Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Brick merely shrugs again.
“This industry moves fast, and George hasn’t been able to keep up with all of the changes. I’m sure you know about new technologies and techniques, how they’re always popping up.”
My dad is always talking about how Brick is constantly bringing in some new technology that he wants them all to try out. He does have trouble with them, but there’s just so much to learn in such a short amount of time.
“George just isn’t very good anymore,” he continues. “I was going to fire him anyway, so it’s not like you’d be changing my plans. Unless…” he lets that word hang in the silence between us. Brick is pushing me to the edge of my reason. His words and his very presence are causing my heart to pound. He’s so close to me I can smell him. With the scent of flowers mixing with his earthly, manly smell,
I am about to lose my entire mind.
Oh, my brain is all over the place. I shouldn’t be thinking about how intoxicating Brick is if he’s really about to fire my dad. My family wouldn’t survive something like that. We would be doomed financially. The second mortgage on the house isn’t paid off, and my parents only took it out because I needed help with school. Plus, my mom is a stay-at-home wife, so there’s no income there. I don’t make very much at the floral shop, and almost all of the money I do make goes to student loans. I practically have zero savings. We might survive a month or two without my dad’s income, but then we’d be out on our asses.
“I don’t know,” I say, slowly changing the tide of my answer.
“I’m sure you’ll do well. We already know the camera loves you, and you love it.” I wonder what he wants with these tapes, but I’m in no position to ask right now. Who even knows if he’d tell me the truth? I doubt he would publish them anywhere; he doesn’t seem like the type. But I also don’t know him very well. At this point, it’s probably better to say yes to what he wants, but maybe I can still negotiate a little bit myself.
“It’s not that. I’m just…I’m not sure,” I repeat.
“What are you worried about?” he cocks an eyebrow, inviting me to spill my guts. I don’t want to. Brick doesn’t deserve to know how I’m feeling. It’s become obvious to me that I don’t know this man at all. I’ll agree to his terms to avoid any more displays of vulnerability, but I’m not going to let him know how under my skin he’s gotten.
“Okay, I’ll do what you ask,” I tell him.
At my words, his smile grows even more. It actually makes me feel good, being the reason he’s happy. Even if it is because he’s manipulated me into a corner. There’s no reason for him to know all of this, though.
“That’s good to hear.”
“However,” I continue, “I’ll only make one more dirty video, and then I am done. You have to let my dad keep his job, no one better know about what has happened, and you will give me all three tapes back. That’s the only way I’ll participate.” Brick’s face doesn’t waver as I lay out my terms.
“I feel like I am getting the short end of this deal,” he comments.
“If you want this video that badly, I’d say you’re getting the lion’s share,” I push back. He considers my position for a moment, his face thoughtful.
“You make an excellent point,” he responds deliberately. “Maybe I revealed my cards a little too easily,” he says, more to himself than to me. “Okay, then,” his eyes are back on mine. “I think I can be satisfied with the terms you have laid out.”
“So, we have a deal?”
“We have a deal.” Brick extends his hand. I look at it for a couple of seconds before bringing my hand up. His long fingers wrap around my hand. The warmth emanating from his palm seeps into me. I do my best to contain my shivers, but I’m not totally sure he doesn’t feel them. I withdraw my hand quickly, nodding.
“So…how do we…” I start, my voice dropping.
“Give me your phone number,” Brick requests, taking his cell out of his pocket. I stare at him for a few seconds before blinking away the shocked feelings.
“Um, okay.” I rattle off my number, watching Brick type it in.
“I’ll text you with a time. We’ll be recording it at the same place. I’ll let you know everything you’ll need to bring, though it really shouldn’t be more than yourself.” His eyes wander down my body, and I can see he’s thinking about me in the nude. It’s become clear that this guy is attracted to me. He wouldn’t be going to all of this trouble if he wasn’t.