Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
R ockwell
The morning finds me seated at my desk, anxiously tapping a pen against my ledger. Feeling like a damn kid again, waiting for a girl to pick up her phone when I call her. I may look my age, but this girl has me as wired with testosterone as I was in my late teens.
I almost wish I hadn’t thrown away those cancer sticks. I could really use the distraction of a smoke right now. No cigarette to busy my fingertips, they drum against the desktop.
Will she come?
Or will I never see her face again?
I glance over at the paperwork Claude had her sign last night. It’s all there, neatly stacked at the edge of my desk. At least I have her full name now, should I want to see her again.
I can’t tell if the spanking scared her off or will be the thing that brings her back. Her body was so responsive, pressing against me, soft moans coming from her pretty lips as I spanked her full, sexy ass.
I can still feel the zipper of her skirt pinched between my fingers before Claudia rudely interrupted me, saving the girl from further shame.
Sisters. Can’t live with them. And they’ll never let you live without them.
Especially the kind of sister that fools the world into thinking they’re the older twin when they aren’t.
Claudia wouldn’t be half the pain she is if she’d release the contempt she holds for the fact I was born first.
There’s a knock on my door. It could be her. I can’t help the hope that lurches to my throat.
Has Lily taken me up on my offer? I clear the tension from my voice. “Come in.”
A cup of steaming coffee in her hand, Claudia stands at the door, alone. My stomach sinks. She’s not coming. It’s probably for the better. I find her extremely distracting and that’s the last thing I need when I should be focused on work.
Claudia gives me a wink then peers down the hall to her left. “Come on, don’t be shy.”
Lily appears in my doorway. Instantly at the sight of her, a warm, languid feeling fills my chest. I’m drowning in dopamine at her presence.
She is wearing a fitted navy-blue blazer that accentuates her slender frame, paired with a crisp white button-down shirt. Her black pencil skirt falls just above her knees—same from yesterday?
I know she’s struggling financially.
I stand to greet her. “Come in. Have a seat.”
As she enters my office, I see what took her so long. The car I sent wasn’t taken. She must have gotten her own cab or chosen to walk. She’s worn dressier shoes today. The click of her black heels echoes through the spacious office as she approaches me, but she’s unused to such high heels and she goes slowly so she doesn’t tip over.
Her eyes search mine for any sign of what’s to come. She takes a seat in the same chair as yesterday. Delicately, she crosses her legs, revealing a hint of lace-trimmed stockings.
God damn, she’s sexy.
Claudia gives Lily a warm smile. “Mr. Bachman, say good morning to Ms. Watkins,” she says in her soothing voice, her gaze flickering briefly toward me before returning to our newest employee.
I watch as Claudia hands her the mug of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air between us. Lily takes a grateful sip, her eyes closing momentarily in bliss. She seems both nervous and intrigued by the atmosphere of the office, by the aura of mystery of my rules, of the long list of sensual punishments that follow them.
I lean back in my leather chair, my gaze never leaving her face.“Good morning.”
Claudia leaves us with, “He doesn’t bite, Lily. But if he tries to, come find me.”
As Claudia’s footsteps fade down the hallway, leaving us in a cocoon of silence, I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement at having her alone in my office. She sits there, her eyes darting around the room, taking in every detail as if trying to memorize it all on her second visit.
I clear my throat, breaking the tension that has settled between us, both of us most likely thinking about what happened on this desk last night.
“So,” I begin, my voice a bit rougher than I intended. “Let’s talk about your role here at Rockwell Enterprises. As my front desk manager and personal assistant, you’ll be handling a wide range of tasks, from scheduling meetings to managing correspondence.”
Her expression shifts from uncertainty to determination as she nods, her gaze meeting mine directly. “I understand. I’m ready to take on any challenge you throw my way.”
Her words quickly bring up the memory from last night and her cheeks redden.
By coming back here this morning, we both know she’s accepted my indecent terms.
I demand. She obeys.Or there will be consequences.
Ones she’s now agreed to by stepping foot in this office once more. I can’t help but admire her spirit, her willingness to dive headfirst into the unknown. It’s both endearing and exhilarating.
But as much as I want to focus on the professional matters at hand, there’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind that pushes me to address the real reason she’s here. The uncertainty in her eyes, the way she fidgets with her hands—it’s clear there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
She really needs this job.
“Before we dive into the specifics of your role,” I start, my voice softer this time, “I can’t help but wonder what brought you here today. It’s not every day that a young woman like yourself agrees to the unusual terms of the Bachman family.”
She hesitates, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and defiance. I can sense the walls she’s built around herself, the layers of protection she wears to shield her vulnerability. But I’ve always had a knack for unraveling mysteries, for peeling back those layers to reveal the truth hidden beneath.
“It’s complicated,” she finally admits, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m the CEO of a multimillion-dollar investment company. Try me.”
I wait for her to open up at her own pace. I can see the internal struggle raging within her, the desire to trust warring with her instinct to protect herself. But there’s something about her that draws me in, that makes me want to shield her from whatever darkness she’s hiding.
“It’s okay,” I assure her, my tone gentle yet firm. “You can trust me, Lily. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“Well, the first thing I have to tell you is?—”
I wait, hanging on to her every word.
“Um… the eligible bachelor plaque? The one with your face on it? It was hanging in the front office when I came in today.”
“I’m going to kill her.” I run a hand through my hair, reminding myself to pour salt in her coffee instead of sugar the next time I make it. Paybacks are hell, Claudia . But at least I now know I can trust Lily to look out for my interests over my sister’s. “Now, please, get to the complicated part.”
She takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of trust and trepidation. And then, in a rush of words, she begins to unravel the tangled web of her past, each sentence like a thread connecting us in ways I never expected.
“I… I need this job,” she starts, her voice wavering but resolute. “It’s not just food and rent I’ve got to pay. I have debts to pay off, at least I think I do. Not mine?—”
The pregnancy test but no partner. I ask, “The ex’s that ran off?”
She gives a little nod. “Yes.”
“What makes you think that someone is holding you responsible for paying those debts?” I ask.
“There’s someone who’s been… watching me. Stalking me.”
My heart clenches at her words, a surge of protectiveness flooding through me. Without thinking, I push my leather chair back and stand up, moving closer to her. I can feel the fear emanating from her, see the vulnerability in her eyes as she lays bare her struggles. Her voice falters, but she continues, her words tumbling out like a dam has burst within her.
“My ex left with all my savings. At first, I thought it was because of the possible pregnancy, but then a few days ago, this black car started following me. I’m guessing my ex was in some kind of trouble. Maybe he stole my money to pay off some kind of debt, but it wasn’t enough. I’m worried if they can’t find him, they might come after me.”
“I see,” I say, taking it all in but giving her the space to keep going.
“I didn’t know where else to turn,” she whispers, her hands trembling in her lap. “You offered the job and at first, I didn’t want to get involved, didn’t want to trust anyone, but then I stumbled in here yesterday and couldn’t believe it was you, the older man from the store, standing in this office.”
Older? Not sure we needed that specific detail but still. “Go on.”
“I went home and wondered if the universe… it’s silly, but, and I… I thought maybe this could be my chance to start fresh, to have a safe place to be during the day, to make money.”
Her confession hangs heavy in the air between us, the weight of her words pressing down on me. I reach out a hand and gently touch hers, offering a silent gesture of support and understanding. In that moment, I know that I have to protect her, that I can’t let her face this threat alone.
“Lily,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “You’re safe here. No one will harm you while you’re at Rockwell Enterprises.”
“That’s nice. Thank you.” She glances down at her lap. “But it’s when I’m at home that he’s staking me out. I looked you up when I went home last night. I know that the Bachman family is powerful in this city. I can’t ask you to do more for me than you already have, giving me this job and everything…”
I’m crazy. I met this girl forty-eight hours ago and now I’m about to do the unthinkable.
Was Claudia right? Is this girl another one of my charity cases?
“As long as you work for the Bachman family, you will be safe. It’s a promise we make to every employee. This man won’t bother you anymore. I will personally make sure of that. Come, let me show you where you’ll be staying while you work with us.”
“Staying? But… are you sure? I mean, I’ll be fine at my apartment, maybe you could just have someone drive me home. Make sure I get in the door alright. That’s all I meant?—”
I stop her words with a firm, “I won’t hear of it. Come with me. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying until we get this taken care of.”
I lead Lily out of my office down the hall, and through a hidden doorway at the back of the building that leads us straight into the Village. As we step outside, the bustling cityscape of New York fades into the background, replaced by a serene stillness that envelops us like a warm embrace.
We walk along a narrow cobblestone path that winds its way through a thick curtain of ivy-covered walls until we reach the two imposing black gates.
With a gentle push, the gates swing open, revealing a world unlike any other. The tree-lined streets of the secret village are bathed in dappled sunlight, casting a golden glow on the elegant three-story homes that line the lanes.
The Village is serene, with a large grassy area in the middle. Couples sit at tables, having coffee together. The rows of three-story expensive homes are adorned with intricate details, each one more elegant than the last, many decorated with window boxes, colorful flowers tumbling over their edges. I can see the awe in Lily’s eyes as we approach my house, a majestic structure with ivy-covered walls and a sprawling front porch.
As we step inside, she gasps at the sight of the gourmet kitchen, complete with marble countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. The artwork on the walls is a collection of masterpieces, each painting telling a story of its own. I watch her take in the opulence of my home, her eyes wide with wonder and disbelief. It’s clear that she’s never experienced anything like this before, and I can’t help but feel a pang of guilt for thrusting her into this unfamiliar world.
But as I show her around my house, explaining the layout of the rooms and the amenities available to her, I see a glimmer of hope in her eyes. The weight of her past seems to lift ever so slightly, replaced by a flicker of optimism for the future.
“Lily,” I say softly, turning to face her. “I know this must all be overwhelming for you, but I want you to know that you’re not alone. You have my word that you’ll be safe here, that no harm will come to you while you’re under my protection.”
Her gaze meets mine, gratitude shining in those doe-like eyes of hers. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice filled with emotion.
Happy to have her safe here at my house, pride fills me. She’s in need and I’m going to take care of her.
She thanks me again. “Thanks, Rockwell, but I can’t. I can’t live here with you.”
And she takes off running, bolting through the front door.