Chapter Thirteen Maksim #2
“Then it would appear that your benevolence is bullshit since you know I need the money for my father’s care.”
Rising from the couch, I went over to the desk. After pulling out the envelope bulging with cash, I walked back over to her. I placed it gently into her lap. “While it isn’t the full amount I plan to offer you to treat me, it is enough to see your father in a top facility for the next two years.”
Blinking at me in bewilderment, Sarah asked, “What are you going to offer me?”
“A million dollars.”
A squeak of alarm escaped her lips. “You…that’s…no,” she muttered incoherently.
“I can assure you that’s my offer.”
“Why? I mean, I know I’m good at my job, but there are hundreds of better doctors or speech therapists who could treat you.”
“It isn’t just about your qualifications. It’s about who you are as a person.”
“Your associate, um, I mean, your brother said you’d read my journals.”
“T-That is true. I also read t-the reviews of your p-practice.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m very t-thorough.”
“Apparently so.” She ran her fingers over the envelope. “For you to pay me one million dollars, all I have to do is treat you.”
“T-That’s correct.”
“I don’t have to…” Her gaze snapped from the envelope to mine. Gesturing with her hand, she said, “You know.”
“Are you asking if I expect you t-to fuck me?”
Mortification reddened her cheeks. “Yes.”
I winced. “I never imagined your impression of me was t-that bad.”
“Excuse me for thinking the worst. You’re obviously a very rich and very powerful man. Considering the way you look, I’m sure you don’t have to pay anyone for sex, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have some weird kink.”
The corners of my lips quirked. “A kink for fucking speech p-patholgists who t-treat me?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s possible.”
“No, D-Dr. Whitfield, my offer comes without strings.”
Sarah stared at me before finally nodding. Apparently, curiosity got the best of her because she undid the prong on the envelope. After peeking inside, she gasped. “There’s really money in here.”
“I t-told you there was.”
“I can’t believe it,” she murmured.
“The one t-thing you can t-trust is I’m a man of my word.”
Rolling her eyes, Sarah replied, “You’re so full of shit.”
“I can assure you it’s the truth.”
“Remember that pesky part where you kidnapped me?”
“My associate did that.”
“Whatever,” Sarah grumbled, as she ran her fingers over the hundred-dollar bills sticking out from the envelope. Silence hung heavy around us. “You’re really offering to give me this money and let me walk away?”
“Yes.”
Others would’ve thought I was taking a huge gamble. What person wouldn’t have taken the money and run for the hills after being kidnapped? Sarah would have to be insane to stay.
But I remained wearing my poker face because I knew who she really was.
She was someone with overwhelming empathy.
Even though she hated herself for it, I knew my story affected her.
The decency within her wouldn’t allow her to walk away.
Although she wasn’t a medical doctor, she certainly believed in the Hippocratic Oath when it came to treating those in need.
With brows furrowed, Sarah raised her gaze to pin me with an intense stare. “If I stay, I have some requests I’d like granted.”
Fuck me. My insane plan had actually worked. While my heart began beating erratically at her statement, I kept my expression impassive. “Such as?”
“Every Wednesday I have a standing dinner with my brother. He…” A frown creased her brows as she fought her emotions.
“Even though he has high-functioning Down Syndrome, he won’t understand me canceling on him for a week or two.
It would hurt his feelings. And I refuse to make him worry if I said I’m sick or something. ”
“I don’t see why that would be a problem.”
Her eyes popped wide in surprise. “It won’t?
“As long as one of my men accompanies you.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, Dr. Whitfield.”
“And who is lacking in trust now?”
“It’s not only about trust. It’s ensuring your safety.” At her questioning look, I added, “As I’ve told you, I’m an important man–one with enemies. While you’re in my home, I want to ensure your safety at all times.”
“That makes me feel so much better,” Sarah huffed.
Although I hated ignoring her discomfort, I changed the subject. “What was another one of your requests?”
“I want my cat.”
“Excuse me?”
“My cat–I can’t possibly leave her for days on end.”
“I’ll be happy to p-pay for an in-home p-pet sitter,” I suggested.
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “And I want her here with me.”
Christ. Of all the animals she would have, it would be the one I was allergic to.
The last time I’d try to cohabitate with one was after Irina’s death, and Kira brought hers.
Considering her mother had just been murdered before her eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Kira to get rid of it.
Instead, I’d been bedridden with the worst head cold of my life for days until Mother made Kira move the cat to another wing of the house.
Sometimes I teased Kira that she still held a grudge against me all these years later.
Huffing a harsh breath out of my nose, I replied, “Fine. You can have your cat as long as it stays in your room.”
Instead of thanking me, Sarah merely shot me a triumphant look. Ignoring it, I asked, “Is there anything else you want?”
“While that’s it for now, I would like to reserve the right to make future requests.”
A chuckle rumbled through my chest. “You d-drive a hard b-bargain.”
“As you said, I’m worth the money, right?”
“We’ll see.”
“How long do you expect to keep me here?”
“As I mentioned b-before, I need t-to improve as quickly as p-possible.”
A sympathetic look came over Sarah’s face. “While I can help improve your stuttering, I’m assuming you know there is no true cure considering your age.”
My chest clenched at her words. It wasn’t like I hadn’t expected that answer. But I hadn’t completely given up hope that Sarah was a miracle worker.
“Yes, I d-do. But with t-that said, I do want t-to immerse myself in t-treatment.”
“I understand.”
“How long can you be gone from your practice?”
She frowned. “Maybe ten days. I’ll have to reschedule a lot of clients.”
“I’ll t-take it.”
Sarah blinked like she was coming out of a spell or hypnosis. After running her hand over her face, she shook her head. “I must be fucking crazy to agree to this. Maybe as crazy as you are to kidnap me and give me a million dollars to treat you.”
Before I could respond, Lev burst through the door. After throwing a frantic glance between Sarah and me, he blurted, “Dima’s been calling you.”
“And I’m b-busy as you can see. I’ll call him b-back.”
With a shake of his head, Lev replied, “He needs you. Now.”
Fuck. At all times for our well-crafted plan of our father’s demise to be executed, it had to be now. “Right. T-Tell him I’m on my way.”
As Lev hurried out of the room, I gave Sarah an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, b-but I have an important meeting t-to attend.”
“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”
“I’ll have my associate take you to your home to get your things and your cat.”
“Okay,” she replied warily.
After walking to the desk, I waved her over. “But before we proceed any further, I need you to sign the NDA and waiver.”
Although her lip curled with disgust, she rose off the couch to join me. Snatching up the pen beside the NDA, she quickly scribbled her name. When she was done, she asked, “Is that good enough, or should I prick my finger and sign in blood?”
The flash of fire I’d seen in her last night had returned and shot straight to my cock. “I think the b-black ink will be sufficient.”
Aleks and Lev appeared in the doorway. “You need to go. Now,” Aleks ordered.
“I know!” I snarled, which caused Sarah to jump. Wiping the venom from my face, I replied, “I’m sorry for startling you.”
Surprise flashed on her face. “It’s okay.
Nodding at Lev, I said, “You’re to take Sarah to her home to collect her things.”
Irritation flooded his face. “I planned to come with you.”
With a shake of my head, I argued, “And I need you here.”
“Chush' sobach'ya!” he spat.
I couldn’t blame him for thinking it was bullshit for me to force him to stay with Sarah rather than come with me and Aleks.
But I needed someone with her, and I trusted him with her life.
At the same time, I couldn’t be soft with him.
If everything went as planned, I would be his pahkan by the evening.
Jabbing a finger at him, I snarled, “Pomnite, s kem vy razgovarivayete, brat!”
He scowled at me, pulling the old "remember who you’re talking to” adage. “You owe me.”
With a sneer, I replied, “I’ll remember this favor.”
Lev maturely replied by shooting me the bird. Ignoring him, I turned to Sarah. “Lev will t-take you wherever you need. All you have t-to d-do is ask.”
After glancing warily between the two of us, Sarah remarked, “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I am. Right, brat?”
Gritting his teeth, Lev replied, “Da.”
Nodding, I then started across the room to join Aleks in the doorway. But before I walked out, I threw a final glance over my shoulder at Sarah.
And then I hurried off to watch my father die.