Private Show (The Private Series) (19 page)

“Tess, welcome back!”

I’m in Ted Andrews’s office at
Tones
. I made it just in time.

“Please have a seat and I’ll open up that e-mail.”

My heart is racing as he clicks from one photo to the next. This man has one serious poker face.

“Well…” he starts.

Crap
.

“I would like to see more…” His voice deepens.

I move to the edge of my seat not wanting to let this slip through my fingers, I am so close. “I can show you more of my work, or do another show with no pay… anything.”

I must have struck a nerve or something, because his eyes get a little glimmer in them, “That’s the kind of enthusiasm I like to hear. How about we discuss this over dinner. The possibilities of you working under me.”

I look down to my fidgeting fingers in my lap, “Sure, Mr. Andrews.”

Standing he tells me, “That’s what I like to hear. Tonight seven o’clock at The Dahlia Lounge on Fourth.”

I have heard about the slightly upscale restaurant, so I am aware of its location. I have never been though. “Okay, I’ll be there.” I start to reach to shake his hand, but adjust my bag strap instead; I’d like to avoid another awkward hug.

As I step out of the office I once again feel Mr. Andrews’ eyes on me. Fuck tonight is going to be uncomfortable, but hey, I said I could nail this job on my own and I will.

I just shouldn’t tell Ben.

Speak of the Devil there he is waiting for me by his office, holding his jacket. “What are you up to?” I ask.

“Taking my beautiful girlfriend out to lunch to celebrate.”

I rock on my heels, “He didn’t decide anything yet. He told me he would look over my photos in more detail this evening and call me tomorrow.”

Ben looks shocked, “What?”

“What? Is that not the normal way to asses if someone is suited for a position?” I am pulling this out of my butt, damn I hate lying.

“No, no it is. I am just surprised he didn’t take a look right away.”

Oh, he did… just not at the photos…

He helps me into my coat and slides into his own. He wears a long dark charcoal gray trench coat, which defines his body. He throws on a slouchy hat and escorts me to the elevators.

We are half way through with our lunch, chatting about everything… well everything except what happened at the market and what Erin spilled to me.

Ben leans over the table, kisses my nose and then plants a chaste kiss on my lips. His phone rings, alerting him to a text. He ignores it, but it goes off again a minute later.

“Why don’t you respond?” I ask.

“It’s not important.”

I arch my eyebrow. “But if the person keeps texting you, it must be important.”
I’m growing very tired of this game…

This time his phone rings with an incoming call. Looking pissed, Ben turns his phone off.

“Same person?” I ask stabbing my fork into my salad.

“Yes,” he snips. Okay, whoa, what the hell? Why is he getting snippy at me?

“Uh, you want to explain why I just got the total Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde appearance?” I sit back in my chair and fold my arms over my chest.

“Don’t worry about it, Tess.”

I hold out my hand. “Then let me see.”

His eyes widen. “There really is no need, babe. Can we please just drop this? It’s a business collogue.”

“If that’s the case, why can’t you tell me?”

“I will explain tonight. But I need to get back to the office to finish a column.” He gives me his panty-dropping smile, which melts me attitude nearly instantly.

Then I remember my plans for tonight. Ugh.

“Sorry Hun, I made plans to hang with Erin tonight.” Lie number two, I feel sick.

“Okay, I understand. Call me when you’re done and home safe, okay?” He is always so concerned with my safety.

I get to The Dahlia twenty minutes early, so I can have a drink at the bar to calm my nerves. I walk into the restaurant and I am greeted with rich red walls and cream paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, creating a warm atmosphere. I can only hope my company will be just as warm…

I sit and enjoy a rum and Coke, I check my phone to see what time it is and I see I have five minutes until Mr. Andrews is due to arrive. I decide to head to the ladies room to freshen up. I stand in front of the sink, gripping the sides; I can’t believe I lied to Ben about coming here, what was I thinking? I look up into the mirror, who am I? I’m not a liar…
wasn’t…

I assure myself that it will be just fine. I will get through this meeting and go home to Ben. Talk to him about everything.

Okay, time to head out. I find Mr. Andrews at the bar waiting for me.

“Tess, the hostess told me you were here, but when I didn’t see you I thought you skipped out.”

“Sir. I was just using the restroom, I hope I didn’t make you wait long.” I offer a polite smile.

He eyes me up and down and I feel my stomach flop, “No, not at all. I must say Miss Martin you clean up quite nicely.”

“Thank you, sir.”
Ew.

We are escorted to our table for two, “Tess what would you like to drink? It’s on me tonight.”

“Oh, that’s alright I can pay for myself sir, no offense.” I look to the waitress to ensure she heard me and I order an iced tea.

“Perhaps a glass of wine?” He offers.

“No thank you.”

He tells me about how he came to work at
Tones
and his schooling. He asks why I want to work at the magazine and I go into my passion for music and photography. “I would do anything for a job in musical photojournalism.” I gush a little too openly.

“I certainly hope so…” He husks out, taking a long sip off of his drink he asks, “What exactly would you do for this job?”

Stunned by his question, I answer “intern for free, gain experience, and work in the mailroom. Just to get a start, I would start at the bottom.”

Scratching his chin, “You can start by working under me.”

I choke on a sip of my iced tea.
Did I just hear that right? No, he couldn’t have meant it that way…

“What are your hobbies?” He casually asks.

That’s a little easier of a question, “I love to paint and draw, and I’m taking art classes at the community college. I also love to read a lot.”

“I just bet you love those juicy romance novels don’t you?” He asks at the end of our meal. Okay that is just unprofessional and nasty. He licks a drop of whisky off his lips and I nearly hurl. I knew he was a little bit of a flirt, but this is taking it too far.

I tuck a stand of hair behind my ear avoiding the question, but he doesn’t let it go. “Do you read the ones about the boss taking the new intern across his desk?”

“I’m sorry?” I am thrown off.

I feel his hand on my knee and I quickly swat it away and stand up. “Oh come on Tess, I have seen the way you look at me. The way your eyes lit up when you met me. You want my dick in that sweet mouth of yours don’t you?”

My stomach coils and I feel my meal start to come up and I run to the bathroom. I let loose in the toilet and I grab my phone.

“Tess! Where are you?” Ben answers.

“I need you! You have to come and help me!” My voice unsteady.

“Where are you? What’s wrong? I ran into Erin and you weren’t with her.”

“The Dahlia Lounge on Fourth.” I spit. “I am in the restroom. Ben I was having a dinner meeting with Mr. Andrews…”

“Fuck!” He yells, “I am on my way, stay in the bathroom.”

“Okay.”

“Has he touched you?” Ben asks frantically.

That’s an odd assumption for him to have, “My knee yes, then he said a few things and I got sick.”

“I’m around the corner, stay there.”

Two minutes later I hear the restroom door open and I hear Ben call for me. I rush to him, “Ben, I am sorry I lied about where I was. I just didn’t think you’d understand. I want to get the position myself…”

“We will talk about it later, come on.” He takes my hand and leads me out to the dining area, towards Andrews.

Ben lets go of my hand and steps chest to chest with his boss. Shit he doesn’t need to get arrested again…

“Mr. Mitchell,” Andrews greets him with a cocky smile on his face.

“What do you think you were doing with Tess?”

Andrews looks to me and speaks, “We were having a dinner meeting.” Smug bastard.

“You call sexually harassing me a dinner meeting?” I find my voice.

“Hey Bunny, don’t get upset, your boyfriend here was the eager one to get you a meeting with me.”

Looking to Ben who closes his eyes, I ask, “For an interview…”

“Oh, Ben you didn’t tell her that I was guarantying her a job, because of, well…your threat?”

Ben’s face appears pained, “What?” I shout.

Ben snaps his eyes open to look at me, “Look, it’s not what you think. You needed a better job and one that you could love. To be happy with what you do. Yes. I have some dirt on this dirty bastard and that that’s what got you in so fast.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?” I ask, no answer. “Ben?”

“No.” He whispers.

“I must be looking even better to you darlin’” Andrews getting cocky.

“Yeah go ahead talk it up…” I start to tell him, “I am going to report your slimy ass. I may be small, but I am not weak and you disgusted the wrong woman.”

I look to Ben, “No job is worth this shit.” I step away, “And thanks for the-bode-of-confidence, on me getting the job myself, where you had to make a deal with the sleaze. Tell me, did you know about his ways?”

“Yes, but…”

“There is no ‘but’ Ben.” I walk out of there and jump in my car, lock the doors and cry.

I hear tapping at my window along with Ben’s voice, “Tess.”

I wipe my eyes and roll my window down, “What?”

“Will you let me in the car?”

I bite my bottom lip, “Not tonight Ben. This has been a bad day and I just want to go home and sleep. Besides I have work in the morning.” I then snort out a laugh, “And I better start going through the Classifieds for a new job.”

“Will you at least let me explain?” He grips his head and pulls his hands in front of himself, begging.

I unlock the car doors, but instead of letting him in, I get out. “Explain.”

Ben stands still for a second, stunned that I am calling him out on it. I lean up against my car with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

“I have known Andrews for a while now. When I started at
Tones
I would notice him checking out the interns, shit I did too, but I wasn’t their authority. When I learned that he was married and had a couple of kids and took off his wedding band when he came to work, I was sickened. Sure, then I wasn’t into the whole marriage thing, not after Nicole, but I knew enough that when you’re married your done fooling around. I noticed him coming onto the younger ones, ones like you just trying to get their foot in the door, they were being harassed. Most quit after a short time.”

“So, you knew he had a history of sexually harassing women in the office and you brought me in to see him?”

Ben comes over and stands side by side with me against the car and continues his explanation.

“That’s why I blackmailed him into getting you in on an upper level. One: I can keep my eye on you. Two: He seemed to go for the interns. And three: I knew he has an infidelity clause in his very, very pricy prenuptials. I had proof of his cheating and I knew how to get ahold of his wife.”

I turn my body to face his, “You still put me in danger.”

“I honest to God didn’t think he would try something Tess. I swear on my mother’s grave.” I see the despair and sadness in his eyes. He would never swear on something as sacred as his mother, unless he truly meant it. I am confident in that.

“Why didn’t any of the girls turn him in?” I ask, full of sadness for the girls just going after their dream, a dream that I have.

“He was intimidating and held his power over them.”

“Well, I have nothing to lose. I am going after the bastard.”

Ben approaches me cautiously, probably afraid I will hit him or turn him down. I let him put his arm around my waist, “I know you will Punky.”