“He’s so sweet.”
“Never heard someone call him that before,” Cupid says, making me realize I said that out loud.
I like the idea that only I see his sweet side. That with me he’s somebody else. That only I know that side of him.
I suddenly don’t have the urge to go to the spa anymore after him telling me about all the dirty things he’s going do to me while he kept me in his office. I want to be there now, keeping him entertained while he works. Why didn’t he take me? A surge of jealousy shoots through my body.
“Do I have an access key?”
Cupid reaches into his back pocket, pulling one out. He hands over the white sparkly card that has my name etched at the top. Under my name, it reads Mine in bold letters.
“What does it open?” I want to know my clearance level.
“Everything.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling, but I know he’s not fooled. I want to go pop in on Charles, but I know Cupid would alert him, so I'm going to have to give him the slip. The best place to do that will be at the spa.
“So you having stuff done at the spa too?” I ask nonchalantly.
“I could use a few things.”
I’m guessing not his hair, but I keep that to myself.
“Then let’s do it. I’m excited to get a rub down.” This isn't a lie, but I don’t want to be rubbed down in the spa. I want to be rubbed by Charles in his office, in places the spa won’t touch.
I head to the door, pulling it opening and heading for the elevator. When it arrives, I get on and put my card in so it won’t make any stops on the way down. Funny how quickly things can change. It wasn't even twenty-four hours ago I tried to keep myself as far away from him as possible. Now I’m starting to think I was so angry with him and picked at him because I hated that I was so attracted to him.
Now I can’t bring myself to care. I’m going to have fun for my thirty days. I just have to make sure I keep my heart out of the game. Sex, Mandy. This is all about sex and great orgasms. I’m lying to myself and I know it.
When the elevator dings, I make my exit with Cupid hot on my heels. My shoes click on the marble floor of the casino, over the sounds of the slot machines.
I push my way through the glass double doors and into the spa, and see Kristen standing behind the counter.
“Miss Burch, we have you all set and ready to go,” she says in a too-chipper voice.
“Perfect. Massage first?”
“Yes, you’ll be with Tina today in room seven. If you’ll just follow me.” She starts to come around the counter. I stop her.
“Oh, no worries, Kristen. I know the way, and I want to use the restroom first.” I make my way past her and hear Cupid call out from behind me, “I’ll see you in the salon after.”
“See you there,” I toss over my shoulder. When I get around the corner, I press myself against the wall and listen for Cupid’s departure. The spa clients go through a changing room, and then out into the different spa areas. Women and men have separate changing rooms that are located in two different hallways.
When I hear Kristen tell Cupid what room he’ll be in, I wait a minute, and then peek around the corner and see the front desk is clear. Normally I would stop and snap at someone for leaving the desk unmanned, but right now I’m thankful.
Making my exit, I head straight for Charles’s office, which is on the same floor as Security. Once there, I slide my key into his office door, opening it a crack and slipping in.
When he said he’d be in meetings, I thought he meant on a conference call, like most of his meetings. When I was here, he never had anyone else in here with him. Ever. But when I walk into his office, Charles is standing behind his desk with his back to me, and there’s a man sitting in one of the black chairs in front of his desk.
I think about slipping out, but I freeze at Charles’s words as he start to turn. “I think you forget there are a lot of holes in the desert, Mr. Sheridan, and I have no problem filling them with men like—” His words stop when his eyes meet mine.
I have no idea what I should do, or if he’s going to be pissed at what I just heard. One thing I do notice is, I’m not scared. Well, maybe a little, but not of him hurting me or throwing me into a hole in the desert.
He cocks his head to the side, a smirk lifting his lips, the hardness that was there moments ago slipping away.
“You are a sneaky kitten, aren't you?”
The man sitting in the chair lifts his head to see who Charles is talking to.
“Don’t fucking look at her.”
The man snaps his head back towards Charles, and I blush at his jealousy.
“We're done here, Slade.” Charles goes around his desk to escort the man from his office. “Kitten, in my chair. Take the long way around.” He motions for me to pass by them on the other side of his desk.
I go to slip around when the man finally rises and sneaks a look my way. “Got yourself a submissive, Mr. Townsend? I’d heard the rumors but—” His words are cut off when Charles grabs him around the throat and pushes him up against the nearest wall.
The man struggles, and his eyes shoot to me, like he’s pleading for me to make him stop.
“Don’t look at her. She won’t help you, and it only pisses me off more you have your eyes on her.”
His eyes go back to Charles, and he tries to speak, but can't. After a moment, Charles loosens his grip a little.