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.When I practiced, I paused after  irresistible so that it could really sink in.I know it s a littlearrogant, but so is Ryder.I figured he might respect something he recognizes.But when I walk into Altitude this morning, even in my very professional, serious,  I-mean-business white, button-up shirtdress, I don t feel quite as brave.Daylight has a way of doing that topeople in a bar, I guess.There are no customers this early, of course, but it s almost strange to see it this way after beinghere Friday night and experiencing it at its full potential.The dense sea of beautiful people, the din ofconversations and laughter and music combining into one wall of sound, the pace of taking orders andmaking change and serving drinks I realize that the experience of the bar at the top of its game onFriday has become cemented in my mind as Altitude, all that play overwriting the idea of it as myplace of work.Being in the middle of all that activity, all that life was the most fun I ve had in, well,years.And I realize maybe that s part of why I can t let Ryder fire me either.It s not just the job andpaying down Jamie s debt that I want to keep on track.This bar, these people I love this place.Friday night, working my tables, getting to know Shelby, even joking around with Cash, I was part ofa group.I wasn t alone anymore like I have been for almost two years, even while I was withSebastian.It felt good.It felt right.What doesn t feel right, though, is the grim look on Cash s face when he enters from the back,carrying a bag of ice in each hand. Ryder wants to see you, Cash says. Good morning to you, too. Without looking at me, Cash takes his usual station behind the bar,rips open each bag. Did he say what about? I say, going for chipper.But my optimism gets lost in the noise of Cashpouring the cubes into the built-in chests behind the bar, the sound like an avalanche echoing throughthe quiet of Altitude s open, empty space. What? Did he tell you, I say, my stomach starting to churn,  why he wanted to see me? Nope, he says, yawning.So just in case I didn t think I was boring him, now I know for sure. That s for you to find out, I guess. Thanks. I start to round the corner of the bar.Ryder s office is maybe four or five yards fromwhere I stand.I can see the shut door at the end of the hallway.But when you re dragging your feet, afew steps can seem so far away. What d you do to your hair? Cash says.I stop and face him, running my hand up the back of my head.I ve become so quickly accustomedto being a brunette that I almost forgot how many other people haven t seen it yet. You can t tell? Isay. It s shorter, he says, yawning again. And it s a different color, right? Just how many mind eraser shots did you have this weekend? Sorry, he says. Monday mornings.I don t do them well. He rubs his face. Go see Ryder.I nod.It s true that Cash doesn t look his usual pretty, preppy, playboy self.His dimples are thesame, but his hair is a little more ruffled than usual, his shirt a little more wrinkled.So maybe he is just grumpy that it s Monday.Or hungover.Tired.Or maybe he knows something I don t. You wanted to see me? I say.I m half in, half out of the doorway of Ryder s office, my handgripping the knob, which I notice is different from last week.There s a keyhole now.For a lock, Iassume.I wonder if the change was Ryder s idea.Maybe Jackson s.Either way, it s a sign that Fridaynight made a clear impression on someone.Or Saturday night.Or last night.For the first time, it occurs to me that this whole office-seductionroutine could be a regular thing for Ryder, that maybe I wasn t getting special treatment but just thehouse special a private tongue tour in the back room.Sure, why not? He s hot and powerful andavailable.There are plenty of women every night in Altitude who d love to find out what the top ofhis desk feels like underneath their back.My fingers tighten on the cool metal of the doorknob as the thought of another woman in here withRyder makes my stomach go from nervous to nauseated.The reaction catches me a little off guard.Because I don t care if he has the whole Falcons cheerleading squad in here every night.Do I?I take a deep breath.Even if I don t exactly know how I feel, I know precisely what I think, andwhat I think is that he has no right to strip me of my job because of what happened between us.Especially if I m not the only one he s stripping of her pants.That s a him problem, and I m donetaking responsibility for other people s issues.Sitting at the desk, which is now covered neatly in paperwork (thanks to my bookkeeping), Ryderbeckons me into the office, waving his index and middle fingers [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]