“Becca, are you okay?” he asked me first with concern as he looked over at me.
“Yes,” I laughed. “I’m fine. They just didn’t know who I was.”
At my words, he turned, glancing towards the women. “Shall I fire them?”
“What? No, no.” I was shocked. “That isn’t needed.”
James’ hardened gaze turned to me for a moment before looking back at them with a nod. “Very well. From now on ladies, no questions asked. She goes straight up. Even if I’m in a meeting. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” they both replied in unison as he grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him towards the elevator. The touch of his skin upon mine sent shocks of pleasure between my thighs, and yet as we entered the elevator, I quickly moved away.
I couldn’t allow this to happen and let myself fall prey to something I wouldn’t be able to have. Yet, as I moved, his eyes followed me.
“What’s wrong?”
Shaking my head, I forced a smile to my lips. “Nothing is wrong.”
Before he could say anything else, the doors opened, and he sighed, stepping into the hallway as I followed him to his office. The door closed behind me as he walked towards his desk.
“While I have you here, I wanted to speak with you.”
His words caused panic and anticipation to flow through me, my heart racing, and my hands clenching to the strap of my purse.
“About what?” I said, trying to seem indifferent to his presence.
As he turned, he smiled at me. “Well, for starters, your nonchalant attitude and indifference to being around me. Do I make you nervous?”
His arrogance annoyed me, and with a scoff, I laughed. “Nervous? No, you don’t.”
As much as I was trying to seem confident, he could see right through me. Picking up the key from his desk, he walked towards me with a dark glint in his eyes. His aura seeped predatorial advances, and the more he came near, the more I stepped back.
Until my back was to the door, and I had nowhere else to go.
“I think I do.” He brought his hand up to gently brush against my cheek. “I think I make you nervous and excited. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind rekindling what we did last night, Becca.”
Pressing my thighs together to control the damp desire that begged for his attention, I mustered whatever courage I had left and placed my hand against his chest, pushing him away gently. “No. I told you it won’t happen again.”
“Why not?” he asked, raising a brow. “Didn’t you enjoy yourself?”
“You know I did, Mr. Valentino-“
Before I could say anything else, he grabbed me, crashing his lips against mine, causing me to sigh as he held me close. His fingers trailed down my side towards my thighs, teasing, before he broke away and looked down at me.
“What did I tell you about calling me that?”
Pulling away from him quickly, I tried to catch my breath as I shook my head. “We can’t do this.” I sighed, watching as he took a step forward. “Stop.”
His brows furrowed in confusion. “You’re sure about this choice?”
“Yes, I am,” I finally admitted. “You just want me for sex, and that isn’t a life I want. I’m not some toy you can just f*ck when you want. I’m not like those other girls. No matter how much you seem to want me to be.”
Shaking his head he laughed. “You have no idea what I want, but I will respect your choice. No more.”
I was shocked at his response. Looking at him now, going through his desk without a care in the world, I realized what I had said was true. I was nothing to him.
He wasn’t trying to make me see reason. He wasn’t trying to get my attention.
He didn’t give a shit at all. “Ah ha… I found it.” He smiled as his eyes met mine. “The key Tally wanted. Here.”
As he held out the key in his hand, I quickly took it. “You really don’t care about me do you?”
His expression was hard to read, and his eyes were emotionless. “I’m not the kind of man to chase after a woman. You want to leave, then leave.”
My eyes widened in shock as my mouth parted open. He had become cold towards me, and before opening the door, I stopped, feeling a heaviness sitting in my chest.
“I’m sorry I have been a bother to you.” I wasn’t sure what was going to happen on the trip this weekend, but perhaps it would be a chance for me to get some relaxation in.
Lord knows it had been nothing but chaos since I’d arrived here.
The weekend arrived faster than I had expected, and with it, the trip to the Keys loomed ahead of me. I had kept my distance from James as much as possible, and I was thankful the only thing I really ever got from him was a stray look.
Lugging my weekend bag over my shoulder, I moved towards the ramp of the boat and boarded the white two-hundred-seventy-foot-yacht that was a mansion on the water. Its multi-tier level was equipped with a helicopter pad and a pool.
It was a new venture for me. Never had I been on the yacht before, but according to Tally, it was a treasure James had bought the year before and only used less than a handful of times.
Moving across the deck, I followed the crew leader, who took us towards the room areas. My eyes scanned the elegant decor of lavish seating and ornate furniture until they landed on one figure I hadn’t expected to see at all.
Chad.
What the f*ck!
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.