Sweet Jealousy by Morgan Garrity Read Free Book Online

with him. How was she going to handle that?
    “Are you finished with your dinner?” he asked.
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He cleared her plate and set the dishes in the sink.
    “Are you ready to go home, Addison?”
    “Can I use the bathroom first?”
    “Of course.” She picked her clothes up from the floor and took them into the bathroom. It was huge, of course. There were double sinks, a huge marble tub with jets, a separate shower with gleaming glass doors, and an arrangement of soaps and lotions lining the counters.
    She got dressed, trying not to wince as she checked out the damage in the mirror.
    Her entire ass was flaming red, and the stinging was growing by the minute. Her legs felt wobbly, most likely from the positions Nathan had her in.
    She smoothed her hair down and splashed some water on her face.
    Then she joined Nathan back in the living room.
    “Ready?” he asked.
    “Ready.”
    They rode the elevator downstairs in silence. She wasn’t sure if she was upset or relived that she wasn’t going to spend the night. On one hand, being tossed out like this made her feel kind of like a hooker. On the other hand, she needed some time by herself to process what the hell had just happened.
    When they go to the limo, Nathan gave the driver her address.
    “How did you know where I lived?” she asked, confused.
    “It’s in your employee file.”
    “You looked in my file?”
    “Of course.”
    When they pulled onto her block, Addison pushed the button for the divider.
    “Can you stop here?” she asked the driver. “I just… I don’t want anyone to see me pulling up in a limo.”
    Nathan frowned. “Why not?”
    “Because,” she said. “What am I going to tell people if they see me pulling up with you? Tia’s already going to be asking me tons of questions after the scene you made in front of Circle.”
    “Who’s Tia?”
    “The girl I was with,” Addison said. “She works for you, too.”
    “Oh.” He frowned, but instructed the driver to pull over.
    The driver started to get out of the car and open the door for her, but Addison stopped him. “Please, don’t,” she said. “I can do it myself.”
    She stopped with her hand on the door, wondering what she was supposed to say.
    See you tomorrow? Thanks for the fun night? I’ll see you soon?
    “This is your block?” Nathan asked. He was looking out the window of the limo with distaste.
    “Yes.” She raised her chin. “It’s not the Upper West Side, but it’s clean, and it’s safe.”
    “It doesn’t look safe.”
    “It is.” She stepped out onto the pavement. “Good bye, Nathan.”
    “Good bye, Addison.”
    She shut the door.
    When she stepped into the lobby of her building, Mr. Gold immediately stuck his head out of his office.
    “Addison,” he said. “Do you have the rent?”
    “Oh, hi, Mr. Gold,” she said, passing a fake smile on her face. “I’ll have it for you by Friday.”
    She pushed the button for the elevator, but it was notoriously slow, and it was all the way up on the fifteenth floor. He took a step closer to her and she could smell beer on his breath. He shook his head. “You girls are all the same,” he said, “All of you trying to make it in the big city, none of you having a fucking clue about how to take care of yourselves. You’re not at home with Mommy and Daddy anymore, Addison. This is the real world.”
    “I’m really sorry, Mr. Gold,” she said. “As soon as I get paid, I’ll have it for you.”
    He took another step closer to her. “Of course, if you wanted to work out a payment plan, I’m sure something could be arranged.”
    “I don’t need a payment plan.” Her eyes flicked to the elevator. It was on the seventh floor now, making its way down slowly. Come on, come on. Hurry up.
    What if Mr. Gold followed her into the elevator? New York elevators were dangerous places. People were always getting mugged or raped in them. Worst still, he had a key to her apartment. What if he came in while