Midnight Heat

Bestfriend daddy’s Special interview I

Maya’s POV

My phone kept buzzing on my pillow like it is angry at me. I opened one eye and see five missed job application emails.

All of them say the same thing. “We are sorry. No vacancy at this time.” I sighed loudly and roll over on my bed.

“Why does survival feel like homework I cannot finish?” I mumbled.

A knock sounded on my door. I walked slowly and open it.

Chloe was standing there, smiling like she always does. She was still my best friend. Her blonde hair was tied in a messy bun, and she is holding two cups of coffee.

“You look like a girl who is losing life battles,” she said immediately. “Good morning to you too,” I reply.

She waved her hand. “Forget manners. I have news.” My stomach tightened. “Good news or bad news?”

“Depends on how much you like jobs,” she said with a smile. I narrowedmy eyes. “What did you do?”

“I told my dad about you.”

My heart skipped. “Chloe! I told you I do not like begging people for help.”

“You are not begging,” she said quickly. “You are trying to survive. That is different.” I did not answer. She continued talking like she is afraid I would interrupt her.

“He said you should come for an interview today. Two o’clock in the afternoon.”

“Interview for what kind of job?” I ask. “Office work, Business assistance. Just go. Show confidence, You are smart.”

I bite my lip. “What if I fail?” Chloe grabbed my shoulders. “You will not fail. Just wear something simple. Nice. Not too loud, Just you.”

“Thank you,” I told her quietly. She smiled. “That is what best friends are for.” But as she left, I felt nervous and excited at the same time. I quickly dressed up for the interview. My heart was beating faster as I left my apartment.

The building is tall and the air inside was smelling like perfume and money.

I walked inside and went to the reception desk. “Hello,” I said softly. “I am here for the interview.”

The woman at the desk looks at me once, then smiles politely. “Go to the top floor,” she says.

My stomach tightened. “Top floor?” I repeated. “Yes. The office is up there.”

I noded slowly. “Thank you.” The top floor was quiet. Very quiet. Like people here speak with important voices only.

A man in a dark suit was standing near the door. “You are Maya Collins?” he asked. “Yes,” I replied. He nodded. “Follow me.”

My legs felt heavy, but I walked behind him. He stopped in front of a large office door. “You can go inside,” he said.

I toke a deep breath. Then I opened the door and stepped inside.

“You look… good, Maya.”

Mr. Havisham’s voice was low. It made my skin feel tight. He sat behind his big desk, his eyes moving over me. Slow. Like he was tasting me.

I swallowed. “Thank you, sir.”

This was my best friend Chloe’s dad. But right now, he was not that. He was a man in a suit. I was in my little red top and black mini skirt. I felt the air from the vent on my legs.

“Chloe told me you were looking for a job,” he said. He leaned back. “She said you were desperate.”

The word hung there. Desperate. It was true. My aunt called this morning. Her voice was shaky. “The mortgage, Maya. They’re talking about foreclosure.” I needed this job. Any job.

“I am,” I whispered.

He stood up. He walked around the desk. He stopped right in front of me. I could smell his cologne. It was spicy and expensive. “This company… my division… we need certain things. It’s about give and take. Do you understand give and take, Maya?”

My heart was a bird in a cage. Thump, thump, thump. I looked at his tie. It was blue silk. “I think so.”

“Show me,” he said. His voice was a command.

My mind went blank. Then it filled with my aunt’s tears. With the ‘No Vacancy’ signs I saw all week. With the empty fridge in my apartment. I took a tiny step forward. Our shoes almost touched.

“What should I give?” I asked. My voice was so small.

“What do you want to give?” he asked back. His hand came up. One finger touched my cheek. It was warm. A shiver went down my spine. It was not a bad shiver.

I thought about the job. The money. Saving my aunt’s house. My own rent. A feeling washed over me. It was hot and scared and… a little excited. I looked up at his face. He was watching me. Waiting.

I have to try.

I lifted my hands. They were shaking. I placed them on his shoulders. The suit jacket was smooth under my fingers. I went up on my toes. My face was near his neck. I could see the little hairs there. I could feel his heat.

I leaned in. I pressed my lips to his neck. Just below his ear. My lips were soft. His skin was warm. I kissed him there. A slow, closed mouth kiss. I felt him breathe in.

His hands came to my hips. They were big. They held me through the thin fabric of my skirt. His thumbs pressed into my hip bones. A jolt went through me. Straight to my stomach. To lower.

“Good,” he murmured. His voice was rough. “Very good.”

I kissed his neck again. A little lower this time. My mouth opened just a bit. I let my tongue touch his skin.

His hands moved. One slid around to the small of my back. It pressed me forward. I was against him now. I could feel him. All of him. My little red top was thin. I felt his chest against mine. The other hand slid up my side. Over my ribs. His thumb brushed the underside of my breast through the top.

A gasp got stuck in my throat. My whole body was awake. Every nerve was singing. It was scary. It was amazing.

“The take,” he said into my hair. “My turn to take.”

His hand that was on my back slipped lower. Over the curve of my bottom. He squeezed. Not hard. But firm. Possessive. My knees felt weak. I clung to his shoulders.

His other hand finally cupped my breast. Fully. His palm was hot. He rubbed his thumb over the tip. It was already hard. A little peak under the fabric. A sharp, sweet ache shot through me. I moaned. I couldn’t help it. The sound was soft and needy.

“You like that,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

I nodded against his neck. My lips were still there. Kissing. Nuzzling. “Yes.”

He pinched my n****e through the top. Gently. A twist. My back arched. I pushed my chest into his hand. More. I wanted more. The feeling was so big. It was filling up all the empty, scared spaces inside me.

His hand on my bottom slid around. To the front of my skirt. He traced the seam of my thighs through the material. I was shaking. My breaths were coming fast.

“This job,” he whispered, his mouth at my ear. His breath was hot. “It’s very special. Very private. You would be my… personal assistant. Do you know what that means?”

His fingers reached the hem of my skirt. They dipped underneath. They touched my bare thigh. High up. So close.

“What does it mean?” I breathed.

His fingers stroked the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. “It means you give me what I need. And I give you everything you want. High Salary and Bonuses.” His fingers crept higher. “Do we have an understanding?”

I was on fire. His touch was everywhere. I was so close. To his touch there. My body was screaming for it.

“Yes,” I choked out. “Yes, I understand.”

His fingers stopped. Right at the edge of my panties. He didn’t go further. He just held them there.

“Good girl,” he said. He slowly pulled his hand away. He took a step back.

I almost fell. My legs were jelly. I was breathing hard. My skin felt cold where he wasn’t touching me anymore.

He smoothed his tie. He looked perfectly calm. Like nothing happened. “You start tomorrow. Nine AM. My private office. The one behind the bookcase.”

I just stared. My lips felt swollen. My body was throbbing.

“And Maya?” He looked right at me. His eyes were dark. Serious. “You don’t tell Chloe. Anyone. This is our secret. Our… special arrangement. You tell anyone, and the deal is off. Do you understand that, too?”

I nodded fast. My heart was sinking and flying at the same time. A secret. From my best friend.

“I understand.”

“You’re Hired,” he said. He turned back to his desk. “Go Home. You’ll need your energy tomorrow.”

I stood there for a second. Then I turned. I walked out on shaky legs. I was hired.