“You have got to be joking!” Lexi murmured as a scowl spread slowly across her face. She sat behind the wheel of her dark red VW Beetle and wondered whether it was safe to get out.

The red brick building in front of her looked tattered and old. She checked her booking sheet and then looked up at the sign on the gate. “WB Enterprises.” Yes. This was definitely the place and there was no mistake on her booking form. She should have known as soon as she saw that it wasn’t a Manhattan address.

Karn, her TeamHQ contact at the temporary agency where she worked, had warned her that it wouldn’t be her usual type of work.

“But I really need a contract right now!” Lexi had pleaded. The flexibility of working temporary office jobs meant that she was never tied down to one place for too long but, more importantly, it allowed her to work on her own side business when possible. ASL, Alexis Stanning Lingerie, was Lexi’s own company. She ran it from her tiny apartment in Murray Hill. This latest venture, one in a line of many over the years, was showing all the right signs of turning into a viable business. And Lexi’s product range of brightly colored corsets and basques, which could be worn as outerwear as well as undergarments, was beginning to take off. Her increase in sales meant she had to replenish her stock and she needed cash flow immediately.

Unfortunately, it also meant that she now had to accept whatever work came her way. She could not be as picky and choosy as she had been in the past. She had been lucky to land some very well-paid jobs often working as a PA to CEOs as well as providing last-minute coverage for secretarial staff who suddenly fell ill. Lexi was good at her job. Quick, clever, smart and professional, she was able to multi-task and was very efficient. It was no small wonder that so many companies often asked for her to come back.

As she sat in her hot, stuffy car, Lexi surveyed the building in front of her with disdain. She didn’t even know if she dared to take in her Prada purse. Fearfully, she looked down at her feet and looked at her cherry-colored Mordore high heels. A fleeting thought crossed her mind to change them for the sneakers she had in the trunk of her car. She briefly wondered about driving away but knew that the only option open to her was to walk through those doors, if only for one day.

She was desperate for the money.

Reluctantly, she got out of the car. Too late now. She would need to give this a try. After all, how bad could it be?

She started to walk gingerly towards the door that was directly underneath the “WB Enterprises” sign. For a moment, Lexi wondered whether she was at the back of the building. She hesitated slightly but then suddenly the door opened outwards and a short, slightly dumpy blonde woman, wearing a top that was a good two sizes too small for her, flounced out. She took one look at Lexi and immediately gave her a once-over.

“You look a little lost, honey,” said the blonde, revealing a line of perfect white teeth that looked too big for her mouth.

“I’m looking for Mr. Blunt,” said Lexi, remembering the name on her sheet. The blonde looked baffled for the briefest second, then her face lit up like a candle on a birthday cake. “Sure, come on in.” With a wave of her arm, she beckoned for Lexi to follow her. The blonde retreated back through the door and stepped into a wide hallway on either side of which were two almost identical offices. The top half was made entirely of glass, making it easy to see inside, and the bottom half was wooden paneling.

The blonde knocked on the door. “Someone to see you, Wayne,” she said. Her face seemed to light up when she spoke to him. The man inside, tall and slightly built, appeared to be dressed more like a firefighter. He had his back to the door when the woman knocked. As though caught off guard, he spun around, clutching a cell phone to his ear. With a casual nod of his head, he signaled for the women to enter even as he still carried on talking.

The blonde gave Lexi another winning smile before heading back down the hallway. Slightly bemused, Lexi stood inside the room, unsure of what to do next. She inspected the room around her, noticing the peeling paintwork and the mass of paperwork carelessly scattered around the man’s desk. How did he ever find anything amidst all that rubbish?

“Sure, sure, I understand. Don’t worry, we can make that shipment and I’ll get on it right away.”

Lexi watched him as he spoke. He was unkempt and tired, with a five o’clock shadow giving his face a dark overtone. She sniffed the air quietly, noting that he looked as though he hadn’t showered for a couple of days either. It didn’t exactly smell like roses in here. She shuddered and held her purse closer to her body.

This man was nothing like the men she had worked with before. Her previous bosses were smart and sophisticated executive types. Not like the man standing before her now. He looked as though he would be more at home on a construction site.

Was he really in charge?
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