CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SIX
E LODIE TOUCHED HER CHEEK , regretting her rash decision to turn up the temperature in the escape room and still battling to contain her jumbling emotions. What had just happened? How had that just happened? How had she lost all control, so completely? And was she really just going to go off with this man?
Yes, she was. For Ashleigh . She muttered her sister’s name like a mantra, desperate to keep her sister uppermost in her mind—not her own ravenous desire that had materialised the moment she’d set eyes on him and apparently could overrule her common sense as easily as pie.
As she approached reception, Bethan’s eyes widened.
‘Are you okay?’ Bethan leaned across the counter and whispered. ‘You’re really flushed and your blouse is—’ Bethan broke off only to immediately add, ‘What—’
‘I’m fine,’ Elodie interrupted hastily. ‘But I have to go away for a few days. Can you look after the rooms? Get one of the part-timers to—’
‘Go where?’ Bethan gaped.
‘I know it’s sudden.’ Elodie slapped on a reassuring smile. ‘I’m working on a deal to secure our future, but I just need—’
‘A deal with him ?’ Bethan shot a concerned glance over her head to where Ramon was waiting by the door. ‘He doesn’t look like he wants to do business with you, he looks like he wants to—’
‘It’s fine ,’ Elodie assured her urgently. She didn’t want to lie to her friend. She didn’t want to tell her the truth either. She would evade both options. ‘Can you manage? Please .’
Bethan hesitated. Bethan, who was still heartbroken from the whirlwind holiday romance that had culminated in a rushed mess of a marriage, and who trusted men even less than Elodie did.
‘Of course, but you stay in touch, and you call me if you need me,’ Bethan whispered vehemently. ‘ Any time. I’m here for you.’
Elodie squeezed her friend’s shoulder. ‘I know.’
Five minutes later Elodie awkwardly sat in the back of a car, avoiding meeting Ramon’s far-too-smug expression. She’d caught him looking at her thoughtfully once already and now she’d finally fully recovered her self-possession she was embarrassed. But she would fake otherwise.
Be smart. Sassy. Worldly-wise. Confident...
In control, in other words.
She cleared her throat. ‘Where are we going?’
‘To get your passport and papers. Then we’ll head to the airport.’
This was moving fast . But that didn’t surprise her, this man was used to getting things done. ‘I’m not marrying you without written confirmation of our deal.’
‘I’ve had a prenuptial contract drawn up—’
‘You were that certain I would say yes?’ Her temperature ticked up again.
‘I like to be prepared for all eventualities. Give me your lawyer’s email and I’ll send over a copy right away.’
She shot him a quelling look. ‘I’m capable of reviewing a contract myself.’
‘You should take independent legal advice.’
‘You should assume I’m capable of looking after my own interests,’ she replied coolly.
‘Have it your way,’ he murmured softly.
‘That’s how I like it,’ she purred back.
There was the smallest curve to his mouth as he gazed limpidly back at her.
‘So where is it?’ she prompted.
His eyes gleamed and his smile deepened. ‘I’ve put it into a series of envelopes and hidden them in various places in this car. I’ll offer occasional clues, though you might find each out of order and then have to puzzle them together. The page numbers might help, but who knows.’
She gaped at him for a full second before her burgeoning amusement bubbled out. His smile became pure grin as she giggled.
‘Here.’ He reached into a bag at his feet and handed her a file.
She was completely grateful for the diversion. It was bad enough that he was staggeringly beautiful, but when he made her laugh like that any last resistance fled her already weak body. Paperwork would be the perfect antidote. Beside her, Ramon had pulled another file and was already reading it.
He’d moved into work mode. She could get a grip and do the same. Thankfully, she’d taken Phoebe’s advice and done evening classes in business management and contracts law once she’d settled in London. She might not have made billions like Ramon, but with her wonder assistant friend’s help, she had educated herself. Hopefully, once she had control of the escape rooms she would make it even more successful. She wished she could’ve bid for the business on her own but she didn’t have the savings. And Ashleigh’s call for help now meant she needed to do whatever was necessary.
She read the neatly typed pages. Several clauses caught her attention. Upon the dissolution of their marriage, the business interests of the escape rooms would be hers in entirety. In return she would relinquish any further claim to his fortune. But there were additional benefits she’d not expected.
‘You’re giving money to Ashleigh?’ she asked.
‘My family has put immense pressure on her.’ Ramon kept reading the report in front of him. ‘Consider it reparation for emotional stress. This way she can choose to study or travel without having to bow to further parental pressure.’
Elodie blinked at his generosity. ‘And there’s a lump sum for me.’
‘You can scratch that one out if you like.’ He turned the page of his own document. ‘It was only in case the escape room doesn’t do as well as hoped once you take over, but having seen you in action today, I know you’re going to kill it.’
She was stunned by his vote of confidence in her ability.
‘What?’ He lifted his head and gazed directly at her after a couple moments. ‘You know you’re good.’
Well, she hoped so but it was nice to hear someone else say it. Especially someone as successful as him. She coughed and tried to focus. ‘The trust for Ashleigh is dependent on our remaining married for a minimum of six months.’
‘We don’t have to live together for all that time. I just want to beat the duration of your previous marriage,’ he said with a softness that was actually nerve-shreddingly sharp. ‘Be better than any competition. I’m a very competitive guy.’
She gritted her teeth. ‘I’m astounded there’s no good behaviour clause with a special reward for my doing every little thing you want.’
‘But Elodie, I’m your reward. This you already know.’ His eyes widened in mock innocence. ‘And every little thing you do will be every little thing that you want.’
Elodie dropped her gaze to the papers on her lap, trying to deny the fact that her damned toes were curling. Response rushed through her. She snatched together some sarcasm. ‘If it’s to be so mind-blowing, what tears us apart? How am I to destroy you?’
‘We’ll work that out later.’ He shrugged. ‘It doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. Neither of us will oppose the divorce. It’ll be quick, easy, painless.’
Unlike her last. She breathed out slowly. This offer was too good to turn down. Too easy. He was right. She would get everything she wanted. ‘You have a pen for me to sign?’
‘Do it on the plane, Piotr will witness.’ He nodded his head towards the window. ‘Passport, papers—birth certificate, wedding, divorce. Make it snappy.’
She hadn’t realised they’d pulled up at her tenement block. ‘I don’t need anything else?’ she asked, irritated by his high-speed insistence. ‘Toothbrush? Clothes?’
‘We can get all that there. You have ten minutes before Piotr drives off.’
Pointedly, she didn’t move a muscle because she was not jumping to his every little command. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to handcuff me to you and come inside with me?’
He stared at her, motionless. She stared back—words forgotten, intention to tease evaporated. Because this was no joke. Heat unfurled deep within and a dragging sensation in the pit of her pelvis pulled her inexorably towards him. Everything tightened. Just as she made to escape he leaned over her. Stopping her simply by narrowing his proximity.
‘I’ve already promised I’ll indulge any and all of your kinky urges once we’re married ,’ he reprimanded softly.
Fire scorched her cheeks. Yes, she’d thrown a gauntlet. But he’d not just accepted it, he’d trounced her with only a few words. She swallowed. No doubt he’d had many affairs while she was a complete faker . Little more than a novice. She’d have to work harder— smarter —to hold her own with him. Indulge and yet somehow maintain some self-protection. Remembering this was merely an affair was the way.
‘Go on.’ He opened her door before slowly pulling back from her. ‘The sooner we get to the airport, the sooner your sister is saved,’ he taunted.
She furiously exited the car and stalked into her building. She would hold her own with him. And she would escape unscathed. The one thing that soothed her was that he hadn’t been able to hide the fiery expression in his eyes. He felt this attraction as keenly as she. She grabbed her passport and file of important paperwork, changed into comfy jeans and a tee and threw a few other items into a small carryall. She needed his influence to free Ashleigh. He was willing to pay for that because he needed her name on a certificate so he could retain the property he wanted. Beyond that, his interest was only in her body. She had no real interest in him either—just his body. So she would have it. She was in control of this every bit as much as he was.
She would see Ashleigh safe. She would get her business. And she would have the first full-blooded affair of her life.
Ramon stared fixedly at the paperwork he’d been ignoring on his knee and willed time to move just a little faster. He did not want to see her home. Not her bedroom. He was not curious. And the last thing he wanted to think about was the other men she’d taken there. He’d never thought he’d ever be a jealous lover, but here he was—hating the thought of her kissing someone else. Of her letting someone else inside her home, her life, her body. He dragged in a deep breath, trying to quell the ferociousness of these utterly foreign thoughts overtaking his mind. He didn’t think about any women like this. But Elodie Wallace was gorgeous and wilful, smart and infuriating and he could not believe that he’d lost all control of himself and gone at her in her workplace . He hadn’t been able to resist. Which was not great.
Only what had happened had been so freaking fantastic that just the flicker of memory made him hot all over again. Aching— battling —he grabbed his tablet and forced his focus on making notes for his assistants. Taking time away from work was extremely out of character for him. He needed to give them extensive notes.
She lied. She cheated. Abandoned responsibility .
He repeated her self-confessed litany of moral crimes. Reminding himself to remain wary. Distanced. Yes, their chemistry was spectacular, but lust would be sated. He wouldn’t allow her to cause any damage. To his curling pleasure she was back within the ten minutes he’d assigned but he said nothing, and he even managed not to reach out and touch her despite the harrowing urge he had to. He ground through more briefings for his assistants and was ridiculously relieved when they finally made it to the airstrip.
‘Where are we flying to?’ she asked once he’d slid his tablet into his bag.
‘Gibraltar.’
‘Is that a private jet?’ Her eyebrows lifted as she looked at the small insignia on the plane. ‘Don’t tell me that’s your family crest.’
‘Okay then.’ He pursed his lips, mock pouting to remain silent.
‘You don’t seriously have a family crest?’ She stopped ahead of the stairs and studied it more closely. ‘Of course it would feature a bird of prey,’ she muttered. ‘But it should be all the apex predators in a pile fighting with each other.’
He laughed. ‘That’s exactly what my family is like. I’ll have it amended.’
‘Along with that stupid trust for your property,’ she said and marched up into the plane.
‘Right.’ He ushered her to a seat near a small table. ‘After we take off, sign the prenup. There are more forms. Some are in Spanish.’
‘I don’t speak Spanish.’
‘Piotr will translate.’
‘Can I trust him?’
‘For now you have little choice. But you’re quick...you’ll pick Spanish up in no time,’ he said soothingly.
She shot him a mutinous look. ‘Are you going to teach me?’
‘As if you’d allow that,’ he chuckled. ‘You’re more likely to download an app and teach yourself.’
She didn’t respond, which meant he was right. He couldn’t help smiling at her determined self-sufficiency.
‘Piotr will witness then get the documents ready to file.’ He handed her a pen.
‘Is there nothing the man can’t do?’ she murmured. ‘Will he be flying the plane too?’
‘Don’t get any ideas.’ Ramon felt that jealousy ripple again and tried to lighten his response. ‘He has a wife and two children. And if that isn’t enough to deter you from trying to seduce him, you’re not his type.’ He smiled. ‘You’re too provocative. He likes them demure.’
But Elodie’s sarcastic facade had fallen away and she looked genuinely concerned. ‘Does he ever get to see them?’
Ramon’s defensiveness surged. ‘My bodyguards are on a week-on, week-off schedule. This is his week on.’
He took a seat on the diagonal from hers. Once they’d levelled out Piotr appeared from the rear cabin along with an assistant who offered Elodie refreshment. Ramon opened up his laptop and feigned focus while she worked on the forms but he saw she did indeed scratch out the cash provision for her. He counted down the minutes until Piotr took the documents Elodie had filled in and went back to the rear cabin.
‘Are you always this work-driven?’ Elodie sipped from the tall glass of juice.
‘You do realise how many people my companies employ?’ he gritted. Because the fact was he’d basically got nothing done, and while he could always focus on work, right now was the one exception.
‘Companies?’ A furrow appeared between her brows. ‘Don’t you mean hotels?’
‘The hotels come under one company. There are several other companies.’ He stared at her. ‘Didn’t you do any research on me?’ Was he actually miffed by that?
‘Obviously not enough seeing I didn’t know you have a cousin with almost the exact same name as you. But then we can’t all afford an army of assistants with the skills to hack into people’s private databases.’
‘Your social media profiles were all set to public .’
‘What other companies?’ she redirected pointedly.
‘The luxury leather goods. The vineyards. There’s a venture into a cruise line.’ He slowly listed them off, rather enjoying her mounting outrage. ‘Then there’s the other properties.’
‘You’re CEO of all of them? How is that even possible? You can’t oversee the work of absolutely everyone.’
‘You’d be surprised how much detail I can retain on each,’ he said. ‘I like the variety. I need that challenge.’
Her mouth opened. Then closed. Then she sat back. For a second she’d almost looked crestfallen, which diverted him momentarily. Why would his work commitments disappoint her?
‘What do you want me to wear to the wedding?’ she muttered after another few minutes.
For the first time in years Ramon’s brain froze. ‘You can buy a dress once we get to Gibraltar,’ he said stiffly.
‘Ooh, are you going to give me a platinum card so I can drain all your massive accounts?’
He breathed out through clenched teeth. ‘Haven’t had time for that paperwork yet, darling. So sorry. Piotr will pay.’
‘You mean he’s going to keep me on a leash.’
Awfully, another ripple of jealousy ripped through him. He tensed—too busy battling it to answer her immediately.
‘You don’t have any requests?’ she prodded, unaware of how close to the edge he was. ‘Do you want something outrageous or would you prefer traditional?’
Have mercy. He closed his eyes—couldn’t stand to think of her in a wedding gown— any gown—in this instant. She’d look stunning in anything and best of all naked . And he was losing his mind. He hauled his papers together and stood, inwardly swearing because they were airborne and he desperately needed some space.
‘You can wear whatever you like,’ he snapped. ‘I need to work.’
Elodie stared as he strode towards the back of the plane. Okay, so he really didn’t care what she wore, which she should be pleased about. She’d had her clothing choices dictated to her for most of her life—no pink, no red, no short hemlines...
Yet absurdly she had the urge to make Ramon pay for his disinterest. There was literally, of course. She could spend squillions on some outrageous frock, which would serve him right, it really would. Maybe he thought she’d be restrained with Piotr in tow? Or maybe she’d turn up in a bin bag. He probably wouldn’t notice if she did and she’d feel rubbish. She didn’t want to feel rubbish, she wanted to feel good—wanted a dress that she liked. Maybe she’d go shopping and pick something solely for herself . After all, she’d not chosen her own wedding dress in her marriage to Callum. She’d had to wear the ‘fairy tale’ number her father had approved of. ‘Modest’ and ‘appropriate’, it had been lacy and swamped her. She didn’t want to be modest or appropriate this time.
This was definitely not a fairy tale.
Her marrying Ramon was going to be scandalous. But she didn’t care about the optics. She wanted to feel sexy . And she didn’t want to examine her motivations for that.
She ruminated for an hour, absurdly irritated by Ramon’s ability to focus on work while she was being driven to distraction at the thought of their marriage. As for all the companies he managed... His need for challenge and variety ... That told her their marriage was likely lasting way less than six months. He’d probably be bored and ready for his next female ‘challenge’ in days. Sure, he’d said his affairs were monogamous but that didn’t mean they lasted long. Had he had a succession of lovers before her? She didn’t even know, yet here she was. Jealous.
Grumpily determined to course-correct, she opened her phone and took advantage of the onboard Wi-Fi to download a language app. Ten minutes of basic greetings later, she needed a bathroom break and headed towards the back of the plane.
That’s when she heard a weird noise. She peeked through the gap in the door leading to the rear cabin. ‘Oh, for...’ She gritted back the rest of her mutter.
Ramon paused dictating voice messages and grinned at her. ‘Something to say?’
He’d shed his stunning suit and was now clad in gym shorts and singlet, apparently sweating out his aggravations, and looked even more gorgeous while he still worked.
‘I cannot believe you have an indoor cycle on an airplane,’ she said stonily. The machine was bolted to the floor.
‘It helps with jet lag.’
He was so perfect , wasn’t he? So controlled. Physically active, he ate well, and worst of all, he was still reading a report while doing it. Multitasking with his annoying ability to concentrate.
‘You really are a workaholic,’ she muttered.
‘You will be too once you get back.’ He smiled at her patronisingly. ‘Your business will be everything.’
‘It wasn’t a compliment.’ She corrected him. ‘Is money all that matters to you?’
‘It’s not money that drives me but the company itself. It’s my heritage and my responsibility and I’m proud that I’ve grown it.’
‘It’s your baby.’
‘As the escape room is yours.’ He scooped up the towel on his handlebar and wiped his brow. ‘Admit it. You work hard to make it thrive.’
‘Yes. But unlike you I also have other things in my life.’
‘Because your baby is somewhat smaller than mine. Mine is demanding.’
‘You could delegate.’
‘Why? What am I missing?’
‘Rest and relaxation?’ she quipped lightly, barely masking her deep curiosity. ‘A social life?’
‘Like you have? Dancing with all your men?’
‘Dancing with my friends ,’ she replied nonchalantly. ‘If men want to dance with us, that’s fine too. It’s a more fun option than your stress release. Cycling .’
He stopped pedalling. ‘Well, tomorrow night I’ll be riding you and I think you’ll be grateful I burned some energy here already.’
She gaped at him. ‘You’re appalling.’
‘Because you make it so worthwhile.’ He hopped off the bike and moved towards her. ‘For a party girl with no conscience and no cares, you blush amazingly easily.’
She locked her weak knees so she wouldn’t back away from him. ‘I’m not blushing. This is my natural colouring. Red.’
‘Rot.’ He placed the backs of his fingers against her cheek. ‘You’re burning up.’
‘Fever.’
‘Yeah, commonly known as lust.’ He laughed. ‘As stunning as I know we’re going to be together, we’re definitely waiting until our wedding night so stop trying to tempt me.’
She wanted to tell him he’d be waiting a long time but couldn’t lie that well.
‘It’s my first, you know?’ Sardonic amusement danced in his eyes. ‘Marriage, that is. Special.’
‘Are you going to wear white?’ she gritted acerbically.
‘I can’t tell you that!’ he declared with mock outrage. ‘It’s bad luck to see each other in our wedding finery before the ceremony.’
‘Bad luck is the least of your concerns.’ She turned and stomped back to the forward cabin.
She desperately tried not to stare at him when he returned to the seat beside hers a half hour later. He’d seemingly showered onboard and was now dressed in a different suit, smelt delicious and looked more vital and virile than ever. And she was not thinking about the bed she’d seen in that cabin at the back of the plane.
Once they’d landed, Ramon guided Elodie into the waiting car. They went straight from the airport to a civic office where they registered their intention to marry. In twenty-four hours they could proceed. Then they went to the hotel—which would also be their wedding venue. Oceanfront and opulent, their suite had the most stunning views of the sea.
‘I have work to do.’ Ramon set his bag by the large desk in the lounge.
So predictable.
‘Good stuff,’ Elodie said airily. ‘You need to earn many more millions because I’m taking Piotr shopping for the outrageously expensive dress that you don’t care about.’
‘Did that wound?’ He smiled at her dangerously. ‘Don’t worry darling, I care very much about what’s beneath it.’
Elodie had to get out of there before she devolved and did something physical to him—and not in a good way.
‘We need to find an evening wear specialist, Piotr. Are you up to it?’ she asked the enigmatic bodyguard.
‘I have a list of boutiques and phoned ahead to make several private appointments,’ he answered. ‘There’s also a hairdresser and beautician at the hotel on standby should you like to make use of them later.’
Good grief, the man was worth his well-muscled weight in gold. ‘I hope Ramon pays you ridiculously well,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how you put up with his round-the-clock demands.’
‘He’s a good employer. He doesn’t demand all that much.’
‘He’s listening in right now, isn’t he? In your earpiece. And you’ve just earned yourself a bonus.’
‘This trip is a bonus. It is the first time in three years I’ve known him to travel for leisure.’
Elodie paused, startled by the nugget of information she’d never have expected the utterly discreet Piotr to let fall. But this trip wasn’t leisure. It was business. And all work and no play made Ramon Fernandez a formidable opponent.
Ninety minutes and three shops later, Elodie stood in the private changing room and stared at her reflection. The shop assistants would admire her in anything—which meant she was reliant on her own judgement. She had to please no one but herself . She liked her costumes at work—pretending, being in character. But this was something just for her .
The soft silk skimmed her body, sophisticated, sexy, sweet too. It might not please him—it might not be the bold statement he expected from her—but she loved it.
Energised and excited, she decided to find something equally confidence boosting to wear to the family cocktail party they were going to gatecrash to stop Ashleigh’s engagement. Oh, yes, Elodie Wallace was finally on her game.