His jaw clenched. The muscles of his back must have stiffened, for she noticed the creases of his jacket snugging him tighter. “I suspect my uncle is embezzling money and plans on running the business into the ground. I need to see that it won’t happen.”
Alexa glanced at Amaya. “What are your thoughts, my dear? Ultimately, it’s the woman’s choice.”
Amaya swallowed the razors in her throat. It would have been her choice, yes, if she had one. Damn it, she had barely finished high school. In what alternative universe would she ever touch two million dollars? “I need a few days to sort things out.”
“Two.” He tossed her a glance.
Two days. She reached for her neck, hoping to find the necklace with a heart pendant her mother had given her when she’d turned fifteen. When she brushed her collarbone, she didn’t find anything more than her cold flesh. Of course. It dawned on her, and she dropped her hand to her waist. She’d removed the piece of jewelry that morning, to keep that part of her completely separate from the auction.
Theo turned to Madame Alexa. “I’ll also sweeten the deal. How much do you get for commission?”
“Thirty percent.”
“I’ll add that amount to my payment so she gets to keep the two million clean.”
“A generous man.” Madame Alexa tossed her hair to the side. “My favorite kind.”
So now she’d get the full two million. A thrill of surprise moved within her. She had two days to get things sorted out to be gone for one month. But two million? She could give her sweet brother the life he deserved, honoring her promise to her parents to take care of him. Hell, she’d even have enough to open her own restaurant. Casa de Amaya. A gorgeous space with outdoor seating and authentic Mexican food. After years of living for others, she’d have a chance to do something for herself.
A strand of determination spiraled through her, and she squared her shoulders, wishing she’d put the high heels back on. “I’ll do it.”
Amaya brought her reusable grocery bags into her apartment. Samantha had agreed to move into her place to watch Diego for the month, after the generous amount Amaya had offered. According to House of Alexa rules, 50 percent of the amount had been deposited into her checking account.
She’d spent the whole afternoon running errands, buying food, and leaving messages at the special-needs group home where she expected to secure a place for her brother.
Huffing, she placed the bags on the kitchen counter and started retrieving the items from them. The doorbell rang, and she sauntered to the door. Were her brother and his occupational therapist already returning from their stroll to the park? She opened the door to find a white box on the floor.
She picked it up and brought it inside.
Curious, she put it on the counter, pushing aside her grocery bags, and then opened it. She pulled out the red tissue paper, and a thrill spiked her pulse. This wasn’t anything she’d ordered from Amazon. No.
She glanced at the pair of shiny black high heels. She glided her fingers down the red soles and caught a whiff of that new shoe smell she hadn’t experienced in a while. She sighed. A long while.
Her nipples puckered, and she immediately took off her shoes and slipped on the heels. Whoa—not only were they higher than what she was used to, they made her walk straighter, with more confidence.
She walked to the box again and pulled out a note written with bold, strong strokes.
Wear these tomorrow.
T.
Tomorrow.
Her throat clogged, and a mix of apprehension and arousal zapped down her core. The previous day, they’d signed the contract and organized everything. Today, she felt free after telling Joe at Joe’s Cafe she needed a leave of absence. She’d quit her job after everything was said and done—couldn’t be too careful. What if something went wrong?
A new life was on the horizon, though. Tomorrow, she’d pay the price—he’d send a car for her and meet her at a private airfield. Then they’d fly to Greece together.
Shoes. The man certainly enjoyed them—hadn’t he asked to see her feet? Maybe that replaced checking a horse’s teeth in modern-day sex clients’ etiquette. She continued putting the food away, her fingers trembling slightly. She’d kept a level head during the day, too busy to worry about the repercussions of her sin. Yes, it was a sin, nonetheless—what would her parents say?
She’d sold her virginity. Her parents had wedded as virgins in a small ceremony in Mexico before they fled to the States as illegal immigrants to start a new life. A life with opportunities different from the dirt-poor town where they’d grown up.
She opened the refrigerator, and when she turned to the counter to grab the cheese, she lost her balance and stumbled. Gasping, she grabbed the edge of the laminate counter, avoiding a fall. Heart racing, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Tomorrow she’d give Theo a part of her she’d never get back.
…
“She’s boarding soon, sir,” Jessica, the flight attendant, informed Theo. “More champagne?” Jessica lifted the bottle of Veuve Clicquot, flashing him a seductive smile that carried a simple message. If he wanted more than bubbly, she’d be up for it.
