Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 53764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
He seemed to be waiting on her response, so she nodded her head in agreement, even though she was wondering what the hell she was getting into. "Okay." If not for that phone call to his assistant, and the woman's unwavering belief that this man would never hurt her, Natalie would be running for the nearest exit.
He continued, "Here's the way I see it playing out. You live here. You take care of my home. You won't get paid a salary, you'll be working off the debt you owe me." As he spoke, he laid out another sheet of paper between them and as she glanced down at it, she could see it was a contract of some kind. His signature was already scrawled across the bottom in a slashing line, next to a blank space where she was obviously supposed to sign, as well.
"Kind of like an indentured servant," she mumbled.
He ignored her comment. "I'll cover your basic expenses. Your food, clothing, cell phone."
She opened her mouth to disagree but the expression he wore effectively silenced her.
"I'll make any additional rules as we go. You'll follow them, no questions asked. There will be times when I might need something other than a housekeeper, and you'll conform to what I expect."
Her eyes widened and her heartbeat became erratic and almost stopped completely. He wasn't referring to anything sexual, was he? As much as it pained her, she felt the urgent need to clarify. "What--what kind of things?"
"I couldn't possibly know that as nothing's come up yet."
"Not--you're not talking about anything--" She cleared her throat. "Sexual?"
His eyes became hooded, and the look he pierced her with was unfathomable. "You wouldn't like that, would you?"
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Why the hell hadn't he just answered the question with a quick 'no'? Her face blushed a fiery red. She knew it did; she could feel it. "If I owe you money, and we have sex--" she bit her lip and shook her head, "No, I wouldn't like it," she whispered.
He waited a prolonged moment before answering, his eyes searching hers as if debating something and coming to a decision. "Calm down. I'm not talking about sex. I have someone who takes care of that aspect of my life. I don't anticipate needing anything else from you besides housework. But if it comes up, I'm referring to other types of domestic chores. Shopping, organizing, that type of stuff. You think you're up to it?"
She swallowed and licked her dry lips. "Yes, that's fine."
His eyes fell to her lips and stayed there a heartbeat too long before he spoke again. "Okay. That part is settled then. I appreciate you cooking supper for me tonight, but it won't be needed on a daily basis. I'm usually out at night. I'll let you know beforehand if I'll be in. I have a service that delivers groceries as needed, and we'll keep using that, although you can begin placing the orders."
"How long--how long will you need me?"
"How long will your sentence last?" he qualified.
"Yes."
"A year."
"A year?"
"It would take you four or five years at the least if you began paying me in installments. This way you get it taken care of quickly, and I don't have to worry about you skipping town on me." The look he gave her was like an arrow hitting its mark. "And Natalie, don't for one second think about skipping out on me. Trust me, I'll find you, and you won't care for the outcome. You do as you're told, work hard, and you'll find I'm extremely easygoing."
Natalie sat back under the cold precision of his dark eyes. "When can my cousin get his car back?" she asked him softly.
"Write the address down for me and I'll have it towed to his house."
She shifted restlessly and then said, "I was hoping to have it repaired. I need to drive--"
"You're not driving without insurance, and you can't afford the cost right now. If you need to go somewhere, I'll arrange a driver to take you wherever you need." There was absolutely nothing in his tone that implied he might bend on the subject.
"Where's it at?" she asked.
"The car? It's being stored at a lot."
"How much is that costing me?" As she asked the question, he reached across to her and handed her a pen, motioning for her signature. She accepted it from him, took a shuddering breath, and scribbled her name on the contract before she changed her mind.
He leaned back in his seat and the expression that passed over his face was one of satisfaction that he didn't seem to try to hide. "I'm covering it. You don't need to worry about it."
He folded the contract in two and then once again before holding it tightly in his hand. Natalie tried to keep her mind on her immediate needs and not on the inexplicable expression on his face and the unrelenting grip he had on the document she had signed. "Do you have access to it?"