Alex
I’ve been doing so well. I’ve hardly even seen Hailee since she moved in. Hardly heard her. I take my meals like a monk in my study and leave the house while she’s still sound asleep. But when I heard last night from Bruce that she was on a date, it felt like the floor fell out from under me.
My jaw had clenched with possessiveness. My fists with rage. I hadn’t let the image into my head of another man touching her until that moment.
It bored into my brain like a rage virus. It was all I could think about until she got back. A date. I almost had Clyde go into the restaurant to give a report on this man she was seeing, but that felt pathetic.
She said it didn’t go well, and I was glad to hear that. In fact, my heart took off down the runway of relief.
In a few hours, I’ll be in my black tux and freshly shined shoes, and I’m going out with Hailee on my arm. She’s mine. Even if we’re not sleeping with each other, as long as she’s living at my house, she’s not going to be with another man.
I have a few hours before I told her to meet me in the den. The fundraiser itself starts at seven, but I don’t like to show until at least nine. I skip the part where everyone is sober and making small talk. Business is better conducted when people are loose and not so careful with their words.
I go from the third to the second floor and through a maze of short halls to the security room. There are a dozen monitors showing the feeds from cameras. Bruce is sitting at the chair in his black suit.
He’s just what you’d want your head of security to look like. His bald head is so shiny, the man might wax it. He’s got a graying black beard, broad shoulders, and three decades of experience.
“Hey, boss.”
“All quiet?”
“All quiet,” he repeats contently.
I’m not finished trying to avoid Ms. Barnes. Keeping her from men is one thing, but I’m still not about to abuse my power as her boss and the trust of her brother, believe it or not. We need more security if we’re going to live more separate lives.
“I’d like to hire more guns until this story passes.”
Bruce immediately frowns, and I know he’s got some bad news coming. “Pretty much every top-level private security floater in New York has signed a new contract in the last week. The market for security went nuts after these assassination attempts.”
“And we can’t offer them a better deal?”
Bruce shrugs. “Money only goes so far. You’re competing with all the other billionaires and investment banks.”
I nod. I don’t make a fuss when I can’t buy the things I want. Bruce knows the security market. If he says we can’t get extra help right now, good help that is, then I trust him. All the banks are scared. Money laundering is a half-a-trillion-dollar black market in America alone. There isn’t a bank that doesn’t have its hands dirty. Most are just smart enough to make it nearly impossible to get caught.
“It won’t be hard to keep splitting security between you and Ms. Barnes,” Bruce continues. “It’s helpful when you keep your schedules similar.”
“Right. Thank you, Bruce. We’re leaving at eight tonight.”
“Yes sir,” he says I head back out to the hallway.
I should’ve hired extra security before this all started. It’s a rare miscalculation on my part. But I don’t want to be one of those scared little billionaires who thinks he’s some tough guy because he walks in the center of a dozen bodyguards.
I need one man to watch my back. That’s all. Despite my many talents, I don’t have eyes in the back of my head.
I have to take a call from my lawyer, Richard, at seven, which means I need to tell Hailee I’ll be late to the den. I don’t want her to come looking for me when I’m in the middle of a private call.
I stop in front of her bedroom door for the first time since she moved in and knock.
“It’s me,” I say as she opens the door.
“Hey.” She opens it wide.
She’s in the middle of doing her hair. She wears a long T-shirt that stretches close to her knees. It’s not particularly revealing, but it does leave me wondering what’s beneath it.
“I’ll be late to the den. I’ll be there at eight.”
“Oh, okay.” Hailee pauses.
I don’t have anything else to say. This should’ve been a text. I’m glad it wasn’t. I’m biting my lip and looking down at her little 5’5” frame.
“Do you mind if I skip dinner? I wasn’t sure if we were eating together since it’s usually served at seven.”
Hearing that sweet little voice asking such an innocent question makes my cock twitch. “Yes, you can skip dinner. Just be in the den before eight.”
“Understood.”
The way she said it was… dare I say tempting. Like it was a euphemism for yes sir .
“Good,” I say and step back. If I stick around a second longer, I’m going to find out if she’s wearing any panties under that T-shirt.
“See you in a bit.” I walk off and immediately pull my phone out of my pocket. I make a call. If I’m dragging Hailee to this fundraiser, I’m going to make it worth her while.
I go to my study to get some work done for a couple hours. I eat at my desk, and I’m only brought out of the trance of emails and business by a call already saying my package has arrived.
I have Cooper bring it to the den, and then I head into my closet to get dressed.
My gift makes me realize just how easy men have it when dressing for a night out. It’s in the dress code itself. Black-tie. Tuxedo. I just need to make sure it fits, and that’s the extent of my worries. I put mine on and do a once-over in the mirror, and then I join my present in the den and wait for Hailee.
She arrives at eight on the dot. Being punctual is an underrated turn-on.
I stand when she comes into the room, and whatever words I’ve thought of saying are lost as I look her over.
God, this woman is gorgeous. I’ve seen her dressed up at our holiday party but never allowed my eyes to linger for long. She wears a light-blue dress that presses on and emphasizes her breasts.
Her light-red lipstick and dash of blush makes me want to take her right here on one of these couches. I compose myself, as always, and pick up the black box with a gold bow that rests on the coffee table.
“You look good,” I say, the understatement of the century.
“You, too.”
I’ve been so busy studying her body and makeup, I haven’t realized that my appearance in a tuxedo has had its own freezing effect on her.
I watch her neck flex as she gulps nervously.
I take my attention to the box. “For you.” I tap it with my index finger. “Consider it a moving in gift. A sorry your life is suddenly fucked .”
“Oh.” Hailee smiles and walks forwards. She pulls the bow untied and lifts the lid. I watch her eyes go childishly wide as she reads the label and looks at the fabric. “This is for me?”
“Do you see a pretty girl behind you, rabbit?”
Hailee actually turns around, and I grin. She shakes her head like she’s made a fool of herself and glances back inside the box. “I can’t take this. Oh my God. Is this rented?”
“Nothing in my life is rented. There’s just one condition. I want you to wear it. Tonight.”
Hailee’s mouth opens like she’s going to stutter and protest, but instead she meets my eye. “Okay.”
I step back to let her pass me to go back to her room and change, when Bruce’s voice suddenly comes over the intercom.
“, we’ve got two men outside trying to get through the kitchen window. Police are on the way, and I’m moving in myself. Where are you?”
I move to the intercom button on the wall. “I’m in the den.”
“Are you with the girl?”
“Yes.”
“Can you lock down?”
“Got it.” I shut the great oak door to the hallway. I’ve had every room in this house fitted with external deadbolts. I move the thick iron bar into place and close the blinds, even though the street is too far below for anyone to look in the windows.
“It’s probably nothing,” I say. It sounds amateur. No serious hired gun would be trying to break in with the visible cameras all along the back alley during sunset.
Hailee just nods lightly. “How long do you think we’ll be locked down?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Hmm.” Hailee’s eyes are slightly narrowed. There’s an idea building in her head, and I’m quiet while I wait to see if she says it aloud.
“I don’t want us to be late. There’s a mirror here.” She points to the standing mirror in the corner with her thumb.
“What are you saying?”
“I can change here,” she says, all chipper. Like stripping down to her bra and panties is the practical thing to do.
I’m quiet at first. I’m both turned on yet angry to be tested like this. I can’t even tell if she’s flirting or not. “What was rule number two?”
“It just makes sense. I’m dying to put this on. Just… turn around. It’s not a big deal.”
I keep staring at her.
“What? You can’t sit in the chair that faces away from me for a minute?”
I don’t say anything. I walk to the leather armchair and sit. The image of her mostly naked body behind me pulls on my head like a magnet.
Just one look.
No, she’d tease me for it. And that’s not how this relationship is going to go. I won’t give her the damn pleasure.
I cross one leg over the other and stare at the curtained window.