Christmas Captive - Isabella Starling Page 0,49

can’t have secrets from one another,” he said gently. “So after your time is over… I want you to tell me everything. Every little thing about you.”

I swallowed again, my eyes darkening with worry.

“I see the fear inside you,” Grayson told me. “I can see your brain working, the cogs turning. You can’t get away from me, Kitty. I’m going to know every thought in your head. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes, Sir,” I whispered.

“Good Kitty,” he muttered before pulling me firmly against him. “Now let’s sleep together. The time for secrets will come.”

He fell asleep moments after that, but I lay awake in his arms for hours after our conversation.

Grayson was right. I needed to tell him the truth. About Margaret, the loan shark, and the debt I’d inherited. He deserved to know everything about me.

Even if it meant we couldn’t be together.

Chapter 16

Grayson

It was Kitty’s last day. She would be allowed to leave after the clock struck midnight and the twenty-fourth of December became the twenty-fifth.

I was developing feelings for my Kitty, but what worried me more than knowing it myself was the thought of her finding out. Somehow, I was convinced I'd show her a weaker side of me if she found out about my growing crush. It wasn't even a crush anymore. No, it was full-blown...

I shook my head to get the thought out. I couldn't think about that now, not with the date she was supposed to leave me fast approaching. I'd known from the start I wouldn't be able to keep her forever, but now, knowing how soon she'd leave me, I was at the same time eager for her to stay and wanting to keep my true feelings hidden. It was a way of protecting myself. If she didn't know how much she meant to me already, she wouldn't know how much she'd hurt me by leaving. And if she did, she could use it as a weapon against me.

It was Christmas Eve and we sat down to dinner in front of the luxuriously decorated tree. I'd had a chef flown in to cook for us that night, and we sat through course after incredible course accompanied by some of the best wine money could get. Kitty was getting tipsy, throwing her head back in laughter, her eyes glittering as she drank her wine. It was a perfect night. In my mind, nothing could go wrong—that is, until a phone call interrupted me.

I took a quick look at the screen, muttering an apology to my tipsy plaything as I answered the call. "Hello?"

"Boss, it's me."

"Kai," I said with a smile. "About time you called. Can I take this to mean you're officially back in London?"

"I am, Sir," he went on, the sound of traffic heavy behind him. "I'll drop by the penthouse tonight, Sir, bring over a few things you'll need. It's just paperwork but I'll need your signature on it right away."

"Of course, Kai," I went on, glancing at Amicia. "But we'll have to hurry it along. I'm in the company of a beautiful woman and I don't want to waste time on business."

Amicia grinned widely at me and I cut the call after agreeing Kai would drop by in the next twenty minutes. For the rest of the evening, I teased Kitty about the presents I'd gotten her. There seemed to be a consensus in the room that she'd still be there when I woke up in the morning. But I knew as well as she did, she'd be free to leave after midnight. Though I wasn't certain I could just let her walk away.

Minutes later, the doorbell sounded, and a waiter I'd hired for the evening let Kai in. I waited by the elevator, grinning wide when I saw my right-hand man walk through the door.

"Kai! How good to have you back. Florian isn't half as helpful as you are."

"I'm flattered, Sir," Kai replied firmly, ever the professional as he handed me a stack of papers. "Your paperwork. Shall I wait for you to sign it?"

"Yes, please. Do come in. I want to introduce you to Amicia."

"The new toy? Are you happy with her, Sir?" Kai seemed genuinely curious.

"She's the best one I've ever had," I replied with certainty. "I want to keep her. Don't tell her though. It'll go right to her head."

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not, Sir."

I guided him into the living room where Amicia was waiting. She turned around with a brilliant smile, wearing