Continental Breakfast Read Online Free PDF

apropos to be meeting at the same place we first had dinner. When I arrive, I’m led to Mr. Pettifor’s usual table. Amelie is chatting him up, but he remains silent and indifferent to her attempts at charming him. She looks troubled over his lack of interest. When Mr. Pettifor sees me approach the table, his eyes light up and he straightens himself. His money green eyes look me up and down and for the second time in one day, he smiles at me.
    When Amelie sees me, she looks relieved. I scoot in next to her and place my hand on her thigh for comfort.
    I lean over and whisper, “It’s not you, Amelie. This is par for the course.”
    Sh e lets out a sigh, smiles and nods.
    “What is ?” Mr. Pettifor asks, startling both Amelie and I.
    “ What is what ?” I ask.
    “Par for the course. ”
    Uh oh - h e wasn’t meant to hear that. Poor Amelie sips at her wine nervously and glares at the table top.
    “May I speak freely?” I ask.
    “Have I ever stopped you from doing so?”
    No, I suppose he hasn’t. 
    “Go on, Ms. Darcy, what’s par for the course?” he prods.
    “Your indifference, t he distance you place between yourself and those around you, and your lack of awareness to those who show genuine interest in you.” That felt good to say out loud. I mean, what is he going to do at this point? Fire me?
    Amelie stiffens up next to me, her eyes wide and her mouth gaping at me.
    Mr. Pettifor narrows his eyes at me, seemingly mulling over what I’ ve said and chewing his bottom lip tetchily.
    He doesn’t respond to me, but looks at Amelie and replies, “I want you to know that the way Ms. Darcy is speaking to me is not acceptable behavior. A word of advice Ms. Davidson:  If you ever feel the need to speak freely as Ms. Darcy has, don’t. ”
    The poor little blonde shakes her head emphatically at him. “No, Xan… I mean… Mr. Pettifor. Of course not - I would never.”
    Mr. Pettifor then casts his disapproving glare back onto me. “Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from Ms. Davidson on proper manners.”
    He told me to speak freely and now I’ve pissed him off. I sigh loudly. Feeling chastised and mildly embarrassed at my outburst, I swirl the ice around in the glass of water in front of me.
    “Perhaps, but you did tell me to speak freely,” I say in my defense.
    Dinner arrives and Amelie nervously tries to make up for the uncomfortable silence between Mr. Pettifor and me. Not hungry and mildly depressed, I pick at my dinner.
    Mr. Pettifor finally chimes in and starts asking the standard interview questions about Amelie’s experience, education, and then giving her different scenarios relating to how she would deal with stress. She’s very well-spoken and well-learned, and I’m impressed with her answers. The conversation eventually turns mildly explicit.
    “So Ms. Darcy has told you about my sexual proclivities, yes?” he asks.
    True to form and making me proud, Amelie doesn’t flinch. “Yes, Mr. Pettifor, she has. She was very forthcoming regarding your needs. I promise you that I’m a trustworthy person. I would even go so far as to sign any kind of documentation regarding my confidentiality regarding this matter.”
    Nice. I really do like Amelie.
    “And you’re willing to service me in any way that I desire and to accept punishment in any manner that I see fit?”
    I look up at Mr. Pettifor and he has an eyebrow raised at me. No doubt he’ s making a reference to my lack of allowing him to spank me last night. Why do I have to be here to listen to this? I mean, I know what’s going to happen between the two of them, but do I really need to hear the painful details?
    “Absolutely, Mr. Pettifor, I’m very uninhibited and my sexual philosophy is I can’t make a judgment about liking something unless I try it first,” she answers very professionally.
    Bravo, Ms. Davidson , I want to say and pat her on the back.
    “Very well. How do you feel about that?”
    I’m scanning the tabletop