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Chapter 5
Alexa
Morning comes early, too early. It might have something to do with the fact that I barely slept. Tossing and turning all night long on my poor excuse for a bed, what’s to come weighing heavy on my mind. I barricaded the door with anything left in the apartment that I could find, afraid Kami and Spike would come back. Leaving my place is bittersweet. The early memories sweet, and the way things turned out are definitely leaving me bitter.
Stopping by the landlord’s office, I turn in my key and let him know what happened with Kami. I’m shocked at how understanding he is being, and then I nearly pass out on his nasty green shag carpet when he gives me back my deposit. I think because he feels so sorry for me. I’ll take his sympathy and my five-hundred dollars. “Always knew that boyfriend of hers was bad news. Glad to see that you’re moving on to bigger and better things,” he tells me.
Vince and Dottie are the only other lose ends I had to tie up. Saying good-bye to them is heartbreaking, they have been the closest thing to family I’ve had in a long time. It goes about as good as I expected – Dottie trying to send a pie with me and Vince bear hugging the life out of me.
They have all of Ben’s contact information, including the address of where we will be staying. It seems Ben is taking Vince’s self-appointed parental role serious and even photocopied his Driver’s license for him.
After all the goodbyes are said and done, I follow Ben outside the diner to a waiting black Lincoln town car. Sliding into the back, I allow myself a deep breath and watch out the window as the diner fades in the distance. My heart splinters a little more with every passing block. We’re finally alone, for the first time since our conversation yesterday, and I’m at a loss for words. So I go with honesty.
“I hope I’m dressed alright. I’m assuming there isn’t a dress code for travel?” Motioning at my skinny jeans and oversized black tank, I challenge him.
My hair is down and a little wild since it air dried, but the black booties I’m wearing and the pale red lip stain help me feel a little more dressed up. I just feel like it pales in comparison to his dark slacks and pin-stripe button up.
“You look fantastic.” With the way his eyes graze my body from bottom to top, I actually believe him.
“Thanks,” I offer lamely. “Shouldn’t we discuss the terms?”
“There will be plenty of time for that once we get there. I even have my east coast attorney on standby to draft up a contract, if that makes you feel more comfortable?” I’m not sure if he’s teasing, but a quick glance at his face lets me know he is not.
“Wow, you’re really taking this arrangement very serious,” I remark, busying my hands, digging into my bag, trying to avoid fidgeting.
He glances out the window and back me. “You have no idea.” His tone lowers, causing a chill to run down my spine. “All you need to know on my end is this: The Ben that you met in the diner is not exactly the person you’ll be attending events with in New York.”
What the hell? Does he have a personality disorder? Does he have a twin? My hand continues rummaging in my purse feeling for something I can use as a weapon. My deer in headlights look must give me away.
“The Ben that you met is one few rarely see. I was having a bad night, the worst in fact.” His face seems pained, and I’m so curious but know better than to pry. For now. “But somehow you were a light in my darkness.” Ummm, okay.
“Don’t get any romantic notions,” he continues. “It’s just that for someone who just met me, you broke through a wall most can never scale. It was nice to have someone to talk to who didn’t need anything from. I need someone these next two weeks who can provide a distraction but not to the point that my work slips. I need a pretty face to attend events with me.”
I start to snap on him, but sensing my anger, he hold his hands up in surrender and goes on. ”In my world, looks are worth more than you could imagine. However, I also need someone I won’t be bored to death with, and we both know your witty mind is one of your best attributes. There are some major deals that will be going down, so while you won’t be involved in that aspect directly, it’s a plus that you have a business background. However, bottom line, our relationship will be for show.”
I’m speechless. Literally speechless.
“I really didn’t want to get into all this now, but I want you to have an idea of what you’ll be saying yes to if you board that plane. So, I need to know if you have any questions.”
“Who’s the ex you mentioned?” I boldly ask, wanting to know what, exactly, I’ll be walking into.
“Tess Andrews, she’s a New York Socialite and grade-A bitch,” he hisses.
“If we’re doing this now, I’m going to have to have a drink.” He reaches into the mini bar and pulls out a tiny bottle of amber liquid and pours it straight into his mouth, not even bothering with a glass. Some ex.
“Stay away from her, and I’ll do my best to keep her away from you,” he warns. I nod in understanding. Throwing the empty bottle in the trash can, he looks at me. “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather continue this once we arrive. Talking about her brings on a migraine, and I’m already not a big fan of flying, so…”
“Sure, say no more,” I respond, and we ride the rest of the way to the airport in silence. Afraid of flying, huh? It would appear Mr. Perfect has a tiny flaw, a weakness. This Ben is definitely different than the one who ate pancakes and picked me up off the floor. He’s more brooding that’s for sure…darker, more intense. Nonetheless, some sick twisted part of me likes that. I’m glad he gave me the rundown on what’s expected of me, or the brief version anyway. Now, to get him to agree to my terms.
If everything goes as planned, I’m hoping to start fresh in New York. Ben doesn’t know that I only need a one way ticket, but he will find out soon enough. For him, this is just a business trip. For me, it’s my whole life.
*****
Ben
“Alexa. Alexa, wake up.” Her eyelids flutter, and I have the urge to kiss them with feather light kisses, but I know I can’t do things like that. Or say things like that. Hell, I shouldn’t even be thinking things like that, but I can’t help it. She opted to not wear the sleep mask provided in first class. She said something about being claustrophobic, and then I had a vision of her in bed blindfolded. I’m no Dom, but I could think of worse things than having a woman like her at my mercy. Hard… again.
“We’re about to land.” She sits up, stretching her arms above her head, and the way it pushes her tits upwards has me looking away, biting down hard on my lip. If I thought an evening in the diner was hard on my self-control, or being in the back of the car with her, that’s nothing compared to being stuck on a plane with her for over five hours. Listening to the sounds she makes in her sleep has given me a serious case of blue balls.
