4. Chapter 2
FRANKIE
“ S he’s here,” Dominic called back. “Don’t even think of it.”
Frankie looked up at him, wide-eyed. How did he know? He couldn’t read minds, could he? No, there was no way. She knew it wasn’t a possibility because if it was, she would be the first person to know.
It had always been a dream of hers to read people’s minds so she knew what they were really thinking about her or what their intentions were. It would have made life so much easier.
But alas, it was not real, and Frankie was left to figure it out on her own.
Rude.
“Don’t think of what?” the other man asked, standing next to Dominic.
Who was he? How did he know her name? Was this Noah? She looked at his short hair, the tattoos peeking out around his shirt. Licking her lips, she couldn’t help but feel turned on, staring at him. If this was Noah, he was nothing like she’d expected him to be.
Sure, she knew his voice was hot and could probably make her do anything he wanted her to with the right tone, but his looks just topped everything off.
“Running,” was all Dominic said.
“I was not.” She glared at him, offended that he would say such a thing. But he wasn’t wrong. She would have run away and never contact them again, even though she desperately needed the job.
“You were, and we both know it.” Dominic gave her a small smile.
“Was not.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “You have no proof I was going to.”
Was she really arguing with the bouncer? And in front of her potential boss? Yeah, this wasn’t going to be her job for much longer. It wasn’t professional behavior. But she couldn’t help herself. He was provoking her and he knew it. How was she supposed to not sass him?
Other people might have been able to do it, but she sure couldn’t.
“I do have proof. It was written all over your face, which was caught on camera. I bet you didn’t know that your body turned to the side a little, like you were getting ready to bolt.
There were a lot of hints that were pointing you to running.
” Dominic raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to continue?”
“No,” Frankie mumbled.
How rude of him. Frankie didn’t need Noah to know she was about to run and skip the interview. Well, she was going to leave before when she realized she was late.
Who liked a person to be late to an interview? Frankie figured he wasn’t going to hire her or even start the interview process when he figured out she was running late.
Frankie liked to be on time for things, but public transportation was not reliable, and Noah hadn’t given her a lot of notice. If she got hired, she would have to leave earlier than she needed to, so she would get to work on time.That would include time for all eventualities.
That was what she did with all her other jobs besides the one that was so close to her house that she just walked. But the club wasn’t close to her home at all.
“Why were you going to run?” the man asked. “I’m Noah. We spoke on the phone. I was going to be the one interviewing you.”
Frankie’s eyes went wide. He said was . Was he not going to interview her anymore?
“I won’t waste any more of your time,” she mumbled. “Thank you for the opportunity, and I’m sorry I was late.”
Frankie turned around and took a step.
“Freeze!” Noah commanded.
She paused with her food off the ground. Panic set in her as she started to wobble from side to side. Frankie never had the best balance, and it was showing right now.
“You can put your foot down,” Noah said. “Turn around and face us.”
She quickly put her foot down but didn’t follow the rest of his command. She didn’t want to face them if Noah was going to tell her she hadn’t got the job. She didn’t want to see the disapproval on his face.
Disappointment and disapproval were two things Frankie could not deal with very well. Sadly, in the past year, she had seen them more than she had been praised, and it was starting to affect her. There was only so much a person could go through.
“Turn around, Little girl,” Noah slowly instructed, his voice firm.
She turned around but kept her head down. If she was going to have to face them, then she wasn’t going to look at them. Nope. They couldn’t make her.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
She cursed in her head when she realized she was now looking at Noah. Why? Why did she have to obey him? Why couldn’t she have kept her head down like she wanted?
“Good girl,” he praised.
Tears immediately formed in her eyes. When was the last time she’d gotten called a good girl?
“Oh, Little girl.” Noah’s voice softened.
She quickly turned around, waving her hands in front of her eyes to stop herself from crying. Frankie couldn’t cry in front of him. It showed weakness, and she didn’t need him to know she was anything but strong.
“Frankie,” Noah gently said.
“No,” she sobbed. “St-stay there.”
She just needed a couple of minutes to get herself back under control. There was no shame in trying to compose herself. Not with how much she had already gone through.
“Frankie, it’s okay. You don’t really know how to hide your emotions. It’s good to let your emotions out, especially if you’ve had a very hard day.” Noah’s voice sounded so close.
She didn’t dare look where he was actually standing. If he were right next to her, she knew one look and she would break down into tears. She had just gotten herself under control, and she wasn’t going to break down again. Not even if Noah spoke to her in a calm and caring voice.
Frankie wasn’t going to do it.
She plastered a smile on her face and turned around, not looking either man in their eyes. “I’m good. Nothing to see and nothing happened.”
Dominic and Noah looked at her like she had lost her mind.
“Frankie.” Dominic’s voice was gentle and low, comforting in a way.
“You’re okay. There is nothing wrong with showing emotion. Everyone does,” Noah gave her a smile. “It’s not good to bottle everything up and pretend like it isn’t there.”
“I know, but I’m really okay. You just caught me off guard. Anyway, I’ve wasted more than enough of both of your times. Thank you, but I will be leaving now,” Frankie quietly said.
Her hands were still clasped in front of her, trying to stop the shaking from being noticeable. She felt like her whole body was still vibrating. Could they see her shake, or was she concealing it well enough? Why did it matter now when she wasn’t getting the job?
“Frankie, come inside so we can have your interview,” Noah said, stepping back.
She opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. She didn’t think she still had the opportunity to get the job anymore since she was late and had said several things she shouldn’t have. But Noah was looking at her expectantly. Should she go?
“You better follow him, Little One,” Dominic said. “He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Oh,” she replied, taking a step forward.
Frankie found herself walking into the building and following Noah to who knew where. He wouldn’t hurt her, not in his place of work. They passed a little gift shop, and her eyes immediately found all the stuffed animals sitting on the shelf, begging her to buy them and take them home.
No.
If she didn’t have the money for rent, food, or her medicine, she did not need to buy a stuffed animal to take home with her. Even though she really wanted one.
“You can come back to the shop to look around if you still want to after the interview.” Noah stepped right next to her.
Frankie hadn’t realized she had stopped right in front of the gift shop.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“No need to be sorry. This place is really popular when we are open. Every Little, Middle, and well, anyone who visits always comes in and gets a stuffy to take home,” Noah explained. “Most of these are hand-me-downs from other people who needed to get rid of a couple.”
Gasping, Frankie looked up at Noah. “Get rid of?”
How could anyone get rid of their stuffed animals? That had to be a sin.
“Yes, some people sell their stuffed animals for a little money,” Noah replied. “It’s not an easy decision, but I’ve seen a couple of people do that.”
That would be her if she had any stuffed animals to sell. She did, but she wasn’t about to get rid of her only one. Then she would really be lonely and have no one to talk to.
“Come along,” Noah said. “Let’s get up to my office and start this interview.”
Frankie followed after him, trying to keep up with his long legs.
“Mr. —” She sucked in a deep breath, filling up her lungs with the air they desperately needed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Little One. I didn’t realize how fast I was walking.” Noah stopped right in front of her and held onto her shoulders. “That’s it. Take a nice deep breath for me. You’re okay. Such a good girl.”
Frankie took several deep breaths, calming herself down. How much farther did they have to go? She didn’t know if she would be able to keep up with him at this rate, physically and job wise.
“Sorry about that. Sometimes I forget how tall I am and how big a step I take. Walk next to me and we’ll go slower this time.” Noah held out his hand.
She looked at it, not knowing whether she should really take it or not.
Would it be appropriate? Frankie wanted to, desperately, but she didn’t want to cause any trouble later on.
She wanted to feel the warmth of his hand wrapping around hers.
His hands were big enough that they would swallow hers up.
How would that feel? Would Frankie ever get the chance to feel that or would she always be longing for it?
“Sorry, it’s instinct to offer my hand to a Little.” Noah dropped his hand.
Frankie felt bad immediately as she looked at his hand, longing to have the confidence to reach for it and hold it. Had she hurt his feelings? Was he going to hold a grudge towards her and not give her the job because of it?
“Frankie, look at me,” Noah commanded. “Good girl.”
Her whole face went red. Frankie liked being called a good girl a little too much. She wanted him to call her that all the time, especially when his voice went deeper. Perfection right there, and she wanted it again.
“No, don’t look away. I didn’t give you permission. I want you to listen to me right now. Can you do that?” he asked.
She nodded, staring at him.
“Words, Frankie. I like words spoken, so there are no miscommunications. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, sir,” She whispered. “Uh, yes, Mr. Noah.”
What was she supposed to call him in this situation? She didn’t know what was acceptable and what wasn’t. Should she call him Sir or was that an honorific? to him and he didn’t consent to it? Does he not want to be called Mr. Noah because it reminds him of his father and he doesn’t want that?
There were so many unspoken rules in the world, and Frankie couldn’t keep up with them, nor did she want to. It was exhausting trying to think of all of them. If she didn’t have to do it, she wouldn’t, but how else was she going to learn?
“You are not in trouble for not taking my hand. It’s not going to change my view on whether you are going to get the job or not.
I often forget that some people aren’t fond of touching other people or strangers.
I apologize for assuming you were going to grab my hand,” Noah gently said, bending down in front of her so they were eye to eye.
“If I ever say anything, I don’t want you to think that it is a must. I do it because that is what I did with my other Little and it has become a habit. ”
He has a Little . Frankie didn’t know how to feel about that. What was she supposed to say?
“Even though it’s been ten years since I’ve had a Little, I work here. I help other Littles who don’t have a caregiver and need aftercare or a hug,” Noah went on.
Frankie blinked several times, trying to keep her face neutral.
She should not be happy that he had no Little.
She should feel sorry for him, but inside, she was happy.
Maybe if she didn’t get this job, she could date him.
But why would he want to date her? She didn’t have a job, and her medical bills were piling up.
“Enough about me. We are almost to my office.” Noah smiled.
Frankie followed him the rest of the way, allowing him to open the door and let her in first.
“Take a seat anywhere, and then we can start.”
She scanned the room, trying to find the best seat that would hide her shakiness if she had to. Her eyes narrowed in on the chair in front of his desk. Perfect. If he sat behind his desk, it wouldn’t give him a clear shot of anything, really.
Frankie sat down and watched him take the chair behind his desk.
He smiled. “Let’s start. Why do you want this job?”