Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (14 page)

And that
’
s
the perspective I need.
 
“
Do you like the suit?
”

“
I
do.
 
What shoes are you pairing it
with?
”

“
Jennifer
and I are the same size.
 
She said I
could wear whatever I wanted of hers.
”

“
That
means you
’
ll
have access to the Dior sling backs I bought for her.
 
Wear those.
 
What about jewelry?
”

“
Do
I wear jewelry at a meeting like this?
”

“
Darling,
please.
 
It
’
s called
‘
daytime jewelry,
’
and
Jennifer has plenty of it.
 
It
’
s meant to set a
tone.
 
Boss will get it at
once.
 
Will Jennifer allow you to
wear any of hers?
”

“
Of
course she will.
”

“
Then
find the diamond choker Alex bought for her.
 
It looks simple, but it boasts fifty
carats.
 
Same goes for her tennis
bracelet
—
it
’
s perfect for this
initial meeting.
 
To round it off, a
surprise.
 
Choose the ten-carat
canary yellow diamond he gifted to her.
 
It will work with your hair and will be the sort of statement ring Boss
can
’
t
help but notice.
 
It will shoot you
into a new level for him, which I believe he needs.
”

“
What
about hair and makeup?
”

“
Light
on the makeup.
 
It
’
s afternoon, after
all.
 
You want just a touch.
 
Always remember this
—
when
it comes to clothing and makeup, there is nothing worse than nighttime drama in
a daytime world.
 
As for your hair,
I
’
d
wear it in a little flip at your shoulders.
 
A bit of lipstick.
 
Bring Jennifer
’
s red Birkin.
 
I
’
ve already seen her today and know that she doesn
’
t have it with her, so
it
’
s
in that hellhole of a penthouse of yours somewhere.
 
Probably lost in a pile of unwashed
clothing if I know you two girls.
”

“
Thank
you, Barbara.
”

“
See
me before you see him,
”
she
said.
 
“
I must assess.
”

“
OK.
”

And then the line went dead.

*
 
*
 
*

When I arrived at Wenn by taxi, I
paid the driver, threaded through the crowds on the sidewalk, and moved into
the building where I took the elevator to the fifty-first floor.
 
I only had thirty minutes before I met
with Marco Boss, and I
’
d
be lying if I said that I wasn
’
t
nervous.

When I entered her office, Blackwell
looked up, and pointed a finger at me.

“
Pretty
hair,
”
she
said.
 
“
Good makeup.
 
Now, take off your coat and let me see
the rest of it.
”
 
She put her hands on her desk and
gripped it.
 
“
I
’
ll brace myself for it
now.
”

I rolled my eyes at her, put the
Birkin on the chair opposite her desk, and took off the coat she
’
d purchased for
me.
 
When I did, she immediately got
out of her seat.

“
Well,
well,
”
she
said as she came around her desk to study what I was wearing.
 
“
Good lines.
 
It
’
s not a knock off, but
the real thing.
 
I
’
d know at once if it
were a fake.
 
This is no fake.
 
The pants are the correct length.
 
Turn around.
 
Good.
 
Turn to the side.
 
Perfect.
 
Now face me.
”
 
She folded her arms and lifted her
chin.
 
“
The suit fits you
surprisingly well despite the fact that God robbed you of any breasts.
”

“
I
have breasts.
”

“
If
you insist.
”

“
I
do.
 
Maybe not like Jennifer
—
who
can compete with her?
—
but
they
’
re
there.
”
 
I decided to go in for the kill.
 
“
And Tank can even motorboat me.
”

“
He
can what?
”

“
Motorboat
me.
”

“
I
don
’
t
know what that is.
”

“
Maybe
that
’
s
because you haven
’
t
really lived.
”

“
It
’
s vulgar, isn
’
t it?
”

“
Actually,
it feels fabulous.
 
Divoon
.
”

Her eyes widened.
 
“
Is this some sort of sexual thing?
”

“
Of
course it is
—”

“
Enough!
 
You know I don
’
t tolerate that kind
of talk.
 
Motorboating.
 
I have no interest in what that is.
 
It sounds like something they
’
d do on one of those
hillbilly reality shows that are currently ruining our culture.
”

“
Let
’
s just say that you
need to have a rack in order for it to work.
”

“
My
dear,
”
she
said.
 
“
A rack you don
’
t have.
 
But if Tank enjoys your boobs, such as
they are, and if you
’
re
convinced that they
’
re
enough, so be it.
 
Let me see the
shoes.
”

I held out one of my legs and turned
my foot for her.

“
J
’
adore
Dior,
”
she
said.
 
“
Same goes for the
jewels and the bag.
 
Boss is no
fool.
 
He
’
ll know what you
’
re up to, but he
’
ll also be reminded of
Jennifer when he sees them, and that will make him think of his boss
—
Alex.
 
We
’
re sending out a warning call with those jewels and that
bag.
 
You also look completely
different from the last time he saw you, which likely will be a plus for
him.
 
I think he
’
ll take the bait,
choose his words carefully, and play reasonably nice.
”

“
He
didn
’
t
the other day.
”

She patted her angular bob.
 
“
He might have been scolded since then.
 
Now, it
’
s time for you to go
—
you don
’
t want to be late.
 
Leave your jacket here.
 
Take
the bag.
 
Arm yourself with it.
 
Hold it so that it
’
s what he sees
first.
 
I
’
ll want a full report
when the meeting is over.
”

*
 
*
 
*

When the elevator stopped on the
twentieth floor and the doors slid open, I stepped out into a space that was
far quieter than Blackwell
’
s
floor.
 
I approached an older woman
behind a desk who reminded me somewhat of Blackwell herself
—
severe
looking, impeccably dressed, and with a wary look of disdain in her eyes.

She removed her red-framed glasses
and said,
“
May
I help you?
”

“
I
’
m here to see Marco
Boss.
”

“
Mr.
Boss?
”

“
That
’
s right.
”

“
Your
name?
”

“
Lisa
Ward.
”

“
Oh,
”
she
said.
 
“
Oh, yes.
 
The self-published writer.
”

She said it as if it was some sort of
disease.

“
That
would be me.
”

Her gaze went to the diamonds at my
throat, then to Jennifer
’
s
Birkin, and finally to my suit.
 
“
Really?
”
she
said.
 
“
Self-published.
 
It
’
s still all so new to us here.
 
What a brave new world we live in.
 
Let me ring Mr. Boss and see if he
’
s available to see
you.
”

“
I
have an appointment to meet with him.
”

“
As
I said, I
’
ll
see if he
’
s
available to see you.
 
He might be
busy and have to cancel your appointment.
 
It happens.
”
 
She pointed to the wall opposite
her.
 
“
You can stand over there.
”

Well, this is pleasant.

“
Mr.
Boss?
 
Lisa Ward to see you.
 
Yes?
 
No, she
’
s standing here.
 
Actually, she
’
s
standing against a wall.
 
I
’
ll tell her.
 
Thank you.
”

She looked up at me, and this time I
noticed the canary-diamond ring on my right hand catching her eye.
 
She stared at it for a moment before she
looked up and addressed me.
 
“
Mr. Boss will collect
you himself.
 
Just wait there.
”

I didn
’
t have to wait long.
 
To my left, I heard my name called out in a bass voice that seemed to
reverberate throughout the entire space.

“
Lisa,
”
he
said.