He sighs. “Well, you have one, I assume?”
“Yes,” I draw out the S.
“Then ask your date to bring a girlfriend for me. Easy peasy.”
I shake my head and look toward the closed door of my office, imagining Addison sitting at her desk, typing away. “My date isn’t really a traditional one in the sense. She’s my assistant. We are going together strictly for business.”
“Dude, are you banging your assistant? I thought your dad taught you better than that.” He gives a hearty laugh.
“Fuck you, Cal,” I say through clenched teeth, my mood worsening.
“Calm down, tiger.” He sighs. “Look, ask her to ask a friend. If she says no, I’ll figure something out, but at least ask.”
“Fine.” I hang up as fast as I can, not wanting to hear another word from his arrogant mouth. He knows comparing me to my father is the biggest insult he can muster. I take a few deep breaths and open the door. Addy looks up at me, waiting.
Images of her on her knees in front of me flash through my mind before I can stop them.
“Can I help you, Mr. Freeman?” she asks, her voice like sin.
I clear my throat. “I just got off the phone with Cal Manning. He’s also going to be attending the ball this weekend, and he needs a date. I told him I would ask if you have any friends to go with him.”
Her lips pull up into a smile. “Is he not able to get his own date?”
I rub the back of my neck. “It’s…” I roll my eyes again, his cockiness annoying to me all of a sudden. “It’s complicated. I mean, if you have a friend you can set him up with, fine. If not, it’s no big deal. He doesn’t want to go with another girl that his sister sets him up with. I told him I would at least ask you.”
Her smile widens. “I actually have the perfect girl in mind. I have a friend who needs to get out there a bit more, and she’s very pretty.” She unlocks her phone and shows me a picture of her and the girl. She’s pretty and tall. I’m sure she’ll give Cal a run for his money.
“Perfect. Make sure she has something appropriate to wear, and don’t forget the masks.”
“Of course. The mask is crucial.” She smiles at me, and I turn on my heel back to my office. I close the door behind me and walk into my private bathroom. My dick is hard as a rock, and I’m surprised Addy didn’t notice it, although I did discreetly try to hide it from her view.Get a hold of yourself, Ethan.
I glance down at my bulge, look at the closed door, and make up my mind. Fuck it. I need to do something about this before I embarrass myself further. I grab a towel from the counter, unzip my pants, and go to work.
Chapter 7
Addison
“Please, Eden? You can be Roxie for the night if you want to be. You don’t have to tell him your real name, and you’re going to be wearing a mask. Please do this for me?” I beg. I don’t like to let Ethan down, and if Eden doesn’t accept, I don’t have a back-up plan. Lia and Everleigh are both married with kids. I don’t have any other close girlfriends that I could ask, and I’m not asking one of the girls from the club.
She sighs. “I—I don’t have a dress.”
I shake my fists in excitement. I knew I could convince her to come. “Thank you. I promise I’ll make this up to you. We’ll go shopping tonight.”
“So, who’s my date for this thing?”
“Cal Manning.”
“What?” she yells into the phone. I pull it away from my ear and wince at the volume. “Oh, no. There’snoway I can go with him.”
“Why not? You can’t tell me yes and then take it back. Unwritten rule of friendship.”
“Do you even know who heis?” she asks, her voice still a bit high.
“Um... no. Should I?”
“He’s a big shot book model, and I absolutely swoon over him. He’s gorgeous... and dreamy... and so fucking hot.”
“Well, if you’re Roxie, you don’t have to worry about him knowing who you are...” I coax.
