“Oh?” She’s sitting at the small kitchenette table, sipping her coffee. “What’s that?”
“You said you like Paris,” I begin. “You see…” I push the helpless look harder. “I’m in a bit of trouble.”
Her coffee cup settles on the table with a click. “Are you?”
“Yes. I promised my mother I’d have a date for my cousin’s wedding this weekend.” I sigh and hope it adds to the whole vibe. “It means a lot to her that my brothers and I show with dates.” I roll my eyes. “Don’t ask.”
Sounds a lot more innocent and “boy next door” thanI’m buying you for the weekend to go to The Underground. You will be my slave and I will be your master.
We’ll go to Paris for the wedding. Convince Milo to give us what we need. Return to Corsica and orchestrate my plan.
“Do you mean to tell me,” she says, a hint of flirtation in her voice, “that a man like you can’t find someone to bring? I’d have thought you’d have—” She pauses and looks away. “Okay, that didn’t come out the right way.”
“A man like me?”
“Well,yes.I meanlook at you.You’re wealthy and successful, and you look likethat?I mean, don’t take it the wrong way…”
“How could anyone take something like that the wrong way?”
She laughs and sips her coffee, her eyes cast down.
“So I was wondering. You’re here at La Maison, for a reason. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the women who work for me are looking to earn some money for a purpose. If you don’t mind me asking, would you fall under that umbrella?”
“No, I quite like the lack of commitment and casual sex,” she quips with an eye roll. Ah, so a good night’s sleep brings out therealNicolette. Good to know. She shows no sign of not wanting to talk about this, so I push. I have to, if I’m going to get what I want.
“If it’s not too personal, may I ask how much you’re aiming to earn? Save?”
“It’s not too personal. I’m aiming for one hundred thousand euro.”
To take care of her and her sister.She has twenty, which means she’s got a long way to go.
“That’s a sizable sum. What would you say if we come up with a win-win situation?”
She clears her throat. “What would that entail?”
“I buy you for the entire weekend. You come with me to Paris for my cousin’s wedding. Before any of this went down, I told Gwen to clear your calendar for the week.” I give her what I hope is a disarming smile.
“Buy me?” Something I can’t identify flares in her eyes.
“I had a date. She cancelled on me this morning. Now I face going to Paris alone, without a date, and my mother will literally disown me.”
A hint of a smile ghosts her lips. She’s holding back, hiding her emotions so well I can’t decipher what she’s thinking. “We can’t have that, now, can we?”
I shake my head. “I’ll pay you two million dollars.”
Her jaw unhinges.
I’ve begun the first part of the cat and mouse game with her. Protect her. Take care of her needs. Pretend I need her. Prey on her need to meet my needs after I’ve met hers. Lure her into close proximity…
Pounce.
I will own her.
“Doesn’t this… cross a line, sir?”
I shake my head. “Not if we keep this platonic, no. I’m not asking you to sleep with me. I wouldn’t. I just need you to wear something pretty, make an appearance, and maybe give me a dance or two.”
Her wide eyes and pink cheeks only make me harder.
