Learning to Soar by Bebe Balocca Read Free Book Online Page B

her seat, shaking her head with delight while gently massaging her breasts. “You’re pretty amazing, you know? You orchestrated that whole thing, didn’t you? I should probably be embarrassed at how I acted, but I’m not. It was a really great thing you did for me.”
     “Everyone in the club is a former client or a friend of a client,” he explained. “They all had their own issues to overcome, and they all understand how important a meaningful sex life is. They are all very happy to help new clients when a need exists.”
    “So, Arnaud—” Chloe began with a quizzical expression.
    “Arnaud is one of my bouncers,” Damien told her, “but his job is pretty simple. He only allows in clients whom he recognises or those whom I’ve instructed him to admit. People off the street simply may not enter my club.”
    “Ah.” Chloe nodded. “But I was going to ask if Arnaud was a client himself. Did he have an issue to work through?”
    Damien smiled. “He did, as a matter of fact. He was one of my first clients. I don’t think he’d mind me telling you that he had a certain reluctance to show sensitivity. He had grown up in a home where boys were meant to have stiff upper lips and never, ever cry, but that policy turned out to work poorly in his personal relationships. With some, ah, positive reinforcement, Arnaud learnt that traits like tenderness and empathy are huge turn-ons for women.”
    “I see,” Chloe said. “Well, you do very impressive work, Damien, and I feel that you’ve more than earned your payment.” She opened her purse, removed two crisp one hundred dollar bills, and slid them across the table to Damien.
    Damien pushed the bills back across the table to Chloe. “I don’t want your money,” he told her.
    Chloe sighed. “Look, you don’t need to worry about my job situation, okay? I wish I hadn’t mentioned it. I got a severance package, so I’ll be okay for a few months. Besides, I’m good at what I do. I’ll find another job, I know it. Please take the money. You earned it.”
    “I’d like you to keep this money as a retention bonus,” Damien told her. “I want you to be more than just a client,” he explained. “I am in dire need of an accountant here at Volare. When I was doing my preparation work for our session, I learnt that you, Chloe, are a very skilled accountant who is newly back on the job market. It wasn’t news to me when you told me about getting laid off.”
    Chloe started to sputter indignantly, but Damien held up one finger to shush her. “I make it a point to learn a little about each of my clients before we have our session. It’s just part of doing a thorough job. Please don’t take offence.”
    Chloe gestured for him to continue.
    “Volare has grown, as has my therapy business. I’d like to serve a greater number of clients during the week. I’d like to expand into a restaurant as well. Clients love coming back, so, as I help more people, my club business just keeps growing. As a client yourself, you know what I do and what happens in my club. You won’t be shocked or put off. It may be that you can also offer a hand with some of my clients who would be more comfortable with a female therapist. I’d like to explore that possibility with you, as well.”
    “I don’t know what to say,” Chloe stuttered. “This is totally unexpected.”
    “You don’t have to answer me tonight,” Damien assured her. “Here is a copy of the contract I had drawn up for you in the hopes that you would be a good candidate.” He handed a plump, sealed envelope to her. “Take it home and look it over. I hope you don’t mind, but I inquired about your salary at your most recent job. I’m willing to offer you a fifty per cent raise as well as some benefits that I think you’ll appreciate.”
    Chloe looked down at the stack of bills on the table and the white envelope, stuffed with promise, in her hand. The wheels in her mind spun frantically and she grasped for