The rest of the work week passed for Claire without much interaction with Luke. She was bogged down by reports for most of the week, and barely saw Luke aside from when she passed his desk.
She did notice, however, that he still got red and extremely awkward every morning when she walked in with her coffee. She enjoyed this reaction enough that she had started buying her coffee right before she went into the office so she could sip on it all morning with him around.
On Friday morning, Claire noticed she felt surprisingly sad when she received her usual $6 with a note saying "Officially one week over - again sorry you had to see that."
She was hesitant to admit it, but the thrill of getting money from Luke and seeing the effect it had on him had not diminished over the week. It had grown - and seeing him like that at work definitely had turned her on, although she pushed it down.
He's your colleague. Not appropriate, Claire, she had to remind herself.
Claire didn't have much more time to dwell on this particular dilemma after work on Friday, as she frantically headed home to get ready for the Halloween party she and Lily were going to that evening.
It was being hosted by their friend Petey, who Lily knew through book club and Claire knew from Lily. His parents had vacated their fancy suburban home for the weekend, and Petey was throwing one of his legendary Halloween parties in their absence.
Lily had been dead set on the two of them going as sexy pirates together. Claire sighed as she put on her costume. A flouncy skirt, a peasant blouse top and a corset to go over it, with lace up boots. It was a bit more revealing than she typically wore, but hey, it was Halloween. And she had to admit - the corset and blouse combo made her cleavage look amazing.
She finished the look with dark eyeliner and red lipstick,
Her doorbell buzzed, and she went to let Lily in.
"You look so good, Claire!" Lily said as she waltzed in, also in sexy pirate attire. They had arranged ahead of time to meet at Claire's and Uber over to Petey's together.
Lily poured out a shot of vodka for her and Claire, and clinked them together.
"Cheers, Claire! Happy Halloween!," Lily said as they both knocked them back.
Claire opened her phone to call the car, and when it arrived, both women climbed into the backseat.
"So, I think this is going to be even crazier than last year. Petey hinted that he got multiple fog machines this time," Lily said excitedly. "And I think the guest list is like, twice the size. It's going to be insane."
"By the way, whatever happened with your foray into being a dominatrix?" Lily asked smiling.
Claire rolled her eyes, looking at the Uber driver to see if he was listening. He did not indicate that he was, focusing on the road.
"I'd hardly call it that. He did send me the money every day as promised, though. And I think you were right. He seemed turned on at work when I had the coffee with me, and was super awkward around me all week. Like more so than usual," I added.
"I told you it was a sex thing for him, Claire. That's kind of hot, though. Like a kinky office meet-cute," she said grinning.
Claire tried giving her an annoyed look, but she couldn't help smiling back.
The time passed in the car as Lily and Claire chatted about other things, and soon enough the driver was pulling up to Petey's parents' palatial house.
They stepped out, and walked up the driveway, which had been decorated with gravestones, skeletons and fake cobwebs.
Petey opened the door for them, dressed as a particularly flamboyant, gay version of Cruella De Vil.
"Darlings! I'm so glad you made it. You both look amazing - come on in," he said, holding the door for them.
The party was already crowded with music blasting. Lily grabbed Claire's arm and pulled her to the bartender (because of course Petey had sprung for an open bar for a Halloween party,) and got herself a Cosmo and Claire a gin and tonic
As Lily started flirting with a werewolf, Claire started saying hello and catching up with her other friends she knew through Petey. After a while of socializing (and another drink), Claire excused herself to the bathroom.
She peed, washed her hands and put on a fresh coat of lipstick, and stepped out of the bathroom, and right into Luke Smalls from work.
