Money Man (King Maker 1)

Lass,

It pains me to leave the warmth of your beautiful body. I’m sorry for it. I would have written you a note, but I couldn’t find paper. I didn’t want to wake you, so I opted to leave you a note here.

I’ll call you or you me. Here is my number.

Kalen

The first thing I did was program his number into my phone. Then I texted him. Something about last night had freed me. If I was going to fuck this man, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it.

ME: Cold and lonely over here. I guess I’ll have to take a hot shower and think of you while I wash off the scent of you from my skin.

About to put my phone down, I stopped when it emitted a sound that let me know I had an incoming text.

HIM: I’m in a meeting and you’ve made me hard as stone. I won’t be able to get up and shake hands with my business partners when this meeting is over in a few minutes.

Giggling, I decided to tease him some more.

ME: I’ll be thinking about that when I hook garters to my thigh-highs under the skirt I wear to work.

I waited a beat for his response and was about to give up when it came through.

HIM: See what you’ve done to me.

A picture was attached. It was of his lap with a serious tent in his pants. My God, the man was blessed. I still questioned how I’d gotten the whole thing in my mouth.

ME: My my my, Mr. Brinner. Seems like you have quite the problem. I, myself, am heading into the shower with that picture in my mind as I take care of my own problem. Bye.

Quickly, I set the phone down and indeed went to take a shower. I’d be late if I kept sexting Kalen. Besides, he was in a meeting and it wasn’t even seven in the morning yet. And honestly, who was this girl I’d become? I’d heard other girls in college, including Lizzy, talk about how they sexted guys. I hadn’t understood the concept even when I was with Scott. Maybe because I hadn’t been sexually satisfied, but I so got it now and it made me smile.

Dressed and ready for the day, I got my purse and bag before getting my phone. On the way out, I noticed that Lizzy must have either been asleep or not home. Not wanting to wake her in the case of the former, I quietly headed out. In the elevator, I checked my phone and I did, in fact, have a message from Kalen.

HIM: I don’t think I can wait until Saturday to see you. What are your plans for Friday night?

Using both hands, I typed him back. I can’t Friday. I’m going to Lizzy’s art showing at her gallery. But tonight I’m free.

When he didn’t respond right away, I headed into the subway to go to work. By the time I’d gotten there, Kalen responded that he had a previous engagement and couldn’t. I tried not to think too hard about that. He’d said I would be the only woman he’d be sleeping with, yet for the first time I wondered if he had a wife.

I could have asked but hadn’t. Before we ended our back and forth, he’d promised I’d pay for all my teasing when he saw me Saturday. I rode the smile our banter had given me throughout my day as I continued my work reviewing cash accounts.

Later, when I handed the accounting clerk another list of transactions I wanted to review, I saw a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. I was used to it by then. But there was something else. I’d yet to receive anything about my last couple of requests. Something was up and I hated that I would need to discuss it with Scott.

“When do you think you can get me this information?” I asked.

The guy’s eyes burned with hate. He huffed, stood up, and said, “Some of these are handled by our international offices. We just consolidate those accounts on our books. It may take a few more days.”

I nodded and he strode out of the room. Anna peeked up over her laptop. “What was that about?”

Shrugging, I said, “The usual.” You needed thick skin as an auditor, because we were regarded as the enemy. Anna left things at that and Jim barely glanced our way.

By the end of the day I was exhausted and planned to head straight home when the receptionist stopped me.

She waved at me with a small brown envelope.

“This came for you,” she said.

As I was required to check in, she knew my name. I took the envelope but didn’t open it. It had to be work-related and I was off the clock. I wanted to shut off my brain and veg for a while. I stuffed the envelope into my bag, deciding to deal with it in the morning.