Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,86
the criteria for Infidelity, I’d already made mental plans for the interview money.
Karen sat and adjusted her shoulders. “No, Miss Collins. You haven’t done anything wrong. Your pairing has moved with record speed.”
My heart stopped beating as the blood drained from my face and settled in my stomach. “M-My pairing?”
She had a black pen in her hand and twisted it as she spoke. “Yes. Today is the first day of your one-year commitment, the first day of your agreement.”
“I-I thought maybe you called me here to reject me.”
“No, Miss Collins. You are officially an Infidelity employee, and I have strict instructions for you.” She took a deep breath, stood, and walked to my side of the desk. Looking down, she continued, “Your agreement has been sold. The client paid not only the first and last month’s fee, but in order to expedite the process, he paid a rather large bonus. A percentage of that will be added to your first month’s salary.”
The butterflies in my stomach turned into full-grown bats.
Oh my God, this is happening.
“H-He’s not married, is he?” It was the first question that popped into my mind.
“No. Your hard limits were taken into consideration.”
“Is he… is he nice?”
Karen’s upper lip disappeared momentarily between her teeth before she answered. “Your client’s name is Mr. Demetri. He asked that I not say any more. Mr. Demetri is a very decisive man who knows what he wants. Alex, he wants you, and now he has you, for one year. Granted, I do not know him the way you will get to know him, but nice isn’t an adjective I’ve often heard associated with Mr. Demetri. I’ve only spoken to him on the telephone, but I’ve seen his picture. He’s handsome, refined, and well-mannered. He’s also high profile. He knows what’s at stake.” She reached back on her desk and picked up a card. “This is the card I promised you yesterday. I don’t believe it will be necessary, and, as I told you, it has never been needed in the history of Infidelity; however, you should keep it. It’s your safety net.”
My eyes widened as I reached for the card. Gripping was increasingly difficult with my trembling fingers. As I dropped the card in my purse, I asked, “Is he in New York? I can’t be somewhere else. Maybe I should withdraw my application?”
“Miss Collins, Mr. Demetri is aware of your law-school obligations. He’s an important man and has set his sights on you. From today until this date a year from now, for lack of a better phrase, Mr. Demetri owns you. When you signed the agreement yesterday afternoon, you forfeited the ability to withdraw.”
“W-What do I do?”
“Whatever he tells you to do.”
The thundering of my heart threatened to drown out her words.
Whatever he tells you to do.
I fought to breathe, to take in deep breaths. “Will he contact me?”
She handed me a piece of paper, a Post-it note. Really? On the small yellow square was a telephone number. I recognized the Manhattan area code of 646. It was the same as Patrick’s. “You are to call him.”
“H-He wants me to call him?”
“Now.”
“Now?” I asked, staring at the ten numbers.
“Miss Collins, I didn’t take the order as a request when I was given the instructions. Neither should you.”
My mouth dried as perspiration coated my skin. “You want me to call him right now, here… in front of you?”
She nodded.
Shit!
“May I please have a drink of water?”
Karen stepped to a sideboard and poured a glass of water. The silver metal pitcher was covered in droplets of condensation. Next she opened a cabinet, removed a crystal decanter with amber liquid, and poured a finger into another tumbler.
“Here,” she said, handing me both glasses.
“Thank you.” I placed the strong-smelling liquid on a nearby table and took a long drink of the water. Placing the empty glass next to what I assumed was whiskey, I removed my phone from my purse and began to dial.
6- My fingers shook. 4- Patrick’s name came to the screen. 6- I took a deep breath. 5- My screen read: NOX- PRIVATE NUMBER.
My eyes widened as they simultaneously blurred with tears.
“No.” My head moved from side to side as the barely audible word hung in the air.
I looked at the yellow Post-it and back to my screen. It was the same number.
My phone fell to my lap as I sucked in a breath and held tightly to my lower lip. “I-I can’t. I can’t call this number.” If I did I was breaking our rule. If I did I’d have to face him. It wouldn’t be like it was at Del Mar. This would be different. I would need him and he’d know it. “Please, Ms. Flores, please let me back out of my agreement. You don’t even need to pay me for yesterday. We’ll just call it a mistake, and I promise I won’t tell a soul.”
“Miss Collins, Mr. Demetri is waiting for your call.”
The words she’d said earlier rang through my mind. He set his sights on you. For the next year, he owns you.
I didn’t need to dial any more numbers; all I needed to do was touch the little green icon next to his name.
Oh fuck. I’m going to open the door.
I pushed it.
“Charli.” The deep, velvety voice came through my phone, sending shivers down my spine.
I reached for the whiskey and swallowed.
“Nox,” I replied, trying my best to sound confident.
“Mr. Demetri.” His tone held no emotion. “The rules have changed.”
The end of Betrayal…
Coming January 19, 2016, the continuing story of Charli and Nox. As old rules are broken and new rules are set, who will prove the most CUNNING?
Book #2 of the Infidelity series, Cunning, by Aleatha Romig.
PRE-ORDER LINK
“MR. DEMETRI?” I couldn’t process, couldn’t do much more than to repeat his words. In only a matter of minutes I’d become a parrot, not the strong, confident woman I wanted to project.
“Yes, Miss Collins. New rules… my rules. You should say thank you.”
I squeezed the phone tighter. The whiskey running through my veins had worked to still my trembling but had done little to slow my rapid heartbeat. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the man at Del Mar. His tone didn’t match.
“Miss Collins, I told you to say thank you.”
I wasn’t sure if it was hearing his deep voice again or the difference in his demeanor, but my tattered nerves were ping-ponging between an emotional breakdown and a hysterical fit of laughter. I looked up at Karen, unsure if she could hear. When she nodded, I knew she did.
He owns you. Whatever he tells you to do.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“By calling my number you broke our rule. I told you once before how I’d respond if you ever again broke one of my rules. Do you remember?”
I remembered. I also remembered he hadn’t been specific. Now didn’t seem like the time to mention that. My chin dropped to my chest.
“Nox, please.”
“Mr. Demetri. Don’t make me repeat myself. Listen closely. This is exactly what you will do.”
I swallowed. The rush of blood coursing through my ears, my injured pride, and the multiple rebuttals forming in my head and gathering at the tip of my tongue, all worked together to dim the volume of his words. Nevertheless, as the Infidelity employee I now was, I did as my client said and listened.
“Go down to the street. My driver is waiting. His name is Isaac, and he’ll recognize you.”
“I-I—”
“Miss Collins, your opportunity for negotiation has passed. It’s time for our reunion. I paid handsomely for it.”
I might have thought it before, but now it was official: Nox owned me.
I might have sold my soul, but by the way my insides clenched at the velvet voice, I knew that my soul wasn’t the only commodity Nox had purchased.
After he finished speaking, I sat statuesque, holding the phone, waiting for anything, a goodbye, something. Instead, silence prevailed. When I turned the screen toward me I saw only his name and knew he’d hung up.
Oh shit! Now what do I do?
As if reading my mind, Karen handed me the glass with the remaining whiskey, nodded, and said, “Whatever he tells you to do.”
CUNNING
Coming… January 19, 2016.
PRE-ORDER LINK
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