Page 142 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
The phone on my desk rang and I sat up, took a deep breath.
“Edge,” I greeted, expecting the call.
“Hey, man, what’s up? You said you wanted to talk?” Trent Ramsey asked.
“I did. Think maybe we can grab lunch one day this week? If you’re in town.”
“Yeah, I’m here now. I’m heading out tomorrow though. Won’t be back till Thursday. You free today?”
I hadn’t considered today, although there was no reason I couldn’t talk to him now. “Today works.”
“Good. I’m actually stopping by the club to grab some paperwork. You gonna be there for a bit?”
“Yep. Just mapping out the week.”
“Perfect. See you in ten.”
True to his word, Trent arrived at the club a short time later. He was rolling solo today, which was a surprise. Considering his personal assistant was one of his submissives, I was used to seeing them together.
When my phone chimed, signaling the front door opening, I made my way down to the main floor to meet him.
“You look … different,” Trent said with a smirk, offering a handshake before walking around behind the bar, retrieving two glasses and a bottle of scotch he’d evidently hidden back there.
“I feel different,” I admitted, watching him closely.
Trent grinned, pouring the liquor then passing one over to me.
“Are we celebrating something?” I asked, hoping to hell we weren’t because that was going to mean I had shitty timing.
“I don’t know,” he said with a grin. “You tell me. What’s on your mind, Edge?”
I sat on one of the barstools and stared into my glass. With a resigned sigh, I met his gaze. “I think it’s time for me to retire as manager of your club.”
To my shock, Trent grinned widely.
“What?” I asked. “Are you happy about that?”
His face sobered. “No. Of course not.” His smile returned. “But seriously, Edge. You’ve been at this a long time. This place is a lot of responsibility.”
That it was.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what prompted it?”
I shrugged, tossed back the liquid, put the glass down. I was trying not to fidget. “It’s time.”
“For?”
“To live my life. To stop making excuses. To finally be who I wanted to be a long damn time ago.”
His crystal-blue eyes scanned my face. “You found a submissive, huh?”
I laughed because it was just like Trent to go that route. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that. But I…” Unable to look at him, I stared at the glass. “I did fall in love.”
He propped himself on his elbow. “Do tell.”
I explained the situation I found myself in with Jamie and Cav.
“That’s an interesting twist,” he said, still smirking. “How’s that work, anyway? Two Doms?”
Another laugh escaped. “That’s the interesting twist.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not a Dom when I’m with him. Or with her.”
As though it all made sense, Trent took a sip of his drink, set it down. “That is an interesting twist.” He stood tall, added two fingers to both glasses. “And you’re happy but you’re not quite sure why that is.”
“Bingo.” I turned the glass in my hand. “I only hope it’s the right thing for everyone involved.”
“Fuck hope,” he said seriously. “You want Jamie and Cav, you’ll make it work. You’ll figure it out, and let me tell you, I know all about the difficulties that come along with a change of that nature. Your world erupts in chaos.”
“You’re telling me.”
“But the good news is, it’ll settle. You’ll fall into it when you admit what you want. It might take some time, but it’s damn worth it.”
“I’ve already accepted it,” I admitted. “I want them. Period. As long as I have them, the rest is easy.”
He smiled again. “Then it sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” Trent took a drink, set his glass down. “Does that mean you’ve made a decision on Chatter?”
His question caught me by surprise but then again Trent Ramsey was a partner in Chatter PR, so it only made sense that the company was a priority for him. He was establishing a talent division, which I’d heard had launched into hyperspace right out of the gate.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “I think I have.”
“And?”
“And I’m going to accept. I can’t see a reason to do otherwise.”
“Justin’ll be pleased.”
“Yep. Until he comes up with another scheme to uproot my world and turn it upside down.”
Trent laughed. “I think he might be off your back for a bit.”
“Right.” I lifted my glass to his. “They’re getting married.”
He clicked his against mine. “That they are. It’s only uphill from here.”
“You have those same plans?” I grinned. “Somewhere down the line?”
Trent leaned an elbow on the bar. “It’s possible. We’re still tryin’ to smooth the rough spots. Once we get it evened out, I’m sure it’ll be on the agenda.” His expression went somber. “But seriously, Edge. I hate to see you step out of the role. You’ve made my life a hell of a lot easier being here, but like I said, I didn’t expect you to last this long. Not because you couldn’t do it. I just thought you’d get burned out.”
