Page 20 of Ignite
“You want to give me a promotion?” Iasked.
“Yes, I think you deserve it,” he went on. “But there’s one thing you have to do before I can sign off onit.”
“Whichis?”
Rounding the desk, he sat in the chair next to me and unzipped his fly. My mouth dropped open, and I glanced at the door, my heart galloping in mychest.
“Suck my cock like a good girl, swallow, and you’ll getit.”
“You…”
“Suck my cock,Alison.”
Shocked, I stumbled to my feet, the chair sliding backward as he shoved down his boxers. The moment he fisted his erection, I felt likegagging.
“This is sexual harassment,” I declared. “Do you really think I would put that little worm in my mouth to move up one measly pay grade?I’m not that cheap. In fact, you can’t affordme.”
Matt rose to his feet, his pants sliding off his ass. He snarled as his expression darkened, and he grabbed my arm. “You’ll suck, or you can kiss your jobgoodbye.”
Wrenching my arm free, I lifted my hand and slapped him in the face. His head snapped to the side, and I backed away, fuming. Of allthe…
“Fuck you and your job,” I said with a snarl as I opened his office door. “Suck your own cock, you filthyprick!”
By this time, the entire floor had turned to stare, catching the head of customer relations with his pants down. As for me, I didn’t stop. I strode across the office, grabbed my bag, and turned. My gaze met Susan’s, and Iscowled.
She was staring at me in shock, her mouth open. I could’ve said a lot of things to her at that moment. I’d dreamed about telling her where to stick it for so long I could’ve rattled off at least a hundred obscenities, but it wasn’t worth it. None of this was worth the stress I’d put myself through for the last threeyears.
I wondered if that was why it hurt so much. I’d wasted all that time trying to please people who’d never see me as more than a metaphoric punchingbag.
Sighing, I left my security pass behind, then walked across the office and pushed outside into the glorious autumn weekday. It was a slice of time I’d never seen before, and it was thrilling knowing I’d hacked off the ball and chain that had been dragging medown.
I could do anything now. Anything atall.
* * *
Ididn’t wantto go home, so I went to the only other place I felt comfortable. TheUnderground.
It was a bag full of irony. It was the place where I’d almost been molested on my first attempt at living life. The place where I met the most complicated man on the planet. The place where I made my first genuine friend in years. Criminals, money launderers, compulsive gamblers, men addicted to violence, gold diggers, and loose morals…like I fit in here. I didn’t fit anywhere, but at least no one masqueraded as something theyweren’t.
I picked at the label on the bottle of cider I’d ordered. Faye wasn’t working tonight, but I didn’t need her to hold my hand. I had to stand on my own two feetnow.
Suck my cock like a good girl. I felt likepuking.
“Ali…”
I glanced up from my drink and narrowed my eyes.Liam.
I was so not in the mood. I was done trying to ‘get out there.’ All that was waiting for me was an even bigger pile of steaming shit. I could sprinkle all the glitter I wanted over it, but underneath, it still stunk the same.Swallow, and you’ll get what youwant.
I was so not drunk enough to get past today. An hour after I’d left work, the adrenaline faded and reality set in. I was up shit creek without a paddle if I couldn’t find another job in the next month.Hand me anotherdrink.
“Ali,” Liam said again, this time taking the bottle from myhand.
“What?” I snapped, snatching it rightback.
“What’s the matter with you?” he asked, frowning atme.
“Leave me alone,” I replied. “You’re good atthat.”
