“Now, the next thing we need to discuss is your punishment.”
Chapter sixty-eight
Olivia
“My punishment?” I ask. The flutter of nerves has returned. Victor hums as he grabs the bowl of salad, scooping some onto my plate then his. I take another sip from my wineglass as I try to figure out what he means.
“Yes, your punishment.” He doesn’t say anything else as he takes a bite of his lasagna.
“Why am I getting punished?” I ask, but I think I already know. It’s either because I didn’t write what I was feeling in my journal or because I said nothing going on between us when Bailey said what she did at Connor’s house. I pour some dressing on my salad and take a bite after I mix it a little.
“The main reason is because you denied anything was going on between us in front of everyone at Connor’s house.” My breath catches in my throat at the confirmation. “The otherreason is because you weren’t writing about how you were feeling in your journal. I can overlook that slightly because I should have been more honest with you concerning how Josie really affected me. I understand we’ve both been through some things that have made us hesitant. But outright denying it without allowing me to speak up at all is where I draw the line.”
I stare at Victor with my fork halfway to my mouth. He’s right. I didn’t give him a chance to speak when Bailey said what she did. “You could have corrected me,” I say. My voice is low.
“I am. In the privacy of our home, in our bedroom.” He arches an eyebrow at me as he brings another bite to his mouth.
“Our home?” It’s a question, but also a hope.
He tilts his head at me and gives a soft smile. “Yes, our home. Now. Eat.” My stomach is fluttering with nerves and excitement, so I’m not sure how I’m going to eat. But I haven’t had much today, so I need to or the wine will go straight to my head. I take a bite of the lasagna and hum.
It’s my favorite dish Betsy makes. If Victor told her today was a rough day, I’m sure that’s probably why she made it. I smile to myself and take another bite. Some of the things Betsy does for me remind me of my mom. It used to make me sad, but now it makes me appreciate her. After we get done eating, I rinse our dishes and stick them in the dishwasher while Victor calls Leo to tell him there’s some lasagna and salad.
I close the dishwasher and wipe my hands on the dishtowel hanging on the handle before turning to face Victor. He pours me another glass of wine. Bringing it to me, I’m sure he sees the question on my face, but he doesn’t say anything as he waits for me to take a drink. I don’t take a sip; I take two big gulps, almost drinking everything in the glass. He smirks like he was expecting me to do that. Since that didn’t surprise him and he doesn’t chastise me, I finish it off.
He shakes his head, but takes the glass from me, rinses it out and puts it in the dishwasher with the other dishes. Then he takes my hand and leads me to the stairs. We pass Leo and I’m not sure if my face is flushed from the wine or from the embarrassment of him possibly hearing Victor punishing me.
“Take your food back to the lake house,” Victor tells him.
“Will do, boss. I’d rather not hear the noises my little sis makes while she’s in your bedroom,” Leo replies. My mouth pops open and I turn to glare at him.
“Leo, you’re fired!” Victor yells at him. Leo starts to cackle and I can’t help but laugh.
“You’ve been threatening for so long, I was beginning to wonder if anything would push you to actually do it. Now I know. Don’t talk about you two”—Leo waves his finger at us—“doing that.”
“Leo,” I growl at him, ready to pounce on him and punch him or something. He lifts his hands in surrender as he looks between Victor and me.
“Sorry. I’ll grab my food and leave. Not another squeak from me.”
“You’re still fired,” Victor yells at his retreating back. I giggle and he smirks at me with a wink.
“Sure. Whatever you say, boss.”
Victor shakes his head, and we walk up the stairs. He closes the door when we step into the bedroom. I cast my eyes down and stay to the side of the door, waiting for his instructions. His office is the only room I specifically have a place to go to.
Victor walks the rest of the way into the room. I can tell he’s undressing, but I keep my eyes on the floor even though I want nothing more than to raise them and watch as he reveals each inch of skin.
“Remove your dress and bra. Keep your panties on.”
I run my hands down to the hem of my dress and lift it over my head. Pulling my lip between my teeth, I look at him under my eyelashes. He’s stripped down to his boxer briefs. As I take in his chest, the ink on his arms, and his boxers with the obvious bulge, I swallow. I pull my bra off and drop it on top of the dress. Victor walks over to the bed, sits on the ottoman bench at the foot of the bed, and pats his lap.
“Come here, treasure.” I hesitate momentarily. My heart is hammering so hard in my chest I feel slightly disoriented. My nerves buzz with electricity as I finally put one foot in front of the other and stop next to his leg. He scoots back and pats the ottoman. “Lay across my lap,” he instructs. I lay across him and he moves me so my chest is laying on the ottoman and my hips are draped across his legs.
“Why are you being punished, Olivia?” He runs his fingers through my hair and combs it so it lays over my shoulders.
“Because I denied anything was going on between us.”
My voice is soft. His hand comes down on my ass, but not hard. I still yelp because it was unexpected. He rubs his hand over where it landed.
