How long before Henry fires me? Will it be tonight? Or tomorrow morning? Will he do it himself, or have Belinda give me a shove off? Something in my gut tells me she might not mind that.
He trusted me and I let him down.
The water in the stall next to me shuts off.
“What is that delicious smell?” Katie calls out.
I smile despite my anxiety, lathering my sore, stressed body. I always take pride in someone fawning over a product of mine. “Mint soap. Homemade.” After a nerve-wracking day, there’s nothing more soothing than creamy coconut-oil-based herbal soaps and a hot shower.
“Homemade as in you made it?”
“Yup.”
“You know how to make that kind of stuff?”
“Yeah. It’s pretty easy.” If I were in Greenbank, I’m sure I’d be occupying my time and broken heart by making truckloads right now. I kind of miss the process, but I couldn’t bring my supplies here. No way Alaska Airlines would have let me fly with a vat of lye. Plus, I figured I wouldn’t have the facilities or time to make anything.
My shower curtain suddenly glides open and I gasp, one arm flying to do a poor job of covering my breasts, my free hand fanning between my legs.
Katie adjusts the white towel that’s wrapped around her body. “Relax. I see naked women all day long, Abbi.” She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Can I see the soap for a minute?”
I uncover my breasts reluctantly and hold out the hand with the bar. I can’t say the last time anyone besides my doctor has seen me naked. People are meant to change behind closed doors, alone. More sage advice from Bernadette Mitchell.
Katie takes it from me and holds it up to her nose. She inhales deeply, then runs her thumb over it. “Heavenly. And it doesn’t look gross, like other homemade soaps.”
“I guess not.” I pause, the hot water streaming down my back as the front of me gets chilled with the draft. “You know you could have waited until I was done.”
She slaps the bar back into my hands. “I wanted to see how it lathers. If you have any extra, I’d love a bar. I forgot my organic soaps at home and I couldn’t find anything in Homer.” Her crystal-blue eyes drop to my naked body, dancing over my arms and neck, lingering on my breasts for a moment, before lifting to my face again. “You should be more confident in your own skin. You have no reason to hide that body.”
“Um… Thanks?” That’s the second person who’s made reference to my confidence today. Do I really wear my insecurity so openly?
“And seriously, let me help you with that jungle.” Her eyes dip to where my hand hides my pubic hair. “I have all my waxing stuff in the cabin. It’ll take me fifteen minutes and you’ll have an extra neat and tidy little Brazilian when I’m done with you.”
“Great.” I reach for the curtain, hoping that gives her the signal.
Katie just laughs and strolls away, leaving me feeling equal parts flattered by the compliments of a woman who obviously appreciates the female body, and outright violated.
Then I remind myself that I stood there and watched my boss jerk off in his own shower not more than two hours ago. I have no right to complain. Sure, he could have closed the door. But he said that he trusted me to do my job well and with full discretion.
What I did was the opposite of discreet.
And now I find myself staring down at my pubic hair that Katie called a jungle. That’s a bit harsh. Maybe more “burning bush,” the color matching my hair color, unfortunately. Sure, I haven’t shaved my bikini line. I only do that in the summer, to avoid embarrassing hairs from sticking out of my bathing suit. Am I supposed to do it during other times of the year?
Even in the privacy of my shower, my cheeks heat. How am I so utterly clueless about these things?
~ ~ ~ ~
“How was your first day in Penthouse One?” Autumn asks. The frame above me jostles as she settles in. Only Lorraine and Rachel are still out, working later shifts.
“Fine.”
“Just fine? What are the guests like? Did you have much to do?”
I sigh, dreading where I know this conversation is going to go. “Actually, Mr. Wolf is staying in Penthouse One.”
Autumn’s body comes rolling off the top of the bunkbed at the same time that Tillie turns to stare at me. “What?” they both exclaim in unison.
“You’re Mr. Wolf’s private housekeeper?” Tillie’s pretty face twists with shock and, I’m guessing, envy.
Am I even supposed to talk about this? “He hired me to be his personal assistant.”
“Personal assistant?” They both echo, their shock only multiplying.
“You guys sound like parrots,” Katie chuckles. She’s sitting on the edge of her bed in her robe, brushing freshly blow-dried hair, seemingly unfazed.
“Yeah. Stunned me, too.”
“What are you doing for him?” Tillie asks.
“I manage his calendar and his e-mail, I clean his cabin, book excursions for him and whoever he’s entertaining that day. Honestly, I’m not sure yet.” I can’t help but glance at the phone he gave me, dread filling me as I wait for my punishment. Will it be a text dismissal or, better yet, a request to see him right away so he can look me in the eye as he fires me?
I shouldn’t have spied on him like that for so many reasons, including the visual now firmly emblazoned in my mind of his powerful, savage thrusts and his perfect body. How will I ever face him again?
“You are a fucking bitch,” Tillie mutters. When my mouth drops open, she waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t mind me. I’m cranky and PMSing and completely jealous.”
“Anything juicy to share about our handsome boss?” Katie asks, sliding her robe off her body to reveal a lacy white bra and panties. She reaches for her jeans. I guess she’s heading out to the staff lounge.
Meeting people and making small talk is the absolute last thing I want to do right now. I roll onto my back and shut my eyes. “Nothing.” Besides Henry’s huge cock coming all over the shower glass. I’m going to have to clean that glass tomorrow, and the idea isn’t even grossing me out.
What have I turned into up here? This is exactly what Mama was afraid of.
“He made you sign a gag order, didn’t he?” Autumn crawls back into her bed, the shock of my new job finally settling.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Figures. I heard he’s a bit paranoid. He hasn’t let anyone step foot in his room since he got here. Not the maids, not room service. He’ll leave dishes outside the door.”
“Can’t say I blame him after what happened in L.A.,” Tillie mutters, giving her eyes a rub. If anyone’s had a hard day today, it’s the housekeeping staff.
“What happened in L.A.?” I ask warily.
“He came home from a meeting to find a maid naked and handcuffed to his bed. When he called security to escort her out, she claimed he restrained her and forced himself on her.” Tillie reaches beneath her uniform and begins peeling her nylons off her body. I guess there is no room for shame when six women share a cabin together. “The accusation was shut down real fast, what with her on camera and using her room key to get in, and him being in a meeting all day. Wasn’t too bright, that one. I guess she thought she’d be playing out a fantasy for him and when she realized he wasn’t interested, she panicked to try and save her job. Gorgeous girl, too, from what I’ve heard. A Miss Venezuela runner-up, or something like that.”
“That’s not true. How do you know all this?” Autumn demands.
Tillie’s smug smile tells me she enjoys being the hub of dark and dirty secrets. Once again, I’m relieved that I never divulged details to her about that first night. “Also, he had an assistant in the New York office until a few months ago. He fired her for hitting on him.”
Is that the headache he was talking about with Belinda? The headache he wants to avoid? He did say that he hired me because he knows I won’t try anything. When I’m sober.
“Okay, seriously. I’ve been with Wolf for two years and I’ve never heard any of this!” Autumn exclaims, oblivious of my internal torment, her doubt evident. “Who is your source?”
“My cousin works for the Wolf head office. She has a way of hearing things.”
Will she hear about me spying on Henry in the shower today? Will I be the subject of conversation in a few weeks: the personal assistant who was fired on her first day for being a pervert?
And after he just went to such great lengths to find an innocent little farm girl who he thought he could trust?
“Well, I’ve heard that he’s pretty secretive to begin with, which makes me think he’s hiding something,” Katie offers, waggling her brows. “Maybe some serious kink.”
Of course Katie would be the one to suggest that.
Katie and Tillie turn to stare at me expectantly. “I saw nothing… kinky in his room,” I offer, my cheeks burning. I’m stepping dangerously close to the “don’t talk about me” line that Henry drew. I reach over to turn off the little wall lamp by my bed. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to get some sleep. Good night, everyone.”
After a moment, Tillie pulls herself off her mattress and reaches for her shower caddy and robe. “Well, he won’t ever have to worry about you doing something inappropriate, like handcuffing yourself to his bed. You may be the only one of the females at this place who can say that honestly.”
I’m not sure if she’s trying to make me feel better, but I’m not feeling better.
Now, I’m feeling much, much worse.
