Chapter 36
Amelia
For most of the last hour, I’ve allowed Ambrose to escort me around the room. I’ve never seen the ‘business’ side of him, and it’s impressive to watch. He has an uncanny ability to draw people to him effortlessly.
He’s personable, attentive, and whoever he talks to, he’s hyper-focused on them, listening carefully, making polite comments, and never interrupting. It’s a rare skill.
We’ve been standing with one group for a while, and Ambrose has been talking to the man on his left about his stock portfolio for several minutes. I’m pretending to listen but get distracted when I hear the name “Franklin Barnes” mentioned behind me.
The rest of the group is deep in conversation, and I subtly lean away so I can eavesdrop on two men who I can see standing a little way behind me.
I glance at them. One is in a dark charcoal suit, which looks out of place against the backdrop of tuxedos and all around us. And the guy beside him oozes money from every pore. He’s got an enormous Rolex that flashes on his wrist.
Rolex has a self-important expression and a large tumbler of whiskey in his hand. The only thing missing is a cigar slotted between his fingers as he leans over and continues their conversation.
“I’ve been talking to Franklin for a long time; we’ve been business acquaintances for years.
Crawford is dancing around trying to negotiate when he should just agree to Barnes’s terms. Franklin doesn’t want to leave completely.
He wants to retain his foothold and his leverage for a little longer.
Yes, he’s a stubborn asshole, but he’s also very smart.
He knows Crawford will send his profits into the stratosphere; who wouldn’t want a slice of that pie?
Men like Crawford are blinded by greed and forget that everyone else is just as greedy as they are.
It’s a trait the best of us can capitalize on while the others are knee deep in irrelevant details. ”
The man in the charcoal suit is swaying slightly, his eyes unfocused and bloodshot.
“I’ve told Franklin more than once that if this deal falls through, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces,” Rolex continues.
“Before he went off on vacation, I suggested Felicity catch up with Marilyn. Our wives have always been close—that’s really when marriage becomes useful, you know.
She can sidle up to them without them even realizing it’s a business conversation. ” He laughs smugly.
“And?” Charcoal Suit asks, the word drawn out as he sways toward the other man. The liquid in his glass is close to spilling onto the floor.
“Turns out the deal isn’t even signed,” Rolex says, scoffing into his drink. “Crawford has let this man go off to the Maldives without nailing him to the wall first. I think he’s losing his touch in his old age.”
Rolex shakes his head, knocking back the entire glass of whiskey in an effortless way that chills me. He doesn’t even wince.
“So,” Charcoal Suit asks, squinting at the bottom of his glass as he drops his voice to a low murmur. “Did you make the offer?”
“Of course. Felicity told me Barnes’s not certain, and that’s all I need to know.
Any weakness can be exploited. Marilyn’s nervous about them putting all their eggs in one basket, especially since most of their children are part of the company.
My offer is more generous than I can really afford, but unlike Crawford, I won’t let Barnes slip through my fingers a second time. ”
The two men change topic, Rolex seeming to realize that his companion is about to pass out. As they move away, I return my attention back to the group, my mind whirling with possibilities.
Is that true? Has Barnes not signed off on the deal? Could someone really swoop in and snatch it out of Crawford’s grip?
“You look troubled, are you alright?” Ambrose’s voice cuts through my thoughts as his hand comes to rest on the small of my back.
“Oh yes. Sorry, I was just thinking about a work thing,” I hedge, glancing around to see if I can spot Crawford.
“You look pale, maybe we should go and get some air, hm?” Ambrose asks.
“Amelia.”
I jump at the growly voice behind me as I turn and see Crawford towering over me. He flashes a venomous look at Ambrose, as his fingers curl around my upper arm.
“A word,” he says angrily and tugs me away from the group.
I glance back at Ambrose, bewildered as to what could have upset Crawford, but I’m simply met with a knowing smile as Ambrose cocks his head to one side, before turning back to the group.
“You’re hurting me,” I say, but Crawford doesn’t loosen his grip even a little, moving us through the huge room and only slowing his pace as people begin to stare at us curiously as we move past.
I smile vaguely at them, hoping that we’re not putting on a show.
Shouldn’t I be the one who’s pissed? He left me to fend for myself in a room full of strangers! What the fuck…
We walk into a long hallway, lined with tables that match the décor in the main room. Gold vases with white flowers cascading over the top have been placed at intervals along the way, and their scent is intoxicating as I stumble by.
Crawford drags me over the carpet to a door at the end of the hallway. He pushes through it, and we step out onto a slim balcony.
We’re not particularly high up, but the grounds are spread out below us, with a fountain bubbling in the center.
It’s not cold, but chilly enough for most of the outside spaces to be empty. At the peak of summer, it would be overrun with people, but the only movement is a waiter running along the near wall and into the kitchens at the far end.
“What the hell was that?” Crawford snaps.
The door we have just walked through closes behind us, and we’re now alone.
“What?” I ask, staring up at him in amazement. “What did I do?”
“You think I didn’t see Ambrose’s hands all over you?” he spits out, crowding me against the stone surround that lines the edge of the balcony.
“What are you talking about? He was just introducing me to people!” I say.
“Oh, yes? Well then, why was he touching you?”
“He wasn’t.”
“He was. His hand was on your back.”
“Well, that’s hardly—”
“Your body belongs to me,” he says, a fire in his eyes as he muscles me back against the low wall. “Maybe I should have paid more attention to your jealousy earlier,” he snaps. “Maybe it’s not me who’s interested in other partners. Been fucking other men behind my back, Amelia?”
The fragile thread of my temper snaps taut, and I shove at him, pushing him away from me.
“Of course I haven’t. Are you insane? He was looking out for me because you disappeared, so excuse me for spending time with the only other person I know in the whole goddamn place!”
“You stay away from him.”
“What, unless he’s in the corner of a room watching us fuck?” I hiss, anger coursing through me as I glare at him.
“What did you just say to me?” he asks darkly.
“Well, that seems to be the only time he’s welcome to come near me, isn’t it? When you’re in charge, so you can reenact the good times you had with your bitch of a fiancé.”
We both freeze. My mouth hangs open, as I stare at him, horrified.
“I… I’m sorry,” I attempt, but he’s already moving. He crushes me against the corner of the balcony, and now his brown eyes are dark with lust.
“Is that the problem?” he says, as his hands grip my hips. “You’re jealous of my ex?”
He rubs his nose against my neck, and even though I’m still seething at him, I can’t help leaning into his touch.
“Was she rude to you?” he asks, his mouth just beside my ear. “Because I’ll kill her.”
I snort. “Sure you will. That’s why you took her to dinner.”
He leans back, smiling down at me, as he rubs his hard cock against my leg. “Hm, you were jealous.”
I shove at him again, and his hands come up and grip my wrists, pushing my arms behind my back.
“You don’t like the idea of it, do you? Ambrose watching me fuck Megan.”
I try not to react, but by the low chuckle he emits, I’m not able to hide what I’m feeling. He’s rubbing his cock against me continually now, and I can feel myself getting wet, aching for him despite my anger.
“I never fucked Megan like that, in my bed. Ambrose only ever came to Megan’s place, and it was quick and perfunctory.
I don’t think she even enjoyed it. You, on the other hand, loved being watched.
Having another man staring at you while I shoved my cock so deep into you, you whined with pleasure. ”
I tug at my wrists, but he won’t let me go.
“I don’t want Megan, I want you, and I’m going to make sure every single man in that room knows who you belong to.”
He flips me around; my body bent over the balcony as I shudder, my ass against him, trying desperately to stand up and push him away.
“Are you insane?” I gasp. “Someone will see us!”
“Good,” he growls. “We both know it turns you on.”
Still, despite the ache between my legs and my desperate need to please him, as he begins to pull up my skirt, I push him away hard.
The worry coursing through me isn’t about being observed so much as someone from the office seeing us. That idea isn’t a turn on; it’s dangerous, and I don’t want rumors flying around about why he invited me here.
He stops, perhaps sensing my distress, and turns me back around as I let out a little huff of relief.
“Maybe you’re right, a balcony might not be the most discreet location. Lucky for you, I know this hotel by heart.”
And without another word, he tugs me out of the balcony, down the hallway, and into an enormous ballroom. It’s deserted, the parquet floor gleaming beneath the light of a mirror ball that turns lazily above us, casting shimmering lights across the floor.
“You can see why I didn’t pick this room for the party,” Crawford says with a grimace. “Tacky as hell.” He pulls me across the dancefloor, spinning me round until I’m facing him again. “But at least it’s nice and roomy.”
Letting go of my hand, he walks to the side of the room, pulls an ornate chair from a stack by the wall, and brings it back to me.
I stare at it, not understanding what he wants until he turns me around and bends me over it so my hands rest on the back of it.
Then he pulls my dress up over my ass, pulls down my panties, and drops to his knees. I make a choked sound of shock, but otherwise don’t move, watching the shimmering patterns of the mirror ball moving across the floor.
“You’re mine, Amelia. Say it.”
I shiver, knowing I should deny it but unable to find the words. “I’m yours.”
“I’m going to fuck you so hard you scream, and every man in New York will know who you belong to.”
This whole thing doesn’t feel real. I am his. I know it with more certainty than I’ve ever known anything, and it’s terrifying.
My thighs start to shake.
His hand slides over my stomach and up to my breasts, squeezing my nipples through the fabric. I push back against his tongue as he moans, licking into me so deep I can barely stay upright.
He stands up, pushing two fingers inside me, shoving them in and out of me, hard and fast. The image of what I must look like bursts into my mind, Crawford standing behind me, my dress around my waist as he shoves his fingers into me, preparing to fuck me in this grand stately room.
The image is sinfully good, and when I think about some of the guests walking inside, maybe even a group of men watching us, my body takes over. I suck in a breath as I come, explosively and unexpectedly with a long, trembling moan.
Both of us go still as I shudder, opening my eyes and biting my lip.
“Fuck,” I say, half ashamed to have come so fast but quivering from the strength of my orgasm.
“Did you come?” he asks, and he sounds pleased.
“Uh… yeah. Sorry.”
His fingers grip me harder. “Don’t you dare apologize. I need to remember this for later. Maybe I should punish you more often?” He slaps me across my ass, and I feel another pulse of heat shoot through me before he pushes his fingers further inside me again, and I groan.
“Oh yes. I’m gonna make sure you remember this lesson,” he whispers.
I stand up, allowing the fabric of my dress to fall down around my ankles, and I turn to Crawford’s curious gaze, then boldly drop to my knees.
“Oh fuck, yes,” he murmurs, watching as I pull out his rock-hard cock. He runs a hand under my chin, pushing my face up toward him.
“Can I fuck your mouth?” he asks.
I nod my head, elated that he somehow knew exactly what I wanted. I need him to use me, remind me that I’m not special to him, and that this is a paid service I provide. I can’t afford to have feelings for him, and I have to banish them forever.
As his cock pushes between my lips and moves to the back of my throat, I lap at it eagerly with my tongue. His hands take a gentle hold of my head, and he begins to thrust hard.
Use me. Convince me that’s all this is, so that I can remind my heart.