Free SHAFTED: an erotic thriller by Rachael Hayden

temporarily waylaid, I settled into supervising the arrival of the beds from a large truck that backed up the driveway. I was admiring the strong workmen carrying the heavy king-sized bed mattresses up the stairs when a tall, thin, dark-haired woman entered through the opened door.
    Not expecting anyone, I moved towards her asking if I could help her.
    “I’m looking for Candice. I have a 2:00 interview.”
    “Oh, I’m Alex. I’m the owner of this house.”
    The woman held out her hand, “Freya Easton. I’m here for the hotel manager position.”
    I shook it, noticing how cold the thin fingers were. “Okay. I wasn’t aware we were interviewing for that position just yet.”
    “Then could I speak to Candice?” Her tone was curt; far too brusque for someone speaking to a potential employer.
    “Sure, I’ll get her. Wait here, please.”
    Candice was supervising the delivery of the beds in each room. I found her in Bedroom 3 leering at two of the furniture removal men, leaning back on the wall, her eyes gleaming with lust. I could swear she was panting, her bouncy breasts straining the buttons on her tight, red blouse.
    When she saw me, she winked conspiratorially and I stared impassively back. Her promiscuity was getting boring.
    “There’s a Freya Easton here for an interview?”
    “Oh good. Send her to the library and I’ll be there shortly.”
    Amazed at her audacity to use me as the butler, I didn’t move immediately.
    “Go!” she ordered.
    I must have stomped the entire way back to Freya because when I arrived, she asked me, “Everything okay?”
    “Yes, of course. Please, come through to the library.”
    After she’d seated herself in one of the new leather, high-back chairs, I asked if she wanted a drink.
    “Sparkling water with a wedge of lemon.”
    What was with people treating me as a friggin’ lackey? I was as sick of their behavior as I was with my own acceptance of it.
    “We have still water and no lemon.”
    Freya lifted cool eyes towards mine, displeasure obvious.
    “Then I guess that will just have to do.”
    Returning to the room with the drink, I was daydreaming about pouring this all over Freya’s perfect black bob when I heard Candice’s voice through the doors. I pursed my lips momentarily before entering the room.
    “What? None for me?”
    “Sorry, Candice. What do you want?”
    “Sparkling water with a slice of lemon.”
    “I didn’t think you had any?” Freya’s tone was condescending.
    “We got some in yesterday,” responded Candice.
    Freya’s posture straightened haughtily. “That’s not what I heard.”
    Both women turned to look at me, expecting an answer.
    “Oh, I wasn’t aware some arrived yesterday.”
    “It was you who ordered the food, Alex.”
    “Yes… it was.”
    It was like I was in the principal’s office; the sickness that follows authoritarian reprimand singed my chest.
    Candice said, “Why did you lie, Alex?”
    “Why? What is this? High school? I don’t have to say ‘why’”
    “I was going to ask you to sit in on this interview, but if you’re going to be so immature, you can leave.”
    “I don’t believe this.”
    “Oh, and get us both sparkling water with lemon.”
    I wanted to slap Candice, throw the water over Freya and then kick them all out of my house.
    But the little weakling I was just turned and walked out, humiliated.
    To my shame, I did take the drinks to them although I did take my time. Candice and Freya were engaging enthusiastically when I dropped the drinks off and neither acknowledged me.
    Bitches.
    Candice told me later on that afternoon that she’d hired Freya on the spot.
    Of course she did.

CHAPTER 15
    SEPTEMBER
     
    The house was practically finished. It had been five -and-a-half months I would never want to repeat.
    My memory was blurry with sex, building dust, workmen, checks, sex, furniture moving, sex, paint fumes and even more sex. Sex that had become automatic to me, sex that just happened day or