Loretta
I arrived in New York that weekend, dragging my small suitcase behind me as I stepped into the airport’s arrival lounge. The noise was overwhelming, honking horns, hurried footsteps. I was finally here. Tonia insisted on picking me up, even though I told her several times that I could just take a cab. I should have known she wouldn’t take no for an answer cause there she was, leaning casually against a sleek black Benz, that was gleaming under the sun. “Girl!” she squealed, rushing toward me with open arms, we hugged tightly. I slipped into the passenger seat, sinking into leather so smoothly, the scent inside, clean, and expensive. This wasn’t the old beat-up Toyota I remembered her driving during our university days. “Wow, Tonia,” I said, running my hand along the dashboard, “this car looks new, and it smells like it, too. How on earth are you affording something like this, We only graduated not too long ago.” She grinned, slipping on her shades. “I told you, New York changes you. You just have to know how to work the system.” Her words lingered in my mind as we pulled out of the airport. I glanced at the city through the window. I thought of my own situation. I had come here with a job already waiting, a secretary position at a fast rising company. Not exactly the marketing role I trained for, but it was something. For now, it would pay the bills, and hopefully, it could serve as a steppingstone. My real dream was to land a better job in my field, maybe even in the same company if luck was on my side. “You look really good, Tonia,” I said after a while, studying her profile. “So much has changed about you, I almost didn’t recognize you at first.” She shot me a playful wink. “Thanks girl, look good too, but you know you’ve always been so fine.” “Don’t flatter me too much, I can’t afford to pay you back for all these compliments,” I teased. She burst into laughter, “I’m really going to enjoy having you here,” she said after her laughter died down, “My flatmate is such a weirdo, She is planning to move out soon, but I don’t know how soon.” “I don’t mind taking her place when she leaves,” I said, turning back to the window as skyscrapers blurred past. “I just hope it’s something I can afford.” “Don’t worry, it’s not too expensive, it’s affordable, i pay a higher percentage of it,thanks to my job.” If her job could cover rent in New York and afford a car like the one we were sitting in, then maybe it was something I should know about. I could do it if there’s until i get all the money I need to pay Dad’s debt. “You sure are doing well for yourself. Where do you work?” I asked. Tonia glanced at me, then smiled, “Hmmm… I don’t think it’s something you can do, Loretta, but if you could, you’d make more money than you could ever dream of. Honestly, sometimes I think I’ll never use my degree again.” “If it’s legal, then why can’t I do it? I’d drop this secretary job in a heartbeat.” My tone was firm. She chuckled, shaking her head. “Okay, calm down, don’t get all serious on me. I work as a stripper.” I blinked, stunned, “What?” “Yes,” she said proudly, “but not just anywhere, I strip in one of the most expensive clubs in New York.” I shook my head slowly,She laughed at my reaction, clearly expecting it. “I knew you would say no, but listen, this job pays better than any office job you can dream of, i work as a VIP stripper. That means I perform only for filthy rich men, politicians, top businessmen, actors name them, and here’s the best part, everyone wears masks both the clients and the girls. No one knows who’s who. It’s about privacy and fun.” “Sometimes,” she continued, “some clients ask for exclusivity, that means he pays to have only you, and girl, that’s where the real money is. All I have to do is wiggle my ass for a night, and my bank account smiles.” I frowned. “So, these men just pay ridiculous amounts of money to watch you dance?” Tonia sighed, “ Well, some ask to touch but with your consent while some request more, and yes, they want to sleep with you, but that’s your choice.” I shook my head firmly, “I can’t.” My grandmother would roll in her grave, she sacrificed everything to give me an education, and I can’t throw that away and besides I’m still married, the contract says I must live responsibly until the divorce is finalized. I can’t bring shame on myself or my family. Tonia waved a dismissive hand but didn’t push further. The conversation drifted into lighter topics as we drove toward her apartment. **** The following Monday, I stepped into the reception of my new workplace. The lobby was spacious and polished. “Good morning,” I said, approaching the receptionist. “I’m Loretta Astor, the new secretary to Mr. Owell.” The receptionist frowned, her eyes sweeping over me. And without a word, she picked up her phone, spoke briefly to someone, and then returned to typing as if I had vanished. I sat down, waiting patiently, a young man finally appeared. “You must be Loretta, Follow me.” He led me to the HR manager, a warm woman who greeted me with a firm handshake. She explained my role, the company policies, the code of conduct, and my working hours. Then she introduced me to the CEO’s PA, Martha, who was supposed to show me around. “Come with me,” Martha said, her tone flat as she gave me a quick once over. “I’ll show you the important places, then you can figure out the rest yourself.” She pointed vaguely at rooms as we walked, muttering under her breath, clearly uninterested. After the third time she mumbled to herself, I stopped her. “Just show me to my office. I’ll find my way around,” I said calmly. “Better,” she muttered, turning on her heel. As we walked, the elevator dinged, the doors slid open, revealing a young man, he was striking handsome. Martha’s demeanour changed instantly, “Good morning, Mr. Owell,” she chirped, her voice suddenly sweet. So this was my boss, but Mr. Owell didn’t acknowledge her. His eyes fixed on me instead, his gaze lingering far longer than professional courtesy required. I stepped forward, about to introduce myself, but Martha cut in, eager to impress Mr Owell, I guess. “Mr. Owell, this is your new secretary, I was just showing her around.” Still, his gaze never left me, and finally, he spoke. “Good. Show her where to get me a cup of coffee and bring it to my office.” He said before he walked away. Martha hissed under her breath and snapped at me to follow her, mumbling something about how she had better things to do. And there I was only a few hours into New York life already caught in the crossfire of attitudes.LorettaAsher and I talked the entire way home, light teasing, shared laughter. He is dropping me off at my place after taking me out for dinner. After everything that had happened earlier in his office, we argued, then somehow ended up apologising to each other. I told him to stop trying to pry into my personal life, that whatever he wanted to know, he could just ask me. I did, however, avoid the debt conversation, mostly because I still didn’t have an answer for it.If we hadn’t been in the office earlier, I probably would have found out what makeup sex feels like. Still, our make-out session was insane. Asher assured me that one day soon, we will make good on that office fantasy.Thank God his office is soundproof, because I’m definitely a screamer.He reached for my hand, brushing his thumb across my knuckles.“You know,” he said quietly, “I’m going to miss you tonight.”I smiled faintly, turning to the window. “You will survive, Mr Prescott.”“I’m not so sure, Miss Astor.” His to
AsherI walked into my office, slamming the door hard behind me. I have avoided this meeting with George for a very long time. However, as a savvy businessman who has managed to stay at the top for years, I have learnt to separate sentiment from business. His company’s performance in the tech sector was too good to ignore, that was the only reason I agreed to meet him.How dare he, in the middle of a meeting where I was struggling to tolerate his presence, bring up his mother?That woman is dead to me, I have no interest in seeing her, no desire to forgive her. I never want our paths to cross again. Anyone who thinks they can use her name to reach me clearly doesn’t know who they are dealing with.After all these years, she suddenly wants to reach out? The same woman who abandoned me, who left Dad broken after deceiving him and nearly destroying his life? If not for Grandma, we would have lost everything. The company and our reputation were hanging by a thread. I had to keep a very
Loretta By the time the clock struck four, my stomach was in knots, I had spent the last hour double checking the documents Asher asked for, trying not to think about the man we were about to meet. His name alone makes my skin crawl, I wish I didn’t resume today to escape this meeting with his creepy ass. But there’s nothing he could do to me again, I am no longer his employee who he can intimidate. “Are the files ready?” Asher’s voice pulled me back to the present.“Yes, sir,” I replied quietly, straightening the stack in my hand.He gave a short nod and started towards the conference room while I followed behind him. George Owell was already there when we entered, seated comfortably like he owned the place. He stood when Asher walked in, his expression shifting from polite to stunned the moment his eyes landed on me.“Well, well,” he said with a mocking smile. “Loretta Astor, What are the odds? You are working here now?” His eyes swept over me with fake amusement. “Secretary, yo
LorettaStepping back into the office after a few days off feels like I have been away forever. I hate to admit it, but I kind of missed being here. Maybe it’s just because I missed Asher.As soon as I walked out of the elevator and onto our floor, Logan met me halfway and pulled me into a hug like I had been gone for months.“What’s with the hug? Did you miss me that much?” I teased.“Of course I did. No one to bother me with early morning or lunch gossips,” he said, pulling back. “I called you all through last night, but you didn’t pick up.”“Well, since I was coming back to work today, I decided to sleep like a baby. I left my phone on DND,” I said, flipping my hair dramatically.“Well, if your phone wasn’t on DND, you would know Mr. Prescott is having a meeting with your old boss this afternoon,” he said sarcastically.I froze. “Wait, what? Mr Owell is coming here today?” Holy shit! The last thing I need is for him to show up and start talking about how I got fired from his comp
AsherThe office feels strangely empty without Loretta. I have gotten so used to having her around that I keep glancing at her corner, even though I know she isn’t there. It’s been two days since we got back from Paris, and I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s been distant ever since that night I took her to dinner. The flight back to New York was quiet and even more cold. Every time I tried to talk to her, she answered in that clipped, professional tone, like we were back to being strangers again.Ever since the night I told Loretta that I had my PI look into her, things haven’t been the same. She didn’t take it well, told me to fuck off and got angry that I invaded her privacy. I can’t blame her for being upset, but I have never been the kind of man to take risks without knowing who I am dealing with. Whether it’s business or personal, I need to protect my reputation. I don’t like surprises.Still, my PI didn’t find much, nothing about her marriage, if she hadn’t mentioned it he
LorettaThe car came to a stop, and I blinked at the view ahead. I hadn’t expected this, I thought we were heading back home. An open stretch of soft white sand, the calm sea just a few feet away, and dozens of golden lanterns swaying gently in the evening breeze.,“Asher…” I breathed out, my voice barely above a whisper. “ this is breathtaking, What is this place?” I marveled. He stepped around to open my door himself, a smile tugging at his lips. “A place I thought you would like, I wanted your short stay in Paris to be memorable, even though we are here for work.” A low table sits on the sand, covered with a white cloth and surrounded by soft brown cushions. Dozens of candles form a glowing circle around it, their light flickering warmly in the gentle breeze. Glass lanterns and bottles on the table add its aesthetic.I followed him toward the setup, my heels sinking slightly into the sand. The table was scattered with White roses, crystal glasses, and silver cutlery. A chilled