AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turned around and my mouth dropped open.
“Jesus,” Greer whispered.
Beside the store clerk stood a woman who, in six-inch black stilettos, towered over her employee. Dressed in a black pantsuit that made my boring dress pants pale in comparison, she commanded attention. Her suit was tailored to fit the feminine curves of her body, leaving little to the imagination even though her arms and legs were fully covered. Beneath the suit jacket, which was fastened with two buttons at waist level, was nothing but olive skin, the deep V exposing a wealth of cleavage. When she smiled, her dark brown eyes smiled too. “Welcome to White Rabbit. Which one of you is looking for part-time employment?”
Greer nudged me, so I stepped forward. “I am.”
“Great. Do you have time for a quick interview?”
I nodded.
“Join me in my office, please.”
After a quick glance over my shoulder at Greer, I followed the woman toward the back of the store. focusing on the steady way she took each step as if she wasn’t balancing precariously on six-inch spikes. Her long hair was dark brown, almost black, and it fell down her back in perfect waves.
She actually looked like the kind of woman who would wear lingerie like what was sold here.
We stepped into a small office and the woman motioned to two chairs facing the desk as she closed the door, then she settled into a leather chair behind the desk and leaned forward, extending her hand. “I’m Mina. White Rabbit is my baby.”
“Oh, so… you’re not just the manager?”
She smiled. “No, you met my manager out front. You got lucky and came in on a day when I’m here. I have shops all over the city, as well as other establishments as far west as Los Angeles and as far south as Miami, so I’m rarely here these days.” She tapped a few keys on the keyboard, then shut her laptop and looked at me again as a printer awoke beneath the table and began working. “What kind of retail experience do you have…?” She paused. ”You never gave me your name.”
“Oh wow, I’m sorry. I’m Rylan. And…” I hesitated, then just went with the truth. “I should probably tell you that I don’t have any retail experience and I know nothing about lingerie.” I grimaced as soon as the words left my lips, but it was too late to backtrack and honesty was always a good policy, right?
She studied me for a few seconds, then leaned forward, crossing her slender arms on the desk. “I appreciate your candor, Rylan. Let me offer some in return. I’m in need of someone to take over in the evenings as soon as possible. Laurel is already working way too many hours for how pregnant she is, and I’m unable to be here as much as I’d like to be.” She took a deep breath, then added, “But evenings are busy, and I need someone reliable.”
“I’m definitely that.”
“Good.” Mina smiled. “I also need someone who can be discreet.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Mina licked her lips, searching for something in my eyes. “You seem young… early twenties? Are you in school?”
“Just graduated recently, actually, from Vassar. And I’m twenty-four.”
Mina’s eyes widened. “A degree from Vassar is an impressive accolade. Obviously, though, working retail isn’t the usual next step for someone like yourself. What brings you to the shop today?”
“My friend said you were hiring. I guess she has a friend who works here.”
“Did she tell you anything else about my business?”
“No, and I have to reiterate… I really don’t know anything about lingerie.” I paused. “Or retail.”
“Okay, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Mina smiled warmly. “We all have to start somewhere. What else do you do for work?”
“I just began a full-time internship,” I said proudly. “It’s unpaid, so that’s why I need to find a part-time job.” With a shrug, I added, “I just need something in the evenings, honestly. What you described sounds perfect for me.”
“That’s great. Where are you interning?”
“Reed Publishing.” Even just saying the words aloud filled me with a renewed sense of excitement. I had just started an internship at one of the biggest publishing houses in the world.
When she didn’t respond right away,I braced myself.
Was this about to be another Simona Steele conversation? I mean, fetch my gloves and I’ll throw down again, but twice in one day was a little excessive.
Finally, she nodded thoughtfully. “That’s what you’d like to do someday, Rylan, work in publishing?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Then I assume you like to read…?”
“Oh, yes. As much as possible.”
Mina’s smile widened. “Reed Publishing is well known for their romance imprint, aren’t they?”
“Absolutely.”
She gave a wistful little sigh. “I love anything romantic.” Mina motioned toward the closed office door and the lingerie store beyond. “Obviously.” She ran a red fingernail over her full bottom lip. “The right lingerie can set the mood. Dark, sexy, sweet… it can change with something as simple as fabric choice or the shade of the lingerie.”
Unsure of where this conversation was headed, I nodded agreement and waited.
“Candor, right?”
I nodded.
“Many of my lingerie stores lead to a place called the Rabbit Hole.” She paused. “Are you familiar with the Rabbit Hole, Rylan?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Just Mina, please. I’m not old enough for ma’am.” She flashed a smile. “The Rabbit Hole is a sanctuary. A safe haven. Part nightclub, part…” Mina tilted her head. “What’s your favorite type of romance to read?”
I hadn’t expected that, but it was my favorite question. “I love enemies to lovers stories. All that angst.” I rubbed my hands together. “The best.”
“And, what about books about kinkier stuff, like… bondage?”
Okay, um… “I love BDSM books, but…” This interview was taking a strange turn. “I don’t understand what we’re talking about here.”
Mina’s smile spread across her face again. “I’m so sorry.” She chuckled as she raised her hands in the air. “I’m getting ahead of myself here. Please forgive me. All of my employees have come to me based on personal recommendations. I’m not used to interviewing someone who isn’t already aware of what I do.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper, passing it across the desk to Rylan. “My clientele is… a bit different than that of, say, Victoria’s Secret, or even La Perla. They have different needs, desires… lifestyles.”
She said the last word pointedly, piquing my curiosity. First the bondage question and now this… did she sell other stuff, not just lingerie? I hadn’t noticed any, but to be fair, I hadn’t really looked around either.
“Your friend brought you here, but I don’t believe she told you everything.”
I raised an eyebrow. What had Greer not told me?
“In addition to the basic employment paperwork, tax forms, et cetera, I would also need you to sign some additional documentation, similar to a non-disclosure agreement. Is that something you’d be willing to do?”
“I mean, I guess so? But I’d need to know why.“
“Of course you would.” Mina nodded. “That’s understandable.”
“Do you sell, like, other stuff here?”
She remained quiet for a moment.
Should I have been more specific? Ask her if she has any double-sided dildos or edible thongs?
“There are other facets of my business, yes.” Mina tilted her head, holding my gaze as if gauging me before she explained further. “You might see a senator walk through my doors, Rylan. A famous actor.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “People even more famous than that. You won’t be able to tell anyone, won’t be able to gush to your friends because your favorite rockstar was here.”
I nearly laughed. “I don’t really care about that kind of stuff, and rockstars aren’t…” I shook my head. “That’s not really my thing.” Authors, however, I might lose my mind over.
Mina’s lips twitched. “Professors from Columbia”
I pictured Greer’s grandfather walking into a fancy lingerie store, and had to bite back another laugh–
“Handsome publishing tycoons.”
Well now, that was no laughing matter. Were we talking about the old Cabot Reed or the young one?
Mina chuckled softly as if following my thoughts. “You just never know.”
“I wouldn’t say anything to anyone.”
Mina nodded, smiling fondly. “I like you, Rylan. I have a good feeling about this.”
Excitement filled me with a soft buzzing, and my cheeks began to ache from smiling. I was about to get a job. My new boss seemed so nice, and the shop was within walking distance of Reed Tower, so I wouldn’t lose any time traveling between locations.
“Okay. Let’s get to it.” Mina clasped her hands together. “I normally only hire people who have been downstairs, but I’m going to take a chance on you. I believe you and your friend are headed there later tonight anyway?”
Downstairs? Did she mean the nightclub? “I don’t really do nightclubs…”
Mina laughed, covering her mouth as she held my gaze. “Well, the Rabbit Hole isn’t really a nightclub, as far as nightclubs go.”
It was official: the more she spoke, the less I understood.
“I pay two dollars more per hour than the going rate of minimum wage. I don’t offer part-time employees health benefits or insurance, but you will have a significant discount on anything you buy here, and, should you decide to come on board full-time, health insurance and benefits would absolutely be part of the employment package.” She paused, then added, “Should full time employment be something you’re interested in, we will play it by ear, but I most certainly would not encourage you away from your dreams of working in publishing.”
Okay, that all sounded reasonable enough.
“What do you think? Would you like to work for me?”
No question. “Absolutely.”
“Great. Welcome to White Rabbit, Rylan.” Mina stood and walked to the door. “We’ll call this a tentative hire until you’ve spent some time downstairs and are sure you want to be a part of this, okay?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t really sure what I was agreeing to.
She glanced down at the diamond-encrusted Rolex on her wrist. “Please leave your information with Laurel, then come back around eight o’clock and we’ll take you downstairs. Sound good?”
“Sounds great. Thank you so much.”
“I have a good feeling about this.” Mina smiled, then added, “If you decide you want to stick around after the event, can you start tomorrow night?”
“Yes.” Could this be more perfect?
