks. She knew she was glowing because half the room rolled their eyes to witness it.
“Have a good call?” Erica Mann, the only person to piss off more people in the past year than Sloan could do herself, slumped down her chair, tie askew and boots threatening to slip off her tired feet. They had been in a meeting for the past ninety minutes. What nobody warned the assistants and bodyguards in the room, however, was that Erica Mann and Margaret Sloan were the two women in America who could turn a trite business meeting into a verbal brawl.To think! A year ago, we were the one man and one woman who could do that!Even Sloan had been shocked to discover that Erica was a woman in disguise as a man, but she was also the fastest businesswoman to take advantage of it. Hence this meeting, already scheduled months in advanced.
“Magnificent.” Sloan collapsed into her chair, imagining how she would text Leah to punish herself later.That’s what you get for making me leave my meeting to indulge you.Sloan didn’t have to. It probably wasn’t Leah’s intention. But shedid,and that deserved something, didn’t it?Too bad I can’t be there for it.Should she make Leah use the nipple clamps? Deny herself orgasm? So many possibilities! Too bad Sloan still wasn’t sure what Leah was familiar with and what she might be willing to do this early in their agreement.
At least Sloan had an agreement withsomeone,though. Texting and meeting up with Leah had made her realize how tired she was of escort roulette. There was something to be said for getting to intimately know another woman and taking advantage of her likes and kinks.
You know all about that, don’t you, Mann?Erica and Sloan had shared many of the same escorts over the years, although the two of them had never hooked up. Most of the higher echelon, whether male or female, kept to the same circles of professional women because it was the safe bet. Excellent service, no bullshit, and women who were guaranteed to not divulge what the spouse of so-and-so was doing? Whywouldn’tSloan amass references from business associates and call up the same agencies and free-agent women everyone else did?
“Great. Let’s get back to those numbers you love to crunch so much.”
Number crunching was more Ayla’s thing, and Sloan looked to her assistant to make sure the 35-year-old mother of three had the spreadsheets and calculations ready to go. On the other side of the table, Erica’s girlfriend and stand-in personal assistant slammed down a stack of papers.Is that the diamond tennis bracelet I gave you this New Year’s, Erica?How tacky. How power-play.
Sloan knew she wasn’t the most popular gal-pal around. Definitely not in her social circles! Yet she had been put out to hear that she wasn’t invited to Erica Mann’s New Year’s soiree in the Californian countryside.So what did I do? Crash the party.She arrived long after most of the other female guests had left, but the point had been made.“You didn’t invite me, Erica? When I was the first one to reach out to you when a little birdie told me you were coming out as the woman you had always hid beneath your suits? Fuck you. I’m here anyway.”The tennis bracelet had been her peace offering, one of those old-fashioned manners girls like them learned when they were little. Wanted to make nice with a woman in high society? Give her jewelry, vintage bags, or memberships to the local clubs and spas. (Or buy her a servant, but that was a littletooold-fashioned now.) But maybe Erica had missed out on that lesson when she grew up as a boy named Eric, because her girlfriend now sported that expensive bracelet on her wrists.
Again, it was a power play. Erica had done that on purpose, to see how Sloan responded.I barely acknowledge it. Which meant it shocked me.Damn. Right into Mann’s hand.
Except Ericahadaccepted her business-related offers, so here they were, brokering investments and looking at a nice, lucrative relationship that would last at least a few years. Aaron hadn’t hesitated to sign off on it.He commended me for taking the initiative with Erica, because he swore nobody would want to work with her, political correctness be damned.
Ayla was the first one to get up and leave the conference room at the end of the meeting. Sloan had given her that order. Nobody else had received the message, however.
“If it’s all right with you,” Sloan said, “I’d like to chat about something. In private.” She glanced at Erica’s girlfriend, who stiffened her shoulders and made a face that implied Sloan treaded dangerous waters. “Oh, God, not likethat.Untwist your panties, sweetie, because I’m only interested in your girlfriend’s money.”
Sloan waited for everyone but Erica to clear out. She withdrew a cigarette and pretended to enjoy it for what it was, since God knew everywhere was “smoke free” now.Who knew I would miss the ‘90s so much?These conference rooms would be filled with toxic fumes, and nobody would give a shit. Now they were full of so much recycled air that she wanted to choke.
“All right.” Erica kept a careful eye on Sloan’s cigarette after everyone had left. Well, almost everyone. Did two bodyguards standing right outside the door count as everyone leaving? “What do you want now? I’m guessing it’s some kind of favor. Or do you want to give me a warning? I know how free you are with your advice.”
Sloan pretended she didn’t hear any of that. She also pretended to ignore the no smoking signs by lighting up and taking a long, satisfying drag of her cigarette. Erica rolled her eyes. “I have a proposition for you. Off the record, but mutually beneficial.”
“Oh? Dare I ask?”
“Don’t worry, it’s notpersonal.” Sloan had no idea where the rumor that she was as cutthroat in sexual pursuits as she was in business came from. “Not that kind of personal. More like… I grease some of your wheels, and I get a nice back scratch.”
“Maxine Woodward already called and warned me that you might want to exchange favors with me. Cut to the chase, please.”
Without an ashtray provided, Sloan was forced to pull out the one she carried in her bag.A girl must do what she must in 2018.Ashes were a luxury nowadays. “I want to give you money for your personal project in the countryside.” She took another drag, remembering how satisfying it was to march up to Erica Mann’s ranch. “In return, you’re going to owe me a teensy-weensy favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“Oh…” Sloan kicked back in her swivel chair and blew a trail of smoke toward the ceiling. “One that won’t put you outtoomuch, but you might make some enemies. Specifically, in Chicago. I’m hoping that you’re not planning on expanding too much business in the Midwest, because I have some bastards that need taking out.”
“Why?” Erica crossed her arms. “Why do you needmyhelp, specifically?”
“Let’s say I’m reaching out to women who might understand the predicament I’m in.” She narrowed her eyes at Erica. “Why do you think I was so quick to reach out to you as soon as I heard about your shocking truth? It wasn’t for purely for financial reasons, although that was a good chunk of it. I wanted to make sure you knew that we were on the same side.”
