Page 36 of House of Payne

That’s not the first time I’ve even heard that.“You’re the one in charge,” I change the subject. “This place is yours. You’re the reason I was kidnapped.”

“Guilty as charged.” He grins, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile. “My meeting with you the other day was far from coincidental. I was there to check out the place because it’s essentially mine now. I wanted to get a good idea of what has been going on there. As you might be aware, your father owes me a great deal of money.”

Anxiety twists my stomach as I think about our interaction. I’ve been fantasizing about the same man who ordered my father to be threatened and harmed. It makes me sick. Mason has had so much control over me, and I didn’t even realize it.

I’m going to be sick all over his expensive Persian carpets.

“It seems he’s been having difficulty coming up with the money he owes me, which is a shame. If he can’t pay me back, the diner will be mine, and who knows what I’ll do with it? Your father’s dream will come to an abrupt end, all because of some bad financial decisions. In fact, I think I’ll have to send my men there for another visit in a couple of weeks.”

“You can’t!” I protest. He raises his eyebrows, and I can feel my cheeks heating up. “Please. We’ll lose everything. My boyfriend has plans to pay you. If you can just give us more time…”

“That wouldn’t be fair though, would it?” he interrupts me. “The reason I have money is because I always collect on my debts. I’ve given your father plenty of time to pay, but I can’t wait forever. Then, soon everyone would expect it. I can’t show anyone preferential treatment.”

I bristle and bite back the rest of my statement. I hate that knowing look on his face. It’s not that he can’t show us mercy, it’s that he doesn’t care to. He loves the position of power he’s in.

I don’t have the money to give him right now to keep him off our backs. I’ve tried, but I can’t come up with any way to save the diner. I can’t save my father.

“Please,” I repeat, in a quieter voice. I lift my gaze to his and refuse to look away. I’m hoping he can see my pain, and that he’ll care about it. I thought I felt a connection with him before. Maybe it wasn’t just in my mind. Maybe there’s something there, and he’ll take pity on me.

“I know the diner means nothing to you, but it means the world to me and my father. We can’t lose it, and I can’t lose him. Please, don’t harm him. Don’t take this away from us. We’ll get you your money; we just need time to come up with it.”

Something in his eyes changes. At least, I think it does. I notice a softening. I think he might be listening to what I’m saying. I feel the connection with him again, and I dare to hope for a moment.

Then, it’s gone. He smiles a sick smile, and I know he won’t show us mercy. I know he doesn’t care.

“You know, you tug at my heartstrings,” he mocks me. “You’re making me see how important this is to you, and how devastating it will be if you lose it. I don’t want to be the kind of man who steals everything from someone. Especially not from someone as lovely as you are, London.”

I suspect he’s teasing me, but I hope for a moment he isn’t. Maybe he sees the error of his ways. I know the diner means nothing to him. It wouldn’t affect him one bit to give us the time we need to save it.

“I’m willing to make you an offer,” he says. “One that’s reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. It gives you the chance to be a princess, London. Doesn’t that sound magnificent?”

Now Iknowhe’s teasing me. I cross my arms over my chest. He’s cruel. There’s no way to get through to him.

“I’ll absolve your father of his debt,” he explains, “but in exchange, you have to do something for me.”

I don’t believe him one bit. There’s got to be a catch. “What do you want me to do?”

He grins at me, and I know this won’t be easy. There’s something hidden. This is a trap, but I might have no choice.

“It’s simple. You come to work for me in my secret club, Mercy, for one year. You’ll have to do as I say during this time as my employee. Once the year is up, you’ll be free to go and do as you please. You’ll have worked off your father’s debt.”

He’s bluffing. There’s no way that one year of work could absolve my father of all his debt; he’s racked up too much. I don’t have any special skills that would make it worth it.

It’s something, though, and I’m desperate enough to be open to it. Mason seems very serious.

“What kind of work?” I’m willing to at least entertain the idea, even if it means setting aside my pride to even ask.

“It’s kind of like… housekeeping,” he explains. “Housekeeping with other responsibilities.”

I can do housekeeping. I can work long, hard days as a housekeeper without a day off if my father’s debt is settled in a year. It’s the other responsibilities attached that I’m worried about. Is this stuff illegal? That has to be the only reason why he’s making such an offer.

“What kind of responsibilities?” I ask.

“You’ll have to do whatever I require of you,” he explains. “For one year, you’ll be mine. You’ll belong to me, so you’ll do as I ask. No matter what that is, you have to bow down to my wishes.”

I laugh because it’s absurd. He doesn’t look amused at my outburst.

“So that’s what this is?” I ask. “This is some sort of power trip for you. You want the feeling of control, of having me at your command. You want to know what it feels like to have someone do whatever you ask.”