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I know exactly who that was—her friend, Leila. I push my plate away. “How long before she gets here?”
“At this time of the night, I would say less than fifteen minutes.”
I end the connection and feel a strange nervousness building inside me, a rush of excitement I don’t often experience.
“Shall I serve the dessert now, Sir?” Muriel asks.
“I’m sure it’s delicious, but I’m not in the mood for anything sweet tonight.” Tonight’s dessert will be Leda’s hate and fury for the swan.
I sip my wine slowly while I contemplate what to do with her on her first night here. All kinds of wild and sensuous images slither into my mind, but suddenly it becomes as clear as crystal what I must do. I must not approach her at all tonight. It will serve as an unspoken torment, making her wait and speculate on my intentions. The anticipation will work in my favor. The end result will be a more explosive climax… for both of us.
I’d been thinking of waiting to receive her since we still had some details to discuss, but I decide that taking a shower, washing off all the grime and stress from the day, is a much more appealing option.
Nodding to myself, I rise to my feet and turn to Muriel. “My guest will be arriving in a few minutes. Please serve the sealed envelope that Greta brought together with the champagne and strawberries.”
“Yes, Sir,” she responds immediately, and I make my way up the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Two
LARA
When I awakened that morning, I would have thought it insane of anyone who told me that before the day was out, I'd be prodded, poked, and tested for STDs to determine my 'suitability' to be a billionaire’s toy for a month. But as I get closer to the billionaire’s lair I recall everything the doctor said and did and feel like I’m the one who should be checked into a mental asylum.
I can’t help wondering over and over again—why me?
I’m sure he could get any woman in the world, so why get an unwilling one? Okay, not unwilling, but as far as he is concerned, one who gives the impression of being unwilling. With a sigh, I turn to look out the window as I’m driven through Manhattan.
I don’t even know where the driver is taking me, but I didn’t expect anything else from a man who thinks because he has lots of money, he can control women. At this thought, my heart plunges. The ugly truth is I am now one of those women he can control. I feel a strange sense of disassociation fill me.
This is not my life.
This can’t be my life.
I’m Lara Fitzpatrick. A little nobody estate agent trying to make my way in the big bad city. I’m not a billionaire plaything material. I’m sexually adventurous and if I’m honest not even particularly sexual. One of my exes accused me of being a frigid prude. I don’t think I’m that of course, nevertheless...
My phone rings, startling me. I pray it’s not my dad as I pull it out of my purse. Despite my attempts to dissuade him from calling me every ten minutes over the past hour to check if I’m okay, he’s refused to back down. I know he’s hurting, so I’ve tried to be patient, but right now my head is too messed up to deal with his guilt and remorse.
Fortunately, it’s Leila. She’s more or less up to date with what’s happening, other than the fresh trauma I’ve just endured at the doctor’s office. Glancing at the driver who is purposely keeping his gaze glued on the road ahead, I put my phone to my ear.
“So you’re actually doing it?” she squeals.
Shutting my eyes, I let out a long sigh. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
“I’m sorry,” she says softly. “You know I would gladly do it for you if I could.”
“Yeah, I know. Hopefully, there’s some clause in there that’ll let me escape sooner,” I mutter.
“Send it to me so David can look it over,” she suggests.
“Can’t do that,” I shake my head. “I’ve signed an NDA. The only person I can reveal anything to would be if I hired a lawyer to represent me.”
“Wow! Talk about fast. So, how was the doctor’s office? You’re already on birth control, right?”
“I’m supposed to be,” I say, turning to stare out of the window.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I was just taking it as a habit, not as a precaution. I haven’t dated anyone in two years, as you know.”