Authors: Jenna Byrnes
Ginger waved a fistful of pictures at him.
“Probably the same pictures that were in the envelopes I got this morning!”
Steve snatched the photos from her. More small, badly photographed images from the previous night. Another shot of Ginger and him walking through the bar, one of him handing her the leather bag, and one of him kissing her cheek before she left.
“No notes?” He ripped open the three new envelopes.
“
No.”
He sighed.
“Nothing here, either.” The pictures were the same. “Son of a bitch.”
She took a step closer to him and her eyes widened.
“What if they have worse pictures? Could they have taken any inside the room?”
He shook his head vehemently.
“There’s no way. Besides, if someone has shots like that, they wouldn’t be dinking around with these.” He tossed the images on his desk and faced Ginger. “Just stay calm. Whoever’s doing this is trying to upset us, and frankly, I’m not falling for it. It’s going to take a lot more than this to ruffle my feathers.”
“
Okay.” She took a couple deep breaths and appeared calmer. “I haven’t been able to spot anyone dropping the envelopes off. I’m going to sit out there and stare at the door without moving, just in case John Willie decides to show up again.” She moved towards her office.
Steve couldn
’t resist a smirk. “Who’s John Willie?”
Ginger tossed a glance at him over her shoulder.
“He was a pioneering fetish photographer and a bondage artist. He published a magazine called Bizarre back in the forties and fifties.”
“
And you know that—why?” He blinked, trying not to smile.
She waved him off and stepped around the corner to where her desk was located.
“You’d be surprised at some of the things I know. Just the other day I read—shit!”
He glanced at the stacks of files on his desk.
“I know the feeling. I read a lot of shit, too.”
Ginger stomped back into his office.
“Not what I meant. Look!” She waved an envelope in his face.
“
Just in the few minutes we’ve been standing here talking?” He was incredulous. He ripped open the envelope and scowled. “This is a little too close for comfort.”
He handed over the photo of Ginger and himself outside the playroom as he hung out the
‘housekeeping’ placard.
She stared at it then snapped her fingers.
“There was a man in the hallway, remember? The sunglasses?”
“
Yes.” Steve nodded, trying to remember anything else about the stranger they’d encountered. “He had short brown hair. Some kind of pull-over shirt, brown, I think. Nothing fancy. Jeans.”
“
Yes,” Ginger agreed. A nervous expression on her face. “He was in the hallway. You don’t think—”
Steve shook his head.
“The door was locked, Gin. Unless his crappy little camera can see through walls, I still think we’re okay.”
“
I’m not okay,” she muttered angrily. “I’m pissed. How dare someone do this to us?” She seemed to rethink her comment and revised it. “To you?”
“
To us,” he told her. She’d been his secretary for a long time. He prided himself on not treating her like one. “Why don’t you go out for an early lunch? Take a couple hours, get away from here and relax. I’ll hold down the fort.” He gazed into her outer office warily.
“
Are you going to try and catch the guy?” she asked eagerly.
Steve shrugged.
“We’ll see what happens. I told you earlier, I’m not all that concerned. Now go on, get out of here for a while. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Another woman entered Ginger
’s office space and glanced at them expectantly.
“
Thank you, Mr. Cannon.” Ginger said, all business as usual. “I’ll take care of this, then go.” She nodded toward the other secretary and headed that way.
Steve dropped into the chair behind his desk. He felt more concern than he
’d tried to let on. Whoever was behind the photos was obviously up to no good. He couldn’t imagine one good outcome in all the various scenarios going through his head.
When Ginger left, he asked her to leave the door open between their offices. He had some work to do, but couldn
’t really focus on anything too intense. Perhaps Steve would spot the guy if he tried to come around again.
People came and went from Ginger
’s office regularly. He was amazed at how many people needed things from her. Behind his closed door, he’d always figured she worked pretty much just for him. With a view of her office, it appeared otherwise.
He had a sandwich delivered and after he ate, he paced around her space. Neat and tidy, she appeared more organized than he was, for sure. Another reason he needed her. She kept him together on a daily basis, and he hadn
’t even realized she was doing it.
Is that the main reason I need her?
He pondered as he paced.
Of course not.
But it was a biggie. Ginger had been his assistant for seven years. They’d been sleeping together for three. He didn’t want to lose her as a sexual partner, they had too much fun. They were perfect for each other.
Ah, hell…we love each other.
Neither had actually said it, but the feelings were there, he knew it.
He couldn
’t afford to lose her as his assistant. His days ran smoothly because of her. He was a winning, effective lawyer with a booming practice, and a large part of that had to be attributed to her. Steve wasn’t afraid to admit it. He was afraid of change, which was probably why he kept Ginger at a distance emotionally. Getting out of their homes, meeting at Delilah’s, had seemed the perfect solution to keeping things less personal. Now, because of his foolish insecurities, a stranger threatened to take everything away from them.
He sat at his desk and looked at the photos.
That’s what’s happening
. He’d seen enough cases of extortion and blackmail to recognize it. He just wasn’t sure how this one was going to play out.
Ginger
’s office door opened and he saw her returning from her long lunch. A scowl creased her forehead as she walked on it to Steve’s office.
He smiled.
“I’d hope you’d look a little more relaxed when you got back. It’s been quiet here. A bunch of people in and out needing things, but nothing from our—” he stopped talking when she held up two square, white envelopes.
“
These were outside, addressed to you and me.”
“
Well, fuck. Rat bastard didn’t come in this time. Maybe he knew I was waiting for him.” He reached for one envelope and they both opened them at the same time. No picture, just a short note that he read aloud.
‘
Be in your office at six p.m. – you and Ginger, alone. Do as I request, or the rest of the pictures get distributed around the office, beginning with Mr. Wilder on the top floor.’
“
The rest of the pictures?” she fumed. “This guy is insane.”
“
I doubt that. More likely, he’s an enterprising young man who spotted an opportunity to make some cash. Sadly for him, I don’t reward blackmailers.” He looked Ginger in the eye. “He’s got almost nothing on us, Gin. Pictures of us together in a bar, so what? If I have to go up and tell Lucius Wilder that I’ve been having an affair with my secretary, it won’t be the worst thing that could happen. He knows you. The most I’m going to get is an ‘atta boy’. If I explain that someone is trying to blackmail us, he’ll be hot. He won’t stand for that either.”
She shook her head.
“You make it sound so easy. Deep in my heart, I don’t believe this will go away that simply.”
Steve shrugged.
“Six p.m. is just a few hours away. We’ll find out then.”
“
I guess we will. I should try and get back to work. I haven’t gotten much done today.”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“All those people coming and going, wanting you to do this, check on that… Is that normal?”
Ginger smiled.
“Just another day in paradise. Everybody needs something, and they can always rely on me.”
He gave a small frown.
“I thought you worked for me.”
“
Sorry, boss. I work for the law firm of Wilder, Duchene, Cannon and Associates.” She took a step closer to him and her eyes sparkled. “But at night, I’m all yours. Or should I say, you’re all mine.”
Steve smiled and patted the top of his desk.
“You got me, there. All right, back to work for both of us. Let’s see if we can’t get something productive done this afternoon.”
“
Yes, Mr. Cannon.” Ginger left his office, closing the door behind her.
The image of her swaying hips, even in a straight, black skirt, had his cock thickening. His ass still stung like a mother-fucker, so it was too soon for more spanking play. But maybe a nice, relaxing fuck after work would take the edge off. He rubbed his dick through his slacks and tried to focus on work.
* * * *
The office had generally cleared out by six p.m. There might be an occasional late meeting, but most of the time, the building was next to empty. Whoever left the notes must have known that. Steve
’s curiosity was piqued. He shuffled through paperwork until he finally couldn’t focus any more, and simply sat.
Ginger came in and sat in one of the two chairs in front of his desk.
“It’s almost six,” she commented.
“
I see that. Hope this person is prompt. I’m ready to get out of here.”
“
Me too,” she admitted. “It’s been a long day.”
The outer office door opened and they both glanced up. A young man in a suit entered and looked around cautiously. Steve checked him out. The guy was handsome, a nice face and closely cropped hair.
Strangely familiar
. Besides the fact they’d run into each other in the hallway at Delilah’s the previous night, that much was certain. But for some other reason, Steve thought he knew this guy.
“
You!” Ginger stood and looked at the man accusingly. “I know you. You’re one of the junior associates downstairs. Percy, or something, isn’t it?”
“
Pierce,” he acknowledged with a nod. “Devon Pierce. And yes, I’ve been working as a junior associate for several months.”
Steve sat back in his chair and folded his arms.
“Apparently you’re not too fond of your job. The stunt you pulled today has earned you a one-way ticket out of here.”
“
I hope not.” He appeared genuinely remorseful as he motioned to the chair next to Ginger. “May I sit?”
“
Sure.” Steve drummed his fingers on his biceps.
This ought to be good
.
Devon
sat with his hands in his lap and studied his fingers for a moment. He took a breath and looked up, speaking first to Steve. “I realize I used an unorthodox method to get your attention. I’ve had my eye on you for quite some time. I’ve been a member at Delilah’s for a while, too. And when I saw the two of you there—”
Steve interrupted.
“Something else you’ve probably blown. Delilah has strict rules about cameras in the facility. When I tell her you snapped pictures of us without our knowledge, you might as well take your exit papers from here right over there, because she’s going to boot your ass out as quickly as we are.”
“
Again, I hope not.” He glanced down like a scolded pup. “I’d like the chance to explain.”
Steve looked at his watch.
“You have five minutes. As we were just discussing, this has been a very long day.”
“
Thanks to you,” Ginger added.
“
Look,” Devon gestured with his hands. “It’s not easy for a gay guy to meet people socially.
Decent
people, I mean. And when you have a thing for your boss…” he gazed at Steve.
Steve inhaled.
The guy has a thing for me? What the fuck?
Devon
went on, “Or one of your bosses, that is, it’s even tougher. It’s not a subject you can just bring up.”
“
No kidding,” Steve gazed at him drolly. “Considering I’m not gay.”
Devon
shrugged. “Truthfully, I didn’t know. I’ve seen you and Ginger at Delilah’s a few times, so I figured you were together. But the two of you always look so…”
“
So what?” Ginger’s eyebrow arched as if she were ready to pounce on the next words he said.
“
So…happy. Content. Faces flushed, like you’ve just had one hell of a good time. I was envious.”
She didn
’t seem to know how to respond, so Steve jumped in. “You’re way out of line, here, Pierce. Delilah’s is a nice social club that lots of people frequent. Regardless, where I go and what I do is none of your concern. Same goes for my administrative assistant. The pictures you have are bullshit, not worth any more than the paper they’re printed on. So unless you have something more interesting, I believe this conversation is over.”