Unleashing the Receptionist: ...the Receptionist, Book 3 by Juniper Bell

about these things before.”
    Poor Peter Standish. My heart went out to the guy.
    “The good news is, I believe you. I never thought you were a criminal mastermind playing some deadly game of cat and mouse with Cowell & Dirk.”
    Beaming with relief, he pushed his glasses back into place.
    “And you don’t mind that I…you know?”
    “Actually, I like it.” I brushed my hands together. “Now I figure you’re completely and totally in my power, right?”
    A dubious frown creased his forehead. “Really?”
    “Do you want me to let Margo Lang know that her guy was caught jerking off by the receptionist? Worse, do you want me to tell Simon and Ethan, I mean, Mr. Cowell and Mr. Dirk?”
    He went white. “My God.”
    “Exactly. Of course, I would never do either of those things.”
    “You wouldn’t?”
    “Nope. I like you. And I’m really glad I was right about you, because that restores my faith.”
    “In mankind?”
    I snorted. “No, my faith in my own instincts. I don’t have faith in mankind, per se, although certain men are a different story. Anyway, my little accountant-slave, I have a deal to offer you.”
    “A deal?”
    “Yes, a very sweet deal that will help all of us.” I help up a hand before he got too excited. “Except Margo. You have a problem with that?”
    He shook his head. “She’s a horrible boss. I don’t like her at all. I’m only working for her because, well, because she’s, there’s something about her that makes me do what she says.”
    Dominatrix, CEO…sometimes the lines were hard to distinguish. Standish needed a strong hand. And I’d learned from the master. Two masters, really. “That’s okay. Don’t worry about a thing. Now you can do what I say instead of what Margo says.”
    “I guess.” Still unconvinced.
    I could tell he wanted to trust me, wanted to go along with me.
    “Listen, Standish. What kind of a boss sets you up like this? You could go to prison and she wouldn’t blink an eye. She tried to send Simon to jail. She doesn’t care about anyone but herself. You deserve a better boss than that.”
    “I do?”
    “Have you ever heard the saying, with great power comes great responsibility?”
    He nodded.
    “That’s the motto my bosses live by. They always put my well-being—” read, orgasms, “—first. They always make sure I’m well taken care of.” Read, well pleasured. “If I ever have any concerns, their doors are open.” Not to mention their stash of sex toys. I sighed, thinking once again of what a great job I had.
    “Don’t you deserve a workplace that makes you feel wanted and valued?” Not to mention stroked and satisfied?
    “Don’t you want to walk in and know you’re among people who care about you, people you can trust, people you can communicate with? The boss-employee relationship is a two-way street. Each side gives something, and each side takes something.” In our case, that something would be pleasure. Not that he needed to know that.
    I peered at his face, trying to read his expression behind his glasses. “Am I getting through to you here?”
    “I think so,” he said slowly. “You’re saying Margo isn’t treating me right.”
    “Power, but no responsibility. She bosses you around, but she isn’t watching out for you. My bosses would never do that. They’d protect me no matter what.”
    He twisted his hands together. “They sound like really good bosses.”
    He had no idea.
    “Stick with me, kid, and everything will be all right.” I raised one wicked eyebrow at him. “If you’re really good, maybe I’ll give you a special treat when this is all done.”
    So, right there in the men’s room, we made our deal.
     
     
    Later, I covered for Standish while he called Margo from the men’s room. He set to his mission with an enthusiasm that told me I’d definitely made my point. I had no idea I could be so persuasive. I guess when it came to my favorite topic—my bosses—I had a hidden talent.
    When Ethan