‘Sweet dreams,’ Amanda calls as she leaves the car.
Jackson and I wait until she’s in her apartment block and the door locks behind her.
‘Thank you for picking us up.’
‘It’s never a problem. It’s good for Gregory right now too.’
‘How is he?’
‘About as stressed as I’ve seen him. Usually, it’s just business or even when it’s personal, it’s only about him. But he’s concerned now for Lara, and for you.’
‘Has your team had any luck today?’
‘Nothing yet but they’re good guys; they’ll keep trying.’
When we arrive back at the apartment, Gregory is drinking coffee and looking over documents splayed out on the coffee table in the lounge. I gather this is the information the team has pulled together on Pearson so far.
‘Did you get a dress?’
I give him a playful scowl. ‘Yes, I have a dress but you shouldn’t have paid.’
‘You could just say thank you.’
I plant a kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you.’ Then I hand him the smallest of the Harrods bags. ‘This is for you.’
He peeks into the bag and moves the black tissue to one side to reveal the Mercy Corset. I take the bag back from him. ‘You won’t be too late, will you?’
He clears his throat and turns to Jackson. ‘I, we, we won’t be too much longer, Jackson, will we?’
I hang up my dress then take a shower. It takes some time and skilful manoeuvring but I’m eventually dressed in the corset and stockings. I decide to add the jewelled shoes into the mix and finally, the diamond choker, then I dim the bedroom lights and lie on the chaise longue, waiting for Gregory.
Eventually, the door opens and he stands, observing from the doorway, his arms folded, eyes hooded.
I feel seductive, ridiculous and more feminine than I’d ever have thought possible.
‘What are we going to do with you?’ His words are low, heavy, promising.
He rolls up the sleeves of his white shirt as he moves towards me. He plants my legs on the floor in my heels, then forces them wide apart in a sudden move that makes me lean back on my hands, the Mercy Corset pushing my breasts upward. Then he kneels before me. Mine. All mine.
33
Gregory’s been pacing the lounge for most of the day. He’s become increasingly nervous as the party has drawn closer without the team making strides to find his father. The usual mask of stoicism and confidence has been firmly in place but I’m becoming finely tuned to the man beneath that façade. This morning, he and Jackson drove to Lara’s house to brief the team on where they need to be tonight and when. Jackson’s team met Lara’s hired security for the party. Now the good guys know the good guys and there’s a face to match the voices as they communicate through radios later.
‘We don’t have to go,’ I said to him this morning.
I felt sorry for him when his wide, troubled eyes regarded me. ‘I can’t leave my mother there and I can’t leave you here. It’ll be safer if we’re all in one place.’
Because he’s been with Jackson all day, he arranged for a hairdresser to come to the apartment so that I didn’t go out alone. After curling and loosely pinning my hair at the nape of my neck, a beautician primed and made up my face.
We have an hour to get to the party in our allocated arrival slot so it’s time for me to get dressed. Gregory is in his home office speaking on his phone and in truth, I no longer have a desire to hear those calls. My mind has been racing all day with an almost unbearable mix of excitement, nerves and rage.
My phone beeps to tell me I have a message. The sound shocks me, setting my heart racing. There’s no denying I’m on edge.
I am soooooo excited I can hardly breathe!!!!!!!!!!
Smiling at Amanda’s countless exclamation marks, I set my phone to one side and get ready. Somehow, I navigate the dress over my head without catching any crystals in my hair, then, realising it’s much easier when someone else does it for you, I put on the new sandals. My stomach begins to churn with anticipation. I hope Gregory likes it. Everything looks in order when I check the floor-length mirror. The last thing I do is gently unhook the diamond choker from its box and delicately place it around my neck, terrified of damaging the extravagant thing.
With a deep inhale, I whisper to myself, ‘Ready.’
