Ricardo narrows his gaze. "You go home and flush your birth control down the toilet, pet, because once I start with you, I won't stop until you give me what I want. Do you understand me?"
I nod and try not to imagine his labored, hot breath as he finishes inside of me.
"Don't think you have the whole month off though. Every week between now and then, I will find you." He grazes my chin again. "I must keep tabs on my investments. I will have a driver pick you up and bring you to me. Your body is yours until then, but that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to admire it. I'll need to get your wardrobe picked out, so be prepared to model for me, pet. I need to make sure you're a suitable host."
With every single word, I grow numb to my future.
Not only do I have to allow him to fuck me, but I have to parade around like some fucking doll and play dress up as he pleases. What gives him the right to treat women this way? He can't find a wife the old-fashioned way so he forces one into the position? From where I'm standing, it makes sense that it's his only option, though.
"Okay," I say because what else is there? He's given me no choice in the matter and, if I want to make it out of this alive...if I want my parents to live, I must go along with his demands.
5
MILLER
"What do you mean the shipment was lost? How is that even possible?" My fist tightens into a ball, and I consider how much more of this bullshit I can take before I murder this crew.
The phone goes silent, and I pull it away to glance at the screen, confirming that it's still connected.
Sasha, the flight attendant, brings me another glass with two fingers of whiskey and walks away without another word.
"Thanks," I tell her anyway, holding the phone away from my mouth so the dipshit on the other line doesn't think I'm talking to him.
No, he is owed zero thanks. Honestly, he should be grateful I've kept him alive this long.
"Sir, I apologize for the hiccup, but it was seized by the police. We're lucky it didn't come back on us." His voice cracks a bit with each spoken word.
I rub at my temple and then reach for the drink. He has a point, but it still doesn't change the fact that this is the third shipment in the last ninety days that's been seized. Someone must be tipping the police off. The police that we're supposed to own.
I knew moving into new territory would be tricky, I just didn't expect to have this many losses in this short of time.
It's bad for business, and it makes me look like I'm incapable of running things.
"Figure out who the rat is, Harry, or you can kiss your daughter’s tuition goodbye." I hang up the phone without letting him say a word, not that anything out of his mouth would have mattered.
I hate using ultimatums, but it seems to be the only thing to motivate that kind of man. Would I actually take away her tuition? Probably not. But I would put a bullet through his fucking skull.
It's all about balance.
Sighing, I flick through the messages on my phone and deem none of them that important enough to grab my immediate attention.
"How much longer until we land?" I ask Sasha, who makes busy work of the bar at the front of the jet.
She turns toward me and tilts her wrist to glance at her watch. "We should be on the ground in about forty-five minutes, sir."
Sasha is easily twice my age, old enough to be my fucking grandma, and yet she's calling mesir. I understand it's a respect thing, but it doesn't make it any less weird. I've told her countless times to just call me Miller, but she insists, and who am I to argue with this old, sweet lady?
She's been in our organization for over forty years, and if I had to guess, she's been subjected to arrogant assholes who command every person around them to bow down and kiss their ass.
Don't get me wrong, I expect my subordinates to do exactly that, but sometimes leading with kindness is the appropriate measure. At least, until the person attempts to walk all over me, then I rightfully put them in their place.
Six feet under if necessary.
"I've arranged for Alec to pick you up and get you to your penthouse at The Manor, sir. It's my understanding that Dominic will be meeting you to go over business. You meet with your interior designer tomorrow at The Wellerton. Is there anything else you need from me in the meantime?"
I shake my head and point to the seat across from me. "No. But you can sit the rest of the flight."
Sasha offers a soft smile. "That's not necessary, sir."
