My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (best book club books of all time .TXT) 📕

     He’s also the owner of the club. Great! If I get myself into trouble, it’s only to the fullest. Keep it up, Mia! And something tells me that I’m not going to like his better offer.

       I probably look now like a guilty schoolgirl in front of the headmaster. He makes me feel that way.

      “And it’s quite simple,” he looked up at me, catching my eyes. “Sleep with me tonight and I’ll let you keep your job.”

    What… the fuck?! The man knocked me over with his offer. Perhaps my jaw is already dangling somewhere on the floor. Going to bed with a stranger just to keep the waitress position? I almost burst out laughing. It seems that my nerves are shot and I’m getting hysterical.

      At first, I just didn’t know how to react. But after getting over the shock a bit, I turned around to leave the office. Not to see this impudent jerk.

     “Sit down.” I heard a commanding voice behind me. And I don’t know why but I obeyed the man and, returning, sat down on a chair in front of him.

      “You should have just seen your face when you walked into the office. It was as if the poor rabbit had been got in a tight place by bloodthirsty wolves.” Exactly! How close to the truth. Except… not by wolves, but by one wolf. Such blue-eyed. “That’s probably what you expected me to say since you’re shaking like a leaf, isn’t it, Mia?”

     I didn’t deny that fact because at first I really believed him. Judging by his behavior, you can expect anything from this man. He kissed me, then suddenly let my hair down, and now he’s offering me to sleep with him. The picture sort of coming together for me. He’s nuts!

      I still didn’t say anything, because I didn’t know what to. Could he just either dismiss me or let me continue working in peace. Though, I don’t know what I want more now.

      “So, just relax. To get a girl into bed, I don’t need to persuade her, and much less to blackmail.” What a narcissist…

       “I’m sorry, but could you please get straight to the point? It’s late, and I’d like to...” I lost my patience. How long is he going to make fun of me?

      “Mia, didn’t parents teach you that interrupting isn’t nice?” The blue eyes were burning into me, and I shivered again. What’s wrong with your damn body, Mia? It's like I can’t control it.

      “Well, about the offer.” My executioner continued his speech. “I urgently need an assistant. And your candidacy suits my needs perfectly.”

        “What do you mean, assistant?” I looked at the man baffled.

      “The literal sense of the word, Mia. I’ve looked over your resume.” The man nodded at a piece of paper that lay on the table in front of him. And I think there was my photo. “The last year of the University of Economics. And as we have already found out today, you also know a foreign language. But self-control really needs a little work...”

      “Why are you doing this?” I interrupted the man again, as I still didn’t understand his intentions.

      “What exactly?”

      “Offering me the role of your assistant?”

      “Consider it as my whim or as a sudden desire to help the poor rabbit.” And before I could say anything, he dumbfounded me again. “I’ll fire you anyway. So the choice is yours. Whether you agree, gaining an opportunity to get a decent salary and development or, you can start looking for a new job right now, working for a pittance again.” What? It’s almost blackmail!

      On the other hand, the offer is very attractive to me. And this point about a decent salary. I’m not greedy for money, but... I suddenly remembered my mother and James, and how I could help them a lot.

      “Do I have time to think it through?” I didn’t say no, and I really planned to consider the offer.

      “No, you don’t. Decide now, Mia.” The man cut short. He likes to put pressure on people! I don’t think I’ll ever get such a chance again, so I decided to give it a try and exhaled:

      “I agree.”

      “I don’t hear you, Mia.” The man must have already played a whole concert on my nerves.

      “I agree!” I repeated it loudly.

     “Well, good.” The man said this in such a casual tone as if he had ordered pizza instead of hiring a person. But his eyes said it all, the way they lit up. He was clearly pleased with my positive response. But won’t I regret it? Okay, Mia. We will treat things as they come in, as always, however. I looked down at my hoodie, where my yellow friend was smiling happily at me.

      “Tomorrow I have an appointment in another city, so this day is free for you. And on Wednesday, I’ll be waiting for you at this address.” The man took a black business card with a gold logo from the inside pocket of his jacket and placed it in front of me. Then he got up from the table, apparently about to leave, but suddenly stopped in front of the door. “And don’t be late, Mia. I don’t like it.”

        It was only after the man left the room when I suddenly realized what had happened. That maybe my life will completely change in no time.

      All the way home, I was haunted by thoughts. I was so nervous. I’ll, in fact, leave my comfort zone, which I have become used to for so many years.