AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My face immediately reddens, and my lower belly tightens.
“And I felt it would be inappropriate to bring up,” he adds. He leans back in his chair, taking a sip from his glass. “But I also felt like we needed to clear the air. Get it out in the open and get over it.” He purses his lips. “Do you agree?”
I nod. “Yes. I—I’m glad you did.”
He’s silent, watching me. I hope my blush isn’t overly apparent in the dim lighting, although I worry that it is.
“So you’re not justarich Seattleite,” I say, referencing our first conversation at the bar. “You’re the richest man in the city.”
He smirks. “You’re forgetting my brothers. I’m not any richer than them.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay. Tied for richest man in the city. Big difference.”
He smiles at my teasing.
“Speaking of your brothers,” I say. “I haven’t met them. Have they even been in the office?”
“Alec is away, meeting with stakeholders in the Bay Area. Normally, he’s around the office more.” He purses his lips. “Aiden is … less involved. Often works from home, dumps a lot on Ben.”
I take this in. Ben does seem overwhelmed a lot of the time. “And the three of you founded the company together,” I say.
Asher nods. “Yes. About five years ago.”
I suddenly wonder how old Asher is. To be CEO of a huge tech company, practically running Seattle. He looks to be in his late twenties, thirty at the most. I wonder what it’s like to achieve success so young.
“For what it’s worth,” I say, “I’m glad to be working here. I appreciate the opportunity, and I want to do a good job here.” I try to sound as serious as possible, genuine. No matter what happened between us, I need this job. And I’m going to take it seriously. I need him to know that.
Asher knits his brows together then gives a soft smile. “I’m glad to hear that, Olivia.”
We finish up our dinner, and Asher declares our work done for the night. Everything else can be completed tomorrow. I gather my things and bid him farewell on my way out of his office. His somewhat stuffy demeanor seems to be back, but I’m thankful for the honest conversation we were able to have. I don’t expect the same lightheartedness from this encounter to return to everyday work, but I’m relieved to have cleared the air.
I make my way home, suddenly a bit more hopeful about my future at King Technologies.
Chapter 10
It’s Friday night, and I’m in the dressing room at the gentlemen’s club, changing into my ridiculous outfit once more. Slipping on my heels, I remind myself that this whole arrangement is temporary, that I’m just doing this long enough to get the money I need and then I’ll be out of here. Unlike Courtney, I don’t exactly find excitement in this job.
Not that there’s anything inherentlybadabout it. I guess I’m just not one of those women who can easily push aside the embarrassment. Probably some internalized hang ups I should strive to get over, but whatever.
Still not used to how overwhelmingly exposed I feel, I take a deep breath to steady myself and head out into the club. Much like last weekend, the actual job is a breeze. I float around tables, offering drinks and taking orders. The men are always happy to see me, stealing glances over my body, and leave generous tips.
An hour whizzes by, then two.
Halfway through my shift, I wander off to take a quick break, using the restroom and then ducking into the dressing room to take a drink from my water bottle. After hydrating, I smooth my hair and get back out into the club.
I grab a fresh tray of drinks and make my way over to a new group of men who’ve just arrived. They’re wearing suits and are chatting animatedly, sitting in a cluster of chairs near the back corner.
“Gin and tonic?” I ask as I approach the group, gesturing to the tray.
“I’ll take one,” a man says.
I smile, grabbing a drink and reaching out to give it to him. He’s on the far end of the group, so I have to lean forward to reach him, my breasts dangling enticingly below me.
But just as I hand off the drink, my eyes land on the man sitting next him. The man who had, up until now, been staring down at his phone. He looks up, and his gaze lands on mine.
My heart stops in my chest, and my blood practically runs cold.
Asher King stares back at me, his expression just as shocked as mine probably is. His eyes are wide as he studies my face, recognition and confusion clouding his features. Then his gaze drops to my breasts.
