Page 16 of Wicked Fortune

He indicates the gift bag. “Don’t open that until you’re home.”

“Why?”

Again, he grins. “Because I’m the boss, Ari. And a good assistant knows her place.”

SIX

“You okay?”

I twist around to find Clive standing behind the bench where I’m perched. “Oh,” I say. “I’m fine.”

It’s not a lie. I’m pretty sure I am fine. Just overwhelmed. And more than a little turned on. From the way Clive’s brow rises, though, I’m guessing he doesn’t quite believe me.

“Really,” I say. “I had a talk with Holt. Mission accomplished.”

He sits on the bench behind me so we are shoulder to shoulder, facing in opposite directions, but also able to talk. “He wasn’t pissed off you were here?”

I frown and tilt my head from side to side as I consider that. “Definitely not pissed off.”

“Oh, really?” His voice rises with interest and he narrows his eyes as he studies me. “You got laid.”

I sit up straighter. “I did not.”

“No?” He sounds genuinely perplexed. “I’m never wrong.”

“Tonight you are. If I had a maidenhead, it would still be firmly intact. I didn’t get banged, boned, or fucked.”

He chuckles. “Oh, but you wanted to.”

Busted.

What’s worse, I didn’t even realize how much I wanted to until right now. “Fine. Maybe. Yes.” I scowl. “And what’s wrong with that? We’re in a freaking sex club. Who comes here and walks away without at least wanting to have a go?”

“Oh, girlfriend, you do not have to explain to me.” He leans in closer. “He has you on the hook now, though.”

“No, he doesn’t have me on a⁠—”

“Gift bag,” he says, cutting me off. “It’s almost cute. Instead of his cock, he gives you a gift bag. It’s deviously adorable.”

I cross my arms and glare at him. “I’m pretty sure the bag means I got the job. And that there are going to be rules.”

“Yeah?” He makes a grab for the bag, but I pull it back.

“One rule is that I open it at home.”

“Really?” He fans his face with his hand. “Whatever’s in that bag must be smoking hot if you can’t open it here.”

“The thought crossed my mind,” I admit.

“But you’re pretty sure you’ll get the PA job?”

I nod. “I won’t know until I know. But I’ll follow his rules.”

“In that case, Project Masque was a winner.”

I sit up straighter. “You found out about the parties?”

“I found out that none have ever been held here. Holt is a fanatic about not co-mingling his Hardline work and … whatever you’d call this enterprise.”