CHAPTER 11
Amy
I made it through that day, vowing to have some time on the phone with Phil after work. Last night I was beat and fell right to sleep since keeping up with the day job was important to my future. Hell, it was my future since I didn’t have any intention of settling on a man to take care of me. I was going to choose love. If I ended up loving Phil, then everything would be perfect.
I smiled. Life wasn’t that easy.
I got home at six and turned on my phone after I walked into the apartment. There were some missed calls and texts, and I read them as I changed into a t-shirt and dropped onto my bed. I only wanted Phil.
I waited until it rang and saw his name, answering it with a breathy hello. He seemed eager to talk to me too, asking if the weekend was still on. He asked if I was all right since I didn’t answer last night and told him that I had a little cold and slept it off. I assured him that I was looking forward to Saturday and asked again if he’d say what he had in mind for me.
Phil refused teasingly, and I pleaded, adding to my accent as he laughed at me. This was so much more than just sex. It was comfortable and natural, making me hope that it was this easy in person. I knew that I stayed up late talking to him and getting myself off yet again to the idea of Saturday night, but it would be worth it. Tomorrow was Friday and then it would be the weekend, something that had taken forever to come. In two nights, I would be coming around his tongue and his cock, milking him for everything that he had to offer.
We ended the call with just a few hours left to sleep, and if I were a different person I would just call in the following morning. I earned some sick time as well as vacation time, and it made sense, but it just wasn’t me. I dragged myself out of bed and showered, wearing a red dress to work with heels. I was going to be happy today, vibrant. No matter what, I was going to think about Phil and what was going to happen in mere hours, concentrating on that. Brett and I had made a lot of progress the night before and today would be easy in comparison to the last two. I knew that he was tired as well by the coffee that he kept drinking and the circles under his eyes, though he still looked happy. Gorgeous, too.
I worked at my desk and made sure that all the loose ends were tied up for the weekend since there was no way in hell that I would come into the office after five o clock tonight.
I went to lunch with friends and listened to them talk about their dates and plans for the weekend, while I held my own in. Nobody knew about the phone job, to begin with, so how could I explain meeting a client? They did notice the haircut, the color, the mani and pedi as well as just my slight change in style though and hounded me about it since the beginning of last week. I just explained that I had a great job for a change and wanted to make the changes for fun, given that I was a twenty-six-year-old woman and it was completely normal for women to do such things. It was true, in part.
The afternoon dragged when I returned but finally. Finally, it was time to go home. I planned to get some sleep tonight at nearly any cost so I could be prepared for tomorrow. Phil agreed that he was going to try and rest as well, making me not turn my phone on for any calls. Instead, I stood in front of the mirror and stared for several moments, wondering if he’d like me at all. I never told clients what I looked like, choosing instead to make up a glamorous woman of their dreams based on what I knew about their likes. I still didn’t reveal much to Phil, wanting him to be surprised. I wanted a natural reaction on his face the first time that he saw me.
I knew that I was pretty, but I saw every flaw tonight as I looked myself over much harder than I needed to. There were the few extra pounds from sitting too much for work and the good meals that I enjoyed near the office. It wasn’t excessive, but I swore that I saw every pound. My hair was still fresh and vibrant, so I couldn’t criticize that too much, other than the fact that it was wildly curly. That was a fact I wasn’t yet ready to change.
I stepped out of the bathroom in my pajamas, sitting down on the couch to watch a movie to relax my nerves. I thought about the fact the small group of friends and I stopped spending time together when I started working two jobs, not due to a fight but just life happening. I thought about texting someone but what would I say? My plans for tomorrow were insane, and job talk could only last so long, right? I decided to just watch something and go to sleep as early as I could.
I woke up on the couch early the following morning and blinked. I looked around to see the morning new playing and searched for the time on the screen. It was seven, so I had a lot of time today. Meaning I had a lot of time to worry about what could go wrong. I sighed and got up to make some coffee, padding around the kitchen in my bare feet as I looked around. This apartment was beautiful and cost about one thousand more than something in a different area would run me, though it wouldn’t be safe as this one. I lived in a great part of the city, and if I didn’t work both jobs, I wondered if I could afford it.
Brett paid me generously and today wouldn’t affect that job. I could afford this with a little rearranging of my budget and possibly another type of second job. Nothing would pay as well as the phone job, at least nothing that was a lot more intimate and personal. I was getting ahead of myself, and I sipped the strong liquid as I forced my mind to slow down. Nothing might come from tonight, nothing life changing anyway. I didn’t need to plan everything this morning.
I went shopping to kill time and found some cute clothes to add to my closet. I ate a light lunch, thinking about the dinner that Phil planned for tonight. He didn’t tell me any details other than the hotel room number and the time to arrive. I headed home with time to get ready, taking a fresh shower and letting my hair dry naturally into its trademark curls. I added enough product to keep the frizz under control and stared into the mirror as I planned everything else. I didn’t want to look like I tried too hard for Phil but I wanted to take his breath away, if possible.
I settled on a light foundation to even out my skin and a dark liner on my lid to bring out my eyes. I added a shimmer under my brow and mascara on my lashes before selecting a gloss that matched the dress perfectly. I knew that I looked good since Brett told me that enough at work to mean it. I just had to let nature take its course that night. I grabbed a bigger purse that I could fill with things for an overnight stay and looked around my house as I stepped toward my front door.
I’d arranged for a ride since I didn’t care for driving in the city. I pulled my long sweater around my body and my purse over my shoulder before I locked my front door and went out to look for the Uber. It was a bright blue car, and I slipped inside and smiled at the girl driving as I slipped the belt over my body. Every press of the brakes resonated with me, and I memorized every building that we passed. Tonight was going to be something to remember no matter how it turned out. We stopped in front of the stunning hotel, and I took a slow breath as I stared at it for a moment. “Thank you,” I murmured as I slipped her a bill and stepped onto the curb. It was sunny and breezy out, typical weather for Southern California and I relaxed and let the sweater fall open as I smiled. I could do this.
I walked through the heavy glass doors, smiling at the doorman that opened them for me as he gave me a second look. I blushed and walked towards the elevators as I took a wide-eyed look around the beautiful lobby. I didn’t stay in places like this on my own, and I felt a bit intimidated as I nibbled on my lip. Was this Phil’s life? Was he accustomed to luxury and the best of everything, and more than that; did I have anything to offer him? I pressed the button to the elevator and waited with a neutral expression on my face as my thoughts raced through my mind. I was suddenly close to trembling with nerves, and I walked inside of the half-filled car on shaky legs as I dropped my gaze to the floor.
The room I was searching for was on the seventh floor, the top floor. I stepped out with a few other people and paused as they made their way to their rooms. I checked the signs to see that the one I was looking for was to the right as I made my way with slow steps. A part of me wanted to run back to my apartment, my safe place where nobody knew Cherie. I wanted to talk to Phil just a few more times until I had the strength to sever all ties with him and move on.
Just a few more doors and I’d be there.
I stopped walking and took a deep breath. Was I ready for this? Did I want to take this to the next level?
The next thing I knew, I was in front of the door. I raised my hand as my breath stilled and knocked, softly and slowly. This was the moment that could change everything in my life, good or bad. My heart pounded in my chest as all my feelings for Phil combined in my stomach, knotting it tightly as I raised my eyes up as the doorknob turned.
My mouth dropped open at the face that was staring back at me. “No,” I murmured as I started to step backward.