“You're late,” Colten said as he got out of his chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce. “The price has just gone down a hundred grand.”
“Sorry, Colten. Bloody traffic,” Jim Nail said. Jim was old now, and he could no longer run a credible business. It had all become too fast for him. The deals were more complicated than in years gone by. In those days, you shook a man's hand and the deal was done, no clowning around with lots of lawyers. At seventy-six, he'd decided to sell his portfolio, and he intended to sell most of it to Colten. He knew Colten would drive a hard bargain, but Colten was trustworthy and did what he said he would do.
“You're not walking too well, Jim,” Colten observed.
“Gout,” Jim replied.
“Not surprised, what with all the alcohol you pour down your neck.”
Colten was one hard son of a bitch, but he was straight and fair. Jim laughed to himself when he remembered what his wife always said when she talked about Colten: great mind, great body, great catch.
“Where's that lovely PA you used to have? Every time I call your office I get some guy on the phone,” Jim asked.
“Fired her,” Colten said coolly.
“Why? She was hot and efficient. Why would you fire such a good advert for your company?”
“Because she didn't do what she was told,” Colten replied.
“You mean she wouldn't let you screw her.”
“That would be very wrong of me as a boss,” Colten said.
“But true nonetheless,” Jim added. Colten smiled.
“Anyhow, I've got a new PA starting Monday. If you thought the last one was nice, you've gotta see this one.”
*****
“Are you nervous, Avaline?” Penny asked.
“No. Why should I be?” Avaline Francis replied as she put the finishing touches on her nails.
“Maybe you've forgotten, but you start your first job tomorrow. You know, at CL Real Estate?”
“How could I forget,” Avaline replied.
Avaline and Penny shared a student apartment in a seedy area of Los Angeles. Not that either of them was still a student. They had both recently finished secretarial college and had found jobs. Penny had passed a casting shoot and was soon to star in a porn movie with one of America's hottest adult actors. Avaline had also given the idea of porn some thought but had decided it was degrading. When she'd gone to pick Penny up from the studio, the director had begged Avaline to take her clothes off, but she'd refused.
“It's such a pity. You're really hot. Look at your sexy legs and those boobs,” he'd said.
Avaline wondered how a gay man could possibly judge her, but apparently he was one of the world's best adult movie makers, so he must know a thing or two.
“You'll have to sit in an office and take orders while I travel the world to exotic locations.”
“Crap. The furthest you'll get is Brighton Beach where a well-hung Russian will shag your brains out and come all over your belly,” Avaline said. “And besides, no man tells me what to do. Remember John and what happened to him?”
How could I forget? Penny thought Poor John. He'd been Avaline's boyfriend for years, and although she'd cheated on him numerous times, he'd never found out. When he'd told her he didn't like her new hairstyle, she'd gone crazy. First she'd taken a picture of his manhood while he was asleep and posted it on Facebook under the heading, “Small Cock for Sale.” Then she'd taken all his clothes and stuffed them down a drain outside the apartment.
Penny looked at Avaline. She was a beautiful woman. Her long legs seemed to go on forever, and they were as shapely as any woman's. She had long, natural blond hair and a smile no man seemed able to resist.
“Out in the real world, I think you'll find it's different, especially in the business world.” Penny took the pot of nail varnish Avaline had handed her and began to paint her own nails. “There are a lot of very hard men around. You won't be able to click your fingers and have them fall to their knees like you did with all the others you've had.”
“I've never met a man strong enough to resist me yet. I can twist them all around my little finger. All I have to do is show a bit of leg and flutter my eyes and the poor creatures buckle.”
“You're so wrong; you'll find out sometime.”
*****
Avaline looked at her watch; she was five minutes late. CL Real Estate was located in a huge glass-fronted building in downtown LA. Colten's company occupied the top three floors, and the rest of the building was occupied by various companies, from banks to shipping companies. By the time she got to the top floor, she was ten minutes late.
“Hi. I'm Avaline Francis. I'm starting work as Mr. Lewis's PA today,” she said to the woman behind the magnificent reception desk.
“He's expecting you. Through that door there.”
Avaline looked behind her and saw a double glass door. It led to a smaller office with a desk, which she assumed was hers. Another door led from that office to Colten's. She knocked and entered.