A worried look entered Dirken’s eyes. “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident. You know I wouldn’t do anything –“
“Do I know that, Dirken? You realize Olivia belongs to me. I’ve had you hurt men who look at her wrong and yet I’ve seen how you watch her. And tonight was the ultimate betrayal. You touched the flesh that belongs to me. Do you think I’m a blind fool? That I wouldn’t care since she’s sullied herself? That you can maul my possessions right under my nose and I’ll turn a blind eye to your transgressions? You’re a greater fool than I ever believed.”
“I’m sorry, boss,” Dirken apologized. Olivia had never seen him so humble. He was starting to sweat as he clenched and unclenched his meaty fists.
Ethan casually picked up his fork and knife and carved another bite of steak. He waved his fork at Dirken. “Nevertheless, you need to pay the price for your actions, just as Olivia must pay the price for hers.”
Olivia’s eyes widened with concern but she kept her mouth clamped shut. She wouldn’t bait him and make matters worse.
“You touched my most beloved treasure, so in response I had to touch the life of your beloved treasure. You love your sister, don’t you? You once told me you would do anything to help her. Well, you betrayed her when you betrayed me. Her house will be foreclosed upon this month. And her negligence at work has been brought to her supervisor’s attention. You never should have asked my help with her. What do I care about your family? I hid her corporate misdemeanors for too long but tonight her file has been flagged for attention. I bet she’ll lose her job. What do you think? Nothing to say? Fine, now that we’re even get me some more wine.”
Dirken loosed a growl of rage as he lunged for Ethan, knocking him from the chair. He landed a few hits before his large fists closed around Ethan’s throat. Mere seconds passed before he was pulled away from Ethan. Hammond waved a revolver in Dirken’s face.
“As much as you’d like to kill him, I can’t allow you to do that.” When Dirken made a move toward Hammond, Hammond cocked back the hammer and pointed it at Dirken’s chest. “I wouldn’t move a muscle if I were you.”
Ethan reached for the chair and levered himself to his feet. His lips curled with a grimly satisfied smirk. “Nice work, Hammond. I knew there was a reason I hired you, besides your inferior computer skills.” He waved a hand in Dirken’s direction. “Deal with the garbage. You can have his position when he’s gone.”
“As you wish, sir,” Hammond stated with a slight bow. He removed a syringe from his pocket and quickly sedated Dirken. As Dirken slumped in a helpless pile, Hammond dragged him from the room. Olivia tri
ed to hide her horror as the events unfolded. Dirken may be out of the way but Hammond was more dangerous than she realized. He’d quickly and easily slipped into Dirken’s place. And Ethan still hadn’t named his punishment for her.
Ethan picked up his wine glass and turned to her. She clutched her fingers tightly in her lap as she waited for him to speak. She didn’t like having his attention focused on her. “I just proved how deeply centered my feelings are for you. I will not allow any other man near you. You are my prize, my goddess. For you, I have given up my most loyal friend. Dirken would do absolutely anything for me, yet he desecrated something pure. When he touched you, he interfered with the pure channel of connectivity flowing between us. Do you feel it – now that he’s gone? We are one, Olivia. And it’s time for you to prove your loyalty to me. Come.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.
Olivia reluctantly allowed him to guide her to the doors of the balcony. His grasp on her hand was gentle yet firm. She might be able to break free but she didn’t try. She didn’t want to inflame him so soon after dealing with Dirken. He had a crazy, unstable look in his dark eyes and she knew he was heavily intoxicated. His gentleness could become painful with his next breath. She had to be very careful.
“Come, my beautiful love. Come prove your fidelity to me. Show me you will do all I say and will never try to destroy me again.” He slid open the wide glass door and stepped onto the balcony.
The warm breeze met her as she stepped cautiously across the threshold. City lights twinkled as far as the eye could see. It was a beautiful view but her gaze wasn’t on the scenery. No, Ethan was up to something. Her heart rate accelerated as he led her to the ledge. The wall enclosing the balcony reached her ribcage. She wasn’t afraid of heights but she didn’t love them.
“Now you’ll dance for me as you’ve never danced before,” Ethan declared with a wicked gleam in his eyes. He leaned dangerously far over the ledge. “All the city will see you perform but I will be your audience. I will watch you move.”
Olivia took a hasty step back and tottered on the stilettos, but Ethan’s grip wouldn’t allow her to go far. She remembered what happened the last time she performed publicly. Ethan had caused the accident that ended her career. “There isn’t much room on the balcony and I’m tired tonight. Please be reasonable, Ethan.”
“Reasonable?” Ethan mocked. “You danced for him. You bragged about it and tried to wound me. I saw how your eyes gleamed defiantly as you taunted me. Do you know how it wounds me still to think of you with him? You will never see him again, I promise you, Olivia. And now you will prove your dedication to me. Get on the ledge and dance.”
Olivia stared at him in horror. “Surely you can’t mean –“
“Of course I mean it. Climb up and give me the performance of your life. One false move will prove hazardous, so I suggest you be careful.”
No, she couldn’t! They were forty stories up! “Ethan, there must be another way –“
He shook his head grimly. “There isn’t. You wanted to hurt me. You defied me and ran away. You played the whore with another man.”
Olivia imagined climbing on the wall. Her balance wasn’t good to begin with. It would be very easy for Ethan to nudge her over and she’d fall to her death. “We were never intimate, Ethan. Paul is gone. There is no one else in my life,” she said quietly as she tried to fight her desperation. She had to reason with him before he forced her to do his bidding.
His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Now you plead with me. Yes, that’s right. Go ahead and beg for your life, but it won’t change anything. The only way you can redeem yourself is by dancing for me. Like a butterfly high in the sky.” He drew her into his arms and tried to kiss her but Olivia remained stiff in his embrace. She tried to turn away from his kiss but he held her head in place. “You will submit, damn it! You are mine!”
She knew fighting him was a mistake but she couldn’t submit as he demanded. His lips ground hard against hers until she tasted blood. When she gasped for breath his tongue invaded her mouth. She felt violated and angry. She tried to push away from him but he held her tight and refused to let her go. He backed her against the wall and pressed until she was leaning across the ledge. Her shoulders passed the wall and nothing supported her head. If Ethan wanted, he could shove her over. She clutched at him fearfully as he slowly pulled the pins from her hair and let them drop one by one.
“It would be so easy to push you over,” he murmured against her throat. He was considering her worst fears. She knew he was crazy but she didn’t think he would kill her tonight!
“Please don’t, Ethan. I’m sorry I made you angry.” She tried to wiggle out of his grasp but he pinned her body against the ledge. She could feel the breeze rustling through her loose hair. Ethan grabbed her thigh and raised her leg, inching her further over the ledge. She hated reaching for him but she had no choice and clutched him desperately.
Ethan let out a low chuckle. “That’s right, lovely one. Beg me for your life. Submit to me. Wrap your legs around my waist.”
Olivia didn’t want to. She didn’t want to have that sort of contact with him. He was evil and repulsive. But she knew if she didn’t obey, he’d easily toss her over and there was no one to stop him. Before she could comply, he jerked her upright so she stood facing him again. Her hair streamed wildly around her shoulders. With shaking fingers, she tried to brush it into order. He hated when she looked wanton, even if he caused it.
He watched her as if mesmerized. Then suddenly his gaze snapped into focus. “This isn’t working, but I have a better plan. We will climb the ledge together, Olivia. Together we will prove our eternal bond.” He grabbed her wrist in a steel grip as he climbed onto the ledge. She clutched the wall frantically as he tugged on her, encouraging her to follow. The ground was far far below.