“Peter’s apartment is unsafe and unsightly, and while he’s working off his cousin’s debt he won’t be able to pay the rent. I’m moving him to my house.”
She studied me for a moment, then simply said, “Yes, sir” as she typed something on her tablet. “See how I’m not making commentary?”
“You know I’ve shot men for less backtalk than you give me.”
“They don’t make your life run smoothly.”
She had me there. “Things are heating up with the Ricci situation. I don’t want Peter caught in the crossfire.”
“Of course you don’t.” I didn’t like the knowing look she gave me, but I let it go. “I assume you need me to arrange to have his things brought to your house.”
“Yes. But more importantly, he needs new clothes, shoes, toiletries, anything else that would make him comfortable. And a room needs to be readied for him.”
She frowned. “He needs a room of his own?”
“According to Virginia Woolf, yes.”
She glared at me. “Cute.”
“Can you manage that by the end of the day?”
“I’m insulted that you would ask that. I could have three beautiful boys of your liking outfitted and moved in by midafternoon if you required it. That’s why you love me.”
“Out.” I pointed at the door.
“I’ll take care of it, and Lucien?”
I sighed. “What?”
“Be careful with this one.”
“I’ll try.”
7
Peter
I was updating some client records Carla had asked me to assist her with when I felt Lucien’s presence. I hadn’t heard him approach, but the buzz across my skin told me he was there. I looked up and saw him watching me. His expression was softer than I’d ever seen it. “How may I help you, sir?”
He smiled. “You’ve done enough for the day. Go ahead and close out what you’re doing. I have a car waiting to take you to your new home.”
I stared at him. “What do you mean new home?”
“Your apartment is unsafe, impossible to secure, likely rat-infested, and in need of a long list of repairs. It’s not suitable for you in any way, so as part of your employment compensation, I’ve made new living arrangements for you. Some of your things have been moved there already, and the rest will arrive tomorrow.”
“You broke into my apartment? You had someone pack up my things? You can’t just—”
He sighed. “Are we really going to go through this again? I can do anything I want.”
My chest felt so tight I wasn’t sure I could get enough air. “Wh-what if I don’t want to move?”
“Are you telling me you’re happy with your apartment, that you would choose to live there if you could afford better?”
“But I can’t afford better, and you’re not even going to be paying me.”
“You don’t need to worry about that because housing comes with the job.”
I shook my head, and the room started to spin around me. “Receptionist jobs do not include housing.”
“They do when they work for me.”
“Did your last receptionist receive this benefit?”
He shrugged. “No, and she didn’t qualify for some other benefits you’re going to be getting as well.”
This wasn’t happening. “Please don’t make me do this.”
“Moving isn’t optional, and this discussion is over. There’s a car waiting downstairs, and I have people waiting on me. I will speak with you later tonight.”
“Not tomorrow?”
“No. There are clearly more things we need to get straight between us, but this isn’t the place to do that.”
I glanced over at Carla who was very pointedly not looking at us. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I’ve decided you’re mine.”
He’d sent men to force me here today. He’d spanked me in his office. Why had I thought he’d let me have any freedom? “Am I your prisoner?”
“That’s such an ugly word. You’re under my protection. That means I need to keep you close.”
“I should never have listened to Jimmy.”
“No. But I’m glad you did.”
I was fighting back tears by the time I reached the lobby. The men who’d brought me to the office that morning were waiting for me. “Mr. Kelly, your car is just outside. I’m Ralph, by the way, according to Mr. Marchesi, we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
“Thank you.” What else was there to say? I apparently belonged to Lucien now.
Was that really so bad, though? I didn’t know anymore. Of course I didn’t want to go home to my sad, dingy apartment where the shower dripped, the kitchen floor was warped and crumbling, and the walls were so thin I knew all my neighbors’ business. I’d yet to see a rat inside my apartment, but there were plenty of roaches to keep me company. Who wouldn’t want something nicer? And why shouldn’t that be part of an employment package? There were jobs that came with housing.
They probably didn’t require you to fuck your boss, though. I wasn’t a whore. I’d never gone there, and I didn’t want to do it now. I thought I was turning down Jimmy’s offer of a sugar daddy, but apparently that was what I’d accepted anyway. And worse, Lucien wasn’t going to let me walk away, though I was probably fooling myself to think any of the other men Jimmy would’ve sent me to would have let me go either, at least not without beating me half to death first. The fucked-up thing was I liked Lucien, and all my instincts told me he wasn’t going to hurt me, not enough to cause lasting damage anyway. I was sure he would hurt me again in the way he had that morning, but I had liked that all too much.