"Morning." Lyla called out to her housemate as she opened the fridge to get her water bottle. Sunni was sitting at the island, coffee in hand, staring out the window. Lyla took her in, she looked stunning dressed in short shorts and a loose fitting grey singlet.
"What?" She replied groggily.
"I said good morning, you OK? you seem kinda quiet lately." Lyla was now jogging on the spot. She had recently taken up running, with all that was going on in her life at the moment she needed it to clear her mind. The results it had on her body didn't hurt either.
"I'm fine," Replied her housemate, swinging her brown legs over the stool and walking to her room, "Enjoy your run."
Lyla stared at her as she slipped in her ear buds.
"I haven't seen her like this before, I will make her dinner later and get to the bottom of it." She thought as she went out.
She liked to run along the lake, it wasn't as popular as the park due to all the uneven pathways. She occasionally met other joggers but the path was never busy. It was a crisp morning, she could see her breath snake up in front of her as she began her stretches. She glanced to her left and could just about make out Mr. Howe's mansion. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered their encounter in his greenhouse.
"Last week I didn't know he even existed." She mused as she began.
After her run, she went home, removed her pink t-shirt and black skin tight leggings and hopped in the shower. She was apprehensive about work. Mr. Howe had been in to the office off and on all week but so far Lyla had been able to avoid him, but last night Clarke had called her and told her that the three of them were going to sit down and have a meeting to discuss their next move.
It had been OK when it was just her and Clarke in on their arrangement but the fact that not only did Mr. Howe know about her, but he was actively planning how best she could be used to tip potential clients and investors in their favor, made her skin crawl. As she had told herself numerous times before, she was not ashamed, she just fucking hated having to justify or explain herself to anyone.
The past few days she had Halle shadowing her. She gave her meaningless tasks to keep her occupied all the while trying to gain her trust. Clarke was very specific that he wanted her comfortable. Lyla was apprehensive at first, duping this nineteen year old woman. But as the days wore on she found that faking friendship actually wasn't as hard as she thought it was going to be. She had a soft spot for her.
She toweled off quickly and picked a black shirt, she decided to wear the same short skirt and kitten heels from her encounter with Mr. Howe.
She knocked on Clarke's office door before entering, the two men were sitting side by side on the soft sofa's in front of Clarke's desk.
"Ah, here she is." Mr. Howe said, looking her up and down, a smile of recognition crept on to his face. "Great to see you again Lyla."
"You too," She replied sitting down, keeping her legs tightly pressed together.
"Mr. Howe and I have been talking Lyla, and we think we have come up with a viable solution to gain more ground on Holt. We just need to keep trying to solidify our resources and reinforce what we already have, new ideas that sort of thing." Clarke said as he poured three glasses of water.
"What had you in mind Mr Bentley." She said as she accepted the glass, addressing Clarke only. But it was Mr. Howe who answered.
"For a start we think it's time you cemented Halle's trust with you and this company. I suggested to Clarke, and he agrees. We are sending you both for spa treatments. Girls night out if you will. You will be staying the night, we are going to sell it as a first week welcome gift, though I doubt she will need much convincing."
She was irked that Clarke had just sat back and let Mr. Howe speak. She didn't like taking orders from him but wasn't about to broach the topic right now. She filed it away and smiled.
"Sounds lovely, I will let her know."
"No need," Clarke said, "Emailed her the certificates earlier. Hope you didn't have plans."
"Would it matter if I did," She bit back.
"Now, now Lyla, we are all a team, there's no need to be upset." Mr. Howe said quietly. "Go get some treatments done, have a few drinks, relax and whatever happens happens."
"What does that mean exactly. I get her drunk so what. You think she is going to reveal some of Holt's secrets."
"She may or may not but I want her on our side." Clarke replied firmly. "I hired an investigator to find her and according to her back ground she likes the ladies. So if it arises I trust you will progress your friendship to the next level." He looked at his feet as he spoke the last words.
The thought of bedding a nineteen year old girl excited her greatly but she wasn't going to let them know that. Lyla had a few enjoyable liaisons with women in the past."
"Hmm," she muttered. "I will see what I can do. For future meetings Mr. Bentley I am sure you and I can discuss any plans or ideas you have amongst ourselves. No need to be dragging poor Mr. Howe all the way down here for this. Coffee gentlemen." She said standing, smoothing her short skirt.
"Black, two sugars." Mr. Howe replied sheepishly.
She walked quickly to the kitchenette, closing its door behind her and began to make the coffee in the percolator. It was a small windowless room, one wall lined with a counter top, sink and cupboards stocked with food, tea and coffee. A big fridge stored all the alcohol used to entertain clients. She was annoyed once again with Clarke, she was happy to do anything he asked but she would have preferred a conversation about it.
Putting a smile on her face she returned to the office and served the men their coffees. Sitting at her desk she could feel the dull ache of an oncoming migraine.
"I am so excited for tomorrow night." Halle squealed as she stuck her head into Lyla's office. "I have never been to a spa before, Mr Bentley is so nice."
"Yes," she replied sardonically, rubbing her temples." He's the best."
Lyla left work early on Friday, telling Clarke that she had a few things to buy and pack for their girls night away. He said she could leave without looking away from his computer screen. Mr. Howe had barely left his side all week. Whatever they had plotted she was sure she would find out about it later.
She quickly showered, in her overnight bag she packed her toothbrush, skimpy pyjamas and her trusty vibrator.
"It can only help." She thought to herself.
She placed two bottles of wine in her bag, she left a note for Sunni saying that she was away for the night and would cook them both dinner when she got back, a catch up was long overdue.
Two hours later and both girls were sitting beside each other getting pedicures.
"It's so nice of Mr. Bentley to give me this as a welcome gift. Thank you so much for coming along Lyla and for all your help this week, I would be lost without you."
"No problem," Lyla replied taking a sip of her champagne, "Drink up, Mr. Bentley gave me the company credit card."
"I have never seen a room like ours before, it's amazing." Halle gushed, spilling some drink down her robe.
Lyla agreed with her, the room was spectacular, plush carpets, giant en suite, comfortable living room, fully stocked kitchen area. Clarke thought of every detail, even down to the giant king sized bed. Halle had offered to sleep on the couch but Lyla wouldn't hear of it. If they ended up sleeping together then so be it, she wasn't ruling it out but wasn't going to force it either.
"How much have you had to drink?" Lyla laughed seeing the drink spill down her chin. She thought Halle was cute when she was relaxed and care free. Her short hair was wrapped up in a thin towel. The robe clinging to her body, her smile lighting up her face.
"Not much, I don't usually drink that often so I better slow down." Halle replied embarrassed.
"We are here to enjoy ourselves, maybe just cool it until we get back to the room. Anyways let's not talk about work, tell me more about why you moved here." She was fishing for details now, tact was never her strong point.
"Well. I moved here about two years ago, it was always just me and my Mom, I always wanted to know my Father but she never revealed too much about him. Then she got sick, before she passed she told me his name and I looked him up online. She said he knew I was born but didn't want to meet me."
