Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
He sat back in his chair and stared at me.
I drank my wine as I stared back.
He released the smoke from his mouth before he set the lit cigar aside. “Is this serious, or are you just his favorite whore?”
I almost choked on my wine when I heard what he said. “Excuse me?”
A grin moved on to his lips. “You heard me.”
“I’m not a whore.”
“You’re telling me you enjoy fucking a man twice your age?” He cocked his head slightly. “When a younger, cockier, and more handsome man could make you come? I’d even pay you—if you want.”
The ick of what he said made me cringe. “First of all…fuck you. And secondly, I’m his daughter.”
The grin he wore immediately disappeared from his face.
“And still not a whore.”
His fingers brushed over his jawline as the smirk slowly returned. “My mistake…”
I reached for my wine again and took a sip, letting the silence wash away the tension.
He spoke again. “My offer is still on the table.”
“My father could walk back in the room any second—”
“You think I care?” he said. “I’m sure he’s aware how much men want to fuck you.”
“All I have to do is tell my father everything that’s been said, and your little deal will be off.”
He shrugged. “Then tell him.”
“If I do, he’ll probably kill you.”
He grinned. “He’s welcome to try.”
“Wow, you’re arrogant. And reckless.”
“I try.” He winked before he grabbed the scotch and took a drink. “Have dinner with me.”
“I don’t mix business with pleasure.” It was a lesson my father had taught me. Separation of church and state. Sleeping with someone you worked with was always a bad idea. It would bite you in the ass at some point.
“I’m doing business with your father, not you.”
“And who do you think you’ll be doing business with once he’s gone?”
He regarded me with a hard stare, a glimmer of a smile on his lips. “You’re his successor. That’s sexy.”
I covered the flush in my cheeks with another drink.
“Come on, baby. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I don’t need money.”
“I’ll make it worth your while in other ways…” His blue eyes were so confident, so cocky, and so beautiful.
“I have a boyfriend.”
His hard stare didn’t flinch. “You want another one?”
“I don’t cheat.”
“Then do you want a better one?”
“You aren’t boyfriend material.”
“How do you know?”
“Oh, I just do.”
He relaxed farther into the chair, that arrogant smirk permanently plastered on his face. “You’re right. Boyfriend is such a pussy word. Girlfriend is too.”
I drank my wine and did my best to ignore him.
“If you ever change your mind, I’m at your service.”
My father returned to the room, unbuttoning the front of his jacket before he returned to his seat.
My eyes were on Axel.
His eyes were on me, waiting for me to tattle on him to my father.
I should tell my father the truth, that this fuck boy had no respect for boundaries, but I didn’t. I didn’t say anything at all.
“I’m sorry for the interruption,” my father said. “Business never sleeps.”
“I know how that is.” Axel picked up the cigar and returned it to his mouth. “Your daughter and I had a nice conversation in your absence.”
My eyes widened at his audacity.
“What did you discuss?” my father asked as he poured another glass of scotch.
Axel stared at me, letting the smoke slowly seep from his mouth, that arrogant grin lingering on his lips.
My heart raced as I was put on the spot, the man across from me calling my bluff. “I told him the family business will be mine someday, and I intend to do as good of a job as you have.”
The smirk moved into his eyes, so pompous.
My father put his arm across the back of my chair. “You will, sweetheart.”
1
SCARLETT
PRESENT DAY
I sat on the terrace, the summer sun warm on my skin. I did paperwork on my laptop, the large fountain creating a beautiful backdrop of cascading water. It was a quiet day, a Tuesday, the sound of cars on the street muffled by the high walls and the fountain.
Someone dropped into the chair across from me, so I peeked over the top of my laptop, expecting to see my father or one of the men.
But it was Axel.
As with any time I was in his presence, there was painful heat between us. He always looked at me like I was his, even though he probably had a different woman in his bed every night. I could tell he had something to say, so I shut the laptop. “I’m almost done with the numbers. I’ll submit everything to my father, and then he’ll process the payment.”
It was as if he didn’t hear a word I said. “I like that dress.”
It was black and strapless, a gold necklace around my throat. I also wore a hat to keep the sun out of my face. “Did you hear what I said?”