She looks like a deer caught in headlights. Terrified of pissing me off, this girl has another thing coming.
"Let me guess the staffing agency didn't tell you who they were recruiting for did they?" I ask her twirling a pen through my fingers.
"N-no ma'am." she stutters out.
I scoff, "Looks like you finally learned some manners... S. Jackson.?So what's the first name, because I know for fucking sure it isn't Grace."
"It's Skylar ma'am."
"Hmm." I make like I'm thinking things over, "I'm offering you the position... pays well. You'd be in charge of scheduling events, promo, and prospective buyers. You do not close deals, I do. Sound good?" I state bluntly. She has no idea what she's in for.
"Yes ma'am." she says.
"Good. First thing I want you to do is dismiss the other candidates. They are of no use to me. Just so we're clear, you don't get first name privileges. To you, I am Ms. Grey or ma'am. Understood?" I ask with a stern voice.
"Yes ma'am." she replies and I shoo her off.
Moments later she returns and awaits further instructions. I swear it's like she's... nevermind.
"Here. Take this it's a list of contacts for gallery sessions. I want you to call each of them and tell them that Trey is no longer working for me, you are. After that you're free to go home for the day." I tell her handing her the list. She gives me a small smile and does as I ask.
It's unnecessary work, but if she thinks I'm going to go easy on her, she has another thing coming.
Two hours later, I'm nearly done with the sketch I started. "Can I get you anything else before I go ma'am?"
"Coffee." I say without looking up. "And something to eat, I missed having breakfast with my son to be here." I hear a quiet reply of yes ma'am before here heels clack across the floor.
Layla's used to do that when she'd come see you.
Except Layla's not here...
I frustratedly toss my pencil on the desk and run my hands through my hair. Days like this where I miss her have become less frequent. Especially since Billie has been coming around.
After sitting there in my feels and chewing on my bottom lip, Sky returns with food in hand. I mutter a curt thanks and take it to go. "You're free to go home. We'll discuss things in further detail after the weekend. I'll see you at 10 am sharp Monday morning."
I lock the studio up and drive home. At this point I don't have an appetite anymore. When I step through my front door, Blake runs towards me and I scoop him up. "Hey bubbie, how was your day?"
"Me and Bee made a huge castle! Then we watched a movie and made a fort!" He gushes.
I carry him on my hip towards the living room and see the massive pile of pillows and blankets, "Looks like you two had a great time."
"We definitely did!" I hear Billie's muffled voice. I raise a brow and Blake wiggles out of my grasp. He runs over to the pile of pillows and jumps on them.
Billie lets out a groan, "Ugh! I'm pretty sure my spleen is bleeding!"
I let out a chuckle, "Such a wimp, I can't believe you let a four year old take you down. Ladies and gentlemen, bad Billie has been taken down."
"Please get your child off of me!" she pleads.
"Nope." I say popping the p, as I walk down the hallway.
I'm halfway changed into some comfier clothes and I hear Billie clear her throat, "Sorry..."
"It's fine." I say lowly, purposely being slow in pulling my shirt on. I can feel her gaze burning holes in my back. Next thing I know I feel her fingertips graze my skin.
"Billie..."
She removes her hand from my back, "Sorry I'll stop." she mutters just loud enough for me to hear.
I turn and reach for her wrist, "I- I want you to touch me." I tell her as she studies my face for a few moments. She traces my jawline with her finger and trails it down my neck, over the fabric of my shirt, stopping when she reaches my shorts. The whole time, her eyes fixated on mine.
She brings her hand back up, gently cupping my face and kissing me once before resting her forehead against mine. "Believe me when I tell you I want to do a million and one dirty things to you... I just don't wanna become dependent on instant gratification and not have that intimate emotional connection with you. I've been down that road and I'm not about to spiral down it again."
I hadn't realized how much Billie had truly changed since we really truly talked. She's softer, emotionally. More mature in the decisions she makes, like she's considering how every little thing she does or doesn't do could affect me.
All I could manage to say in response to that is ok. No, I get where you're coming from. No, I'm sorry you went through that. Just a simple ok. It was her response of kissing my forehead that told me, we were on the same page. We're both delicate and fragile, either one of us capable of destroying one another so easily.
Then I ruin the moment by chuckling.
"You're seriously laughing right now, what could possibly be funny?" Billie groans out.
"Ok, so I was holding interviews for an internship/publicist position... you're not going to believe who showed up to the interviews this morning." I gush, hardly able to contain my excitement.
"Uh, no clue..."
"Remember your ex's little sister that nearly had me murdered because she was using me?"
Billie's eyes go wide, "No fucking way?! What did you do?"
"I hired her. She's either going to learn how to respect me, or she'll quit." I state bluntly.
I feel Billie's arms wrap around my waist, "Honestly I like bossy Hayden." she says lightly kissing my jaw.
Honestly I like submissive Billie...
a/n: so there's this person...
Also sub Billie is best Billie imo.
I ❤️ you bubbies!!
