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

        Against the background of my black hair and dark brown eyes, bright lipstick accentuated my makeup. A sort of fatal girl turned out. The only thing that bothered me was the open back and the lack of underwear under the dress. But as a friend said, you don’t need to be embarrassed by your beauty. I took another look at myself and went out, satisfied with my whole appearance.

        A black Mercedes of business class was waiting for me at the entrance. The driver, an imposing middle-aged man, politely opened the rear passenger door for me, and I slid inside the luxurious interior of the car.

        Strangely, but Collins was not inside. I don’t know if I was happy about it or not. After all, I was going, in fact, to an unfamiliar place. I mean, the place is very popular, and I’ve heard of it many times, but I’ve never been there. I just couldn’t afford myself to go to such restaurants. Even Olivia, with her opportunities, had been there only a few times. And with her father. I thought of my friend and bit my lip nervously. I feel like I’m betraying her again. But I’m not going on a date, after all! This is only for work. Yes! I tried to calm myself down.

       Twenty minutes later, we were pulling up to the entrance of a fancy restaurant, and I tensed. Once again, I had this stupid urge to tell everyone to fuck off and ask the driver to take me back to my comfortable little apartment.

        It’s okay, Mia. I tried to calm my trembling knees. You look as good as any of the other people who come here. What makes you think you’re not worthy to be here? As my dad would say, hold your head high and go to fight back.

        Before I could think of anything else, the car door opened and a strong, broad hand was held out to me. When I saw Collins smiling, for some reason I breathed a sigh of relief and put my hand in his hot palm, which he immediately squeezed, helping me out of the car.

    “Wow,” grinned Collins and gave me an appraising look of his predatory sapphire eyes, “The transformation of a duckling into a beautiful swan.”

       “Oh, thank you…” I muttered under my breath. Well, not the kind of compliment I was expecting right now that’s for sure… Duckling?!

        “No, to be honest,” the man leaned close to my ear, touching it with his hot breath, “You look absolutely stunning.”

        I clung to the man’s proffered elbow like it was a lifeboat. While Collins was confidently leading me to the restaurant, I prayed that he wouldn’t see my flushed cheeks or notice my shortness of breath. You wanted a compliment, Mia? Receive it.

        Dinner with the partners was quite in a relaxed atmosphere. I was sitting in the company of three men, one of whom is my boss. Why was I shaking earlier?

        It was mostly men who spoke. Several times they complimented my appearance and Collins about what a lovely assistant he got. One of the partners even tried to make a joke, saying that he would definitely steal me for himself. But after he met my boss’s withering gaze, he immediately changed the subject.

      Needless to say, I was very pleased with such attention from men. And this possessive behavior of Collins inflamed me even more. I don’t know why but I even allowed myself a light flirtation with my potential “kidnapper”, who threw too frequent and indecent glances at my breast area.

        And after another not very funny joke thrown by Steve, that was the man’s name, I laughed out loud and complimented his original sense of humor, and I felt like a man sitting next to me was literally burning me with his murderous gaze. Well, now I’m not the only one who gets mad.

       And I would have continued to provoke him further until I felt a strong male hand squeeze my knee. I looked up at Collins unblinkingly, but he didn’t even look in my direction and wasn't going to take his hand away either. It settled down on my leg like an owner. What the f...!

        And yet, if I start twitching now, trying to throw it off, my behavior will not be hidden from the other men sitting at the table. That’s the end of my game. Meanwhile, the man’s hand began to stroke my leg with confidence, rising higher and higher. I tried not to let my emotions show and kept smiling calmly, biting the inside of my cheek. I felt my cheeks flushed instantly, and my lungs seemed to be running out of air… What is he doing?!

       “I beg your pardon!”  I literally jumped off the spot, “I’ll leave you for a while. I’ll go to powder my nose.”

      Without waiting for the men to respond, I walked briskly toward the ladies' room. Already there, in the mirror, I came across a girl with crazy eyes and flushed cheeks, having no resembles with me. I wet my hands and put them to my cheeks to cool the heat when suddenly I saw that my nipples were clearly visible through the thin fabric of the dress!

      God… I hope no one saw this, especially Collins! He’ll definitely think it’s because of him. Just a little more patience. I won’t provoke a man anymore. You never know what else he’ll do. I’ll quietly finish the rest of my dinner, and we'll go home in peace.

        When I came out of the ladies' room, I accidentally bumped into someone.

       “I’m sorry,” I said quickly, raising an apologetic gaze to my “victim,” when suddenly…