Counter Girls

Counter Girls, a Novel by Felicia C. York

Copyright 2012 Felicia York

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

That's why I began doing makeup in the first place: I was hoping that through helping people see the beauty in themselves, I could try and find it in me.

-Kevyn Aucoin

Dedicated to the colorful characters I’ve met along the way who paint themselves the colors of the rainbow. You are all beautiful.

Chapter One

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.

― Marilyn Monroe

She smoothed down her honey blonde hair and tried to relax, adjusting her thumping heart to the click clack of her heels against the gray marble floor of Fred’s Department Store. It was her first day as a makeup artist and she was determined to look the part of the edgy chic Beauty Svengali. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and looked over her outfit once again – black leather mini, fishnets, black oversized tee and knee-length high-heeled boots. The all black dress code made her feel official in her capacity to wield her makeup brushes on the unsuspecting but very willing public. She checked her makeup again. She’d chosen a classic black smoky eye, nude lip and bronzer with her favorite lashes for her first day. She liked the way the dark liner made her green eyes look darker and more intense. The outfit and makeup didn’t completely feel organic to her but she felt that she needed to look and act the part.

October was in full swing and the tan she’d worked so hard to achieve that summer was long gone. She grimaced at her pale visage and tried not to think of herself as looking like a vampire. She inhaled deeply and hoped that she looked confident; although in her heart of hearts, she didn’t necessarily feel it. She would be great. This would work. There were no other options. Fake it til you make it, she thought.

She turned the corner knowing the counter would be to the right and imagined what it would be like facing her new co-workers for the first time. She held her head high and did her best runway walk and walked straight toward….the women’s restrooms. Somewhere along the way, she’d definitely made a wrong turn. Fred’s was the largest chain of department stores in the Northeast and the Fred’s store she had the pleasure of working at was the largest one in existence, spanning more than 13 floors and one city block in the heart of Manhattan. She retraced her steps, taking deep breaths, trying desperately not to become flustered. She made the right turn and she saw the big beautiful purple and white counter. Blush Cosmetics was scrawled in bright white illuminated script along the wall. She smiled, noticing the small group of artists in a huddle listening to her boss speak.

Pilar was a tall woman. A former model in her youth, she stood at just under six feet tall. She wore her hair in a spiky pixie cut. Her makeup could only be described as severe: Russian red lipstick, pale skin with hardly any blush. Her eyebrows were a little too thin but her deep blue eyes against her jet black hair and porcelain complexion was definitely striking. Pilar hardly smiled and seemed completely stand-offish. Late to the meeting, Kelly joined as quietly as she could but her heels gave her away.

Lambs, this is our new fish, Kelly Parker. Please make her feel welcome and teach her as much as you can, she started, So nice of you to join us, Kelly. Three pairs of eyes turned and nodded their acknowledgement of her and just as quickly turned their attention to Pilar. Kelly smiled awkwardly, feeling as though she might receive detention after school for her tardiness. Back to the matter at hand; our numbers are not looking good. We’re down 3% from last year and we didn’t make our new product launch numbers. I’m going to encourage you to think of creative ways to increase revenue especially in this third quarter of sales as our fiscal year ends in February. We need to end strong. If we stay on trend, we will surely have a disappointing year. That means heads will roll. Pilar paused for effect. I need to justify jobs. If people are not delivering, maybe those people should find another counter to work for. Got it? Pilar paused again as if expecting half of the team to take her up on her offer and immediately go join another company. Great, she finished, Now that I sufficiently killed your joy. The store will open in about fifteen minutes. You have your opening duties. Have a great day! Pilar smiled but it did not reach her ice blue eyes.

Kelly, you’re shadowing Frenchie today until Lexie comes in, Pilar added, almost as an afterthought as Kelly struggled to figure out which of her new co-workers could possibly be named Frenchie.

Frenchie, a dark-haired Asian beauty held out her hand to Kelly, as she gladly took it, trying not to gape at the face of the living doll before her. Frenchie’s face was round, her skin smooth and milky. Her almond eyes were light brown like a fine amber cognac with dark irises. Her straight black hair was neatly parted down the middle and fell to her waist. Her lips were full and held just the slightest pink-nude lip color. Her high cheekbones were accentuated with a champagne-colored highlighter and a small swipe of rose blush flushed her cheeks and swept at her temples. Average height and petite, she played up her small yet curvy frame with a fitted black dress. The neckline dipped into a deep V at her bust exposing ample cleavage while her hemline landed directly at her knees. She wore simple black pantyhose with a line down the center of the back of her legs and black pumps. A single strand of pearls was around her neck and simple diamond studs were in her ears. She looked classy making Kelly rethink her edgy look, feeling as though she were a kid playing dress-up. Frenchie seemed serious in her demeanor but her eyes held a playful mischief that made Kelly want to know more about her.

Kelly took her hand in hers. Nice to meet you, Frenchie, she smiled, relieved when the smile was returned. Pilar had given her the impression that smiles were forbidden. Frenchie immediately set to work.

Opening duties are simple: count the register, take the keys and open the drawers, check the sales goal for the day and compare it to the schedule. Divide the goal by the number of people here and that’s your personal goal for the day. The register keeps track of your sales by the identification number you type in at the beginning of each sale. Try your best to make your goal every day and that’s it. If Pilar is here, she’ll divide the duties. If not, the first person to clock in will check the schedule and divide it all equally. Easy, right? Frenchie began opening the drawers to the counters with ease while Kelly’s mind was spinning trying to keep up with what she was saying. There are about 20 drawers. Each of them contain products. The hardest part for you little fish is figuring out which drawers have what product. I say the ones on the right are skin care, middle – foundation and left are color. Kind of goes in sync with how you would beat a face. Right? Kelly nodded. Frenchie hardly took a breath. The most common question we get is…’Your company name is Blush. Is that all you sell?’ It’s a lame question and you’ll probably hear it twenty times a day from people who are serious to someone trying to be funny. Frenchie paused to make sure that Kelly was hearing everything she was saying. Kelly offered a lukewarm smile, which made Frenchie chuckle in response. Relax, girl! You’ll be fine.

Pilar left her team busy with the opening of the store as she snuck off for her morning indulgence at Comer, Fred’s patio restaurant. There, she would enjoy a coffee the size of her head while staring out at the expansive view of NYC. She would bask in the brief moments of silence before the store became crazy with people. Once they were open, the noise was constant. There would be a stream of people, loud music, conversation and controlled chaos until the doors were closed. But at that moment, Pilar could breathe, smell her coffee, sip it and relish it before the demands of her position would weigh heavily on her shoulders like a boulder. She watched the people below walking to and from their destinations. New Yorkers were always so determined. No matter where they were going, they had to get there five minutes ago. The energy in this city was also a constant. It most often left her feeling drained. Having grown up in Smalltown, USA, she was used to a time when the city would curl up next to the TV to watch the evening news or have Sunday dinner with the family. She sometimes missed her little town that she had so desperately fled from as a teen feeling as though back then, her life had had more structure and she had had more control. Being the prettiest, most talented girl at home meant something. In a city of 8.3 million, she was one of thousands that had the same skills. How could one really differentiate themselves from the crowd? She sighed. She had never quite learned the answer to that question. Her morning ponderings were taking a familiar turn – back to the mistakes of the past and how she could’ve avoided them. The life that she led was one that afforded her many luxuries and while she could choose to pack it up and pursue something different, she knew that as much as she would fantasize about leaving Fred’s, she would never.

She shifted her focus back to her team. The morning rally with her troops left her feeling a bit weathered. She hated to use threats or be that tough on them but the fact was that they were all employed because of her ability to get the results that corporate wanted. She was the Business Development Manager. Her job was to make sure the business stayed profitable. She understood her team and their wants and needs. They were artists. Once upon a time, so was she. Pilar knew that for many on her team, their main agenda was to do beautiful makeup. Most of the artists that came to work in the Beauty Department at Fred’s only wanted to paint faces all day, but it was up to her to adjust that goal. Their new goal would be to sell makeup and if they could make people beautiful, it was a bonus.

Since the recession, many brands had folded or closed their physical stores, electing to sell exclusively online; costing thousands of jobs. If they weren’t careful, Blush could face the same fate. So Pilar was tough. She threatened them. She held them to an extremely high standard. She didn’t hold their hands when they did not meet that standard because as much as Pilar liked her team and genuinely thought they were good people, it was her duty to keep them all employed. She would have loved to have a drink after work or share girl talk, but she could not be their friend. Most did not know how to separate Pilar the boss and Pilar the friend and so as to not make things complicated, she did what she had to and hoped they knew that deep down she did care.

Pilar did not sign up for this part of her job. She herself had come to Fred’s with the hopes of doing incredible makeup. She moved to NYC to pursue a career as a theatrical makeup artist on Broadway. When Broadway turned her out and told her she needed more experience, her passion and personality landed her a job on the sales floor at Fred’s. Her tenacity and work ethic moved her up the ladder and moved her Broadway aspirations to the back burner.

She allowed herself to wonder what life would be like if she had only spent a few months at Fred’s and tried again, sticking to her initial plan. She chuckled to herself. Maybe she would give it up and join the circus as her dad used to say. She took stock of her life: in her mid-30’s, alone, childless and living in a city where it seemed that everyone else was living her dream or at least living while she maintained an almost sterile personality to the people she saw almost every day. She felt the sadness creeping in trying to wind its way into her day. She sipped her coffee reaffirming her choices. Choices - that is what it all boiled down to in the end. She’d made hers. No one was making her stay. So each and every day, she chose to stay and would continue to do so until someone forced her hand. She thought of having a glass of wine. No wine ‘til lunch Pilar, you promised! she thought to herself.

Good Morning! the high nasally male voice called to her from behind. She shuddered. She would know that voice anywhere.

She took in a deep breath, Morning, Russell. She threw on her best and brightest smile for the Brand Manager of her department. Russell managed the shipment of their stock, making sure that the best-sellers were available for sale; kept constant watch over their sales, ensuring that their sales objectives were being met; governed employee relations, hiring and firing at will, and also made sure that the top sellers were happy and that the weaker salespeople were developed more. He did the latter behind the scenes. As Pilar’s boss, he used her as his puppet when it came down to employee relations, painting her as the bad guy. Pilar was feared. Russell was respected. There was a lot of the same word in his job description: sales. He was always on top of the revenue they were bringing in and made sure Pilar was as well.

May I sit? I know we have our morning pow wow in about an hour but why not talk now? I’m here. You’re here, Russell sat without waiting for Pilar to respond because of course, the question – like many of his questions - was rhetorical.

Of course, Russell, Pilar’s smile was tight. I’d be delighted to get this out of the way. It’s so good to see you. Her statement was a half-truth. It was never a joyous occasion to see Russell. He never had great news. He always rained on her parade. She steeled herself, filing all of the doubts and regrets in a folder in her mental cabinet. She had to be on. No doubt, Russell had a hard pill ready for her to swallow. She took out a pen and paper from her purse.

Awesome! Let’s talk about numbers! Russell pulled out status reports as though ambushing her at Comer was a part of his initial plan.

Hello, I’m Raquel. Pleasure to meet you, Kelly, a Latina of average height greeted her. Her shoulder-length medium brown hair with golden blonde highlights was layered in a cut that framed her face. Her round eyes were steel gray and were rimmed with a heavy black kohl liner. She wore a simple cowl-neck sweater and flat-front pants with a low heel. Everything about her was no-nonsense and straight forward. She spoke with a Spanish accent. Where have you worked before here?

This is kind of my first makeup job, Kelly responded, slightly embarrassed. But I love makeup. It’s my passion and I can paint a bulldog pretty, I declare! Her deep Southern accent came tumbling out as she defended herself against an unspoken accusation of her incompetence.

How much you make…you better not make more than me! Raquel, unfazed by Kelly’s defense, went on in her own tirade about how the newer artists came in at a higher pay rate and that it was unfair. Frenchie pulled a confused Kelly away from the conversation.

I meant to warn you. Raquel tends to go off on her own tangents and she’s always looking to make sure no one has the upper hand, Frenchie said shaking her head. Watch out for her because she’s what we call a ‘strong seller’. She accentuated her last two words with air quotes. The doors of the store were opened and a steady stream of patiently waiting customers flowed past them intent on what they came to purchase. Kelly marveled at how full the store was at just 9am. She took in her surroundings. To her left was the Origins counter. On her right was Lancome and in front of her was MAC. She surveyed the character of each counter. Origins was definitely more earthy. Their girls wore natural makeup and their signature green aprons. Lancome was more serious and professional with their black leather vests. MAC was the most artistic. Their artists wore bright colors on their eyes and lips with ripped black jeans and combat boots or sexy tight dresses and fishnets. She felt as though she were in the right place.

So, how do you paint a pit bull pretty? Frenchie asked Kelly, smiling at her interrupting, her thoughts.

I’m from the South. It’s just an expression. It means… Kelly trailed off once she realized Frenchie was no longer paying attention to her. Her entire demeanor changed. Her back straightened and her shoulders were rolled back so that her bust was more apparent. Her eyes were locked on a tall man with sandy brown hair. It was like predator to prey and he did not stand a chance. He looked back at Frenchie sheepishly averting his eyes from her to the floor.

Good morning sir. Welcome to Blush. How can I service you today? Frenchie smiled coquettishly. He blushed while fishing out a piece of paper from his pocket.

G’day, he began, I have this list of products for me wife. He spoke with a Welsh accent.

Sure Mr. Sandy Brown, I’ll get that for you, Frenchie winked surveyed the list, making a mental note and handed it back to the man.

Umm, Sandy Brown? he asked.

Your hair, sir. It’s a lovely shade of sandy brown, Frenchie shook her head as if he should’ve known.

Oh ok. Carry on, then, he smiled shyly while Kelly shadowed Frenchie to see where she was getting each product. Raquel took the opportunity to size him up.

Hello sir. Can I help you? she asked quietly.

Oh someone asked already, he said curtly.

You have a list? she stared at the paper in his hand hungrily. She took the list from him and began getting the products as quickly as possible, careful not to rouse suspicion. They both got back to the register at the same time. Frenchie noticed that Raquel had the same items on her list and Kelly stepped back, sure that she was not prepared for what was about to happen.

Is there anything else I could get for you sir? Possibly a gift for your wife? Frenchie asked, not looking in Raquel’s direction. Raquel surveyed the list making sure that she had all the items before she spoke to Frenchie.

Sandy Brown looked at Raquel and then at Frenchie. Umm…no thanks. He shifted his weight from his left to right legs.

He your customer, Frenchie? I didn’t know this. Frenchie ignored the comment and began ringing the items. "We’re esplitting the sale, right Frenchie? Frenchie still ignored her. Frenchie, you’re being rude." Raquel’s voice rose a little bit. Frenchie smiled in her direction.

"No, Raquel, we’re not esplitting the sale, she said through her gritted teeth, Furthermore, we’re not doing this in front of the customer. She smiled at Sandy Brown. Your total is $303.17. He handed her his card. I’ve thrown in some samples that I think your wife might like based on what was on your list."

Th-thank you, he said as she handed him his shopping bag and card. He looked as if he wanted to break into a run.

No, thank you sir and have a great day! Her smile was saccharine sweet. Kelly could feel the tension building between them and she knew one was about to blow. Frenchie surprised her.

Raquel, don’t play cute with me. You saw a list. You got greedy. You knew someone was helping him. You didn’t care. That might work with the new girl but that doesn’t fly with me. Do that again and I’m reporting you to the Union, she stared Raquel deep into her eyes for a moment. Her stunned silence was enough of an answer and Frenchie smiled once again as Raquel stormed away putting back the items she had taken out.

Wow, Kelly said letting out the breath she wasn’t aware that she had been holding in as she looked around, not sure if anyone else saw what was happening. She caught the eye of a man at the Lancome counter who had watched the whole incident take place. He sauntered over in his crisp black button down shirt tucked neatly into his tight black slacks and pointed black shoes. His skin was the color of golden wheat. His black hair was cut close to his scalp. He was older but his skin was like smooth leather and the most distinct feature was his dark perfectly arched eyebrows.

Girl! That Raquel is a mess! I saw the whole thing! he exclaimed to Frenchie. She just shrugged not in any mood to gossip. I’m Jean. I work for Lancome and I can tell you one thing newbie. You’re greener than a ripe banana. Stick to Frenchie. She’s got class.

She was immediately taken by him. Nice to meet you. I’m Kelly. They shook hands and she automatically knew they would be good friends. Jean stepped back to his counter as a customer walked up looking at an eye cream he would undoubtedly sell her.

Be careful, little fish. Not everyone is always as they seem, Frenchie said behind her. Before she could ask what she meant by that, Frenchie was on to the next customer. Kelly listened intently to everyone around her trying to pick up as much as she could. Her greatest fear was mustering the courage to introduce herself to a customer without them coming up to her. She didn’t want to feel like a salesperson nor did she want the others to sniff out her lack of confidence but she wasn’t sure how she would exactly accomplish this.

He walked up toward the counter with certainty, his dark grey suit tailored to closely fit his tall athletic build. She loved the way his suit contrasted with the lavender shirt and royal purple tie he wore. He had style. She smiled at him surveying his rich brown skin shining under the florescent lights. His brown eyes twinkled at her as his full lips parted to smile…at Frenchie. Hey baby girl, he said as he greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. Kelly was disappointed. Sure, she had Steven at home but it was always nice to have the attention of an attractive man. She had yet another reason to envy Frenchie.

Hey there, Sherlock, Frenchie beamed at the man. She flipped her hair and licked her lips leaning over the counter while she pushed her breasts together with her arms as he whispered something in her ear. She laughed as she played with the pearls around her neck clearly enjoying his company. Kelly cleared her throat loudly.

You got a new girl? he asked, looking Kelly up and down making her feel more than a little self-conscious.

Kelly meet Detective Holmes or Sherlock as I like to call him, Frenchie introduced them less than enthusiastically. Kelly could understand wanting a man like that’s attention to oneself.

Pleased to meet you, she smiled as she shook his hand.

You’re shadowing Frenchie? She’s the best! Of all the people I’ve met here, she was the first to pick up on my last name and call me Sherlock. He nudged her and smiled once again. Brains and beauty, he added. Frenchie looked at Holmes as if she wanted to melt. He leaned into her again. You hungry? I am. I could eat you up.

It is lunch time, isn’t it? Frenchie looked at the clock as it turned to one on the dot. Kelly, you ready to eat? she asked, her eyes pleading for Kelly to say that she was.

Famished! Kelly exclaimed, her green eyes smiling. Where are we eating? she added.

I think you should take this time to explore what’s around for yourself, don’t you think? Frenchie winked and nodded.

You’re right, Kelly said. As she turned to clock out, she noticed a beautiful black woman in all black watching them. She wore a black button-down shirt with black leggings and black knee-length flat boots. Oh, hello, can I help you? Kelly asked.

Lexie laughed, I don’t think so. I’m Lexie. You must be new. Kelly blushed, feeling foolish.

Kelly, nice to meet you. Frenchie walked up to the girls refusing to meet Lexie’s eyes. Hey Lex, we’re going to lunch now. Meet the new fish, Kelly?

Yes, yes, I did, Lexie answered, also not looking directly at Frenchie. Kelly immediately knew something was up but it was her first day and she knew that there would be plenty of time to hear all about the counter dynamics. There was so much for her to learn.

After lunch, I was told you’re training me, Kelly smiled.

Told by whom? Lexie inquired.

Pilar, Kelly’s smile waned.

Nice of her to tell me, Lexie frowned. Nothing personal, she just throws things on people without sufficient notice. You’ll see soon enough. I won’t hold you up. Enjoy your lunch ladies. Lexie smiled but for the second time that day, Kelly noticed that the smile ended at her lips and never traveled to the eyes.

Lexie watched as Holmes and Frenchie walked away together. They were dangerously close to one another as if the space between them were magnetic. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Jeremiah Holmes and Alexis Johnson began their first day of training in the same class on the same day five years prior. Although destined for separate departments, everyone was required to take the same register training and rules of conduct classes. It was there that she noticed his quick smile, rich skin and impeccable sense of style. When she realized that Holmes was to be a security guard, she gave him the silly name of Sherlock and would constantly refer to him as such in random conversations. Holmes began as a door guard, checking packages and making sure to stop everyone whose bag beeped when passing through the detectors to exit the store. He had a knack for watching the crowd and catching even the most skilled shoplifters. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a detective who investigated cases of employee theft. Statistics show that employee theft in the retail industry makes up 35% of all thefts and that employees take 13 times more than external parties that come in and steal. Holmes recited these statistics robotically each time someone outwardly challenged his position in the company calling him a traitor for catching his colleagues rather than strangers.

Although he seemed like the enemy, her crush on him was palpable and although everyone encouraged her to say something to him, she refused, believing she was not pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough – something enough for him. She had to face facts. Holmes worked security with some of the most beautiful women she’d ever seen. These same women were always well put-together with the best outfits, hair and makeup every day. Furthermore, Fred’s attracted people from all over the world, giving Holmes access to women from all over the globe. It seemed as though the odds were against her when it came to attracting his interest. How could she compete?

And so, when Frenchie decided to speak to him and express her interest, Lexie was less than surprised but she was shocked and hurt when Frenchie used her special name to address him and pass it off as her own. Lexie sighed. All is fair in love and war, right? Now that Frenchie had her hooks in him with her long flowy hair, her tight little body and her exotic looks, there was no way that Lexie could get his attention. A memory of a time she had tried before and failed crept back up, but she pushed it down. She prepared herself for the day, trying to figure out exactly how to train the new fish. She shook her head. Pilar would never change. Between Pilar and Frenchie, she felt as though she was fighting an uphill battle and she prayed the day would go by quickly. She decided to pour her energy into training Kelly to the best of her ability.

Kelly walked around aimlessly, wandering in a random direction hoping that food would be close by. She thought of Lexie and how she was so taken aback by her beauty. Her dark brown skin was flawless and smooth. She could not see a pore nor a wrinkle on her face. Her cheekbones were high-set and she had the most beautiful deep brown eyes slanted in a subtle almond shape. Her makeup was impeccable and suited her perfectly. Her hair was a wild mass of curls in a huge afro that hung down to her shoulders. She felt that Lexie had a regal quality to her. She spoke well and seemed to be self-assured. She was excited to learn all that she could from Lexie. She had the feeling that being in her presence would be a gift. She sat down at the first place that offered both food and a place to sit. Johnny’s Pizza, it is, she said to herself wiggling her aching toes. She had chosen poorly when it came to her footwear it seemed and she would be paying for it for the rest of the day. For the moment, it felt good to sit down. She closed her eyes as she ate her pizza, thrilled about what the rest of the day would bring.

Frenchie and Holmes had a quick lunch together at Comer but they had a different type of hunger that they longed to satiate. From the beginning, the energy between them was sexually charged. Neither of them could deny it but Frenchie was concerned about what it could turn out to be and what that would possibly mean for her relationship with Lexie. She didn’t set out to steal Holmes’ attention for herself. When she began talking to him, she wanted to set him up with Lexie but when she began to see his personality for herself, she could not control herself. She wanted to impress him and began calling him by Lexie’s special name and from there, there was no going back. She had to plow forward. She rationalized it to herself by blaming Lexie. It wasn’t her fault that the girl didn’t have the confidence to strike up a simple conversation with him. It was a dog eat dog world and a closed mouth did not get fed and all the other clichés that justified her taking Holmes for herself.

He took her hand in his. Follow me, he said, leading her to a door on a floor that she didn’t know existed that was marked ‘Authorized Access Only.’ He swiped his access card and led her down a non-descript hallway. Somehow, she knew where he was taking her and she giggled with anticipation. She’d never done anything quite as daring before and she was looking forward to what was about to come. Many had speculated as to her sexual prowess because of the way she carried herself. She blamed her exotic looks for the unfair assumptions about her bedroom activities, but truth be told, she grew up the very overprotected daughter of a very traditional Korean mother and a Caucasian father. Non-religious, they instilled in her very solid values that mimicked many of those that came from organized religion; it just didn’t bear any specific title. Her mother and father had larger plans for their only child, which did not include selling makeup in a department store and more than ever, with her 30th birthday approaching, she felt like a failure. She shook off the thoughts of her parents as they entered the stock room - for what looked like handbags. She took in the scene. Large carts were overflowing everywhere with products. There were rows upon rows of large shelves that were packed with bags that filled the entire room. He took her to the back of the room.

I know for a fact that this is a blind spot for our illustrious camera system and so we could do whatever we please and no one would know, he said as he caressed Frenchie’s face.

Is that so? she asked with her eyebrows raised, stalling to try to wrap her mind around what he wanted her to do. Part of her felt that it was wrong to do it there. She wanted their first time together to include a bed, possibly some soft lighting and mood music. Instead, she was relegated to a stock room with fluorescent lights and Guess bags. She wanted to back out, but she felt as though she’d talked herself up as a woman of the world and maybe she did deserve to be the girl he took to the stock room. She knew one thing and it was that she did not want to lose him.

She closed her eyes as he leaned in and kissed her neck, trailing his kisses with his tongue. That was her very favorite part to be kissed. Are you sure we won’t get caught?