Page 38 of Greed

“Oh shit, dinner,” she mumbled. “I need something to wear.”

Great, now she had two errands to run when she was done with work tomorrow.

Work ended much like the day before—she saw Penny again, and exactly like the day before, she acted like nothing was weird between them. Minetta was really starting to wonder if the entire creature situation had been lack of sleep, maybe a little heat stroke, or even stress over the whole James thing. She was actually pleasantly surprised he had not tried to beg her to come back like every other time they split. She hadn’t been up for that argument.

She made her way down the street to pick up her order of chocolate flowers and fresh fruit shish kebobs. The arrangement was stunning, exactly what would make a great thank you gift. She whistled as she walked the rest of the way to the tall black building that Michael had mentioned. The doors automatically spun, granting her entrance without having to stop. The lobby was the largest she’d ever seen, and the way the building had been designed, you could stand in the middle and look up to see the sky out the massive panes of glass at the top. It was like the building was cored out in the center like an apple.

Everything was decorated in black and gold with sand-colored accents—she’d never seen anything so lavish. She suddenly felt very out of place in her basic work pants and cotton uniform shirt as women and men passed by in more expensive outfits than she could ever afford.

Minetta made her way over to the reception area, and all those that were working looked like the 911 call center did on a crazy day.

“Can I help you?” a girl behind the counter asked as she pushed buttons on the large phone and clicked the mouse at the same time.

“Yes, I wanted to drop this off….”

“Oh wait, what day is it?” She looked at her screen. “It’s Wednesday. I’m sorry, just take elevator six to the top floor. Everyone else is up there.”

“The top floor, but I….”

“I’m sorry it’s that way.” She pointed behind her. “I need to get this line. Avidity Enterprises, how may I direct your call?”

Deciding to just go with it, she walked to elevator six and pressed the button for the top floor. Seemed appropriate that those who ran this place would have their offices at the top.

She grabbed the railing around the interior of the elevator as her stomach flipped with the sudden lurch as the lift shot up like a bullet. If she thought the start had been bad, the stop was worse. She felt like crawling out of the elevator as her legs shook and her stomach rolled.

Minetta looked out the elevator and to the right. There was a wall of windows that looked out over the city, but to the left sat another elaborate desk. She made her way over, but there was no one sitting behind the desk. She could hear talking and decided to follow the sound. She turned the corner at the end of the hallway and almost ran into a girl leaning against the wall.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said.

“You here to see Mr. Rhodes too?”

“I think so. This is for him.” She held up the basket.

“Just tell whoever is at the front of the line that you’re here to drop that off.” She pointed to the front of the very long line of women. “That way, they won’t get angry.”

“Thanks.” That was an odd comment but shrugging it off she continued on her mission. Minetta glanced at the women as she walked along the long line. Not one of them smiled or said Hi back. They all seemed more like they would prefer to slit her throat and had to wonder what their problem was. She held the basket up like a shield and stayed as far away as possible. She had no idea what was happening but figured it had to do with a job.

Reaching the front of the line, she smiled at the girl at the front. “Hi, I’m just delivering this,” she said, remembering the other girl’s warning.

The pretty blonde nodded and stepped aside. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she knew something was off. The room was similar to a sitting area with a bar space, four leather chairs that filled the center of the room, surrounding a large coffee table in the middle, but that wasn’t what had her attention. Two large guards stood like statues outside of an almost closed door, but the sounds still carried, and she would have sworn someone was having sex. And not just sex, but hot sex that had someone moaning loud.

A strange little tingling sensation took over her body, so she rubbed at her arms. But not even the sensation could’ve prepared her for the sight that greeted her eyes as the door to the slightly ajar office opened wide.

“Next!” a man’s voice yelled.

Four women holding onto their pile of clothes wandered out, but there was still another bent over a desk while a man was taking her from behind. The basket fell from her hands, and the man turned his head to look at her.

It was him. The man with the amber eyes. Their eyes locked as the strange tingling sensation erupted in her chest, making her heart beat hard. She stood there a moment longer than appropriate, and her mind scrambled as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

Her brain kicked into gear and with it the mortification as she sprinted for the door, basket forgotten. She raced past the long line of women who stared at her jackrabbit exit. Her finger pressed the elevator button, wishing this place wasn’t so bloody tall, so she could’ve just taken the stairs.

“Minetta!” She heard her name called. She had no idea how this man found out her name, but thankfully the elevator doors opened, and she jumped inside, the button making clicking noises as she pressed it again and again for the ground floor. At that moment, she was thankful that the elevator was like a rocket. Stepping out of the small space, she marched out the front doors. Anger, humiliation, and an emotion that made no sense at all burned in her gut. Now, it made total sense that she’d laid in bed over the last week and fantasized about him because she couldn’t pick a good man if he were the only one in the room.

Why was she a magnet for assholes?

Why don’t you want me? You should want me.

His words replayed over in her mind.