Chapter 25
Chapter twenty-five
Sage
Dorian returns to the office later in the day only minutes after I do, but I’m only there to do some paperwork, send off a few emails, and lock up for the night. I’ve done everything on the road, wanting to avoid this place after he cornered me in my office this morning.
I rarely see him in here, then all of a sudden twice in one day. He stops at my door.
“I hope you had a good day, Sage.”
“Thank you.” I smile, hoping that conveys enough about my day, then shift my attention straight to my computer. It has the opposite effect than what I wanted. Ignoring him seems to attract him and he steps inside my office.
“I’d like to schedule a meeting with you.”
“We just spoke this morning.” I’m forced to pull my gaze away from my emails.
“Unofficially. Look at your calendar. When are you free this week?”
“I’m not.”
“Look.” He tempers the demand with a smile, stepping just inside her office.
“My apologies, Mr. Campbell—”
He interrupts, “Dorian, please.”
“My apologies, Mr. Campbell, but I do not have any availability between my current clients and the personal and familial issues I have going on at the moment.”
“I’m sure someone will fill in for you at an appointment or two to allow you time to meet with me.” His tone hovers between professional and suggestive. He grips the back of the chair across from me, leaning forward.
“I value all of my clients. As I’m sure you appreciate your agents attending your meetings with them, my clients do as well.
I’m afraid I wouldn’t feel right allowing someone else to fill in when I’m capable of being there.
Liam does a wonderful job handling all of your properties and there are many others here that have more availability. I must decline.”
“You’re a difficult one, aren’t you?” He straightens, unbuttoning his jacket as if to sit down. “A date.”
“Excuse me?” Something in my tone makes him pause.
“Sage.” He says my name as if placating a teenager, and steps closer to my desk. “If you don’t have time for me in your day, then honour me with a date during your evening.”
“I can’t do that. I’m seeing someone.” Aside from taking Barrett to the gala, there’s no evidence I’m not single. I just want him out of my office. Never have I come across someone as insistent as him.
His eyes narrow over a measured smile. He doesn’t believe me. “Until next time, Sage.” Dorian backs away and walks out of my office, turning left in the direction of Liam’s.
Everything in me wants to rush from this room and go home. But I can’t.
All of the words in the emails blur into a cloud of black and white. I keep my responses short and anything I can’t make sense of, I leave. All while trying to even my breathing. I don’t know what it is about him, but something about his persistence sends fear vibrating through me.
Shutting down my computer and shoving everything in my bag, I type out a text to Barrett.
Me: Where are you? I don’t want to go home. It’s ridiculous. Dorian came into my office, overstepping in a professional setting. He isn’t following me.
I feel my phone buzz on my way out of the office, but my hands are full. Once I’m in my car, I look at the new message, hoping it isn’t my boss reprimanding me for turning down Dorian.
Daddy: Wherever you need me to be.
I grit my teeth against the relief pushing tears to the corners of my eyes. I need to feel secure, but I didn’t pay attention to his address when he took me to his house.
Me: What’s your address? It’s only seconds later and he sends me a link that connects to the map in my phone, taking me straight to him.
I call Nova on the way, listening to her quiet voice through the car speaker, an improvement over sitting in silence. Each step she takes is small, but she’s healing. I need this distraction or I’ll talk myself out of going to Barrett’s and risk going home. Alone.
Nova’s struggling, but I’m proud of her for pushing through each day with the hope it will get better.
Barrett’s home is still ten minutes away and I call my mom to remind her she needs to check in on Nova tomorrow morning. I’m trying to get the rest of the family involved, but they find it awkward to be in her presence. I get it, but it isn’t about us.
Hanging up, I see the gate blocking the entrance to the smooth, paved lane. Not a single one of the houses are visible from the road. The gate opens as I approach. There’s no one here. Barrett mentioned some serious surveillance.
It’s not as intimidating as the last time I was here. First in the dark and the next morning in a panic because I was late getting to Nova.
Barrett waits in his open front door as I park. Surprising myself, I walk calmly and straight toward him, as if there’s nothing wrong with me and I only changed my mind about seeing him.
He doesn’t move out of my path for me to enter, but I tilt my body anyway. His large hand splays over my stomach to hold me near.
“What happened?” He speaks low and it’s the most tantalizing sound that has me relaxing for the first time today.
“Nothing.” I’m better now, and this is all I needed. To be next to him. He’s become my safe place and I didn’t even know I needed one.
“Don’t lie to me.” He’s always been careful not to let his threats flow too harshly, but this time he does.
I swallow. “Just a client who gave me the creeps. I needed to not be alone.”
His hand moves up my torso, grazing my breasts, then wrapping around my throat. “Not good enough. What. Happened?”
“He’s being pushy. Not taking no for an answer. That’s it.” I lean into Barrett’s hold.
“Who? I’m not letting go until you give me a name.”
I consider giving him a fake name. No way would I name one of my real clients, potentially putting them in danger.
It’s the assassin who demands while it’s Daddy who has his hand around my throat.
I’m not sure what volatile mixture that would create.
But a fake name isn’t what comes out of my mouth. “Dorian Campbell.”
He lets go of my throat and moves me into the house, shutting and locking the door behind us. “Our deal is over. Your debt is paid, pet.” He moves into the kitchen, pouring from an open bottle of whiskey on the counter into the two glasses.
“What? But you said—”
“Doesn’t matter what I said. I’m saying it’s done now.” He holds out one of the glasses to me.
“Oh. Okay.” I stare at the glass and shake my head at the offer. Any reason to come here is gone. “Thank you. I’ll go.” We don’t owe each other anything anymore. The blackmailing is over, the debt is paid. I shouldn’t have come.
Barrett spins to set the two glasses back down on the counter. He catches me with an arm around my middle before I reach the door. He doesn’t lift or pull me, but his arm is an impenetrable bar.
“Oh, no you fucking don’t. You aren’t leaving.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“You came to me because you were scared. I’m not letting you leave now.”
“I was being ridiculous. He’s just being pushy.”
He releases me, but doesn’t step back. Bringing his hand up, he lifts my chin with his knuckle.
It’s so similar to the way he touched me at the gala, imparting some sort of pride into my spine.
“Trust your instincts, Sage.” He’s telling me something with those words.
I’m right to feel uneasy around Dorian. “Your instincts told you were in danger. Your instincts brought you to me.”
They did. I knew I’d be safe with him. I wasn’t thinking when I bolted from the office. The only thing I knew for certain was that I didn’t want to go home and be alone.
Barrett drops his hand and steps back toward the drinks he set down. This time, when he passes me the glass, I take it.
“What else are your instincts telling you, pet?” He leans against the counter, slipping a hand in his pocket and crossing his feet.
That I should take back what I said last night. I want to repeat what we did. “I don’t know.”
“Come here.” He spreads his feet, leaving a space for me between his legs. I’m moving into him before I think about it. His fingers trace my jaw from my chin to my ear, drawing out a soft sigh. He pulls at my lower lip with his thumb. “Do you want to be Daddy’s pet?”
Yes, please.