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The woman is hot. The woman is cold. She’s going to ruin me if I’m not careful.

I type the first thing I think of. “BITE ME.”

“I can do that too. Not on Monday, though.”

What have I gotten myself into? Since reuniting with Ira a few weeks ago...

I’m now so far in deep with her that I’m about to completely compromise who I am. And for what? To find out who I really am?

My phone buzzes again.

“I look forward to training you.”

Training me. The woman is going to train me to be a sub. Her perfect sub. My boundaries are going to be pushed. My mind will dissolve. My body will be shoved to a brink I’ve never before comprehended.

I’m scared. I’m worried. I’m so anxious that my heart is pumping my blood in all sorts of different directions.

She’ll either kill me or turn me into a more perfect version of myself...

I can’t wait.

Part 2

Fuck You

Chapter 30

Ira

“Watch out!”

I barely have time to move before debris falls from the ceiling. It comes with a crack like the roof splitting in two during a thunderstorm. Except no rain comes through the second floor. Instead, I’m left standing, glad that I have a hard hat as two construction workers peer through the hole they created.

“Uh-huh.” I make a note on my clipboard. That’s the third strike against this demolition company the Anderssens hired.

We’re in the middle of the sale, but we agreed to have the Anderssens cover some “minor demolition” while we wait. Normally, they would never dream of doing this, but then they found out that they could get a nice tax break from the city if they pitched in with some of the construction. Or destruction. Either way, I see it as that extra five million we’re paying going to some good use.

Maybe. So far these people are about as reliable as an umbrella in a windstorm.

“Vivian,” I say, turning to my assistant behind me. “E-mail my father about this. I’m pretty sure that floor wasn’t supposed to be demolished, and we’re not going to cover the cost of fixing it.” I look to Lara Anderssen, taking a tour with the foreman as if nothing has happened.

I’m in limbo. In so many ways. Right now, my limbo consists of waiting for the sale to close so I can go ahead with the major construction that has to go on. My father has me on an unrealistic timeline. He wants this done in three months starting from the day we get the keys. We’ve hired the best construction company in the region. Same guys who have done many of our hotels in the past, but this is going to be a challenge even with a whole team on hand. Part of the reason my father wanted this done yesterday is because of the extra money we have to sink. The faster we open, the faster we make our money back.

Somewhere in his office, my father is having a meeting with our company’s head of personnel and the woman in charge of hiring staff. He’s also meeting with our head of marketing. They both have their work cut out for them.

It’s probably going to be a disaster.

Furthermore, I’m reminded of what a mess my life is when Kathleen Allen comes scurrying through the front doors, stopping only to accept a hard hat from a worker before proceeding inside.

She’s late. Again.

She’s supposed to be my second hand. Yet twice so far this week she’s been late. First time was traffic. Second was having to turn around and grab something at home before getting here. Third time, today? I have no idea. I’m not really in the mood for her excuses.

I am, however, in the mood for other things.

Katie’s all legs today. A fact my eyes have a hard time prying away from as she scurries in flats through the construction zone. That tight skirt she’s wearing could choke anyone, but she doesn’t exhibit any discomfort. Instead, she’s focused on me, a tight smile appearing on her face as she hands me a folder.

“All the signatures you needed,” she says. “I had to go clear across town to get the last one, but no one ever said I wasn’t determined.”