Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth
The weekend with Diego was a blissful and tremendously sensual experience.
After his little punishment the night he returned, my brutal mobster massaged my wrists, arms, and shoulders before running me a nice hot bubble bath.
He let me soak in it without even bothering to seduce me.
A part of me painfully wanted him to slide into the tiny tub and dominate me, but it was for the best. My pussy was sore, and my heart was too attached.
Now, it was time for work and a mini break from my handsome lover. “So what are you doing in my apartment for the day?”
“I’ll be leaving after you do. Don’t worry about anything. Just be safe and listen to your guard. They are there for a reason.” I nodded and saluted him.
“Smart ass.” He kissed me and then took my hand before his phone rang. He gave me a sheepish, apologetic smile and pointed to his phone. I walked to the door after kissing Diego one more time, promising to be a good girl at work.
He was already on the phone when he tipped his head toward the tall man in the suit. “I see you’re the runaway Diego was looking for? Well, I’m Jack. You just let me know if you need anything, as long as it’s not trying to run away.”
“I’m not planning to go anywhere.”
“That’s good, ‘cause the last guy that let you slip away had to learn a hard lesson.”
“Oh, no.” I didn’t want anyone to be harmed because of me. I knew Diego wasn’t happy that I ran, but it was my choice.
He shrugged. “Don’t worry, he’s fine. Anyway, I’m just here to make sure you’re safe on your way to work, okay?”
He held the door open for me, and I stepped into the back of the SUV. “Okay.” He drove me into the office. He didn’t just leave me at the entrance; instead, he walked me inside past security. “Excuse me, you can’t go in,” Walters, the security guard, said.
“I’m Miss Glenn’s private security.”
“She doesn’t need private security in here.”
“That is not for you to decide.”
“Mr. Keaton,” I gasped, watching him walk toward us.
“Private escort now?” he questioned.
“Keaton, don’t get smart. Mr. Hernandez doesn’t like anyone to speak to Miss Glenn like that.”
“Calm down, muscle head. I wasn’t being offensive. Besides, you can wait outside the lobby on the floor, but that’s the best I can do. This is a security firm, and everything is private for a reason. Mr. Hernandez is a client and is lucky that I don’t drop his ass from my business.”
“I apologize for this. I can call Diego and tell him this isn’t necessary,” I interject.
“No, I don’t mind as long as the cretin he sends behaves themselves because you are in a vulnerable position now.”
“Are you serious?”
“You’re dating a thug,” he scoffed. He opened the door to our lobby.
“I’ll make sure to inform Mr. Hernandez of your thoughts.”
“Go ahead. I’ll tell him. You are a whiny little bitch. We have work to do, and you’re bothering us. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He held the door to his office open for me, and we walked in before closing the door on my guard.
“Take a seat. I’m sorry for being so rude to that asshole, but the whole damn idea that he thinks he can boss me and my staff around is incredible.”
“I truly am sorry about it.”
“It’s not a problem. I spoke with Diego this morning. He asked if it was acceptable and I agreed, so that dickhead’s attitude was unnecessary.”
“Oh.”
“So we have a couple of meetings today. I’ve sent you their last-minute requests. If you could draft up the standard proposals, that would be great.”
“Of course. I’ll have them ready before each meeting for your approval.” We finished our brief morning conference and then I snagged a cup of coffee before going into my office. I’d only just logged in when I received a large bouquet of roses at my desk.
“These came.”
“Thank you, Walters,” I said.
“Yes, Miss.” He left with a nod, scowling at my guard as he passed by him.
I opened the card and read it. These are as red as your lips the night we met. Until we see each other tonight. -D
I smiled and set the card down because Mr. Keaton had his first meeting at ten, which meant I had forty minutes to finish the project, give him time to review, and revise.
The rest of the day went smoothly and as soon as it was time to leave, my guard walked me out and I was met by a handsome Diego in a black suit, staring at me with sensual eyes. “Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?”
“To go out to dinner.” He opened the door and helped me into the SUV.
“Dinner?” I asked as I sat back against the plush leather.
Diego slid in beside me, and my guard closed the door. “Are you too tired?” He ran his hand down my arm.
“No, I just didn’t expect it.”
“I want to show you off to the world, Elizabeth.”
“What about when this thing between us ends?” I questioned, needing to know what he wanted from me.
He scoffed and shook his head. “You have to know that I’m not letting you go again.” He dragged me against him and crushed my mouth against his lips.
“Then show me off.”
“Gladly.” The dinner was magnificent, and we drew a lot of attention from people. I swore I spotted some cameras, but maybe that was just my imagination.
“I have to work tomorrow, so I should probably head home.”
“How about I escort you there and collect some of your things so you can stay at the condo with me?” I smiled because I loved that idea very much.
****
Three weeks later, my stomach lurched and I ran to the restroom. I barely made it there before I lost the breakfast Diego’s chef had made for me. Dang, I guessed I didn’t like Chilaquiles as much as I thought I did.
I stepped out of the ladies’ room and returned to the main reception area of the executive floor.
My heels came to an abrupt stop when a man in a black suit turned to face the sound.
His dark brown eyes met mine, and a sense of unease sent the hair on my arms standing on end.
Although I didn’t know the man, something about him seemed familiar.
“I’m here to meet with Jimmy.” Not many people were bold or close enough to my boss to call him Jimmy.
My eyes narrowed because I hadn’t been made aware of an appointment today.
In fact, he’d made it clear that he’d be taking a half day because his schedule was light and his newfound romance left him with a desire to work a lot less than the ninety hours he put in a week.
“Your name, Sir?” I asked, inching closer to the reception desk, hoping to create some distance between us with a barrier, but the man wasn’t taking the hint and mirrored my every move.
“You don’t remember me?” He tilted his head slightly and smiled a little too much.
“Should I?” I questioned. He reminded me of Mr. Keaton’s perverted brother, and I didn’t want this man anywhere near me.
I’d seen James’s calendar this morning, and there was no meeting.
Security wouldn’t have let this man up without proper clearance, so maybe it was a last-minute schedule adjustment. I knew that James wasn’t in yet.
“I’m Councilman Greenlee.” He tugged on his cuffs and smirked with too much confidence that attempted to exude some level of flirtation, but that had no effect on me.
He stuck out his hand for a shake, and it would be rude for me to refuse so I was obliged, but when he took mine, he pulled me extremely close.
His grip was so tight that I couldn’t yank myself away, and our bodies were touching.
Even though I had nothing left in my stomach, I was about to have a round two.
He leaned in by my ear and whispered, “Even without all that makeup, you’re stunning.
It’s no wonder Hernandez was willing to spend the money on you.
Or maybe he just wanted to add to the torture he’s putting your father through in prison. ”
“Unhand me right now, Sir.” He did so just as Mr. Keaton entered the lobby.
“Councilman Greenlee, my security told me you were here. I had no idea that you’d be arriving so early.”
“Yes, well, your lovely assistant was well worth the early arrival.” His eyes rakishly roamed over my body. My stomach lurched again, but I managed to contain my need to vomit. What did he mean about my father and Diego?
“Join me in my office, Councilman.” He led him away from me. Then he turned back to me. “Miss Glenn, we’re going to postpone our morning meeting.”
“A pity. I’m sorry to disrupt your fun,” he added, giving me another passing once-over.
“We run a business, and I’m happily engaged,” Mr. Keaton gritted out while attempting a friendly demeanor as he led him away. I wanted to rush back to the bathroom. Instead, I turned toward my office.
My hands shook as I closed my office door. The man was a fucking disgusting pig, and a part of me lost some respect for James. How could he work with a man like that? Was he working with him? And did Diego do the same? What was his relationship to my father?
A message came through my computer screen from my boss. It was our interoffice chat.
My apologies. Take the day off.
Ok.
I’d been honest about not recognizing him until he made that comment about my makeup.
He’d been at the party. We hadn’t even spoken, but he’d pulled the woman who invited me to the side.
Kara said she worked for a councilman, so I supposed it was him.
Still, this was a little more than uncomfortable to me.
Mr. Keaton didn’t take random appointments unless there was a good reason, so I was only partially angry with him. At least he was telling me to leave.
My phone rang on my desk, startling me. I hoped it wasn’t James needing me to go in there for anything. “Elizabeth Glenn here. Can I help you?”
“There are many ways you can help me, beautiful.” A sigh of relief fell from my lips. “But first, I’m going to ask you to grab your things and walk out of the building as quickly and calmly as you can.”
I had no problem with that request. I wanted to run out of the building and never come back. As long as I’d worked there, I’d never felt so unsafe. “Okay. Is something wrong?”