Switch

the roughness of wool, the sleekness of satin lining, on

your bare ass. Every time you move, you're going to think

of me and how I own you.

Voices echoed in the lobby and the elevator dinged, but

nobody came down the hal to catch me, a thief, taking

what I hadn't meant to steal. I pushed the card through the

slot and bent to make sure it had gone al the way through.

It would be gone when I came home, gone and read by

the person for whom it had been meant.

Did she glory in them as much as I?

Did she deserve them, the smal rewards of treating herself

to a hot bath, a piece of gourmet chocolate, for completing

the tasks? Did she force herself to another hour in the gym

as punishment when she failed to folow the list exactly?

Or was it only me who looked forward to each day's

commands?

Paul had left me another list. Along with the standard

'copy the files' and 'schedule the appointments' he'd added something interesting. Lunch. He'd underlined it

twice. Like I wouldn't remember to eat?

Order from China King for delivery.

He'd added what I should order and in what amount, and

what time I should place the cal to ensure the food would

arrive by the time he and his client returned. As if I couldn't

figure al that out for myself.

Order enough for yourself, he'd added. At least he was

being generous.

I tried to put the morning's note from my mind, but my

thoughts were focused more on the fact I was bare

beneath my skirt than anything Paul was having me do. His

list was longer this time, more detailed, and while I

enjoyed the new responsibilities and projects he'd left for

me, I hadn't finished by the time the food came. I'd only

just managed to colect it from the front desk downstairs

and set it out on the smal conference table in Paul's office

when he and the woman from marketing showed up.

Vivian Darcy. I'd seen her before, a tal woman with blond

hair she wore in a sleek twist. She wasn't thin but dressed

like she was and managed to carry it off. Her shoes cost

more than my rent.

I had my own lunch, chicken and broccoli, to eat at my

desk. Paul gave me little more than a glance and closed his

door. I heard them laughing behind it. They were in there

for a long time. When the door opened again, I'd finished

eating and set back to work on the filing I hadn't managed

to finish before lunch.

'Paige, bring me the advance proof packet,' Paul said

from the doorway. He'd loosened his tie and taken off his

jacket and roled up his sleeves. From behind him I heard

the flush of water running in his private bathroom.