Page 30 of Pure Recklessness

‘A virgin?’ He gasped.

‘No!’ I protested, annoyed at the assumption.

And so what if I was a virgin? It wasn’t a big deal. It was up to the individual to decide when they were ready for sex and if they wanted to wait until they were in their fifties or to never do it at all, it was no one’s business but their own.

‘So let me get this straight.’ Joe crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. ‘Sated’s CEO has given you an amazing opportunity to work on an audio project, but you haven’t started listening to any of Sated’s audiobooks because you think they’re “too racy”? How the hell can you do your job properly, if you’re not familiar with the novels the company publishes and don’t feel comfortable trying their products?’

‘He kind of has a point.’ Dana nodded.

‘This isn’t gonna fly, Ellie!’ Joe waved his finger. ‘If you really want to keep this job, you need to immerse yourself in Sated’s world. Read the novels, listen to the audiobooks and get yourself a boyfriend, or girlfriend, to experiment with. And I’m not coming on to you. I prefer men, so you’re out of luck, sweetheart.’

‘I recently broke up with my ex and I don’t want another boyfriend!’ I replied.

‘You had a boyfriend?’ Joe said, like it was the most radical thing ever. ‘It’s just you seem a little prim and uptight. What happened with him?’

‘I wanted to come to London and he didn’t. I’m here to build my career. A man will just hold me back.’

‘How was your ex in the sack?’ Joe asked.

I stiffened, blinking rapidly.

Wow. I thought Dana was forward, but this Joe guy was really direct.

‘Leave her alone,’ Dana said.

‘So, I’m going to assume your ex was shit in bed,’ Joe said matter-of-factly, ignoring Dana’s request. ‘Which means we have a lot of work to do to bring you up to speed and save you from being sent back to your shitty village.’ Joe drained his cocktail then picked up his second one. ‘We need to give you a proper Sated welcome.’

‘Yes!’ Dana cheered.

‘That’s kind of you, but I don’t know how long I’ll be here.’

‘All the more reason to have it now,’ Dana added. ‘It’ll help you do your job better. Working here isn’t like a normal office. Sated promotes sexual expression and awareness. I know you think you can get by just by working hard, but like Joe said, our job involves a deeper “understanding” of our customers’ needs. Knowing what pleasure feels like is important. And the best way to do that is to experience it for yourself.’

‘Let’s do it now!’ Joel downed his second cocktail like it was water. ‘Let’s strike whilst the iron’s hot. Drink up, Dana. We need to take Ellie to the basement.’

‘Great idea!’ Dana beamed.

‘The basement?’ My jaw dropped. ‘Why? What’s down there?’

A barrage of thoughts flooded my mind and none of them were good.

‘You’ll see…’ Dana grinned just as my stomach bottomed out.

Here’s hoping I make it out alive.

11

ELLIE

As the lift descended, my heart thudded.

Now would’ve been a good time to message someone to let them know that I was being taken to the basement of a sex toy company and asking them to send help, but there was no one.

Jarvis and I hadn’t spoken since I’d come to London.

And considering I’d told my parents I was working in a gadgets business, I couldn’t suddenly announce that I was being lured to my employer’s sex dungeon.

I didn’t have any friends left in the village. The few people my age moved away years ago to start their new lives.