Mr. Badass ✔

01 The doll grabs my wrist

Gemma's POV.

New York. It's sunny today.

I'm on a call with my Bluetooth headset while driving.

"Are you sure that sex culture festival is interesting?"

"Absolutely," my best friend Charlotte replies on the other end of the line. "I'm already here, waiting for you."

I'm a car salesperson, and I just sold a car this morning.

I'm off work this afternoon to hang out with my good friend-because of my job, I don't need to clock in as long as I hit my monthly sales targets.

And I just happen to be the top 1 salesperson at our dealership.

The traffic starts to build up. I glance at the dense flow of cars ahead and tap my finger lightly on the steering wheel. "But seriously, there are only two reproductive systems in humans. What's the point of a festival about them?"

"You'll understand when you get here," Charlotte says. "Today's the opening ceremony, and there's a fashion show. The organizers even invited some famous porn film stars-"

My phone vibrates.

"Hold on a second."

"What?"

I glance at the screen. "It's a call from a client."

I take a deep breath and switch lines, making my voice a bit sweeter. "Good afternoon, Mr. Smith."

He's the most difficult client I've ever dealt with.

Despite being wealthy and dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, getting him to part with his money is harder than sending someone to the moon.

And is he here to buy a car or to flirt? Every time he comes to the dealership, he insists that I serve him because he thinks the other employees aren't attractive enough.

But who is he? A overweight man, not even 40, and already bald.

I've been going back and forth with him for two months, and it was only this morning that I finally managed to sell him a Mercedes SUV.

"Gemma, are you free right now?"

I roll my eyes but keep my voice sweet. "Mr. Smith, is there something wrong with the car you purchased?"

The traffic finally eases up, and I continue driving.

"Ah, no, the car is fine," Mr. Smith pauses. "I just want to invite you to dinner to thank you for your help. Where are you now?"

I press my lips together, tapping my finger on the steering wheel.

"Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Boston."

After thinking for two seconds, I begin to mimic an airline announcement: "We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and..."

I hang up the phone, then stop at the intersection ahead and send him a text: "Sorry, Mr. Smith, I'm about to board a flight. Let's have dinner some other time."

Then I toss my phone aside and press the accelerator, driving forward.

Why am I the top salesperson at the dealership? It's not just because of my good looks.

When a huge banner with "New York City Sex Culture Festival" comes into view, I park the car by the roadside and head to the square.

Charlotte is waiting for me by the entrance under the banner.