Page 54 of His Property

CHAPTER26

Lola

I was staring up at the whiteboard, flipping the dry-erase pen over and over in my hand as I scanned the dispatch schedule for all the other cleaning girls, when the front door chime went off.

Sighing, I didn’t even take my eyes from the board. Craig had given me the extra job duty of helping to schedule the other girls, and the whiteboard was where we all looked to confirm where our assignments were for any given day. “We’re not open for another half hour,” I said, yawning. “We can schedule you—”

“I’m not here to get my house cleaned.”

I dropped the pen on the floor with a muted squeak. Iknewthat voice from somewhere.

Spinning around, I couldn’t help my jaw dropping. “Oh, shit.”

It was Alicia.

Dressed in a cream turtleneck that showcased her very generous breasts, a long black skirt, and devastatingly attractive, high-heeled boots the color of onyx, she looked every inch thefemme fatale, her brilliant blonde hair pulled back in twin braids, her plump lips painted with the palest of blush gloss.

In my ratty torn jeans and stained t-shirt, I felt like a fucking street urchin by comparison. At least I’d showered that morning. “Um, hi… what, uh, what are you doing here?”

Craig’s voice called out from his office, his door closed but slightly ajar. “Lola, is someone there?”

“Got it, boss!” I called back in a louder voice than necessary.

“I need to talk to you.” Alicia’s voice was that same smooth, cultured tone, silky and almost husky in a most feminine way. Not for the first time, I thought she’d definitely have a promising second career as a voice actress if she ever got tired of playing helper girl to Ellis.

The thing was I knew she was more than that to him. Or she wanted to be. I wasn’t stupid.

“Look, Alicia, if you’re here to gloat that your competition for Ellis is out of the way, save it. I’m not—”

“Oh,please,” the woman said, rolling her eyes. “I have about as much interest in Ellis’ cock as you do in my pussy.”

“You’re free to pursue hi—wait,whatdid you say?”

Alicia just scowled at me, her sculpted brow arched.

“Oh…oh!”My stomach dropped, realization dawning on me. “You mean, you’re a…”

She nodded as one might to a child just discovering object permanence. “Yes. That’sexactlywhat I am. And don’t get any fucking ideas, either. I like my women young. But Idon’tlike them stupid. So, that takes someone like you right out of the running.”

My face burned so bright, I thought it might melt. “Oh Jesus, all this time I thought… you and…” I put a hand over my eyes. “Fuck, I’m an idiot.”

“No argument from me on that count. That’s not why I’m here though.”

I took a deep breath, swallowing down my embarrassment, forcing myself to face her. Despite my mortification at my clumsy misapprehension about Alicia’s motivations, a strange sense of relief settled upon me. It was the dissipation of a tension I hadn’t realized had been taking such a toll upon my spirit.

“I’ve just spent the last forty-eight hours playing counselor to one of my oldest and dearest of friends. And while I think I’ve gotten him to see the light, so to speak, that’s not the true problem here. The problem here is a certain young, and dumb, and full of cumtwitwho can’t seem to recognize a good thing, even when it’s practically slapping her in the goddamned face.”

“What’s that… what’s that supposed to mean?”

But I knew.

“Exactly what you think it means.” Alicia raised her voice, though even in her pique, she still managed to sound classy and attractive. “There is a man out there, who dozens,hundredsof women would give anything to have even a chance at. But that man doesn’t want any of those women. Because he’s almost as dumb as you. He wants, well… a stupid girl. An attractive one, with good tits and pretty eyes, yes, but one who isn’t even close to the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

My legs started to feel rubbery, and I leaned a hip against the front counter to steady myself.

Craig’s door swung open, and he strolled out to the front lobby, eyebrows raised. “Is there a prob—oh, hi, Alicia.” He cocked his thumb toward the board, looking from me to Alicia and back. “Is… does Mr. Winters need a…?”

“No, thank you, Craig,” Alicia said, giving him a saccharine smile. “Just need to get Lola here to… see some sense.”

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