Текст книги "Relinquish"

Автор книги: M. N. Forgy

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

TWELVE

CHARLIE

We drive far from the city lights and eventually find ourselves in front of an iron security gate. After the driver punches in a few buttons on a black box outside the gates, we move forward. We wind up a long driveway with little torches placed along the way. We don’t need them, however; the place that holds my fate is clear as day, even at this time of night. It’s huge and spotlights shine upon it from every angle.

The limo stops and Landon steps out without a word. My heart takes flight in panic as I shift in my seat nervously. My door is yanked open and Landon holds his hand out, offering to help me out of the car. The smell of his fresh scent swims past me and I inhale deeply.

“What? You don’t want to grab me by my hair?” I smart, getting out without taking his hand. He sighs, undoing the button on his suit jacket. As soon as Landon shuts the door to the car, it drives off, leaving me a gaping mess staring at the mansion. It’s made out of large stone, brick for brick, grooves and crevices painting every inch of the foundation. It’s so distinguished with character I can’t look away.

“You like it?” Landon questions, his tone a shade softer than before.

“It’s– It’s incredible,” I stammer, not sure how to describe it.

“Welcome to the Blackwell Estate, Charlie. Let’s go draw up some paperwork,” Landon suggests, pressing on the small of my back. I tear my eyes from the glowing windows placed sporadically along the building and turn toward Landon. That’s right, I almost forgot; I’m his owned whore now. I jerk myself from him, anger fueling my senses.

Walking inside the estate, it’s just as breathtaking. The floor is made up of white marble, and a grand staircase sits right in the middle, rising to another floor.

“This way.” Landon walks past me, leading the way. Following him, I find a door that leads into a dining room filled with a large, oak dining table. Passing that room, Landon leads me past a black piano and an overwhelmingly large fish tank until finally, he opens a door behind the staircase.

“Take a seat, Charlie,” Landon commands, walking in behind me. I look around the oval-shaped room, ignoring his demand. A mahogany desk with a black leather chair sits in front of a wall of windows, with two black winged-back chairs placed before the desk. Looking away, my eyes find a black Persian rug placed elegantly in the middle of the room, and a large red couch along the back wall. There’s a wet bar in the corner, stacked with glasses and bottles filled with amber liquid. I peer up, finding a huge crystal chandelier illuminating the room, setting off little rainbows of light amongst my skin. This is so different than the motel, than anything I’ve ever seen. I’m stunned, as I’ve never been around such riches in all my life.

“Charlie,” Landon clips, grabbing my attention. “Sit down,” he repeats, pointing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. I scowl at him, take my heels off and head toward the chair.

“You’re not a guy who hears the word ‘no’ very often, are you?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow at him.

Landon chuckles and shakes his head. “No, I’m not. Why do you ask?” he replies, a playboy smile fitting his face.

I shrug and look around the place again. “By the looks of this place, and the arrogant authority in your voice, I’m just guessing.”

Landon drapes his suit jacket over the back of his chair and rolls his sleeves to his elbows. His chair is stunning, black with gold trimming, and exhibits power. My eyes trail up his toned arms, and my body defies my anger. My panties dampen with the thought of him grabbing me and throwing me on this desk. His body is like a hostile storm, taking charge of wherever he is, leaving a wake of masculinity and power. It’s hard not to be affected by him.

“What happened to you?” Landon mutters, shifting his chair to sit in it.  I pull my eyes from his arms, and glance down at my hands. What happened to me? What a laughable concept. I should tell him to fuck off, that it’s none of his business.

I peer out from under my lashes and glare at him. While I’ve been trying to live, keep myself alive, he’s been living like a king?

“Life happened. Life happened to me, Landon,” I grit, my hands squeezing my shoes. I want to throw them at him, fucking impale him with the heel.

Landon shakes his head and opens a drawer, pulling out some papers.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s nothing my team can’t handle,” he mutters coldly, slamming the drawer shut.

“Team?” I question, tilting my head to the side.

“You look like trash, but my team will make you appear like a respectable woman,” he clarifies, plucking a pen from a cup holder. My mouth gapes open, offended.

“Yeah, well, the tricks don’t seem to complain,” I sneer, crossing my arms defensively. I curl my fists on themselves, the twitch in them wanting to pummel his face with the amount of disrespect he has toward me.

Landon closes his eyes as if my words physically slapped him.

“Charlie, around here, we do not refer to our clients as ‘tricks’. They have names, and you will use them or refer to them as ‘client’, understood?” Landon lifts his brows, waiting for me to respond. I roll my eyes and look up at the chandelier.

“Understood?” Landon roars, slamming his fists into the desk and making me jump.

“Yes,” I mumble, my eyes leaping from the pretty lights to his serious face. The hairs on my arms raise with alarm, scared at the monster before me. His face is red and twisted, his fists clenched like he’s just as angry with me as I am with him. He’s not the Landon who swept me off my feet at the hotel, and he’s definitely not the man I’ve fantasized about in the back of my mind for weeks now.

“You ask what happened to me, but what happened to you?” I ask, squinting as I take in the man I thought I knew. The man that was caring and sweet at the hotel.

“You assume you know me, Charlie, but we fucked. That was it.” I flinch at his brashness. “You know nothing about me, and you won’t,” he snaps, his voice grave and cutting me. I was right. There was nothing there that night; it was all me falling for a fantasy.  “Tomorrow, my team will clean you up, and we’ll get you tested.” Landon looks at me with a cynical eye as he mutters the last part, and I scoff.

“I used Jimmies, so I don’t have anything,” I inform him, shifting in my seat, annoyed at the conversation. Then my eyes perk, remembering Landon and I didn’t use protection.

“You’re the only one I was stupid with. We didn’t use anything, remember?” I tilt my head to the side and purse my lips. We were so lost in the moment, so ready to just have each other, we didn’t even think about it.

His brows slice forward, etching his face with an eerie look. He clenches his jaw and looks away from me.

“After the team cleans you up, we’ll start training-”

“Training?” I sneer, my lip curled in disgust. “Mick already trained me. I know what I’m doing.”

“Considering you talk like you’re from the streets, and we only offer high-end pussy to our clients, yes, you need training. We don’t refer to condoms around here as ‘Jimmies’. Let that be lesson one,” Landon responds, his tone condescending. “Training will tell us where to place you, and how much you’re worth.”

I grit my teeth and shake my head in anger. Worth? He should just put a tag in my ear and brand me like a damn cow.

“Was my virginity worth the thousand dollars you left me?” I raise a brow and inhale an angry breath. Landon’s mouth parts, his eyes slicing inward with a death glare.

“Brother, have you handled the Claudia situation?”

I slowly tear my eyes from Landon’s and turn in my chair, finding a guy with dark, messy hair closing the door behind him. He’s wearing black dress pants and an untucked white dress shirt.

“Now isn’t a good time, Roman.” Landon levels the man with a hard stare.

Roman’s eyes find mine, and he stops in his tracks.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” He smirks, running a hand along the back of his neck.

“Well, you’re here, so you might as well meet our newest girl, Charlie.” Landon blows out a frustrated breath.

“My, you are a pretty thing,” Roman chuckles, heading toward me.

“Don’t,” Landon clips toward Roman who rolls his eyes, holding his hand out for me to shake.

“I’m Roman, the fun one. You already met my uptight brother who runs the place,” Roman jokes, making me laugh. Landon’s eyes find mine, fire spreading behind his emerald eyes as I giggle at his expense. I should stop, but I can’t. I haven’t done this in so long I almost forgot what it feels like.

“You have a beautiful laugh,” Roman flirts. My cheeks blush as I shake his hand.

“That’s enough Roman. She gets it, you’re horny,” Landon patronizes. Roman’s eyes find Landon and glare, his forehead wrinkling as he squints with anger.

“Right, well, I’ll see you around, Charlie.” Roman smirks before lifting his chin at Landon and leaving.

“You can stop blushing, Charlie. You won’t be sleeping with him,” Landon bashes, causing my moment of glee to vanish.

“As you have many rules to learn, Blackwell brothers at the estate have one rule to live by.” Landon places his hands on his desk and leans forward, the muscles in his arms stretching the material of his dress shirt. My lips part, and that delicious ache returns in my core as I watch the fabric fit around the muscles snugly.

“No having sex with our escorts. Period. No sleeping with clients, nor anybody associated with our escorts or clients,” Landon explains. My eyes whip from his arms to his eyes.

“So, who do you sleep with then?”

“I go out and find a—” He stops and shakes his head.

“Find a nobody,” I finish his sentence. He sighs loudly and looks down at his desk, but he doesn’t deny it. How cliché am I to fall intimately for the guy who took my virginity? I shake my head, my thumb rubbing along my bottom lip. I’m pathetic.

Landon looks at the large clock on the wall.

“It’s getting late. Let’s get this paperwork worked out so I can get you into your room,” Landon remarks, shuffling papers around on his desk.

“My room?” I ask.

“Yes, your room. What aren’t you understanding about that?” Landon tilts his head to the side, his jaw clenched as he takes in my reaction.

“Can’t I go home?” I question nervously. The severity of my situation begins to rise. “Jayden will wonder where I am, or what happened to me,” I ramble. Landon laughs wickedly, the sound causing my body to quiver in fear.

After he contains himself, he glowers at me. An evil smirk marks his face perfectly, causing anger to race through my limbs.

“No. You cannot go home. I told you. I own you.”

“I don’t even know what that means. You just show up, grab me by the hair, and throw me into your limo saying you own me, and you expect me to just fall in line?” I throw my hands around wildly to emphasize my point, panic filling my body at the thought I’ll never see my crummy apartment or Jayden again.

“You don’t need to know anything, Charlie. You are a part of the Blackwell Estate, and that’s all the information you need.” Landon steeples his hands once again and sets back in his chair, that fucking know-all smirk smug on his face.

“You’re dumber than I thought if you think I’m going to accept that as an answer. That is not going to happen.” I slowly stand, my nose flaring with rage. The way I’m feeling, the anger flowing through me, I’m a loaded gun ready to fire. I’m unpredictable, dangerous, and ready to claw Landon’s eyes out if I have to. “I want answers,” I seethe.

Landon inhales a large breath and sits forward, resting his elbows on the desk and interlocking his fingers.

“Mick took one of my girls. I could have killed him, could have had my men teach him a lesson, but he wouldn’t learn anything. Everyone who thinks they’re anybody will send someone to hurt the competition physically, and if you kill them, someone else will just take their place. So, an eye for an eye. He took my girl, so I took his.” Landon sits back in his chair again, sliding his hands behind his neck.

I exhale a steady breath, trying to calm myself.

“Now, can we get this paperwork finished?” he growls.

“What is this paperwork even?” I scowl.

“Gives me some detailed information on your health and background,” Landon explains.

Mick didn’t have me do any of that. Looking at this place compared to Mick’s, though, they’re worlds apart.

I take my gaze from the room to Landon, my eyebrows perking up in confidence and my spine stiffening.  “No, we can’t. I’m not signing shit, because I didn’t agree to become an escort of the Blackwell Estate.” I fold my arms and cross my legs stubbornly. “You just got your first no.” I smirk arrogantly. “Now, take me home,” I demand.

Landon rubs his chin, his squinting causing wrinkles to form at the corner of his eyes. But he doesn’t look angry. In fact, he looks… amused?

“Do you have any idea what you’re passing up? No girl has ever said ‘no’ to the position. Women beg to be a part of–”

“Then why did one of your girls go to Mick?” I tilt my head sideways.

“I don’t tolerate drug addicts in my estate. I heard she was using, and I tried to put her in rehab. I thought she was doing well, but she must have started again. I told her if she kept it up, she wasn’t welcome here, and I guess instead of talking to me about it, she just left.” He exhales a heavy breath and rubs the scruff on his chin. “Still, most women wouldn’t give up such an opportunity.”

“Well, I’m not most women,” I state.

Landon lowers his head and grins. “No. No, you’re not.” He gazes up, his emerald eyes finding mine and making me suck in a sudden breath. Landon shakes his head, and his soft eyes turn stormy.

“With that, I will just have the staff lock you in a room then.” Landon grabs the phone off his desk, and the arrogant smirk that was across my face disappears into pure panic.

“Lock me in a room? What? You can’t do that,” I ramble, my sudden confidence gone.

“Oh, I can and I will. Nobody will even know you’re gone,” Landon sneers, slamming buttons on the receiver to make a call.

“Jayden,” I stammer. “Jayden will know I’m missing.” My eyes go wide when Landon twists his face like she doesn’t count, making me furious.

“Stop! Listen to me,” I plead, trying to get his attention, but he doesn’t even look at me. He’s too busy with the phone, anxious to lock me away.

“Jean, can you—”

I lean over and swipe the phone off his desk and onto the floor. Landon’s face takes on a surprised look before finding my eyes and glaring.

“Fine, I’ll sign the papers. Just– just let me go home. I want to go back and see Jayden, say goodbye,” I plead, pressing the palm of my hand to my head, trying to think past my manic state.

Landon sighs, rubbing at his tired eyes.

“Please,” I beg, tears pricking at my eyes. My anger, my fury, and dangerous state have dissipated to pure desperation. Landon’s head whips up from my trembling voice, his face taking on a look of sympathy.

“I’m just supposed to trust that you won’t try and run?” Landon questions, his tone lighter than he’s been speaking to me the whole night. I shrug, not sure what to say to that. He shouldn’t trust me, but I need him to.

He runs his hands through his hair and nods. A loud sigh leaves my mouth, relieved I will get to go home, even if it’s for the last time.

“I’ll send Osborn with you. He’ll be watching you throughout the night, and if you so much as try anything…” Landon lowers his head and glowers, the muscles in his jaw ticking. “That person who means so much to you—Jayden, was it—will suffer the consequences,” Landon threatens, making me swallow hard. “You will return bright and early tomorrow, arriving ready to start your position as an escort,” he continues.

“I will.” I nod quickly, sealing my fate as a sex slave for who knows how long. I thought getting a pimp was bad, but this? This is so much worse. I can feel it in my gut.

“Charlie, make sure and say your goodbyes, because tomorrow you’re mine fully. Kiss your old life, your friends, family, Mick, all farewell.”

I close my eyes, trying to hold the tears pricking at my eyes at bay. When I finally get a grip on myself, I find Landon picking up the phone from the floor.

“Osborn, I have a job for you tonight. I need you to take Charlie back to her place, and see to it that she does not go anywhere else. She is to return back to the estate at sunrise,” Landon demands before hanging up.

His demented green eyes find mine, eyes I used to find gorgeous yet all I see in them now is a monster. Landon clearly isn’t the guy I thought he was. Well, guess what? He doesn’t know who the hell he’s fucking with. I won’t make my staying here easy on him.

“Enjoy your few hours of freedom, Charlie.”

THIRTEEN

LANDON

I slump in my chair, tearing my tie from my neck. I’m angry. So angry, I could throw this fucking desk out the window. I can’t make up or down of this situation. When I saw her in the back of the limo, my chest constricted and my dick twitched to have her. Regret plowed through me like a sledgehammer for leaving her at that hotel. But I quickly reminded myself why I left. I lose control around Charlie, and I need to stay focused. She’s a problem, a very big problem. She gets under my skin, causes me to question why I’m even running this estate.

It’s my legacy to sit in this chair and hustle women, but it’s a promise that has kept me here. A promise that I would restore the Blackwell name, but Charlie has me questioning all of it.

She told me no. She fucking told me no. Nobody tells me no. No woman turns down a position at the Blackwell Estate. It irritates me, yet makes my cock hard at the same time. She told me she was that boy’s whore when I met her, but I just thought she was being hard on herself. After the way the night unfolded, I was sure of it. However, after the last hour, I don’t know what to fucking think.

“She gone?” Roman peeks his head around the door, looking around. I nod, rubbing my thumb and forefinger over my chin.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but that girl looks a lot like—”

“Don’t!” I interrupt, my fists clenching with anger. I know what he’s going to say. Father had me tailed, so I’m sure there were photos taken of Charlie at the hotel.

Roman sighs and slumps down in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

“I get it, man.”

“No, you don’t. That woman, that girl…” I point at the door and look at Roman, my forehead sweating from anger and confusion.

“Landon, you’re the only guy I know, Blackwell or not, who has never had a woman at some point bring him to his knees. Blackwell training be damned,” Roman explains, shaking his head.

We were trained growing up to resist temptation. After all, we sell women who use their bodies as paychecks, to gain what they want and need out of life. It’s up to us to resist it, to run a business.

Growing up in the Blackwell Estate, Roman and I were preached to daily about how sex clouds the mind, that lust is a drug and becomes addictive. It was repeated over and over by those who trained the Blackwells, dating back decades. I took it as an oath, and Roman took it as a challenge. We were taught how to control our urges, see women as objects rather than humans.

Roman’s always diving into forbidden pussy. He knows the rules yet still sneaks around with the escorts. That’s why the women have no respect for him. He’s just another client to them, using Roman like another man with a wallet.

I’m not saying I don’t have sex; I sleep with women all the time, but I don’t break rules. I don’t have sex with our escorts. I don’t have sex with any of our clients, and I don’t conspire with anyone who may know any of our clients or escorts. That’s the biggest rule for a Blackwell. But I’d be a damned liar if I said Charlie didn’t stick out amongst every female who spread their legs for me, making the laws of the estate a blur.

“Are you going to be able to handle her?” Roman questions, looking at me with concern.  I swallow and close my eyes. I have to be able to handle her. In the end, though, Charlie will hate me.

“She’s just another escort,” I remind him, and myself.

CHARLIE

“Oh, my God! Charlie, I was so worried!” Jayden flings herself into me as soon as I walk through the door, nearly knocking me over.

I smile and hold her close, the smell of cocoa wafting from her hair a solace. She squeezes me hard, making my ribs scream with pain, but I don’t care. To feel loved, to know someone would miss me if I disappeared is unfamiliar.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” I whisper into her shoulder.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” Jayden cries into my hair.  “What happened?” Jayden pulls herself back using my shoulders, her gray eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Landon happened,” I grumble, pulling from her fully and throwing my shoes by the bed.

“I’ll be right outside this door, Charlie,” Osborn states, reminding me he followed me up here.  I look over my shoulder at him. Osborn is a muscular man who looks like he just swallowed a year’s worth of steroids. His shoulders are broad and muscled to the point he doesn’t look like he has a neck. He’s in a black suit with black sunglasses placed snuggly on his face, even though it’s night.

“Who the fuck is this?” Jayden shrieks, not noticing Osborn followed me in before now. I grab her arm, stopping her in her pursuit of anger.

“He’s the watchdog,” I sneer. Osborn doesn’t even flinch, just shuts the door behind him as he leaves.

“What?” Jayden questions, wiping her cheeks with her hands.

“Landon, the man who gave me that thousand dollars—”

“What about him?” Jayden interrupts.

“I guess he runs some escort business. I work for him now – actually, I’m owned by him. It looks like Mick got himself in some kind of situation, because I no longer work for Mick,” I clarify, peeling my dress off my sweaty body, leaving me in my bra and panties.

“You can’t be serious. He can’t own you.” Jayden shakes her head in confusion, her forehead wrinkling in panic.

“He’s very powerful, and has made it clear what happens if I try to defy him.” I take my gaze from Jayden, debating if I should tell her that Landon threatened her life. I bite my lip and decide against it. She doesn’t need anything else added to her plate of terror; losing each other is going to be enough.

“He’s not to be messed with, Jayden.”

“When you say owned, do you mean, like, you won’t be living here anymore?” Jayden asks, her voice taking a tone of sorrow. I look at her, my expression clearly telling her everything she needs to know.

“No. He can’t do that. We can run. We can call the police.” Jayden tears up, her hands grabbing at me frantically.

“No, we can’t, Jayden. We just… can’t,” I stumble on my words. I can’t dive into telling her how obviously powerful Landon is. This is unbearably painful for me, to know this is the last time I may see Jayden. All I want to do is slump to the floor and cry with her, but I can’t. I won’t give Landon that power. I’ll savor the time I have with Jayden and be strong for the both of us.

“You’re all I have,” Jayden whispers, making my eyes snap to hers. I grab her into a hug, needing that feeling of comfort.

“You’re all I have, too,” I respond. “I’ll work something out. Get you in there as an escort, see if I can come home on the weekends, or find a way out of there – something,” I mumble into her curly hair, her fingers digging into my back as she cries.

I start to pull away. “It’s late. Let’s get some sleep,” I suggest, but Jayden doesn’t let go. I reach over and turn the light off then walk us over to my bed. I pull the sheet back and pull myself from Jayden’s grip. Too stunned to move on her own, I unzip her red dress, letting it fall to the floor. I climb into the bed and hold the sheet up, encouraging Jayden to crawl in beside me. She kicks her heels off and crawls in, her back to my front, and we snuggle close to each other. Her body shakes as she sobs, the heat radiating off her causing me to sweat, but I don’t pull away. I don’t even kick a leg out from under the sheet.

“We’ve been through so much together. You’re the only person who understands me and doesn’t hold judgement.” Her voice cracks with emotion. “Charlie, you can’t leave me. Promise me you’ll come back,” she sobs.

I take a deep breath, not sure if I’ll be able to deliver on that or not, so I lie.

“I promise.”

***

A loud knock at the door has Jayden falling out of the bed and me pulling the sheets up over my head.

“What?” Jayden yells, opening the front door. I smirk. I know she’s in her bra and undies. She has no shame. At least she didn’t sleep next to me naked, though.

“It’s time,” Osborn remarks, his voice deep.

“Yeah, okay,” Jayden clips, slamming the door, probably in his face.

I sigh and throw the blankets back.

“We could take him, you know,” Jayden mutters, pulling the sheet from her bed to cover herself. I laugh. The two of us trying to wrestle Osborn, tie him up so we can run, is an image to be seen just in my head.

“I don’t see that playing out too well.” I half-laugh, shaking my head as I slip on a sports bra. “Besides, Landon would come for me, and I know he’d find us,” I tell her, grabbing some ripped jeans and a dark blue shirt that has the sleeves cut off, revealing my white sports bra. I hate leaving Jayden, but at least I don’t feel as apprehensive about being a part of the Blackwell Estate. If Landon is anything like I thought he was, maybe I can leave on the weekends and have Jayden come see me or something.

“Fuck him,” Jayden snaps, making me laugh. A knock sounds at the door, reminding us that Osborn is waiting.

“I will be back, Jayden. I will get in touch with you,” I whisper. Jayden pulls me close and inhales, like she is programming me to memory. She turns quickly and chuckles nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and sitting on her bed. I tilt my head and give her a tight-lipped smile.

“I gotta go.” I lean over the bed and kiss her forehead, muttering, “Be safe.”

“You, too,” she whispers.

I look around our dump of an apartment, not really caring to take anything with me. Eventually, I open the door to find Osborn.

“Let’s go,” he grunts, pushing his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.

The ride to the estate is quiet, the driver sitting at the front of the limo only looking back to check on me a few times. Osborn sits beside me, his large size taking up most of the seat.

We pull up to the estate, and Landon is standing on the steps in a crisp, expensive suit. The limo comes to a stop, and he opens my door.

“Charlie,” he greets. His body is like a storm – powerful, strong, and fearless. I swallow hard, that familiar ache in my chest resurfacing.

“Landon,” I reply dryly. His eyes rake me from top to bottom, leaving a blazing trail of lust behind them. I can’t help the way my legs clench to stifle the intolerable throb escalating between them, but it doesn’t override the wave of anger I have toward him, either.

Landon leans in, causing me to stiffen.

“Stop clenching,” he whispers, a smirk crossing his face. My mouth hangs open with shock, but I shut it as quickly as it flew open.

“I can’t help it, your driver is hot,” I smart, walking past him.

I hear Landon laugh like a school boy, his footsteps sounding behind me as I let myself into the mansion-like house.

Landon grabs my upper arm, swinging me around with haste, and plows me against the large wooden door. His fresh scent seizes the air from my lungs. His face lowers mere inches from mine, his green eyes turning a shade darker, causing a bundle of nerves to twist in my stomach.

“That mouth will start wars between us. I’m not sure if I should wash it out with soap or fuck it,” Landon seethes. All the oxygen in my chest races out, leaving me speechless. Landon smirks, proud of himself.

I inhale a large breath, gather my courage, lean my head toward his, and smile. “Give me your best shot.” He doesn’t scare me; I’d like to see his worst, in fact.

Landon takes a deep breath and licks his bottom lip. “I’m not sure if you could—”

“Is this the new girl?” We both look over, and Landon quickly releases his hold on me. I have to bite my lip to stop from smiling. I affect him, and that alone is empowering.

“Veronica,” Landon enunciates slowly. The woman has long, golden-blonde hair that comes to rest on one shoulder. She is tall and thin, wearing a long, light pink dress that trails behind her. Her makeup is done lightly, but her red-stained lips stand out amongst her porcelain skin.

“The team will have their hands full with this one, that’s for sure,” Veronica sneers, her lip curled in disgust as she eyes me. I wince, shocked a complete stranger would be such a bitch. But then again, look at Landon.

“She’s not too bad,” Landon defends, a smirk crossing his face, his forest eyes holding a tone of friendliness. I scowl at both of them, angry they’re talking as if I’m not even standing in the room.

“I’m sure you would think so,” she clips. “They’re waiting upstairs for you.” She nods toward me before turning, picking her dress up, and walking back up the stairs.

“Please, don’t turn me into a Barbie,” I plead to Landon. He chuckles and runs his thumb over his chin.

“Would you like breakfast, Charlie?” he questions, lowering his hand and placing it on my lower back. His hand is large and takes up the small of my back. My memory takes me back to waking up in that hotel room by myself – no breakfast, no man, just a stack of cash. My body hums from his touch, but my mind barks out uncontrollable anger from the flashback.  My logic winning this battle, I grasp Landon’s arm and tear it away from my body.

“How about we save the crap. You’re not a nice guy, and I’m not a nice girl. I don’t have a clue why you’re being nice to me, but stop. Oh, and it would be pointless to have breakfast and pretend to have small talk, when we both know I’m here to be your employee, your toy for money—”

“Charlie, you want me to be nice to you. Because by the end of all this, you will hate me more than you do right now,” Landon interrupts, his face masked with anger as his jaw clenches.

“Just show me to the team,” I mutter, unaffected by his threat.