One More Time

“I'm sorry, Mr. Crane,” she said. “But, Mr. Brownstein is here to see you now.”

“Tell him I'll be right out,” he said. “Give me a few minutes to wrap this up.”

Alyssa nodded and closed the door behind her as she went. Malcolm walked over to his desk and picked the papers off the floor.

“Think she knew what we'd done in here?”

“Oh, I'd say the entire office knows,” I teased. “Not like I could keep quiet.”

He looked pleased, a cocky expression on his face. “I have to go to this boring meeting,” he said. “But, before I do, what was it you'd wanted to talk about?”

Money. I came here to ask for an advance to help pay my bills. Now, however, after we'd had sex, it just felt wrong. It would have made me feel like more of a whore than sometimes already did.

“Nothing. It's not important,” I said. “I should probably be going.”

“Casey,” he called out to me. His voice was strong and dominant, and stopped me in my step. “Talk to me. What do you need?”

“I – I don't remember,” I lied, staring at the door.

“Yes, you do,” he sighed. “Do you need some money? Something to help you out for the next few months until things are finalized?”

“No,” I choked out.

My voice was weak and halting. It didn't even sound truthful to me.

“I promised to take care of you, and I will,” he said.

I heard a drawer opening and Malcolm shuffled around in it, which caused me to glance over my shoulder at him.

“This should be enough for a few months, anyway,” he said. “If you need more, ask. You're doing me a huge favor, Casey, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repay you. Don't forget that.”

“I won't, Malcolm. I'll never forget it,” I said quietly. “Thank you.”

I'll also never forget you, I wanted to add, but I kept that to myself. Things were moving way too fast, and it scared the crap out of me. Terrance's words also echoed through my mind – I wasn't good for him, and I should stay away.

Yeah, he was probably right, but Malcolm Crane was a hard person to ignore. Especially when he wanted something.

It just so happened, he wanted me.

~ooo000ooo~

I stepped out of Malcolm's office, check in hand. It would be enough to get us through the next few months, easily. Hell, it had been more than I'd expected, by far. Malcolm meant it when he'd said he would take care of me, and I felt like I was walking on air as I left his office.

I was walking toward the elevator when someone spoke and interrupted my thoughts.

“Excuse me.”

I looked up and saw a good-looking, well-dressed man who reminded me a lot of Malcolm. Given that it was a family business, I wouldn't have been surprised, but the idea of running into one of his family members like that sent a jolt of panic slicing through me.

The man reached out a hand to me. “I'm Adam,” he said. “Malcolm's brother.”

“Oh, hi,” I said, shaking his hand. “I'm Casey.”

Adam looked me up and down, as if he was studying up on me for a pop quiz or something. I'd remembered Malcolm mentioning a half-brother, and I assumed that must be him.

“Malcolm has told me about you,” I said before I could think better of it.

“He has?” Adam asked. “Good things, I hope?”