“Well that’s just swell, but that ain’t why you’re here.”
I swallowed. “It’s not?”
Mr. Pike only smiled. “Put that on.” He nodded again at the parcel.
Slowly, I nodded. I started to open the small box, pulling the little ribbon away and taking the top off, when suddenly mywholeface went hot and I felt a chill shiver down my back as Ifroze.
“Something the matter?” he said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
A lump formed in my throat as I looked down at the black, lacy contents of the box.
This had to be a mistake. Or a joke they played on new hires, or… or…something.
My scary new boss hadn’treallyjust given me a box of sexy lingerie, right?
“I— um—”
“Is there a problem here, Johanna?”
I glanced up, chewing at my lip. “I’m sorry, you want me to—”
“To put that thefuck on, and follow me. Yes.”
“I can’t,” I shook my head quickly. “Mr. Pike, I—”
I gasped as he suddenly strode over to me, and I shrieked as he yanked the blanket from my hands, grabbed me by the arm, and yanked me up so I that I was standingnakedin front of him.
His lips curled into a mean, wicked smile, his meaty hand holding me firmly as I tried to pull away. His cold eyes leered down at me, roaming my naked body in a way that made me shiver before he narrowed them on my face.
“Let’s get one thingverystraight, right now.” His eyes blazed. “I fuckingown younow, okay? You’re not here to fuckin’ milk cows, or pile hay, or whatever hillbilly farm bullshit you mistakenly thought you were going to be doing here. I’m not afterranch hands, I’m aftergirls.”
A coldness started to creep through me.
“You ain’t here for avisit,you’re here until Isell you.”
I froze, my jaw dropping.
“What?”
“I’m going tosell you,” he hissed with a chilling smile. “But first, I’m gonnatrain you, so put on thefuckinguniform, and follow me, or Iwillget mean. Do we understand each other?”
My head felt stuffy, like it was filled with cotton, and the room felt like it was spinning. Words like “sold” and “train you” flashed through my head as I blinked and tried to process what he’d just said.
“Isaid—”
I gasped as his hand gripped my arm tightly.
“Do weunderstandeach other?”
I nodded.
I didn’t know what else to do, I just nodded.
“Good. Now put them on, and let’s go.”
6
Johanna