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Self-hate manifested after her meeting with the two jerks of Adytum. The experience caused post-traumatic stress to the point that tears streamed down her face for hours on end. Not only was Dylan’s arrogant face tattooed on her retinas, but the ghost of her hands tempted her to the point of masturbation. It was the only way to alleviate the feeling, even if it was only temporary.
Just as she conceded her failure and picked up the phone to call Terry, her email notification dinged. She rushed to the computer with a tightness in her chest as a new message from XR Entertainment arrived. That was the same company that sent her the information about the audition for Adytum. She clicked on the email.
Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she read, “Thank you for your audition. We look forward to your attendance tonight to embark on your career with Adytum.”
With no one to hear her, she grinned and said, “What the hell? I got the job?”
The details provided her with the time, location, and instructions to park in the hotel’s garage, then use the service entrance and elevator to the thirtieth floor, where she’d take the left staircase to the unmarked door. There wasn’t much else to the email other than a signature at the bottom. Dylan Tessay, Adytum’s security manager. She read it and that feeling between her legs came back: a weird mix of being aroused and violated by a stunning woman that made her mouth dry.
With that, Ari arranged a meeting at a café close to her home. He agreed. She arrived at the café where Terry waited, always being early to his meetings. He stood up, scowling at her as she walked in. Instead of greeting her with pleasantries, he berated her in the middle of the room. “I assume you came to return my money since you’ve avoided me and my calls. Did you even go to the audition?”
With renewed confidence, Ari strode toward Terry with the new knowledge she possessed. “Good afternoon, Terry. Thanks for coming. First off, if we are going to be working together, I need you to back the fuck off. And yes, I said, working together. Now, let’s sit.”
Terry’s posture changed, loosening as he took a seat, smoothing his hand down his red necktie. “Good to hear. Let’s talk about the details.”
As she sat across from him, she had the upper hand. If previous attempts to infiltrate Adytum had failed, she knew she had him by the balls. Though she needed this job, she also knew Terry needed her more. His underhanded omissions of what he wanted her to do had left Ari with little confidence in his honesty. He knew very well that the job would involve sex.
“Yes, let’s talk details. Now that I know exactly what they want from me, I think we should renegotiate my pay.”
His face turned redder than the scarlet tie around his neck. “We agreed on a thousand up front and another four thousand when you bring me Adytum’s head on a platter. How do I even know you’re not just saying this to get money out of me?”
“The same way I accepted the assignment before I knew how detailed the job truly was, Terry. Trust. I don’t have it in you, and well ... you don’t have it in me.” She pulled the printed email from her purse and slapped it in front of him. “I start tonight. Now, let’s see what you can do regarding money.”
He leaned back in his chair, stroking his unshaven chin, processing her proposition and the email. Moments passed into minutes of unspoken words before he leaned forward and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. He opened it, flipped through the bill compartment, and pulled out five C-notes. He slid them across the table but didn’t remove his hand. “Fine, but I want daily reports. You must check in daily. Should I uncover any discrepancy in your statement, CityBeats possesses the means to address extortionists.”
She gulped, trying her hardest to hide the fear he instilled with those words. When he lifted his hand, Ari grabbed the money from the table and tucked it in her purse. With false confidence, she said, “This isn’t extortion, especially since you are asking me to prostitute myself for a story. So save the threats. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Ari stood, twisted away with her puffed chest, and walked out. As soon as she hit the street, she let out a breath, relieved to be out of his presence. She would take the job, but all she’d do is blend in and befriend some of the staff. That should be enough for her to find out everything she needs in order to get the story. Hopefully.
Earlier, she had replied to Dylan with a barrage of questions, such as what job would she do, what to wear, and how long would the shifts be? All of which remained unanswered, as Dylan never replied. She checked her phone for both email and text messages, but as the clock ticked down, she wouldn’t know until she arrived.
About an hour before Ari needed to leave for Adytum, Billie showed up for moral support. Not knowing what her first day on the job would entail, Ari’s nervousness grew as the time neared. With Billie on the bed, Ari picked through her closet, holding up outfits to decide what she should wear. She tried on a white dress, one of her favorites in college, but it was far too tight. She had added a few pounds since graduating.
When Ari’s face twisted, Billie said, “I wouldn’t do white, anyway. One little spill and you’ll have red wine all over. You’d hate for people to think you’re into blood play while you’re there.”
“I hate for them to think I’m into anything,” Ari said as she peeled the dress over her head.
“What happened to wanting to discover things? Those fantasies about—”
Ari stopped her. “This is just a job. I’m only there to uncover information for the story, and then I’m out. This isn’t a lifetime commitment.”
“A week ago, you were like a kid in the candy store at The Pendulum. Now it’s ‘just a job.’ What the hell happened at this audition?”
“Nothing.” Ari held up a black skirt with a black button down, then turned to face Billie. “This?”
“Definitely looks like a waitress outfit.”
“Good. I’ll wear it.” Not that she needed to step out of the room and into the bathroom to change, but she did because Billie was correct. What happened to the woman who walked into a sex club the other night? She knew what had happened. Dylan stirred a sleeping beast, and she hated her for it. Not only did she touch her during that audition, but daily since then. A phantom of this woman preyed on her body and soul, a haunting feeling of being stalked by her own senses and memories. Even then, she felt Dylan’s finger sliding over the fabric of her undies, pressing into her sex. The urge to slap the hand away provided no relief from the teasing sensation. Instead, it was Ari’s own hand that warded off the specter of Dylan’s touch, if only temporarily. Now, for money and a potential full-time writing position, she’d have to work side by side with the predator who haunted her thoughts.
As darkness fell over the city, Ari grabbed the train to the city center, where she walked a few blocks to the garage of The Silo. At the service entrance, security stopped her to verify her identity. He checked her ID, consulted his little tablet, and then he allowed her to enter. She followed the directions to take the service elevator. Just as the doors closed, a woman hollered, “Hold the door, please.”
Ari glanced up, pushing the button to reopen the sliding doors. A woman dressed in heels and leather with a large purse tossed over her shoulder quickened her pace. “Thank you. I hate getting caught on the other side. This damn elevator takes forever to return. You’d think this place would have more than one service car.”
“Good to know.” As soon as the elevator started the upward climb, Ari understood why it took so long; it crawled at a snail’s pace.
The woman in the elevator car with her looked like someone who might work in a sex club. Her look matched those who had auditioned for a dominant position. She didn’t want to stare, so she kept her head up and forward as if she had been there before. Out of the side of her gaze, she noticed the woman tossing glances in her direction.
“Thirty floors will take a while. You must be new because I’m sure I would have noticed someone as pretty as you. Where you headed?” the woman asked after a few floors.
