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“That just means you need to drink more.”
“Um, no, let’s not,” I say, covering the top of my glass with my hand as Claire tries to pour more.
“This dress is smoking, Angie. Dominic might think twice about sharing you with the database.”
I stare down at the dark blue, knee-length, cap-sleeved dress. I feel pretty as my eyes sparkle with silver undertones, showing off the green pigment in my eyes. Silver heels dress up my feet that are also freshly polished.
“It’s not too much, is it?” I ask.
“Just the right amount. You look hot!”
My biggest fan. She is hopelessly biased, and I love her for it. “You think we will be going to the same place tonight? The city is very small.”
“I have no idea where Ethan is taking me. I’m sure he has his regular venues.” Her look turns serious as she thinks about the possibilities. “Watch it be some place really random. Like a strip club. Or pottery painting. Or axe throwing. Ew, I hope it’s not one of those escape rooms.”
Her giggling only causes me to reciprocate. A car door from below my window shuts, forcing my eyes to glance at the clock.
Eek! It’s time.
I pull my curtains to the side to see a man with sandy-brown hair leaning against the door to the driver’s side of the sleek black car.
“Wow, he drives a Mercedes-Benz CLA,” Claire groans with approval, while pulling back the fabric more to sneak a peek.
“How can you even tell from here?” I ask dumbfounded.
“I know a sexy car when I see one. Driver’s pretty hot too. If you go for the rugged, alpha-in-a-suit, strong-jawbone type.”
He is dressed in a black suit with a black tie—very professional. His eyes scan the premises, doing a sweep of the area surrounding him. I’m sure he is trained under strict protocol.We have our shit together here, are the words spoken by Dominic that echo freshly in my ears. Maybe he is the security type.
“Whoa. He’s one mighty fine specimen of a man!” Claire announces with a whistle. We are both kneeling on the window seat cushion, trying to remain concealed, although the moving drapes have to be some kind of tell. “He’d be worth my attention. Climb him like a stripper pole.”
“Okay, I’m out,” I interrupt her blatant ogling of the driver. I stand and straighten my hem.
“No, wait,” she insists. “Here, take these.” In my hand, she presses three wrapped Trojans—all in various colors and sizes. “Make sure if you use a safe word, it is anything but the word ‘yes’ or ‘more.’ And if you end up doing the sex, make sure you don’t black out so you can remember it with details, just to tell me all about it later.”
My eyes narrow at Claire’s version of the “sex talk.” This is her weird way of being nurturing, so I let it slide.
“I’m not going to sleep with my—correction, our—boss!”
“Take them anyway for the future. If you want to undress Venus, wrap up your penis.”
“I don’t have a penis.”
“Yeah, you do,” she declares. “It’s just small.”
“What?”
“You know we all start out with boy parts in the womb,” she instructs.
“Thanks for the anatomy lesson.” I mumble my fake gratitude. “You’re the best.” I humor her and place the contraceptives in my handbag, shaking my head at her comment.
“I know.” Her stretching smile takes up half her face.
My three-inch heels clink down the stairs in unison with the frantic beat of my heart. My arms sprout goose bumps from my nerves. I wrap Claire’s borrowed silver shawl around my arms, knowing full well that it will not suffice against the night’s changing temperatures as winter is just a couple of months away. I open a spearmint Lifesaver and discard the plastic wrapper into my handbag. A nervous energy shivers through me; the anticipation of having my first agency date is messing with my head.
I step out into the cold air and turn to see Claire’s wide eyes through the window above. I straighten my posture and take a deep breath, making my way down the concrete steps. I chomp down on the mint and make it dissolve. My hair tangles with the wind, and I resist the urge to pull it back into a ponytail.
The driver, who is now standing at full attention, greets me with a neutral expression. “Good evening, Miss McFee.”
