Page 28 of Duchess (Royal Harlots MC: National New York Chapter #1)

Duchess

I dropped the laptop on the desk in front of Obsidian. "See what you can do with that. I want to know what he knows, and see if you can find that building contract.”

Roulette knocked and I waved her into the office. "Did you do it?"

"I got it."

"No, I mean, did you go through with it?"

I shook my head silently.

"So, you went all that way, had him lying there unconscious, and didn't kill him?"

Roulette stared at me like she usually did. Giving me that judgmental look that said I was fucking crazy.

"Nope."

"What was the point of that?"

I turned away from her because I didn't even know at this point.

At first, I wanted to show that I had power, that I was smarter than him.

But in the end, he'd won. I never hated anyone more than I did, Caleb Killic.

At least, that's what I was trying to convince myself of this morning when I opened my eyes to the most beautiful California sunset.

But then I quickly remembered how I'd gotten there and what had happened.

I could still feel his heated touch running down my back as I slid myself away from under his arm.

Looking at him, sleeping so peacefully, I fought the urge to go through with my plan. it would be so easy to just kill him. I wanted to, badly, but what would that solve. This was all a game to him anyway.

I didn't bother waiting for him to wake up, I simply gathered my stuff, picked up the laptop I found tucked in the chaise lounge in his office, and ran out.

Before I got to the main gate I remembered my gun.

Staring up at the security camera, I undressed before jumping into the pool and retrieving the Beretta.

As I picked up my clothes, I flicked the camera off and walked out.

The hell if I was going to give him another reason to come find me.

"What are you going to do now?”

"I don't know, Roulette! Stop asking me questions because I don't know!"

She sat back in a seat across from Obsidian and they both watched me. I honestly had no idea what my next move was. Killing him was too easy, I needed to be methodical in my approach with him.

Obsidian opened the laptop and sighed. "I think you need to seduce him."

I let out a snicker and shook my head. "I think we're far beyond seduction at this point."

"What do you mean?" Roulette always liked digging in deeper while Obsidian just glanced up at me quietly and knowingly, and just continued to tap away at the laptop's keyboard.

"It doesn't matter, just let me know what you find on that thing."

The phone suddenly rang, and Obsidian put it on speaker. Angora, the club’s Secretary’s voice, rang through. She managed all of my private affairs and kept me up to speed on anything that may affect the Violent Delights.

"Obsidian. Is the Prez with you?"

"Yes, she's here."

"Prez I've got Caleb Killic on the line. He says he's been trying to reach you."

I'd been ignoring my phone all day precisely for this reason. "I don't wish to speak to him. Tell him I'm in a meeting or something."

"Prez you're gonna want to talk to him."

I frowned. "And why is that?"

"Because his company just bought out the entire escort service for one night and he is willing to pay whatever it is he needs to pay."

I glanced at both Obsidian and Roulette and walked over to the phone. "Put him through."

"This is gonna be bad," Obsidian whispered.

The phone rang and before I could answer, his deep voice came through.

"I thought you'd never talk to me again."

"What do you want, Caleb?"

“Why’d you leave so early, baby. My cock missed you.”

Rhea started to say something and Obsidian quickly clamped her hand over her mouth. I looked at both of them, signaling them to keep quiet.

“What the fuck do you want, Caleb?” I asked, ignoring Rhea’s death glare.

"I simply want your services for an event."

"And you honestly think that I'm going to put my girls in jeopardy and send them to you?"

"It's a private company event. I assure you, nothing will happen to your lovely ladies. They will just need to keep some of my executives entertained."

"And what do you need me for?"

"Because I'd like for you to be my escort."

He had this way of instigating me, and my blood began to heat up as he spoke. "I own the Violent Delights, Mr. Killic. I don't offer the service."

"I just want a truce, Miss Winters. You are up for a truce, right?"

"I don't do truces with criminals."

He chuckled. "Then I'll pay you. How does twenty million sound?" Roulette reached out to the phone and pressed the mute button.

"Do it," she gritted her teeth as the words came out, seeming as though it hurt her more than it did me.

"You realize that what you’re agreeing to is to let him purchase me?"

She nodded. "The way I see it, this is our way in."

We stared at each other, and his voice interrupted us. " What do you say, Duchess? Twenty million, isn't that what you go for these days?"

"I'll fucking kill hi… " Obsidian leapt at the phone as I raised my hand to stop her.

I pressed my finger to my lips as I took him off mute.

“I go for thirty, motherfucker.”

His laugh filled the room, and it gave me a sharp thrill I didn’t expect. “Thirty million it is. Where do I wire the money to?”

“Obsidian will send you the account.”

"Perfect. It's nice doing business with you, Duchess."

"I wouldn't say the same."

"Oh, and wear a sexy dress. I want to make sure I'm envied by every man there."

I slammed the phone down, seething in anger.

“Don’t let him get to you, Steph. He’s just trying to get a rile out of you.” Rhea said.

"He's degrading her on purpose," Obsidian stated.

"It's what those men do. He wants to win and put you in your place. Don’t let him do it." Rhea said calmly.

I nodded. "Yes, he does, but he won't. In the end, I have the upper hand."

"How?"

"I'm not the one obsessed here; he is."

And obsession was a deadly game to play.