Wait. Those actually looked pretty familiar. I knew I definitely didn't give those to her earlier. I'd only handed over some more formal looking attire before I entered the shower.
"Val, where'd you get those?"
"I'm just using what was originally mine. I didn't think you were such a perv that you'd even keep my garter belt and stockings."
"It's not like I particularly kept it. I just dumped all of your stuff into a box and never bothered to throw it away. Actually, I never gave you permission to go and dig about my stuff."
"I never gave you permission to keep my stuff either, Mr. Genovese, so take it as though we're equally at fault. However, this could be considered sexual harassment if not for the fact we're in a pretend romantic relationship at the moment."
"And the stunt you pulled in the shower just now wasn't?"
"Of course not. It's just some physical bonding with your boss. Far from sexual harassment. Just think of it like going to a hot spring to relax on a company vacation. Besides, did I lay my hands on you? Isn't it actually quite the opposite? You've touched every crevice of my body, Mr. Genovese."
I opted to keep my mouth shut since it felt like fighting a woman in an argument was a pointless endeavor with only losses to be had. They always twisted the facts however they saw fit to gain the upper hand. That was beside the point as nobody would ever believe my side of the story. It was too ludicrous and outlandish to believe. The beautiful CEO, a woman, who surely had countless guys gawking at her, lined up at her beck and call; instead, sexually harassed her pitiful employee with a terrible track record of poor relationships. Even I'd find that story hard to believe.
"Haha. You suddenly got a bit quiet. What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
I sighed off to one side and quietly dressed myself in silence. After I put on my pants, Val, who only had her lingerie on, picked up one of my dress shirts along with a tie and came to my side.
"What?"
"Raise your arm."
I did as she asked and she put on my dress shirt like a true professional.
"I can wear it myself you know."
"Well, we need to get back into the habit of doing couple-like things if we're pretending that you're my significant other."
"What's the point in doing that when we're alone? Who is there to convince?"
"No one really. The real reason is just because I want to do it."
She casually said that and happily fastened the tie around my neck.
It was a bit nostalgic, she used to do this back when we were really dating in the past. The way she did it overlapped perfectly with my memories. It was like seeing a mirrored image. Strangely, she really was the most normal among my five crazy exes.
I gulped down the saliva which had at some point pooled at the back of my mouth. I simultaneously warded off the stray thoughts, the result of her overly revealing appearance. Somehow she was more provocative with her lingerie on than with nothing at all. She had that sort of dangerous devilish appeal to her that tempted one to make all sorts of mistakes.
The way she looked me in the eyes while doing it felt like it was all on purpose; as if every action she made was calculated to rile up a man's desires to the max. It took quite a bit of effort to stay focused on work with how provocative her attire was. Thankfully, I miraculously maintained my rationality until both of us were fully clothed.
When we were both dressed, the two of us both donned formal business attire. I'd changed into black dress pants, with a black coat worn over a white dress shirt and a black tie around my neck. I really looked the part of an ideal corporate slave.
Val wore similarly colored clothes, the only difference was she had a short, tightly fit black skirt with stockings. Her garter belt wasn't visible, but I knew it was still there, it was just well hidden now. Like me, she had a white dress shirt on, but her coat greatly emphasized her curvaceous figure compared to mine.
I was far from fat, but overall, my apparel made me feel kind of chubby compared to her tight-fitting clothes that outlined the distinct contours of her body. She'd also tied her hair up from behind and she looked like the textbook definition of a truly professional high-class villainous businesswoman.
Honestly, I was taken aback. It was like day and night. It was like a wild tiger transformed into a much more docile, classy looking belle. You'd never imagine they were one and the same.
"What's wrong?"
"The gap is just too big."
"Oh? Did you prefer me when I wasn't wearing anything?"
"No comment."
It was definitely a trap question I wouldn't fall for.
"Well? How do I look?"
"You look like a scary businesswoman who'll sell me a horrible life insurance policy."
"Hahaha! Is that right? Though I might be the one collecting on it rather than the one selling it to you."
"..."
"You still look as dorky as I remember in your suit, Mr. Genovese."
"Not every random guy is some hot muscular supermodel stud with an amazing six-pack that has all the ladies' panties dropping. I've never looked good in this stupid suit."
"I don't particularly dislike the way you look in it though."
I wasn't given the chance to respond to her. She grabbed onto my hand and dragged me out the door.
"We really need to stop dawdling. I already called for a taxi before our shower, so it should be here already."
With her suddenly pulling me out the door, it was lucky I didn't forget my laptop which had the presentation stored on it. It would've truly been a nightmare if we showed up at the meeting without anything in hand.
When we arrived downstairs, just like Val said, there was a taxi parked up outside.
"Oh, what a coincidence. It's you two from yesterday. It's really a small world."
"Eh?"
After we got in, when I examined the driver, I realized it was the same taxi driver from the day before. I was so out of it yesterday I'd already almost forgotten about him.
"To the airport. Please step on it. Our flight is in an hour and a half."
"Whatever you say, you're the boss, Missy."
"Please refrain from calling me, Missy. My name is Valkyria, it's unpleasant being called so casually."
"Boss Valkyria it is then."
When she heard the prefix appended to her name, she looked a bit more content. I couldn't help but think that she really was a power craving boss to her core.
"What with that look of yours, Mr. Genovese?"
"Nothing. I just thought it was a slightly cute side of you was all." Getting all content just because he put Boss before your name.
Of course, she gave me the stank eye when she understood what I meant.