Part 25 (1/2)
”I've never seen your a.s.s up s-o-o-o high. Your tush is grazing the popcorn ceiling.”
”It's called squats. Suck it.” She turned around to show him what he envied. ”Come with Lex and me to Gilad's Pilates studio and you'll get a better b.u.t.t too.”
”And your long legs are spread a teensy bit farther apart.”
Crossing one foot over the other, she put her hands on her hips. ”Ah-ah-ah.”
”Taddy Brill-you reek of a good ol'-fas.h.i.+oned face f.u.c.king.”
”Ha?”
”A c.l.i.t shaking!”
”What?”
”An a.s.s pounding.” His voice was filled with envy as he clapped his hands together, causing her to flinch.
”I told you I worked this weekend, Mr. Morgan.” Taddy's nipples pebbled just thinking about what pleasure the last forty-eight hours had brought her. ”Anyways, I came in to give you my grat.i.tude for dealing with Neve this weekend. And to bring you this check.” She slipped him a thank-you bonus as she always did when he covered for her. ”I love you and your work.”
”Thank you. I've enjoyed our friends.h.i.+p and our business together.” He sat back down at his deck and handed her today's Wall Street Journal. She graced the cover, in Warner's arms. The headline read, ”TRUMAN'S PROFITS RISE FROM s.e.xY NEW IMAGE”. Warner's Hollywood smile beamed, but his stare didn't find the camera as intended. He looked into Taddy's eyes, as if ready to kiss her. The photographer had captured the moment's true essence. ”Your canoodling was caught at the Hotel du France press conference. Mr. Truman shows good face.”
”Mr. Truman is very handsome.”
Blake's eyes rolled back. ”You must've given him good head. Wanna tell me about-”
”Nope.”
”No, you can't tell me because you slept with him to secure Truman Enterprises as a client?”
”G.o.d no.”
”No, you won't share any details because nothing salacious happened between you and Mr. Beefy?”
”No, as in I didn't sleep with him in hopes he'd become a client. Warner dropped the charges against our beloved Kiki, and I executed his crisis communications. Nothing more.”
”Nothing less?” Blake didn't buy it. ”Speaking of our Utah virgin, is Kiki coming back?”
”Next week.” I hope. I pray.
”Your Mormon will call and quit, in the same fas.h.i.+on as your other a.s.sistants have before her. I'll wager this bonus on it.” He held up the check and rubbed her face in it.
”Thanks, Blake. As always-I appreciate your support.” You are much nicer when you have a c.o.c.k to suck on. She turned, holding the doork.n.o.b.
”I take it you haven't set foot in your office yet,” Blake warned over her shoulder.
She turned back. ”No, why?” Taddy hoped there'd be long-stem red roses from Warner or Teuscher's champagne truffles or maybe some new s.e.xy Agent Provocateur lingerie. It was too soon for Harry Winston, but she'd even be happy with something as simple as a voice mail from her Big Daddy.
”Our gal pal Lex arrived early this morning. Crying-a total mess. I put her in your office with a box of tissues. She wouldn't tell me what's up.”
”Birdie drama returns.” She felt her day sinking. d.a.m.n it.
Blake pulled out a client folder. ”Taddy, I'm not sure who or what you did this weekend but keep at it. It's nice seeing you smile.”
”Thanks.”
”I was afraid you'd forgotten how.” Blake tapped his cheek with his pointer fingers, demonstrating a s.h.i.+rley Temple grin.
”Funny.”
”You deserve love.” He held the Wall Street Journal photo up and continued, ”And I'm hoping that's where this Warner Truman is headed.”
”No comment.” She wouldn't admit she wanted the same thing. He'd tell the entire office.
”Here's hoping your luck will rub off on me. My body could use some TLC.” Blake's handsome face grimaced.
”Hang in there-I understand it's been difficult for you and Diego.” She had heard from Vive that Blake was looking into filing for divorce. But Blake didn't talk about it much at the office. She wondered if it was really true this time or another false threat. Taddy wanted to take him away from Brill, Inc. for a heart-to-heart.
”Yup. That's the reason I don't attend Gilad's Pilates cla.s.ses with you and Lex.”
”I don't understand.”
”Gilad has been having s.e.x with Diego.” His face reddened. ”For a year now.”
”My Pilates instructor is gay?” Taddy hadn't a clue.
”You've heard of 'gay for pay', right? When a straight dude sleeps with a guy for cash?”
”Yes.”
”Well, he is 'straight for pay'. Gilad has all the Upper East Side women thinking he's straight so they'll sign up for workout cla.s.ses. But he's secretly been getting plowed by my husband.”
”Are you okay?”
Blake nodded. ”I've known for a while.”
”I'm sorry, honey. I didn't realize it had gotten that bad between you.” Taddy felt awful for him.
”I sorta have played it off like it's just been a tiff, haven't I?”
”Yes. Let's have lunch tomorrow and talk about it.”
”I'd like that.”
Taddy closed the door behind her as she left. She headed out into the hall while looking down at her cell phone. No messages.
d.a.m.n!
The sudden clacking sound of fingernails striking plastic keyboards increased as Taddy walked toward her office. She couldn't help but giggle. The few days out of the office were the longest she'd been away all year. Her staff probably thought she'd been abducted by aliens when she didn't come in yesterday. But the office racket became white noise to her as she thought about Lex and Birdie. The second she opened her door she asked, ”What's wrong?” She set her purse and briefcase down on her desk and hugged her friend.
”I called you last night, but your phone went to voice mail.”