Free The Deal by Helen Cooper

Chapter 1
     
    Louise lay in Richard’s bed as he showered. She didn’t want to leave the room. She was so embarrassed and didn’t want to see Ben. Or David. She thought of David and groaned. She cared more about what David would think if Ben told him, then she cared about how Ben felt. She knew that was wrong but she was glad that she was finally out of that relationship. Ben was an idiot. She wasn’t sure what he was going to say and do about what he had seen but she knew that Richard was right about one thing. She was going to lose her job. There was no way that Ben was going to allow to stay at the firm and that put her in a very bad position. She wriggled in the bed and snuggled into the covers. She could smell sex in the sheets. And she could smell Richard. He had a potent musky male smell that clung to everything. She inhaled and grinned to herself. Richard had been a wonderful lover. It was a pity that his personality sucked.
     
    “What’s up Cheshire Cat?” Richard interrupted her thoughts as he exited the bathroom, with nothing but a towel around his dripping wet body. She stayed at his chest; the water clung to his hair and shimmered like diamonds. He looked like a Greek God come to life.
     
    “Nothing. Just thinking how best I can get out of this house and make it home without anyone seeing me.”
     
    “Extreme measure no?” He looked at her with feigned admonishment.
     
    “Not really. I’m not sure about your family but most families would be pretty shocked to meet their son’s girlfriend and then find out she slept with the other son as well.”
     
    “I think you mean fucked.” He grinned at her.
     
    “What?” She was annoyed and confused.
     
    “I want to make sure that you are using the right words. We did more than sleep together.” He licked his lips and she shivered.
     
    “I don’t think that point is important.” She glared at him. “I think I’ll keep the word slept.”
     
    “Well, I don’t know about you. But I felt like I fucked last night. Not slept. But of course, that’s just me. It could be a normal night for you.”
     
    “Yeah, I’m a slut Richard. Is that what you want to hear.” Louise stood up angrily and walked away from the bed with the white sheet wrapped around her body. She walked clumsily trying not to fall.
     
    “So you do want money then?”
     
    She walked up to him in anger and stopped right in front of his face. “You are an asshole Richard Beekman. A first class asshole.” She pushed past him and walked into the bathroom, where she promptly closed and locked the door.
     
    “Don’t take too long dear, I was hoping to get my money’s worth.” Richard laughed through the door.
     
    “You’ll never get in my pants again ass.” She shouted through the door and looked at herself in the mirror. She frowned at her image. She resembled someone who had spent a wild night in bed. Her hair looked like she was a scarecrow and her mascara and eye shadow was smudged all over her eyes. She looked like a hot-mess and she was surprised that Richard had even slept with her. He should be with tall leggy blondes , not average sized women with no money and a bad attitude. Which is what she was sure he must be thinking about her. She stuck her tongue out in the mirror and groaned when she saw a hicky on her neck. Her body was proudly displaying the marks of their passionate night. She flushed just remembering the things he had done to her. And that Ben had seen part of it, oh the shame. She groaned out loud and turned the shower on. It was large and luxurious and the water was still hot. She got into the shower and stood there, allowing the hot water to scald her skin and wash away her transgressions.
     
    Louise stayed in the shower for about 30 minutes. But even she knew she couldn’t hide out in there. She had to face the music and make a plan. She only had about $500 in her checking account so she knew that she had to figure something out soon. The