5. Something Feels Off

Chapter 5

Something Feels Off

Megan

I ’m silent for the rest of the drive to the Blue Whiskey. Once we arrive at the club, I give Hunter a quick peck on the lips and thank him for the lift.

“You’re in a rush,” he notices.

“I don’t want to be late for the interview.”

“Is this the first person you’ve hired for the club?”

“I’m just a little worried about what’s going to happen to the kitchen when Bobby leaves. We’re known for our wings.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. You’ve got this.”

“I’ll see you later.” I smile, kind of blowing off his encouragement. It’s so strange having someone in my life who actually believes in me. I think it makes me uncomfortable.

I quickly change into the extra set of clothes I always store in my office closet and head to the kitchen to see if the girl I’m interviewing is here. The club hasn’t opened yet, but the kitchen staff is in full preparation mode.

Billy sees me when I walk in and lifts a hand in greeting. “Megan, this is Lacy. This is the friend I was telling you about. She’s here for the interview.”

Lacy offers her hand. “Hi.”

I study her for a moment, recalling the picture on her resume. She’s definitely young, but there was clearly a filter on the picture I saw before because now that she’s in front of me, I can tell that she’s not as young or polished as I originally thought.

She doesn’t have a head full of beach-worthy brunette waves, but instead, she has a lifeless box-dyed ponytail, and when I move even closer, I can see the soft curve of violet-colored contact lenses around her irises. I wonder what her actual eye color is. And I also wonder why she’s trying so hard to look so different. Is it the pressure that social media seems to place on most of us nowadays, or is it something else?

I don’t know.

I’m trying not to be too judgmental, but something feels off about her. But Billy looks so hopeful that his referral will work out. I try to let go of my initial doubts.

“Nice to meet you,” I offer, extending my hand to meet hers.

The girl has a firm handshake, and despite her oddities, when she smiles, I have to resist the urge to smile back. She has one of those infectious smiles where the corners of her eyes crinkle.

“You’re looking for full-time work, right?” I ask her.

“Yes, I am.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And you’ve worked as a line cook before?”

“That’s right.”

“She’s great,” Billy adds eagerly, and it makes me wonder for a moment if this is someone Billy has had a romantic relationship with. He’s not known for being particularly loyal to his girlfriend.

“Okay, let’s see what you can do. Billy is going to clear a counter for you, and you’re going to make two items from the menu and one dish of your own creation. Obviously, we’re a bar and grill, and we don’t have very sophisticated offerings, but we want our simple fare to taste good.”

She nods in understanding.

“Billy, bring the food to my office once it’s ready.”

“Gotcha.” Billy swings his arm over the young woman in what actually seems like a brotherly manner. “Lemme show you the menu, Lacy.”

I have some scheduling work to get done in my office, but when I walk in, Hunter is lounging on the couch, his phone to his ear.

“I see. Well, send me all those profiles, and I want you to drop by my office within the hour.” He pauses and then adds cooly, “Or I can always come to you.”

I quietly open my laptop, wincing at that tone. His words seem more like a threat than a casual offer.

When he ends the call, I ask, “What’re you doing here?”

“You’re always asking me that as if you want me to leave. It’s impolite.”

“We’re at work, Mr. Middleton.” I grin. “And we just saw each other. I’m just wondering if you need anything in particular. I was about to handle the schedule.”

“I need a lot of things.” He pats his leg as a signal for me to sit, and I narrow my eyes.

“No, thank you. The last time I sat in your lap, I had trouble walking the next day.”

I can tell that he’s about to say something dirty when I add, “I met the girl that Billy recommended. I told her to make some dishes for me to sample, so if you’re sticking around my office, you can try them, too.”

“I’ll stick around if you-“

“I’m not sitting on your lap, Hunter,” I scowl. “I’m at work just as are you. Go do something.”

He watches me from the couch, and when he doesn’t say anything for a few long seconds, I wonder if I’ve finally managed to piss him off.

“You’re giving me whiplash. One minute, you’re shivering in my arms, and the next, you’re bossing me around.”

“I’m not bossing you around.” I give him an indignant look. “And look who’s talking! Talk about whiplash. Have you ever met you?”

“Yeah, but I am the boss.”

“I wonder why that line comes out of your mouth whenever it’s convenient for you?”

“It’s not that I say it because it’s convenient. I say it because it’s facts.”

I roll my eyes defiantly.

“Do you realize if you’re nice to me, you might get a raise?” He smirks suggestively at me. “That’s the perk of having a special relationship with the boss.”

I give him a dirty look. “Thanks. That really validates the nature of our relationship.”

He grins harder, loving the banter between us, and I must admit that I love being the one responsible for his smiling. It’s the side of him that he only shows when we’re alone, and somehow, that feels really special to me. I don’t think he smiles this much with Vaughn and Christian. At least not that I’ve seen.

“By the way,” I reach into my tote. “I wanted to ask you for something.”

He immediately sits up, intrigued. “You want me to take you shopping?”

I run my tongue over my teeth before saying carefully, “No.”

I walk over to him and hand him one of the tickets that I received for the exhibition. My voice is a little awkward, but I say the words anyway.

“Since we’re dating now, I thought I would invite you on our official first date.”

“Our first date was in Paris.”

“That was not a first date,” I tell him. “That was a seduction.”

“And a damn good one,” he agrees, smiling devilishly.

God, he’s so handsome.

“So, now you want me to accompany you to the exhibition?” He questions. “I thought you were dead set against the idea.”

“Well,” I answer, fidgeting with my blouse. “This event is important to me, and you said we’re dating.“

“We are dating,” Hunter confirms. “In public and in private, you are mine, Megan.”

“Okay.” I blush at the possessive look in his eyes. “Well, as I said, it’s an important night for me, and I want you there, but only as my date. You’re not coming as Hunter Middleton, the businessman or patron of the arts. No making deals on my behalf with rich people over drinks or anything. I can do that on my own. I just want you to be there next to me. You know… like arm candy,” I tease.

“I see.” He takes the ticket from me, and I see a strange emotion cloud his eyes, one I can’t define.

“It’ll be boring,” I warn him, but he stands up, bowing his head to kiss me, almost achingly gentle.

“No, it won’t. Thank you for the invitation.”

I’m so used to his dominating behavior that this kind of gentle treatment flusters me.

“Don’t make a big deal about it,” I mumble, and he lets out a light chuckle.

“I’m not, but it’s a first for me.”

“To be invited to an exhibition?” I ask, unclear of what he means.

“No,” He looks down at the ticket in his hands. “To be invited somewhere not because of what I can do for you, but because you simply want my company.”

It never dawned on me that Hunter was wary of relationships with women for those reasons, but now that he mentions it, it makes sense that women probably try to use him for his money, especially the kinds of women that frequent the Blue Whiskey.

I find myself standing on my tiptoes to press a kiss on his cheek. “You’d better dress nice. Remember, you’re my arm candy for the night and a reflection of me.”

The next thing I know, I’m laying supine on the couch with a large hand under my blouse, freeing one of my breasts from my bra.

“You’re going to be the death of me, Megan,” he growls deliciously.

“That’s Miss Taylor when we’re in the office,” I say as wetness quickly dampens my panties.

“Get on your knees and lean over the back of the couch, Miss Taylor,” he growls possessively. “And spread those thighs wide.”

I know we shouldn’t do this. It’s too early in the evening. Anyone could walk in and catch us, but I don’t seem to care as I do what I’m told, anxiously awaiting the bliss that is about to push its way inside of me.

As I grip the edge of the sofa, Hunter pushes my skirt up to my waist, slides the crotch of my panties to the side, and enters me swiftly. The sudden feeling of fullness leaves me utterly breathless.

“Your pussy is as dangerous as you are.” He says as he strokes deeper inside of me.

“Hunter,” I moan.

His punishing strokes grow faster and harder until he’s pounding my pussy so hard that I can’t even speak. There’s nothing else I can call it but a claiming. Reminding me of who I belong to.

I come swiftly, and he follows right after me, grunting through his release. I flop over the back of the couch, totally spent, waiting for the stars flickering behind my eyes to dissipate.

Hunter hands me a few tissues to clean myself up, puts himself back together, then slaps one of my ass cheeks before exiting the office door.

“I can’t wait for our date, Miss Taylor,” he says, giving me an uncustomary wink of his eye. “I’ll see you later.”

I’ve just been fucked senseless on my work couch by my official new boyfriend and boss, and all I can do is grin from ear to ear.

As he exits my office, for once in my life, I’m not worried about a damn thing. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Then there's a knock at the door.