The Night Operator - Book cover

The Night Operator

Constance Marounta

Chapter 4

Asher

He punched in the number again, right away. This time, another woman answered, which only added to his irritation.

“Hi, I was just speaking with one of your coworkers. I think her name was Maggie. Can you put me through to her?” he asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“She’s busy right now. Can I assist you instead?” she offered.

“I don’t think so. Maggie knows what I’m dealing with, and I don’t feel like explaining it all over again. Just put me through to her,” he insisted.

“If you insist, but I should warn you, there might be a wait.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Alright then, I’ll connect you,” she said, and put him on hold.

The truth was, he’d tried to call a couple more times over the past week, but he’d always ended up with a guy on the other end. He’d hung up without saying a word each time.

They probably thought they were prank calls.

He wasn’t sure why he was so set on talking to Maggie again.

He couldn’t blame it on being drunk anymore, because he found himself thinking about their brief conversation even when he was sober.

It wasn’t like he was missing sex. If he was, he could have called a different line like she’d suggested.

He knew it was a bad idea to get involved with a future employee, but he couldn’t help himself.

Maybe it was her voice.

Yes, that was it. Her voice. There was something about it that was warm and inviting, even when she was being professional or sounding annoyed.

At this point, he didn’t care what she looked like. He wasn’t planning on taking things any further, but her voice turned him on. He couldn’t get it out of his head, and that was a first for him.

He knew she was right about it being wrong to hit on her while she was at work, but for once, he needed to be selfish. So he waited for her to finish her other call.

He stayed on the line for a full ten minutes before he heard her voice. This time, he didn’t let her finish her greeting.

“You hung up on me again, sweetheart,” he said, his voice flat. “That makes me think I was right about you.

“But I have to say, your rudeness has me wanting to spank your ass until it’s bright red.”

He heard her gasp.

He was surprised by his own words. He wasn’t that kind of guy.

He wasn’t exactly gentle, but he’d never raised a hand to any of his sexual partners.

Maybe he was just sexually frustrated and her rejection had somehow made him angry and turned on at the same time.

After a few moments of silence, she was the first to speak.

“How dare you, you disgusting creep!” she hissed, trying to keep her voice down.

“Hang up on me one more time, sweetheart, and I’ll show you exactly how I dare,” he threatened. “I know where you work, remember?”

He knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he couldn’t help himself. Besides, both statements were true. He knew where she worked, and he’d be there in three weeks, thanks to his dad.

But it was wrong to threaten her like some kind of deranged stalker. Still, he wouldn’t take it back. The damage was done, and he’d stand by his words.

It was the only choice he had.

“You fuck—” she started, but he cut her off.

“Ah, ah, ah… I wouldn’t use that kind of language if I were you, sweetheart. Remember, this call is being recorded. I could report you.”

“Report me? While you’re sexually harassing me at work? Are you serious?”

He laughed.

“It’s not harassment if it turns you on,” he replied, smugly.

Before she could respond, another woman’s voice came from somewhere in the background. It was probably the woman who’d answered his call instead of Maggie.

“Maggie, hang up on your boyfriend, for God’s sake. The system’s down, and we’ve each got at least four angry customers on hold.”

She sounded genuinely frustrated, and he was almost curious enough to ask what had happened when he realized the woman had called him Maggie’s boyfriend. He couldn’t help but smile.

“Damn,” Maggie muttered. “And he’s not my boyfriend, Celia.”

“But I will be, sweetheart,” he promised. “Now go deal with your crisis.”

And then he hung up on her.

For the first time.

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