Page 5 of Lies You Told
Great!
“Chloe.”
“Richard?” I say, putting my purse in my bottom drawer and moving the mouse on my desktop to bring my computer to life. I enter my login details, purposely not giving him my full attention. Richard is my least favorite of the named partners at the firm.
“How did the meeting go?”
“I’m not sure. Mr. Hill said he was going to take the agreement to his client. Which is what we’d have done in the same situation.”
“I hear you know, Hill? He’s not an ex, is he?”
I stop what I'm doing instantly. “What?”
“You heard me, Chloe.”
“I don't see how this is anybody's business.”
“Adam, shut the door,” Richard says like he's mistaken that this is his office.
“Adam, don't.” I'm firm with my tone.
They think I don't know that they all call me the Ice Queen, so I decide to play it to my strength sometimes. Adam must hear it in my voice as he leaves my office, leaving the door ajar.
Richard is a prick. He's the only person who didn't vote for me for Partner; instead, his pick jumped ship and moved to different firm. He's still butt hurt by the sound of it.
“Jaxson Hill is NOT my ex.” He wishes I want to add. “We were at Harvard together.” I hate to be one of those people who drops what school they went to in every conversation. Richard is one of those people. Except he went to Yale. And tells everyone he meets. “We were the top two in our class. We competed with each other our whole three years.”
“I had someone like that at Yale.”
I close my eyes so he doesn’t see my eye roll.
“Well, I'm here if you need any help on this case.”
“I won't.” I may be blunt and to the point. I will not be asking Richard or any Senior Partners to help me on this case. End of story. I’ve been doing legal work for Greyson my whole career, which says a lot since his son-in-law is also a lawyer.
Ihold my hand out to flag down a cab. I have enough time to swing by the apartment before heading toHidden Secrets. I walk through my living room and head straight for my bedroom. Today only got more and more stressful. I'm just about ready to break. I need a good session with a Dom to submit the only way I know how.
Pulling the small leather sports bag off the shelf in my cupboard and look inside. I see I have everything I need. The new owners have made some big changes since they have taken over, the biggest being a locker room for people who don’t want to trek across the city in fet wear. I throw in my brush and a couple of hair-ties lying around the vanity and head back out of the apartment.
HS: Your car has arrived.
Another new thing, the owners added. A car service. Locking my apartment door, I walk towards the elevators, my heels making that muffled thud as I walk across the thick carpet. There are only three apartments on this floor. All three bedrooms, all with amazing views of the city. Greyson co-signed the lease a couple of years ago. He wanted me to have an apartment in an area he knew would be safe and easy for me to get to work. The apartment is mine, mainly due to the huge bonuses I’ve got in the last couple of years. Greyson isn’t the only reason I deserved that Partner spot, but he did help. I work hard. That’s why I have exactly one close friend.
I smile at Harry–the doorman and concierge–as he gives me his smile. Harry started working here the same day I moved in, and he’s had my back ever since. Which I appreciated after my ex showed up one night demanding to be let up into my apartment. If the cheating asshole thought I was letting him anywhere near me or my space again. We went on two dates, so could he really be an ex?
The driver opened the door for me, and I recognized him as the same person who had picked me up last week. Before the place became Hidden Secrets, I usually went there once a month. Now I'm there every week–not always to play–sometimes it is nice to be around like-minded people and have a drink in the bar and watch.
As the car drives off, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Franchesca has been blowing up my phone all afternoon. I cannot deal with her right now. I rest my head back on the headrest and close my eyes.
We pull up to an entrance on the street where a man is standing by the door. After the driver opens my door, I hand over my membership card–another new addition–to the man by the door. I hand my small sports bag over to the girl at the desk and head into the bar. The staff here is amazing. They'll take my bag up to my locker so I can enjoy myself at the bar.
I usually head for the bar first, one drink before I go and play. Not today. Today I need to feel something, and I don't know what. I need to escape my brain. This is the safest and only way I know how.
4
CHLOE
Ihead straight up to the corridor where the locker room is. Letting out a huge sigh as I moved my bag that one of the girls brought up, and open my locker, number 22, and saw what stuff I left last time I was here. Not much. I changed out of my 'street clothes' into a leather corset and panties. I could walk around practically naked, but I'd never do that without my own Dom. Not that I don't trust the guys in this place, I do. Jacob would have their ass' kicked out so fast if anyone wasn't behaving in a way they were supposed to. It's why they have the two-drink limit.
