I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t laugh. “Get on the bed,” I command, and he climbs to his feet faster than I can walk over to him. Getting on all fours, he wiggles his ass and I roll my eyes. He’s too anxious and excited. I think I’ll make him wait.
I give him one swat with the paddle, but not as hard as he wishes I would. He groans in frustration and I smile.
“You’ve been a very naughty man. I think you should chain yourself to this bed and watch as I write a paper. Good boys get rewards. Bad boys don’t get spankings.” I wait as he climbs up against the headboard, and starts to chain his legs and one wrist. He looks at me for help and praise.
I walk over to him, and hook his other wrist. “Good boy,” I purr and he shudders. I leave him and go grab my backpack.
I havean hour left of this shift before I can go home. I’m two thousand words into my paper when Shina pops in, telling me I have a last minute Bronze. My Diamond client has already been taken care of and is currently showering in the bathroom. The paddle wasn’t enough for him tonight. I think I made him wait too long. But a few cracks of my whip, along with some degrading, and he was happy as a clam.
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell her and she nods, glancing at the ripped sheets from the bed.
“I’ll send in Trixie for a clean-up,” she says as she shuts the door. I laugh. Oh that will make Trixie love me even more.
My Diamond returns from the bathroom dressed in an expensive suit. He walks over to me and takes a seat. He always likes to sit and chat after a session. I think he’s lonely. He lost his wife a few years ago to cancer, and he doesn’t think he will ever marry again. She was a switch and would dominate him from time to time. He misses the connection and during one session he broke down crying. I thought I hurt him, but he explained that he’s been so lost without his release.
He owns his own company and works himself to death, so being able to take the pressure off from time to time, and have someone else take control, it helps him to stay sane.
“I like the boots tonight,” he says, glancing at my Doc Martens. I usually wear heels but I needed a change. I give him a smile and shrug.
“Heels get old after so long. How was work this week?” I ask, standing and pouring him a drink. He laughs and takes the scotch.
“It wasn’t bad actually. There is a new acquisition on the table that I’m contemplating. I guess two teenagers are about to take control and the board isn’t feeling very secure.” I plop down and pay attention. He can’t be talking about C&P, right?
A knock on the door interrupts us and he gives me a smile, swallows the rest of his drink, before he stands and walks over to the door.
“I’ll see you next week, Mistress,” he says with a wink and I laugh.
Shit! I really needed to hear more about that acquisition. I guess I will next week. I pack up my stuff and meet Shina in the hall. She has a funny look on her face that puts me on edge.
“Let’s chat before you leave, okay?” I nod and hand her my bag. She will put it in my locker for me. I reach the Bronze room and knock, then enter. The lights are all the way up, and sitting on a chair at the small table is the last person I ever expected.
I turn to leave. To run away, but he speaks. “Miss James, I was hoping to talk with you. Please,” Marshall, my grandfather’s assistant, says. I take a deep breath in, then shuffle closer to the table and take a seat. He doesn’t speak for a few minutes and I feel like I’m about to burst from my skin.
“How did you find me?” I ask him and he laughs.
“I know everything, Patience. But that’s not what I’m here to discuss. I’m here to warn you.” I cross my arms and wait for him to continue. “I am risking everything by coming here to talk with you, but I can’t sit by and watch what’s about to happen.” He abruptly stands and starts to pace. My heart is beating a mile a minute and I wish he would just get on with it.
“I was your father’s intern. Did you know that? No sorry, you wouldn’t know. I never told anyone. Well, I was his and Cami’s intern. I helped them on the project that got them killed.” I gasp at that and he gives me a sad look.
“You can’t always believe what the media says, Patience. Your father is innocent, and I have been trying for the past five years to find the truth and to clear his name. For you. He was a good man and loved you more than anything.” I shake my head and tears fill my eyes.
I always knew he could never be so evil, but for someone else to say it. I feel like I may be sick.
“If you have been looking for the truth, then why are you working as my grandfather’s assistant?” He moves back to the table and sits down.
“Patience, there is still so much to tell you, but I can’t at the moment. I don’t have proof, but I think your grandfather, and Cal’s dad, were behind the deaths at C&P. I got a text from your father to stop by on the night he died. It was super late and I was entertaining someone, so I missed the text. By the time I arrived, the explosion had already happened. But I saw a black car with your grandfather and Nixon in it. They were fighting, but I never found out about what.
“I was the one to call 911 and report the fire. I just wish I was there sooner. Then maybe I could have saved them.” Tears fill his eyes and he reaches for my hand. I give him a squeeze.
“If you had been on time, you might have been killed too. I don’t know how to take all this right now. I’m sorry, but I need some time to process. Can I call you in a few days?” He gives me a nod and I stand up then leave.
Shina wants to talk, but it will have to wait. I need to go home and call Kian. I stop and grab my things, then say goodnight to Rock as he walks me to my car. I think he knows something is up, but he doesn’t say anything.
I climb in my car, start the engine, and pull out of the parking lot. When Fantasies is in my rear view mirror, I let my tears fall.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Itake a seat at the table and try to ignore my bride-to-be. Ugh, I still don’t understand how I’m going to just start being nicer to her, after years of being a giant dick. I mean, I don’t hate her. I never really did. But after these past few months, I can’t stand the girl. She’s changed, and not for the better.