Caged Read Free

her to squeal, but instantly come back on. Under the steady hum of the fixture above, I open the door, gesturing in a motion to invite her in. Stomping up the stairs and onto the second floor in a huff, she stops as soon as she’s in the room. The view from the second floor is magnificent. With the high ceilings, the second floor is almost above the tree line. The city sits on a downward slope offering a quite tranquil scene. Surrounded again by floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s easy to get swept into the surroundings. Other than the view, it’s a carbon copy of the first floor, as is the third. If she thinks what she sees here is impressive, one floor up is like a penthouse where you can see for miles, well beyond the city to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
     
                  The angry stomp of her steps has subsided to a dull roar that echoes with each step she takes. I stand still watching her walk the length of the floor wondering how she got roped into being here; what the interest in the building is. I don’t ask. When she reaches the far side of the room, she puts her hand on the brick wall, dragging her fingers down the stones until she is directly in front of the windows. She stands there in thought, “You might want to step back from the window,” I warn.
     
                  “What? Are you my keeper now?” I wonder if her father spanked her when she was little. I’m doubting so, my guess is she’s never been told no, by anyone.
     
                  I put my hands up in a surrendering motion, “Just trying to warn you.”
     
                  “It’s not like I’m going to fall out of the window, Sa-sha.” She breaks my name into two long syllables accentuating the second. I roll my eyes as she turns back to the window.
     
                  “Would you like to go up to the third floor?” I need this to end quickly. This woman is a brat. The sooner I can get rid of her, the better off I’ll be. This is a total waste of my fucking time.
     
                  Walking back toward me, I see the hesitation in her eyes. She’s afraid to go back in the stairwell. “Don’t worry, it’s never the same thing twice.” Ignoring my comment we both walk up to the third floor, uneventfully.
     
                  She goes directly to the window in an effort to demonstrate her defiance. Like I would give a shit if whatever haunts this place were to blow the window out, taking her with it. I stand back allowing her to move around, taking in what she wants. She spends a lot of time looking at the ceilings and the walls, which I find odd, but keep my mouth shut.
     
                  Finding the elevator, she presses the down button, “Are you coming?” she snaps. What I wouldn’t give to be able to snatch her up and tell her what a horrendous hors e’ s ass she is, and that any ounce of outer beauty she possesses is lost the moment she opens her damn mouth, but I remain silent thinkin g“ I’ll be rid of her as soon as we hit the parking lot . ”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    I let out the breath I was holding as the heavy steel doors close. I press the button to take us to the ground floor counting every second that ticks by before I can be free from this wench. Everything about her irritates the shit out of me: the way she walks, the way she holds her head, her voice, the things she says, the noise her fucking shoes make on the concrete. Every. Damn. Thing.
     
                  The car comes lurching to a halt tossing me against the wall. I brace myself on the handrail to keep from falling then realize my client hadn’t been so lucky. Spread out on her ass, her skirt had ridden up her legs in the fall and she is holding her ankle. That’s what she gets for wearing those stupid ass shoes to look at a damn mill. Extending my hand to help her up, she backhands my arm, “I’m fine. I don’t need