Page 37 of House of Payne

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he scoffs. “I own a business. I have plenty of people who do whatever I ask; I just want you added to the roster. It’s that simple. Be mine. Do whatever I say. You’ll be off-limits to other club members, but after one year, you’ll be free.”

It sounds crazy. Itiscrazy. The last thing I want is to belong to someone else, especially with the way he makes it sound. I don’t want to allow him to have control over me because God only knows what depraved things he’d ask for, what boundaries he’d push.

I also can’t stop thinking about my father. I think of how much the restaurant means to him, and how he’ll lose everything if he loses this business. We’ll both lose everything. I haven’t put as much effort in as he has, but I’ve still given it my all.

Can either of us afford to let this go? If I don’t do this, we’ll drown indebt. Noah might be able to help, but he’ll be working so much just to pay off the debt instead of building toward his future. That’s not fair.

“I know your father has also mortgaged your home,” Mason presses. “I know everything. You’ll lose it if something doesn’t happen soon.”

As if I could forget. And what if Mason’s men continue to be cruel and physically hurt my dad?

“Now what was that loan again?” he wonders aloud. “The one against your house. I think it was three hundred thousand. The banks aren’t forgiving. So, how about I throw in five hundred thousand on top of everything else? That will make sure your business and home are safe. Plus, it’ll give you money to keep yourselves afloat while you figure out how to make your business sustainable. Maybe you’ll even be able to do the marketing, promoting, and general business moves required to help you make a profit again. This could save you both.”

I take that into consideration. It could save the house and business. Plus, I have some ideas for promoting; I just haven’t had the funds to make those ideas a reality.

This could be our chance to make things right. We’ve been drowning for so long, and it’s exhausting to live like that. We both need a break.

“Okay.” I can’t believe I say it even as I hear the word come from my mouth. Something needs to change. This might be what we need. “I’ll do it. But I have one question.”

He tilts his head to the side. “And what is that?”

“Why ask me if you can just take me?”

“Take you?”

“You kidnapped me and brought me here. It wouldn’t be hard for you to hold me hostage.”

“Because, London,” he starts, “I want you to want me, and soon enough, you will.”

“I have a boyfriend.”

“Not when you’re mine, you don’t.”

The truth sets in. “You’re going to make me break up with my boyfriend? You can’t!”

“I can.”

“It won’t make me want you.”

“Oh, I think you already do.”

The way he smiles worries me even more. He looks at me like I’m prey and that he already has so many things in mind for me.

It’s just housekeeper work. I can do that. He probably wants someone to rub his feet at the end of the day, and cater to his every whim. It will put a dent in my pride, but I can do anything for a year. By the end of it, I’ll be thankful I did.

“Anything else I have to do?”

He reaches for some papers on his desk. “I have the contract written up for you to sign.”

“You were so certain I’d say yes?”

“Of course.” He gives me one of those smiles that makes me want to run away. “You had no choice. You struck me as a smart person the minute I met you. I knew you’d make the right decision.”

I’m not too sure it’s the right decision as I pick up the pen. I start on the first page but there are so many signatures required. I glance at the second page and notice it’s an NDA.

“Important stuff.” He lowers his gaze to the paper. Then, his eyes return to me. “If you break confidentiality, there will be consequences. That is vital to remember above everything else. Do you understand that?”

I feel the seriousness in his words. I suspect something very bad will happen if I break this rule, so I have no intention of breaking it.