Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
No. Short-term pain for long-term gain. He can’t just turn up here and get a booty call, as tempting as it is.
“No. I have no idea what you could possibly help me with, Edward.”
His eyes hold mine and he steps forward, pinning me to the shelves, his erection digs into my stomach and I feel a rush of arousal run through my body.
Jeez.
I glance over and see the fake eyeballs of the rat staring at me…stop judging me!
“Excuse me, miss,” Piano Man interrupts.
Not now, fucker.
“Be there in a minute,” I snap.
Edward pushes his body harder against mine. “Are you sure there is nothing I can do for you?” He flexes his dick between us.
Oh….
We stare at each other as I feel myself weakening. It would be so easy….
No!
Does he really think he can not call me, not take me on a date…. Turn up at my place of work and stick his hard dick in my stomach and I’m going to goo and gush how lucky I am that he picked me?
“Yeah, there is, actually.” I step back from him. “You can respect me.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Do you really think that you can turn up here in your slutty little suit and get whatever you want?”
A slow, sexy smile crosses his face. “Slutty little suit?”
“That’s right.” Not an exaggeration, everything about that suit makes me want to be slutty. “E is for Effort, Edward.” I put my hands on my hips. “You should try it sometime.”
He glares at me and I glare right back.
“I don’t have time for this tonight, I’m too busy.” I march off back to the stupid concert pianist. “Now, how can I help you?”
FORTY MINUTES LATER.
I wrap the glasses and put them into the bag. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“This was the night from hell,” Jonty whispers.
“Put the closed sign on the door, for god’s sake,” Helene mutters under her breath.
The crowd is slowing up with the last of the people loitering around shopping. Jonty and Helene go and finish up serving them.
I stand at the counter and feel a hot body slide snugly in behind me.
“You should probably delete the security tapes,” Edward whispers in my ear.
“Huh?” I glance back at him. “I thought you left ages ago.”
“Good night, Alora.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “I had a good time.”
Without another word he walks out of the store with his two guards trailing behind him.
What? He waited all this time to just leave before we finish.
Helene holds her hands up in question. “What’s happening?” she mouths.
I shrug. “He left.”
“God, he’s so weird.”
“Tell me about it,” Jonty agrees.
“Shut up, Jonty,” Helene scolds him. “You can’t say that.”
“You said it first,” he fires back.
“Yes, but I have questionable opinions and terrible taste in men, everyone knows that.”
DARKNESS
I slide the blade through the tape holding the large box closed and fold the lid open.
I remove the plastic and look over the contents.
A padded suit, this will add at least forty to fifty pounds to my appearance, making me unrecognizable to the naked eye. I’ll be able to come and go without being noticed.
I smile, pleased with my purchase.
I open the second parcel and look over the three wigs and the two prosthetic noses.
How do I attach?
I carefully read the instructions…. Medical-grade adhesive….
Hmm, I type into Google:
Medical-grade adhesive for facial prosthetics
ALORA
The night comes to an end but my mind is in overdrive, of course I’m going to delete the security tapes. Nobody needs to see me getting pinned to a shelf of taxidermy.
I smile. Although I might want to.
“You guys get going. I’m going to get some takeout and reconcile the cash register.”
“We’ll wait.”
“No. I insist.” I pour myself a glass of wine. “I’m going to wind down a little and take my time, you guys go. Thanks for today, you’re amazing.”
“Okay. But lock yourself in.”
“I will.” I walk them to the door and flick the lock, now…I march to my office at double time. I open the security footage link and begin to scroll through, my screen is split into four screens. One of the front shop, one of the aisles, one of the bathroom area out the back and one out the front of the store. I smile as I watch Helene and Jonty navigate the night. As it plays in the background I call my favorite Chinese restaurant.
“Hello, Lucky Charm.”
“Hello, can I order some home delivery please?”
“Of course, what would you like?”
“I’ll have Chilli king shrimp and fried rice please.”
“Sure thing, it will be around twenty minutes.”
“Thank you.” I pay and give them my address, pour another glass of wine, and go back to watching the security footage. I hit fast-forward and watch as everyone moves at double speed. On the bottom right screen I see Edward and his friends arrive and I click to full screen.