Leah
I stared down at the dress on the hanger with a single zipper running down the front. This was the only size that could fit me without cutting off my circulation. Even with this one, I'd had to remove my bra just to breathe.
"Could this day get any worse?"
I just wanted to go home, wrap my arms around Jason, and forget those hurtful words that had been playing on repeat in my head since this afternoon. Or maybe just crawl into bed and cry until there were no tears left.
The latter seemed more likely.
Maybe I deserved it. Maybe I really was incompetent, unprofessional, dumb, and a complete nuisance.
I forced myself into the tight dress and zipped it up, completely unprepared, mentally or physically, for whatever role Mr. Scott was about to throw at me.
"Leah!" The manager had called just as I was almost out the door.
My hand had been on the exit. Freedom had been so close.
"I need you, Leah! I'm short-staffed tonight. The lounge is packed, and June had a… situation with one of our VIP guests. Please, it's an emergency!"
"But sir, I'm done with my shift. I have classes in the morning," I protested weakly, already knowing I'd lost this battle before it began.
"Leah." Mr. Scott's voice took on that particular tone that meant he was about to manipulate me into doing exactly what he wanted. "I've always found you… lacking. You're not one of my top concierges…not even close. You didn't make the top fifty."
The words stung, but I kept my face neutral.
"However," he continued, "you could use this opportunity to prove yourself. Convince me you're worth…uh…making it to the top 100 atleast."
And there it was. The manipulation wrapped in a thin veneer of encouragement.
I couldn't say no. Not with everything hanging over my head, Mr. T's disdain, Matthew's suspension, my precarious position at this job.
"I'll do it, sir." I met his eyes. "But you owe me one. If you hear anything about me from anyone, remember what I did for you tonight."
Mr. Scott looked at me with pursed lips. "You always say the strangest things." He spun on his heel. "Now hurry. We don't have much time."
I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror, watching the clear outline of my nipples pressing against the thin fabric.
"Okay, just for tonight," I whispered to my reflection. "Then you forget this ever happened. The lighting there is dim. No one will notice."
And maybe Mr. Scott will take pity on me when Mr. T finally reports me.
Just thinking about him left a bitter taste in my mouth.
You're a nuisance. You're a nuisance. You're a nuisance.
The words circled in my head as I picked up the tray, wine glass and an extra bottle as compensation for whatever June had done to upset the guest.
What had June done? Everyone loved June. Guests practically begged for her company. What could possibly have changed?
I entered the dimly lit corridor lined with private lounge doors and made my way to the room I'd been assigned. Music pounded from behind one of the soundproof doors, making the walls vibrate.
"Hopefully he'll just accept the drink and that'll be it," I muttered. "Then I can leave early and go home to Grandma and Jason."
I took a breath. "Here goes nothing."
I knocked. "Concierge, with your replacement glass, sir."
Just then, one of the other doors flew open, and music blasted into the hallway, drowning out everything else.
I pressed my ear against the door and knocked again, straining to hear a response. Nothing. The music was too loud.
My fist was raised to knock again when the door suddenly flew open, revealing a very angry man who looked like he wanted to incinerate me with his eyes alone.
"Are you DEAF?!"
"Uh… no…" I stammered, taking a step back.
No, no, no. Not him. Please, not him.
I couldn't be in this situation right now. I was still burned from earlier and hadn't recovered.
After his initial wide-eyed shock, I saw something in his expression, a subtle change I couldn't quite read.
"I'm not surprised," he scoffed humorlessly.
Why is the universe doing this to me?
I watched his gaze trail down my body, lingering on my chest, exactly where I'd hoped no one would look.
He scoffed again and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.
I slowly moved into the room and placed the tray on the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shattered glass on the floor, evidence of whatever had happened before I arrived.
Great. An excuse to leave and send housekeeping instead.
I straightened and turned. He'd closed the door and was standing next to it, watching my every move.
"I'll… uh… get this cleaned up right away. Would you be needing anything else, sir?"
He didn't respond. Just stared.
Again, great! The silent treatment before the storm. I'm already so exhausted.
"Sir…"
"What else do you have to offer?" He said in a casual voice.
I didn't know if I should interpret that as rude or a genuine question about hotel services.
"I don't understand, sir," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady.
He walked toward me slowly, stopping when he was just inches away.
"What else do you have to offer?" he repeated, his eyes trailing down my body in a way that made me hyper-aware of every inch of exposed skin.
I subtly crossed my arm over my chest.
"I can get this cleaned up right away, sir," I repeated.
"And then what?"
I went silent. I didn't like where this was going.
"Uh… attend to anything else you might need, sir." I was trying so hard not to offend him.
He clearly had a temper.
"What do you think I need right now?" He took another step closer.
"I… I don't know, but if you tell me, I can go get it for you."
Silence. Another step.
What's happening? my brain screamed. What does June do for these people?
I took a step back and realized the couch was directly behind me.
Nope.
"Sir, if you don't need anything else, I should go get housekeeping," I said firmly, moving past him toward the door.
"Isn't this what you want?"
I froze mid-step and turned around.
"Sorry?"
He turned to face me fully. "Isn't this what you want? A moment alone with me?"
I blinked, trying desperately not to misinterpret and make things worse.
"Yes, sir. I've wanted to speak with you," I said carefully.
"Well, here I am," he said, commencing his slow, casual steps toward me.
"Um… okay…" I backed toward the door.
"Afterwards, you can go tell whoever sent you that you succeeded. Then she can pay you off."
"What?!"
My back hit the wall. He was inches away now, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.
I tried to move to the side, but his hand came up, blocking my escape.
"Mr. T…"
"You're either really good at playing innocent," he said in a low voice, "or terrible at whatever you were sent here to do. But either way, you've caught my attention," he said as his eyes darkened.
"Let me make your job easier and faster so you can get the hell out of here."
Before I could process what was happening, he closed the distance between us and captured my lips with his.