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“I’ll work on it.” I’ll also head back upstairs to put my name on Julianna’s list of people who want to speak with her when she has a moment.

You’d think that since I’m her girlfriend and her assistant, I’d be allowed to see her whenever I want. Yeah, right. I put my name on the list like everyone else. Vern is the only one allowed to barge in, and that’s only when there’s a legitimate emergency. My asking for the night off from Julianna’s libido does not count.

It’s a half-hour wait. I bide my time catching up on work – and doing some homework on the side – until Vern taps me on the shoulder and says I can go in.

Julianna is still on her computer when I enter. The woman types faster than Vern, and that’s saying a lot. It also says a lot that Julianna isn’t afraid to write most of her emails, and this includes the parts of contracts she comes up with in tandem with her lawyers. I’m still getting used to everything going on in this office, let alone on the executive level. As an intern, I did such menial work that it’s laughable now. What was checking for typos, making copies, and doing bottom-tier research when she’s up drafting business contracts and brokering deals that will be taught in business classes twenty, fifty years from now?

“Lessa,” she says with a flirty growl in her voice. Even so, she doesn’t look away from her monitor. For a brief second, I’m entranced. My girlfriend is so… strong and elegant that I can barely contain my youthful hormones attempting to embarrass me in front of her. Damn. Here I am asking if we can have a night off from each other! A Friday night, no less! “To what do I owe this pleasure? It is pleasure, right?” Finally, she gives me her undivided attention. “Even business pleasure is a joy on a long afternoon before the weekend.”

I blush. “It’s a personal matter, yes.”

“Ooh, then do go on. With as much detail as possible.”

“Afraid it’s not that kind of personal matter, ma’am.”

“I love it when you call me that.”

When will I stop blushing? “I know. Anyway, I knew we had plans tonight, but…” Granted, we were only going out to eat and then attending a movie screening with some of her acquaintances three months before the movie actually hits theaters, but how much do I care about some action movie, anyway? Julianna only wants to stroke my thigh and see if she can get away with me kissing her neck in a dark theater. “The other interns were going out tonight, and they invited me to come with them. Is it okay if I go?”

“Lessa.” She leans back, gesturing to her lap. For once, I don’t think she wants that dark theater necking. She wants me to sit on her lap, and boy howdy, am I inclined! “You don’t have to ask me permission for something like that. What, do you think I control you that much?”

“Well, no…”

“Where are you going and who are you with? That’s all I need to know.”

“Cher and the other female interns. They said something about going to a trendy club. I think it’s Red Sky. Do you know it?”

A frown flashes on her face. I’m not sure how to take that. “Presley owns that club. I’m sure it will be more than fine. Just…” She rubs my thigh, and electric sparks fire through me at the most inappropriate time. “Don’t stay out too late, my sweet. Buzz my driver when you’re ready to leave and he’ll bring you to my place. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“But not waiting up for me, right?”

“Of course not. But I will look forward to seeing your beautiful face, Lessa. In whatever enticing clubwear you feel like wearing tonight.” She tips my chin up, her delightful fingers tracing my throat. “I’ll find ways to keep myself occupied until we meet up again. Presley’s been bugging me about offering her some attention. You’d thinkshewas my girlfriend, but I keep reminding her that that ship has long sailed.”

“I’ve never thought to ask if you two have dated before.”

Julianna scoffs. “Does she seem my type?”

Point taken.

“I should get back to work.” I slip off her lap. “Talk to you later, Jules.”

She slaps my ass the moment I turn around. Thanks, Julianna. Now I’m aroused when I should be taking you to HR.

Chapter 27

Alessa

“Get a whole round!” Cher yells over the throbbing club music. “No, I said a whole round! Good Mother Mary!” The server gestures to her ear one last time, but the music is so damned loud that even I can barely hear Cher … and she’s sitting right next to me.

The server spits something back at us.

“Oh, my God! Not spinning around! A WHOLE ROUND!”

Finally, the server understands that the five of us want a round of drinks to start our evening. I’m not sure what we’re getting. A round of tequila? Probably. It’s not Pabst Blue Ribbon, that’s for sure, even though half of Portland is probably crying for one right now.

This place is way too swanky for store-bought beer.

Presley Bradford loves her nightclubs, bars, and strip joints. She owns like ten of each in Oregon alone. Red Sky is her latest venture that opened earlier this year and caters to the hip 20scrowd that I belong to. (Well, maybe I’m not hip…) It’s not a huge place, but then again, few places in Portland are. Instead of volume, this club is making mad money off drinks and the local celebs who frequent it because of the great food and request-friendly DJ.