How I Became Lotus Raine...the Porn Star (4 page)

I had looked at my clock and noticed it was time to start saving all the info I had found for the day. From the corner of my eye, I spotted my door being slowly pushed open. My heartbeat sped up and an involuntary smile took over expecting it to be the guy I was needing to thank.

But it wasn’t.

I pulled my earphones out, giving my boss my full attention. He eased his way in, not bothering to close the door behind him as he scanned my office walls taking in the paintings I had hanging. The first thought I had was he was there to fire me. I was positive Rachel made sure to show him just how musically inclined she was and had him singing until he got off in her mouth. She had ways of getting what she wanted and I knew it had everything to do with the weakness hiding in his slacks that the ring on his finger didn’t satisfy.

Maybe if I just apologized and recanted my statement it would all go away. I mean, it wasn’t like I was going to run to his wife and tell her. Hell, it wasn’t like I had any tangible proof to even do so.

I stood and ran my clammy hands down the front of my jeans. I couldn’t lose my job. I’d be screwed. But I was only into begging by using my voice and if I was going to have to beg at all, that’d be as good as he’d ever get from me.

Twiddling with my fingers, I finally looked up and spoke. “Look. I’m sorry about what I said yesterday. I was out of line and—”

His hand lifted from his pant pocket, slicing through the stagnant air between us as he motioned for me to quit talking. “That’s not why I’m here.” He rubbed a hand through his thinning hair, and held the back of his neck before releasing it along with a sigh. “I just wanted to let you know that when you come in on Monday, I’ll have an assignment for you.”

The tension I’d been holding rolled off as I let my shoulders sag a bit. I never thought he could possibly be coming into my office that day with actual good news. He never had good news for me.

“I don’t even know what to say. Thank you so much for the opportunity.” I gave him a grateful smile.

Mr. Callahan gave me a curt nod, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he bounced on the heels of his shoes like he was on the verge of saying something else, but quickly changed his mind as he turned and headed for my door. His mood was definitely off. He didn’t seem excited to be giving me the news of a lifetime. When I saw Rachel walking up to him with a scowl I had become all too familiar with, I realized that he was probably getting a good earful from the person he was usually giving a mouthful.

I fell back into my chair in a bit of a dreamy state. Was I finally getting my foot in the door? Were they finally going to start letting me venture out? I knew this one chance could be the only one I had to prove myself to them. And I was going to do just that. I wasn’t going to disappoint them. I was going to go full throttle and get anything and everything I could out of the job I was being handed. I would make them proud. I would make myself proud.

The first thing I did as soon as I got off work was call my best friend. That’s what most girls did, right? She’d been my closest confidant since I moved to Denver from Illinois three years ago. We both started off at Mitchell Publishing as interns with high hopes. Reggie was just smart enough to not stick around waiting for it to get her somewhere. But I wasn’t. I never wanted to be an actual author, but the writing industry had always incited my interest. That was why I had chosen the career path I had. I was able to be a part of the writing process, but behind the scenes. My name might not have been on the cover of a book, but it’d be in the acknowledgements. And in my mind, that was good enough.

“Well, I guess not sucking my boss’s penis has finally paid off,” I whispered into my phone as I made my way to the elevator.

Reggie laughed. “Penis. Who says penis these days? You really need to loosen up a bit, my dear. Add some naughty words to that vocabulary of yours.”

She always made fun of me for my modest mouth, as she’d call it. I just wasn’t much of a cusser and using certain words sounded foreign and forced coming from me.

Reggie let out a light gasp and I knew one of her brilliant ideas was about to fly out of her mouth. “We’re going out tonight. You need to celebrate and let loose.”

“You use any excuse you can to go out and celebrate.” I hit the down arrow and impatiently waited for the elevator. “And the letting loose part, well, you were born loose.”

“I’m not sure if that was supposed to be a cut down, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”

I laughed. “Yep, me calling you loose is definitely a compliment
.”
I shook my head as I stepped onto the elevator, pressing the lobby button. I was glad she brought up the idea of going out, because I was having the strange urge myself. Not that I necessarily wanted to celebrate, but I was wanting to let loose—for once in my life. And I finally felt like I deserved it.

“Hold the elevator.” I heard a male voice, rushing to make it.

I placed my hand against the door to keep it from closing.

“Thanks,” he said with a sexy smile.

It was him. I had gone all day without seeing him and BAM, as I went to leave work he magically appeared. Abbra Cadabbra. Magic Mike, I swear.

“You’re welcome.” I broke eye contact and scooted to the back, leaning against the wall.

I’d felt nervous all of a sudden. But something inside wouldn’t allow me to be timid toward him. I had some thanking to do, anyways.

I took a couple steps forward and my back against the side wall so I could face him.

“Thanks for the treat you left on my desk.” I could see the smile lifting at the corner of his mouth before he looked over at me.

“No problem.” He smirked then looked forward again. “I didn’t want you to have to break out your Chuck Norris like skills with the vending machine again,” he laughed.

“That is not what happened,” I laughed back. “My sleeves were not pushed up. That’s when you know I mean business.”

“Is that so?” He laughed and I nodded with a smile
.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” He looked me up and down, then smiled once his eyes rested on mine. That must’ve been the flirting he was talking about. “And the drink I left,” he looked forward and shrugged, “well, you know. Pollen.”

“Oh, yeah. About that…” I smiled shyly as he glanced my way giving me a knowing look.

“Lucy,” I heard from my phone.

“I’m here,” I replied, forgetting about Reggie and hoping to end the call as quickly as possible. I wasn’t really into the idea of this confident, hot guy hearing my conversation—especially when Reggie was on the other end and God knows the type of stuff she was liable to say without even batting an eye.

“Tonight. Meet me at Soco’s at nine,” she said in a rushed tone.

“Right. Soco’s. Nine. I’ll be there.” I hurried and pressed end just as the door opened allowing us to go our separate ways.

I stopped and turned around. I couldn’t just let him go without knowing if he’d return. “Wait.”

“Yes?” He turned, facing me. Neither of us moved or closed the distance.

“Do you come here often?” He raised a brow at me giving me a humorous expression. “Did I just ask that? Wow, it sounded better in my head. And less pick-up-line-ish.” That was exactly why I didn’t talk to sexy men—stupid flew out of my mouth.

“No, I’m not an employee, if that’s what you’re getting at,” he lightly laughed. “I was just doing some research. It’s over now.” His words made me feel like I had just been let down. I had finally done something I’d never done, and his words just crushed it. Made my effort feel pointless.

“That’s too bad.” I turned, walking off toward the parking garage. Out of curiosity, I had looked back and caught magic mystery guy doing the same as we eyed one another momentarily. I continued my long walk and hopped in my sedan, driving to my apartment. Meeting Reggie at nine kept me from having to rush around to get ready when I got home, which I was thankful for. I was able to take a long, relaxing bath and finish up the romantic comedy novel I had started a few nights previous. I also finally hung the clothes up that I had packed without resenting them as I did.

Then, I ate a decent meal, knowing I was going to be drinking. All of that, before wreaking havoc on my closet in search of the perfect night out attire. The trick was to find something sexy to let loose in without actually looking loose.

“SO, DO YOU still live in the same apartment? Or have you since moved to a bigger location?” Shepard holds his pen above his notepad waiting for my reply.

“Of course I do. My change in job hasn’t changed who I am. None of this really has to do with me becoming a different person because of my profession. It’s about being with someone who brought me to life. I’m still Lucy. Just a more social, not timid, no longer scared to take certain risks, and always worried about what people think of me person anymore. Being on film doesn’t define who I am. Hell, it’s not even what made me who I am today. It was one person coming into my life at the most opportune time.”

THAT NIGHT, I had thrown on some cut off jean shorts, a loose black shirt that hung off my shoulder with
‘Love is for Losers’
spelled out in studs front and center. Reggie told me to show my legs off. Me wearing slightly baggy shorts that hit me mid-thigh, was as good as she got. They weren’t even baggy, but they weren’t painted on my skin either. And anything that you don’t have to peel off, Reggie considered too big. I just liked the idea of my body being able to breathe. Even between my legs. I wasn’t into suffocating my pussy.

I pulled on my combat boots, tying them only mid-way up so the top part would fall out to the sides. I spent a good ten minutes in the bathroom gauging if I liked my hair up or down better. I finally decided to leave it down, long and straight. I didn’t go crazy on my face, but did do my eyes how I’d done them that morning—without the need for video assistance and four Q-tips instead of ten.

“Holy shit! This place is crowed,” I yelled over the music as Reggie and I made our way to the bar. She was dressed way more revealing than I’d ever attempted. I’m confident, but damn, I didn’t want to get molested. She was definitely rocking her itty-bitty black dress that barely hugged her ass.

I had a feeling it was her rebound outfit, meaning that was the whole purpose of us going out. It wasn’t to celebrate my hard work paying off. We both had motive. The bartender made his way over and Reggie ordered us two shots a piece. Once he brought them back, we downed them simultaneously.

She turned to me, leaning into my ear. “What do you want to drink?”

“You know me. Something fruity.”

“Shoulda known.” She rolled her eyes as she turned signaling for the bartender again. I could barely hear what she was ordering. The only thing I caught her saying was, “Make it strong, handsome.” He smiled back, nodding. Then she turned back to me, giving me a once over.

“Well, I’m glad you listened to me about showing some leg. Even though, I figured it’d be more in the form of a dress, but I’ll take what I can get.”

“Isn’t that how you take it anyways?” I teased her.

“Better than not taking any at all.” She smirked with her sassy tone.

“I’d rather finger rape myself.”

“You can’t rape the willing.”

“Is that your story?” I raised my brows in question.

“And I’m sticking to it.” She winked, and then placed her arms on my shoulders. “I’m so happy for you! I really am.” Reggie congratulated me with a genuine grin even though she hates that place and how I’d been treated. I thanked her before our bartender who had to have been the lead singer of Framing Hanley’s doppelgänger, returned with our drinks. The similarities were distracting and I couldn’t keep myself from staring.

“Here, gorgeous,” the doppelgänger said, sitting our glasses down. I watched the small, metal ring hug his bottom lip as he smiled, then winked
.
“You ladies have a good time.”

“Oh, we will,” Reggie flirted. She grabbed our drinks, then handed me mine. “Here’s to having a good time and letting loose.” We lightly tapped our glasses together and I pulled the straw to my mouth, tasting my drink. “That drink should definitely do the trick.” I almost choked on the fluid I was trying to swallow. I wasn’t sure if it was caused by her words, or the amount of liquor that was consuming me from that one small sip.