Money Shot (84 page)

Chapter Three

I said I didn’t want to have a stressful last day. And I did so good. Staying late, finishing off most of my workload—and then the little horny demons that have settled in my head during the last few days caused me to walk down that hallway and engage in some forbidden play with my boss.

I am still trying to wrap my head around what has happened last night. 

We didn’t fuck, at least. Even though I really wanted to. I was disappointed when he sent me home after making me come with just his fingers—and the help of a little spanking. I wonder if that was on purpose, if he had planned to do exactly what he did when I entered his office. Or if he felt regret and abruptly stopped because of that.

We didn’t speak much afterwards. He didn’t say anything that would have helped me to figure out where we’re at now. If it was one time thing, one time mistake even, or if he wanted more. 

I know I do. If anything, our little intermezzo just made me want him more. He is so freaking good with his hands—and he knows how to give a good spanking. Who knows what else he has in store.

I take a deep breath before I enter the agency. My last day here. And the first day as the boss’s dirty little secret.

I am early and there’s almost no one around. We have a big breakfast with the entire staff on Friday’s, but it is still an hour until then. And understandably I am quite nervous about it this time. Everybody will gather around our biggest conference table for this and it is usually used to discuss rather informal things that are going on at the time. Such as interns leaving the agency, so I can be sure to be the center of attention for a few minutes—and if I am not mistaken, it might be up to Mr. Cooper to properly see me off with a little speech.

This won’t be awkward at all.

I sneak into my office to hide away until our breakfast is supposed to start. My desk looks just like I left it the night before. Tidy and neatly organized, with the folder of my last little task placed in the middle.

But there’s a tiny box on top of it. Black, with a white ribbon. The kind that is used for jewelry. And a little post-it note next to it.

I pause for a moment and stare at it. There’s no doubt that he is behind it. But it could just as well be a normal goodbye gift, something that every intern receives when the leave the agency.

It is not, though.

I slowly reach down for the post-it note and hold it up to my face. There’s not much written on it. Just two short sentences.

“Wear this today. If you want a little more.”

I glance over to the little gift box. My heart is racing with joy. So he does not regret what happened. And he wants more.

I smile as I pick up the box and carefully untie the ribbon to open it. It is a silver necklace. Delicate and discreet with a little heart shaped pendant. It is very small, about the size of the tip of my baby finger. It is lovely, so elegant and tasteful.

I don’t hesitate for even a moment before I put the necklace around my neck, and open the upper drawer of my desk to fetch a little mirror that I usually use to check on my make-up.

It’s perfect. 

The heart is neatly placed, resting in the little hollow above my breastbone. Mr. Cooper has a great eye for these things, it seems. I wonder when he got this? Does he have necklaces like this laying around in his office, hidden next to the flogger inside his closet? Or did he get it especially for me? When on earth did he do that? It has been less than twelve hours since our play last night.

When it is time for me to head to our conference room for breakfast, I feel as if I am standing taller than usual. A bright smile is gracing my face and I am walking more upright than I usually am.

And it doesn’t go unnoticed.

“You look happy today,” my colleague Beth notices as we meet in the hallway. “I thought you’d be a bit more distraught today, this being your last day and all.”

I smile at her. “I’m just in a good mood.”

“Ooh,” Beth exclaims. Her face lights up with alleged understanding. “Did you find a job? Is that it?”

I sigh and shake my head. “No, sadly, that’s not it.”

Way to kill my good spirits. I have sent out a bunch of applications all over the place, but haven’t heard back from any of them. This internship should have been a good stepping stone, but it might as well have been as high as I am able to get in this industry, if things keep going the way they are right now.

“I am sorry,” Beth mumbles, slightly embarrassed.

“It’s okay,” I assure. “I’m sure I’ll find something eventually.”

“Yes, of course you will!” Beth says. “I bet Mr. Cooper will write you an excellent reference. He always seemed very pleased.”

I gulp. “Yeah, I guess so.”

And just like that, my nervousness is back. Just as we reach the conference room. Most people are there already, but Mr. Cooper is not among them. I’m sure he must be in, though. He must have placed the necklace on my desk at some point this morning after all.

We take our usual seats and I engage in small talk with colleagues, having to give the same depression answer to the ‘Found a job yet?’ question over and over again.

Mr. Cooper is the last person to show up. He is looking as sharp as ever. Younger than his age, wearing a dark grey suit and the same shoes he wore yesterday. He probably looks the same as every day, but to me, he appears in a completely different light. And I want to imagine he looks equally bright and excited as I do.

The chattering dies down a little, as it always does when the boss shows up. Morning greetings are exchanged—and he completely ignores me. My eyes are fixed on him, trying to catch his gaze. I want to see his reaction when he sees me. 

I want to see the flicker in his eyes when he notices me wearing the necklace.

People start eating and chatting away, offering coffee to each other. And I try to be involved without turning my eyes away from him. He is talking to the head of the creative department, who is sitting next to him, and appears thoroughly engaged in the conversation. Why is he acting like this? Does he regret the things we did after all? Is he afraid to look at me because he fears I might actually be wearing the necklace? Or is he afraid to see that I am not?

He still leaves me a few minutes to wonder about all of that, before he finally makes an effort to speak to the group, as he always does at some point during our Friday breakfast. He calls for everybody’s attention, still avoiding to look in my direction, and the chattering quiets down. 

But after a few introductory words, he finally does it. He turns his head around to me. And I can see it. His eyes shortly stop at the point above my breastbone, where the little heart shaped pendant is resting. And they flicker with understanding—and joy. It is just a split second, not noticeable to anyone else in the room. But I know what I saw.

His eyes are on mine now, and I smirk at him, a bit naughty maybe, but definitely sweet.

“As you all know,” he says, now turning towards the room as a whole again. “Today is Lacey’s last day. We already had a little champagne in her honor yesterday, but protocol dictates to raise our coffee mugs to her as well—thus covering both drugs of choice that make this agency run so well.”

He is greeted with friendly laughter. Everybody at the table reaches for their coffee mugs and demonstratively raises it. I copy the gesture, a bit intimidated by all the attention that is bestowed upon me.

“I hope your time with us was what you expected, Lacey,” Mr. Cooper continues, looking at me with his mug raised and his face friendly, but distant. “You did excellent work and I am sure we won’t have to worry about you out there. You have potential—you’re one of the good ones.”

And with that last sentence, he actually winks at me. I startle at his behavior and instantly feel the blood rush to my cheeks. No one noticed of course, and even if they did, no one would think anything by it.

I know it is my turn to say something now. All eyes are on me, not only his.

I clear my throat.

“Well, um, thank you,” I start. “It has been an insightful time indeed.”

I look over to him directly now, locking eyes. “I learned a lot—and I am taking home a lot more... experience than I expected when I started here. Thank you.”

Much to my relief, the chatting starts again shortly after and the attention is drawn from me to the food on the table. Mr. Cooper ignores me for the rest of the breakfast. Most of the time, that is. I catch him glancing over to me more than once, but every time I do, he quickly diverts his eyes and looks away, diving back into the conversation he was having before.

It is not until after the breakfast that he actually addresses me, loudly, in front of everyone else.

“Lacey,” he calls. “May I have a word with you?”

Sure, there is nothing suspicious about the boss having a word with his intern on her last day. No one even looks at us. Everybody is busy with cleaning up.

“Sure, I’ll just finish this,” I answer, speaking from the other side of the table.

“No, now!” He snaps at me. And now a few people are actually looking. His tone is needlessly aggressive. It sends little sparks through my body, familiar sparks. The kind of excitement that has no place in a working environment.

Of course, those whose attention was caught by his tone are now turning their heads, but not without sending me sympathetic looks, probably wondering what I could have done wrong, especially after he praised me so nicely before.

Mr. Cooper is at the door, demonstratively waiting for me. I hurry to his side and follow him out to the hallway.

I don’t dare to say a word, even after we entered his office and the door is closed behind me. He doesn’t lock it. That would raise suspicion anyway.

He turns around, looking at me with that little smirk I have come to appreciate more than I would like him to know.

“Why so rude?” I teasingly ask.

He chuckles. “I enjoy scaring people once in a while. You, especially. It’s nice to see you reminded of your place while being surrounded by other people.”

I frown at him.

“If,” he adds. “If you actually chose to be in that place.”

“Your submissive?” I ask.

He nods, looking a little relieved by my choice of words. “Well, yes. We could call it that.”

I tilt my head to the side. “We could call it that?”

He nods and comes closer to reach forward to touch the little heart pendant below my throat. Even this little touch sends pleasant shivers through my body. And he notices. 

“Is that what you would like to be? My submissive,” he whispers. “You do like the necklace it seems?”

I smile up at him. “Yes, Sir.”