Does she have a crush on Joel?Man, she could do so much better than him.
Shaking my head at the injustice, I move down the hall.
“King,” I bark as I step into his office.
“I am not going to Vice with you tonight,” he says, his frown pronounced.
“Nah,” I say with a grin, “I don’t want that loud, shitty music.”
He laughs.“They were playingyourshitty music last night.”
“Exactly.”I lean against the doorway.“I was thinking somewhere quieter.Abdul’s for drinks?”
“Sure.”He stands and grabs his jacket from a hook on the wall.
We leave his office.The little maid is nowhere in sight, and I’m disappointed.I wanted to see King’s reaction to her.She looks like she was made for us, all sweet curves and innocent blushes.
When I go home tonight, I’m going to fantasize about disciplining her.
I bet I could make that little bird sing.
Five
Kingston
They’re in the supply closet again.I wish I didn’t know, but I do, because I’m walking down the hall to see if Grant is still here; I need to ask him a question about fuck-if-I-can-remember-what.
A breathy, whimpering sound comes from the cleaning closet.
It’s her, I just know it.She’s in there again with my son.
I want to open the door and yell at Joel, because he shouldn’t be doing this at work.But I don’t want to embarrass the maid.
She makes another sound, this one of whining need.I can’t move my fucking feet.I should move—I have no business listening to this.And my being here has nothing to do with Joel, everything to do with Ella.
Professional interest, right?Because a maid working in our building should not be exchanging sexual favors with another employee in the closet.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice needy.“Right there, right—”
Joel grunts.Ella goes silent.
She didn’t come.
I press my ear to the door like a fucking creeper, because surely he’s going to help her finish, surely he’s going to do the right thing—
The doorknob turns.
I leap back, fast, and turn halfway to point myself toward my office.In the reflection of the interior windows, I watch Joel step out of the closet, adjusting himself through his pants.
He didn’t help Ella finish.White-hot anger flares through me.
“Hey, Dad,” Joel says loudly.
He’s trying to give the maid the hint not to leave the closet right away.He was always a terrible sneak, even as a young boy.
“Hey,” I say.“Could I speak to you in my office for a minute?”
His eyebrows rise on his forehead.“Is everything okay?”
