Hailee
I can’t believe this dress. It must’ve cost four grand. Minimum. It’s a Versace midi dress, and the piece screams sex. I love it. Little black dress.
But not too little. Tastefully little.
I’m still so high from the thrill of it, I’m trying to ignore the men trying to break into the house. Possibly armed. It’s easy here with Alex. He has that aura of invincibility. I find it hard to picture anything bad happening to him.
My brain reaches a simple conclusion. I’m with Alex, therefore I’m safe.
I was so happy for the appearance of the big black box. I needed something to focus my attention on other than Alex.
He looks good in a suit, but the tuxedo takes it to the next level. His hair is textured in waves, and his sharp jaw and cheekbones match the tailored cuts of his jacket’s lapels. How can men look so handsome without makeup?
I almost want to rub a wet cloth on his cheek to look for foundation, but I know I won’t find a thing. This man doesn’t have a pore. Being born really is a lottery, and I’m realizing Alex is one of its Powerball winners.
I’m not sure how I feel about going to a fundraiser with him. Won’t people assume we’re dating? Especially if we show up in the same town car, both wearing black. I mean, what woman could be platonic friends with Alex Blackwell?
I try not to bother myself with questions. I’m happy to have put him in his place. I’m breaking one of his rules by wording my way out of it. I like Alex telling me what to do, but screwing with him gives my stomach a thrill like I’m ticking up to the summit of a rollercoaster.
I let the dress I’m wearing pool at my ankles. I’m glad, because it was a bit of a gaudy blue gown. I know I looked good, but I don’t think it was night out with a billionaire good.
I pull the Versace dress out of the wrapping paper and get a full look at it before moving to put it on. It looks my size. Does Alex really know a woman’s dress size just by looking at her?
I guess he’s probably seen enough dresses lying on his bedroom floor.
I Iift one leg to put it on and try to look at the mirror at the same time. Oh shit. I begin to lose my balance.
I stagger a little to my left, trying not to fall, and thankfully catch myself on a hall table. I sigh in relief. Alex didn’t notice, but the table is wobbling, and my relief is premature. The lamp at the end of the table totters. It’s not at risk of falling, but I still reach out quickly to steady it.
Instead of grabbing the lamp, I practically punch it.
Time stops.
It feels like the lamp hangs in the air long enough for me to paint the damn thing. It looks expensive. Brass base. Stained glass shade. It feels like the wind is knocked out of me as I watch it shatter on the floor.
I can’t even say anything. I don’t say oh shit or I’m sorry. I’m frozen as Alex gets up from his chair and turns around.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I was… Lost my balance…”
He starts walking towards me. His eyes are on my mostly naked body, not the wreckage of the lamp. I feel my skin tingle under his gaze. I’m exposed, a little cold. I can feel my pulse between my legs as he gets closer.
“Was it expensive?” I ask.
Alex shrugs. “I thought you were old enough that it didn’t need saying, but there is a third rule.” He brings his eyes up to mine and then gives me a long once-over. He looks at my breasts and then my legs, like he’s deciding which part of me is most vulnerable to punishment. “Don’t break shit.”
“I’m sorry.” I feel my nipples press against my bra cups. I feel so sensitive to touch that a cool draft could lift me up like a leaf. I didn’t ask what happened when I broke a rule. I assumed he meant he’d kick me out, but from the fiery look in his eye, I’m not so sure now.
“Watch the glass.” He sets his warm hand on my ribs and gently pushes me back. His touch makes it feel like I’m in junior high and just downed an entire bag of pop rocks. He lets his hand linger on my ribs like he might go lower and looks into my eye.
I can’t tell if his touch is seductive or if he’s actually furious with me. For some reason, that fact drives me wild. His blue eyes look dangerous, and his grip isn’t exactly light. His hand is pressed firmly into my side. His fingers fall into the clefts between my ribs.
The words have never been closer to the tip of my tongue. Say it, . Say it, and he will.
Fuck me.
But my mouth is frozen shut.
Whatever thoughts are on Alex’s mind seem to evaporate. He takes a breath and moves his hand to hand to his pocket. “Get dressed. Try not to break my shit.”
I’m embarrassed at how much of a gut punch the words are. It makes me flip a switch. I’m not going to be teased by him like this. I don’t care if I broke his lamp. “Yeah. I was in the middle of that.” I wave the back of my hand at him. “I’m sorry about your lamp, but please… some space?”
Alex opens his mouth as if to get the last word in but decides against it. He goes back to his chair.
I almost can’t believe I got away with talking to him like that. It’s not like I expected the man to kill me right here on the spot, but he is not the kind of man you want to piss off.
He sits down, and I’m still mostly naked. Focus. I need to get this dress on.
In another minute, I’m inspecting my final outfit in the mirror. My mind is too frazzled to give the dress a proper assessment. It fits. I look incredible, and there’s a Versace tag on the inside.
What has my life turned into? I’ve never been the kind of girl to go to fundraisers. It’s not that I have anything against them. I love to see people dressed in their best and often for a good cause. The thing is, I’m just not in that world. I’ve been to a few, but always as a friend’s plus one when they didn’t have a date.
I guess tonight is no different. Alex is not my boyfriend. Or a fling for that matter. He bought me a dress, but maybe it was simply out of guilt. Or, my heart plummets, because he doesn’t think I own anything nice enough to be seen with him in.
There’s a knock on the door, and Alex goes to answer it.
A voice comes from the other side. “It’s Bruce.”
Alex opens the door, and Bruce enters. He wears a black suit, and I can see from the bulge at the side of his waist that he carries a pistol on his hip.
“It’s just the press. A couple of fools from the Post . I’ve gotten the police to get them to back off, but expect more soon. There’s been a piece published about you online.”
“What kind of piece?”
“An attempt at a profile. It details how the one connection through all this money laundering is you.”
“Great. Just what I fucking need. Leeches looking through my windows.”
It sounds like Alex wants to pour boiling oil on their heads. Unfortunately for him, just because he has a castle doesn’t mean he gets to live by medieval laws.
“I’ve already spoken with our friend in the NYPD. They’re going to set up a perimeter, keep them back a bit. It won’t be a problem, I assure you.”
Alex chews his lip. “I should’ve gone to the penthouse. What’s it matter if my enemies can see me? The glass there isn’t bulletproof for nothing.”
“You will be fine here, sir. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried. I’m annoyed. Ah… the press.” He hisses. “I was hoping they’d leave me alone in favor of the bank CEOs.”
“The bank CEOs aren’t nearly as good looking as you,” I interrupt to joke. It’s also true. It’s obvious the press would be way more interested in a statement from Alex. New York tabloids are already obsessed with him. But Alex and Bruce stare at me like I just peed in the punch bowl. “Never mind.”
Bruce looks back to Alex. “Let me know when you’d like to leave this evening. I’d suggest earlier before more press show up.”
“Agreed. Are you good to go?” Alex looks at me.
“Yeah. Ready when you are.” I keep my tone bored. I’m not feeling thrilled after how cool he got while touching me.
I’ll admit it. The idea of stripping just a few feet away from Alex was appealing. That’s why I came up with the idea. But he just can’t help but piss me off. I feel bad for breaking his lamp, but he doesn’t have to treat me like a child. Maybe this is the universe giving me a sign not to sleep with him. To forget this whole thing and stay as far away from him as I can while I’m trapped here.
And I’m quite literally trapped. It was only for a few minutes when Bruce had us close ourselves off in the den, but I had the feeling this wouldn’t be the last time we were locked down to our rooms.
Alex and I wait in the foyer as the car is brought around. The silence is killing me, so I decide to state the obvious. “It’s going to look like we’re dating.”
“Would you prefer to walk ten feet behind me carrying a notebook? Or perhaps we put you in the trunk.”
“I’m just wondering if you’ll face an ethics problem.”
“The board will be made aware of this situation. It will only raise questions if you ever get a promotion, and Lucas told me he didn’t think you were long for the Blackwell Corporation.”
“He told you that?” My chest feels tight for a different reason for once. Why would Lucas spill things to Alex that I told him in confidence? It’s almost like Alex read my mind.
“I think he wants you to leave. He feels guilty for getting you the job because he knows you’re not happy.”
“I’m happy,” I say defensively.
“Oh, please. The only happy people at the company are those making seven figures or more. And even then, they’re only smiling when they cash their checks. You’re not hurting my feelings, . Besides, if you don’t want to be an employee—”
The door opens before he can finish his sentence. Bruce is waiting for us, and so are a half dozen members of the press. We both squint as we’re caught in the flash of cameras.
“Quickly now,” Bruce says calmly, and we walk to the Mercedes and climb into the back seat. Bruce shuts the door and gets in the passenger seat, and we pull from the curb with a little squeal.
Adrenaline courses through my veins. The flashes. The car’s acceleration. It all leaves me a little woozy.
Alex reaches across the middle seat and sets his hand just above my knee where skin meets dress. He keeps it there as we drive. The touch is casual, but the way his strong fingers are spread on my skin is possessive. The weight of his hand acts like gravity. It calms me down. Centers me.
I’m still a little mad at how he spoke to me about the lamp, but I could pretend to be his for a night.
We’re quiet, but it’s a relaxed silence now. I realize this is the same car where my skirt had flown up my back earlier this week. I break rule number two again and lean my leg out towards Alex so his fingers are now on the inside of my thigh.
I sigh and look out the window. I’m acting like I’m just getting more comfortable and don’t care if his hand is on my leg or not. I didn’t put it there. He moves his fingers towards my clit.
Gently, just a little inch or two, but it’s like someone dropped smoldering coals into my gut.
The feeling is intoxicating. My vision blurs like I just downed a shot of tequila.
One thing I will say about not getting laid in months is that I’m drunk on lust. Every little touch comes with an explosive feel. Topped by the fact that it’s coming from a man as hot as Alex, it’s enough to make me turn into a puddle.
Where’d go? Oh, she’s right there on the seat. That half-dollar-sized dollop of water.
The car begins to slow in front of brake lights, and Alex removes his hand. I didn’t ask where the event was being held, but I’m not surprised to see we’re at the Ritz Carlton at Central Park.
Thankfully, there’s no red carpet. But there is a small throng of shouting paparazzi. Were there going to be movie stars here?
“What’s with the cameras?” I ask Alex.
“It’s not paparazzi. It’s the press. Pretty much all the CEOs who were named in the report are here tonight.”
“Oh.” They say love isn’t far from hate, which I’m not sold on. However, I will argue that excitement is very close friends with anxiety. All my lust leaves me, and I realize with horror that there’s a high chance my ex, Ford, is going to be here. The banking world is small, after all.
We go into the lobby and wait for an elevator. “Don’t leave the fundraiser without me,” Alex says. “I don’t want you disappearing.”
“Would you like me to be by your side?” I ask and look up at him. Even with my heels on, he has half a foot on me, but he doesn’t return my gaze.
“No. I’ve got a lot of business to do tonight. Just be near.”
We’re moving at that slow, Alex pace as we cross the lobby.
“Aye-aye,” I say a little sarcastically. I’m simply hiding my disappointment. Did I really want to lock arms with Alex all night and laugh at his jokes? Wait, Alex doesn’t tell jokes. But maybe at fancy fundraisers he does.
He can’t be the same cold bastard everywhere he goes. But knowing Alex, he isn’t one for wearing different masks. I decide to take his temperature.
“Why do you walk so slow?” I try to ask the question coolly, but whenever I tease Alex, my heart leaps into my throat.
He turns to me. “I wasn’t aware I did.”
“Maybe for the Midwest you don’t, but for New York, you move like a glacier.”
He considers what I said for a moment. “I guess I’m used to things coming to me.”
I nod, satisfied with his answer, and Alex says no more. His mind is elsewhere. Far from me.
We get into the elevator, and I realize the reality of this night is not a fake date. I’m going to be fending for myself in a room full of super-rich strangers. I almost want to ditch this whole thing now and go to the hotel bar.
But my legs are stuck in place as Alex stands to my right and the elevator doors slide shut.