Emma Riley

Lakeside Apartments
The Next Morning

I slept like crap, unable to stop my mind from racing. Thinking of Ryker Fox, obviously. Thinking of all the things that could happen working for him..both good and bad.

I had to admit, part of me was excited to see him again. Part of me..hated myself for being excited to see him again.

I ran into a problem as I once again stood in my bedroom, my hair still damp and in nothing but my bra and underwear.

I couldn't decide what to wear. Again. Ryker  told me to dress however I felt comfortable, so I had planned to just wear a t shirt and sweats. But now, there was a part of me..that wanted to look cute.

I rolled my eyes at myself, knowing exactly how ridiculous I sounded. I'm going to clean his penthouse. I'm not getting ready for a date. Looking cute isn't exactly the point.

On the other hand..maybe it would look best if I didn't look cute. If I really planned to keep things professional between us, it might be easier getting him to behave in a t shirt and lazy sweatpants.

Besides..I've already been with someone who was ashamed of me, and I have no intention of ever doing it again. If he has a problem with a woman not looking like a supermodel every damn second of the day, I am just not the one. It's best he finds that out now.

That settled my mind. I put on a pair of comfy but cute pink sweatpants and a loose fitting white top. I couldn't help but cringe at the thought of getting coffee on my white shirt. Note to self: say 'no' to coffee.

I decided to leave my hair down today, but took a white hair tie and put it around my wrist just in case I got too hot and changed my mind while I was cleaning.

I decided to take my ipod and headphones today and put it in one of my pockets, also  just in case. Hypothetically, if I'm cleaning an area where no one is around it's not going to hurt anything.. right?

I walked to my bathroom mirror and began putting on a bit of foundation and mascara, just to even out my face and bring out my eyes. I'm not trying to look fancy, but I'm also not trying to look dead.

I flushed as I looked myself over in the mirror after applying my mascara, being reminded of Ryker's compliments on my eyes. That moment between us was..well, intense. I think he might have felt it too.

I guess I'm ready? I should probably eat some cereal or something first, though. Gina  had already left when I woke up so I shouldn't have to worry about being grilled again.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I pulled it out..looking at the Caller ID. 'Satan Himself' it said. Fuck, what was Carl  wanting?

"Hello?" I answered, sounding annoyed even to me. My boss was so sexist and rude, I hated talking to him.

"Emma."  His voice sounded friendlier than usual, which caught me off guard. "How's it going?"

Huh?! 'How's it going?' Seriously? "Um..its going good, Carl. How are things with you? I was about to head over to Mr. Fox's house in a few minutes." I said, still caught off guard by his friendliness but wanting to be professional.

"That's actually what I called to talk to you about!" His voice perked up, while I wondered where this was going.

I started walking towards the kitchen so I could pour myself some cereal while I waited to be off the phone.

"What's on your mind, Carl?" I prompted with caution as I got out a large bowl from the cupboard and placed it on the counter.

"I'm not sure how things went down yesterday but you seemed to make a good impression."  He sounded downright cheerful. This caught my attention.

"What exactly are we talking about here?" I was pretty sure I knew, but I wanted to find out how much he actually knew about what happened.

"Ryker Fox called me personally about you yesterday. "  He sounded honored which almost made me laugh, as I realized he was fangirling.

"W-what did he say?"  It was obviously positive or my boss wouldn't be so friendly, but I still felt nervous. He called my boss to talk about me?!

"He said you were the hardest worker he had ever seen, said he was super impressed."  Carl sounded genuinely..dare I say, proud?  I couldn't help but smile, as that was actually very sweet of Ryker  to do that.

But part of me couldn't help but roll my eyes, considering I didn't even actually do any work for him yesterday. All that happened was we talked, I spilled my coffee, practically shoved my boobs in his face, then left. 'Super impressed'  indeed.

"He told me as long as you were working with us he'd never use anyone else. Said we were lucky to have you." He continued. I was a bit speechless as my face flushed. This was the nicest my boss had been to me in the four years I had worked there, and it was because of Ryker Fox.

"I knew it was a good idea to send the blond with massive tits to clean for him!"  He beamed, sounding like he was patting himself on the back for being the smartest man alive. 

Anddddd the sexist pig is back. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, silently warning myself to keep my mouth shut. He's an ass but, this is as nice as he gets. No sense in poking the bear.

"I'm happy to see he's satisfied with our service." I said, in my 'I get paid to be nice to you'  voice. "Thank you for letting me know, Carl. Was there anything I else?" I asked, anxious to hang up on this colossal prick.

"Oh, yeah. Just one more thing." He sounded as if he had almost forgotten, annoyed by the disruption of him celebrating his 'victory.'

I sighed as I carefully brought my bowl of Captain Crunch over to the kitchen table and sat down. There's always something with him.

"I was thinking, maybe it's about time we get you your own set of keys to your other accounts." He said, sounding a bit awkward.

I was so glad the cereal wasn't in my hands at the time or I would have dropped it. I have a tendency to do that, you know.

"Are you serious?!" I said, questioning his sanity. I was stunned, he just told me two days ago I wasn't getting my own set of keys and to stop asking.

"This VIP account was an important one for our company. Real important. I don't know what you said or what you did and I don't care. You..did good. So, you've proven yourself to me." He said, like he was handing over the key to the city.

What he really meant was, 'you made me a lot of money so I've decided you might be worth being a tad nicer to.' The sass in me felt like pointing out that it was about damn time, but I knew better.

"Thank you, Carl. I appreciate it." I said in a friendly tone. Yes, Carl. I appreciate you doing what you should have done four fucking years ago

"It's..not a problem."  He sounded like he felt awkward by this pleasant exchange. I think he much prefers yelling or insulting versus talking.

"I'll get a set of keys to you within the next couple of days. You get to work now!" His tone sounded bossy and harsh, forgetting the fact he was the one making me late.

Before I could respond he hung up, which was just fine with me. I took in a deep breath, relieved to be off the phone with him. I slipped my phone back in my pocket and stuffed a few huge bites of cereal in my mouth, anxious to get out the door.

I made a mental note to thank Ryker, I mean...Mr. Fox  today. It may not seem like a big deal to him but, it really was a very big deal to me.

He didn't have  to do that. He could have told him I was a rude bitch who broke his favorite coffee cup. He wouldn't have been necessarily wrong, either. He could have had me fired in two seconds, if he really wanted to. Carl  wouldn't have thought twice.

I felt silly but, I found myself feeling a bit misty-eyed, touched by his kind gesture. I managed to shake it off though as I quickly finished my cereal so I could leave.

He needs to stop making it so easy to like him.

Ryker Fox

Ryker's Balcony

I was just finishing my cup of morning coffee, hoping it would help me wake up somehow. Not because I feel tired, but I just felt out of it.

Not only was it weird as hell not seeing or talking to Dexter  since early yesterday, but then there was my..indiscretion last night. An indiscretion  I was now regretting.

Which reminds me, Emma Riley  will be here soon. I need to go take care of that indiscretion right now.

I looked down at myself, dressed in nothing but my boxers. My hair still wild and messy. I should probably make myself more presentable, too.

I drained the cup of the last bit of coffee that was left and entered the sliding doors into the house. I walked over to the kitchen sink and rinsed out my cup, before hurriedly walking to my room.

There she was, sitting on the bed..completely naked other than one of my robes she had helped herself too.  She hadn't noticed me come in yet as she scrolled mindlessly on her phone, most likely on Instagram.

Her name was Maria Martinez  and she was a twenty-two year old Instagram model. By Instagram model, I mean hundreds of lingerie pictures of her in front of her bathroom mirror. She had developed quite the following on there, mostly thirsty men who will never have a chance in hell. She's addicted to social media and the number of followers she has. It's probably my least favorite thing about her, and the list has gotten fairly extensive.

I'm not going to lie, she's real hot. Just ask her. She used to come to my penthouse for hook-ups a few times a week. But slowly as I got to know her better, I grew bored with her. I began to blow her off.

Last night was the first night I called her in weeks. The fact of the matter is, she's only with me because she thinks I can help jumpstart her "career" and because of my money. She tries getting money out of me every time. She also hints about wanting to post on her Instagram about our private affairs every time. 

But I don't allow it. No tags, no pictures, no nothing. I don't even let myself fall asleep around her, for fear she will try taking pictures of me while I'm sleeping. It's something that's happened to me in the past before.

It always bothered me. I always knew better. But I never really let myself think about it before, as my brain didn't do much of my thinking.

After speaking with Miss Riley  yesterday, it was the first time I had truly enjoyed a woman's company in a long time where there was no sex involved.

I had called Maria Martinez  in hopes she would help me forget. Instead, I was just reminded how much I wished it was Emma Riley.

"Maria."  I said it in a rather cold tone, which I suppose wasn't fair. It wasn't her fault she's not Emma Riley.

She looked up at me, her liquid brown eyes widened in surprise. After the initial shock wore off, she rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Well there you are." She crossed her arms in front of her, her tone confrontational. "I don't know why you always insist on going to that stupid balcony. You won't even let me come with you." She sounded offended.

I smirked, noting that she was jealous over a balcony. "It's not personal. I don't let any woman on my balcony. It's my place to relax." I said plainly. Well..no woman except you know who.

She mumbled something in spanish about me being crazy, and placed her precious phone on the end table beside the bed.

"So, what are we going to do today?!" She perked up, sounding a lot like a girlfriend. I cringed. She always tries in vain to couple us up every time she comes over, and I know for a fact it's not because she has actual feelings for me.

"You're leaving, actually. Now, as a matter of fact. I have things to do." Part of me felt guilty being so harsh, but I knew from experience she doesn't respond to subtlety. She's the type that thinks you being civil means you can be persuaded to do as she says. She obviously doesn't know me all that well.

She looked offended that I would even suggest that she leaves. "What do you mean you have 'things to do'?!" She glared at me suspiciously. "Why are you in such a rush to get me out?"

This was another one of the things she does that annoys me. She always tries to make herself my girlfriend,  or convince herself she's somehow more important than the rest. She's not new, she knows how this works. Same way it works every time. We fuck, and then you leave. She knows this, and she keeps coming back whenever I call. Then she wants to act like a jealous girlfriend and be all offended when it's time for her to leave?

I honestly think she's so full of herself that she thinks she can get me to change my mind because she's hot. I'm well aware of what she looks like and I'm still not interested.  When is she going to get a clue?

"We..can't do this anymore, Maria."  I said honestly, more and more feeling stupid for calling her in the first place. "This was the last time."  All humor was out of my face as she looked at me with a mocking expression, like she thought I was full of shit.

"We both know you're never going to quit me, baby. I'm just waiting for you to accept it. Nobody can make daddy happy the way that I can." She gave me a playful wink, seductively stroking her hand across her breasts.

Emma Riley's boobs are much nicer, I thought automatically. Then shook the thought out of my head.

"I don't know how to be more plain, Maria." She seemed startled as the edge in my voice grew with my irritation. "We will never, ever be in a relationship. It's just not something that's ever going to happen. It was my mistake for calling you, and I'm sorry if I lead you on. But whatever this is, is done. I'm not interested in a relationship with you." I didn't know how to be any plainer other than toss her out the door on her ass.

She looked pissed. Really  pissed. She didn't say anything for what seemed like forever. She just glared at me, like she had just watched me run over her grandmother with my car.

"There's someone else, isnt there?!"  She shook her manicured finger at me, her voice accusing. "Someone new."

I can't believe this shit. What the fuck did I just say? "I told you, we aren't in a relationship and I have never promised you anything. You have zero right to ask me that question." I snapped. Especially considering I'm quite sure I'm not the only one she's hooked up with.

She stood off the bed and placed her hands on her hips, looking ready for a fight. "So I don't get to know who the fuck Emma is?!"

My jaw dropped. How the hell does she know about her?! I couldn't help but feel slightly defensive, not to mention protective at the sound of her name.

She nodded and grinned, but with no humor in her smile. She looked like she had just caught me red-handed.

"What's the matter? Didn't think I caught that?! Or do you honestly not even realize what you did?!" At this point she was shouting, her animated hand gestures flying everywhere.

It's times like this I see how useful Dexter  can be. If he was here and he overheard her yelling at me like this he would have thrown her out for sure.

"Just what the fuck are you talking about?!" I snapped back, honestly confused.

She laughed, and it came out very bitter and humorless. "You mean you did it without even realizing it? Oh, how freakin sweet." She threw her hands up like she was talking to a lost cause, still laughing.

She was really  pressing her luck. "Just out with it so you can get the fuck out of my house." I ordered.

"Remember last night when we were fucking?"  She started, her tone very sarcastic. I couldn't help but be annoyed with the reminder.

"Isn't a man allowed to make a mistake every now and then?"  I said, my sarcasm trumping hers. She should know better than to use sarcasm with me. That's like challenging Tiger Woods to a friendly game of mini-golf.

"When you climaxed, you called me Emma."  She said very bluntly, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked like she wanted to kill me.

Oh, fuck. I didn't do that..did I? Shit. I couldn't hide the embarrassment from my face. Dick move, Ryker.

"I knew it! I knew it!"  She yelled, reading my face. Her hands once again flying everywhere. If I wasn't so mortified in this moment, I would have laughed at her. She reminded me of one of those flagger guys at the airport leading the planes in the right direction.

"Who is Emma?! Who the fuck is she?! How long has this been going on behind my back?! How could you?!" She tried to sound genuinely hurt, but was obviously forgetting that I'm an actor, and I work with actresses all the time. I know a medicore performance when I see one.

I laughed. Like, not just chuckled. I laughed so hard I snorted. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. I couldn't help it. She was just so ridiculous. So was I, for hooking up with her in the first place.

"Oh, Maria."  I shook my head, still trying to stop laughing. Her mouth was dropped open, her face squinted up like she smelled something bad.

"I'm going to take a shower and get ready for my day. I want you and every sign that you were ever here gone by the time I get out, or I'll toss you out myself." I heard her screaming and throwing a fit as I walked in my bathroom and closed the door behind me.

Emma Riley

Outside Ryker's Apartment

It was a few minutes past nine, so I was running a bit late today. But I'm hoping he will still be feeling kind  and give me a break.

I couldn't help but feel anxious as I got closer and closer to the front door. I hated admitting it, but I was excited to see him. I wondered if he'd want to talk more today or if he's going to be too busy?

Oh, listen to me. You're not here to socialize, Emma. You are here to clean. No talking, no flirting, and definitely no coffee. Just clean, and get out of his hair. I'm sure a celebrity like him has much more exciting things to do than to chit-chat with the new cleaning lady.

I rolled my eyes and sighed before knocking, feeling stupid for even entertaining the idea. I promised myself I wouldn't read too much into his flirty personality, and obviously I was full of crap. I let his friendliness almost make me forget how out of my league he actually is.

I heard footsteps walking towards the door, and I wondered if it would be his assistant, Dexter..or if it would be Ryker  himself.

I was surprised to say the least when the door flew open and it was neither. Instead I was greeted by what looked like a very hostile young woman, dressed in nothing but a mans robe.

My heart sank. She was beautiful, my guess would be a model. I wondered if she was famous or something, because I couldn't help but feel like I had seen her face before.

She had long, naturally curly black hair,  big light brown eyes and perfectly tan skin. Her figure was very slim and fit, and she was a few inches taller than I was. She appeared to be latina, and she spoke with a slight accent.

"Just who the fuck are you, huh?!"  She put her hands on her hips and looked at me like I was an intruder.

I disliked her instantly. Despite the unnecessarily rude attitude, given her robe that I assume is Ryker's..I can guess why she's here. That shouldn't hurt my feelings, but it kind of did.

Ryker  Fox  owes me nothing. We aren't dating, or close to dating. We just met for crying out loud. I technically work for him. He can have anyone he wants over at his house, I had no right to feel any type of way about it.

But I did. Yesterday, we were on your balcony talking about how beautiful  my eyes were, now there's an almost naked woman answering the door like she lives here?

Got it. You're a man whore. Leopards never do change their spots, do they? The saddest thing is, I knew this about him already. I knew it, and I still feel two inches tall.

She looked my casual attire over with one eyebrow raised. She seemed to be laughing amongst herself like there was an inside joke I knew nothing about.

"Honey..you must have the wrong address." She emphasized the word must, making sure I understood what she was saying. That was bitch talk for 'No way in hell would Ryker be associating with someone like you.'

She started to close the door in my face, when I stopped it with my hand. She looked at me like I had some nerve, and tried to overpower me by forcing the door shut with all her body weight. Unfortunately for her, she weighed about a hundred pounds.

I smirked as I watched her struggle to shut the door on me,  she was getting more frustrated by the minute..while I was not breaking a sweat. Huh, I'm stronger than her. Certainly good to know.

"Excuse me?! Who do you think you are?!" She flew the door back open, finally realizing it was hopeless.

I had to watch my approach. Sure, she was a raging bitch. Sure, I didn't like that she was here. But parading around in Ryker's robe, she was obviously invited. As tough of a pill as that is to swallow, she is Ryker's guest, and I am still just the cleaning lady after all.

"I'm sorry mam, but Mr. Fox is expecting me." I forced a smile, trying my best to be civil.  "You can ask him yourself, if you like." I suggested.

She looked at me like I had spoken in gibberish. "What the hell would he want with you?!" She gestured to my clothes like they proved her point somehow.

I bit my lip and took a deep breath, she was making it really  hard to not punch her in the face.

"My name is Emma Riley, I'm from Sunshine Cleaning. Ry--I mean, Mr. Fox has hired me to clean his apartment." I stated, slightly with more of an edge though. The expression in her face dropped and her color drained, and I couldn't understand what I had said in that sentence that was so upsetting.

I was losing my patience and didn't see why I was answering to her. No matter who she is, she's not the one that hired me.

I really wish I did know who she was though. I knew  I had seen her before, and it was driving me crazy. But where would I have met someone like her?

"Did you say your name was Emma?!"  She looked outraged, like my name was significant somehow. What the fuck? Did this bitch drop acid recently or something?

"Yes?" I said it like a question, hoping it would prompt her to explain why that was relevant.

She looked me over again, this time with a different kind of look in her eyes. She stopped at my face and her eyes narrowed, as if thinking of something.

"Wait..you said your last name was Riley?!" There was a look of horror on her face.  I knew it. I did know her from somewhere. Wherever it is, it's not good. She looks even more hostile than before.

"Who are you, exactly?!" It sounded ruder than I had intended, but I was getting more disturbed by the minute.

She laughed a dry, humorless laugh as she flipped her long, black hair out of her face. Just then, I got a glimpse at her bracelet on her right wrist.

It was a Tiffany gold chain with an open heart charm on it. I recognized it, because I used to have one just like it.

This was another one of those moments when I wished teleporting was a real thing, as it suddenly hit me where I had seen her before.

We both stared at each other, until I broke the silence. "Your name is Maria, isn't it?" I asked it like a question, though I already knew the answer was yes.

Her laugh sounded cold as she nodded. "So you do know who I am?"

I nodded back, my throat suddenly feeling dry. Too dry to speak. I knew exactly  who she was, and she knew exactly  who I am, too.

Her name was Maria Martinez, and she was my ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend.

author's note: please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter! :)