Page 139 of Red Marked

The elevator is packed with people wearing lanyards and somebody’s heavy perfume, so I wave them off and take the stairs.

I arrive on our floor. The hallway is thankfully quiet.

I pull the key card out of my wallet and slide it into the slot. The light blinks green. The lock clicks.

I push open the door.

“How did it go?” Star stands, shutting the laptop.

She’s wearing a little pink summer dress.

“The first male was stuffy.” I drop the résumés on the desk and toe off my shoes. “He sat there like somebody had ironed him into the chair. Every answer was the one he thought I wanted to hear. I asked him about a mistake he’d made on the job, and he told me his biggest flaw is that he cares too much.”

Star winces and then laughs. “He didn’t.”

“Yep, he did. The whole thing was wooden. It was off, somehow.” I shrug.

“Okay, so phew. I’m still in the running, then?” She smiles, and I want to kiss her.

“Well now, the second candidate was much better. His name is Forge.” I tap the top page. “Actually, he’s perfect for the job. He’s run his own crew for six years, and he’s still happy to take orders. He wants to bring home a friend who was exiled. On his way out, he carried a banner stand to the front desk for some woman he’d never met. He didn’t know I was watching. Didn’t even check.”

“Ouch.” She sits back down on the edge of the bed and tucks her hands under her thighs. “Am I in trouble here?”

“No, of course not. You’re even more perfect for the job, for all the reasons I gave. You know the jungle, and you know the ferals. Nobody can beat that kind of intimate knowledge.” I square the pages against the edge of the desk. “But I’m keeping Forge’s résumé. You’re going to resign and go back to your life as soon as we find whoever is responsible for the cover-up. I’ll offer him the job then.” I line the pen up next to the pages. “Unless you want to stay on, of course.”

She throws out a laugh. “No, I think I’ll be ready to go back to my life by then.”

“Of course.”

Star walks up to me, her eyes on mine. “Now…about that interview.” She hooks a finger through one of my belt loops. “You said you needed to go through the motions and officially interview me.”

“I do.”

“And unless I pass, I don’t get the job.”

“I’m afraid not.” I shake my head, playing along. “There are procedures. My hands are tied here. I’m sure you understand.”

“I understand. We’d better do this, then.”

Star drops to her knees and undoes my belt.

I make a choking noise. My cock is already hard.

She pops the button on my jeans and leaves the zipper where it is. Then she takes hold of the hem of her dress and pulls the whole thing over her head.

She’s wearing the black lace set I fucking love. Her tits look fantastic encased in lace. I swallow hard. Her nipples are dark shadows behind the sheer fabric.

“Am I dressed okay for the interview?”

“Yes…maybe a little overdressed for the type of role.”

She reaches behind her back and undoes the clasp. The straps slide down her arms, and she drops the bra on top of my shoes. Her tits spill free.

“Holy fuck!”

“Do you always swear while conducting interviews?”

I smile and bite my lip.