“Hello to you too,” I say, chuckling it off.
God, it’s been such a long time ago since we last saw each other, and I’m immediately reminded why.
“How are things … at work?” he asks, clearing his throat while he makes it sound as though he doesn’t believe I actually work.
“It’s fine,” I lie.
The truth is that I quit my job as a daycare provider in order to start my own business to support families in need with supplies and advice. I want to do something more fulfilling, but investors are tough to come by … especially when they don’t trust me and my idea. For now, I’m pulling money from my savings account to pay for my rent, but I’m not about to tell him that. Even though it’s soon run out, I won’t ever ask him for help.
“How’s Elijah doing?” I ask, avoiding the topic.
“Your brother? Oh, he’s … well, he’s busy, as always,” my father says, waving it away. “But enough about that. Do you want some coffee?” Father asks. Before I can answer, he’s already ordered my drink for me. “One cappuccino.” I don’t even like cappuccino, but I’ll take it.
“Thanks,” I mutter. “So how have you been?”
“Awful,” he says, slurping his coffee. “Just like this coffee. Don’t you have anything better?” he snarls at the waitress.
She shrugs. “Sorry, sir. That’s our best blend.”
“Bland indeed,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Father,” I mutter.
Has he always been like this? Probably. I made him seem better in my mind just to cope.
“No, they should make better coffee,” he growls while the waitress places down my cappuccino in front of me.
“Why did you even wanna meet at this place if you don’t like it here?” I ask.
“Because it’s the only option I had.” He clears his throat. “Considering my budget.”
“Budget?” I frown and lean back in my seat. “Wait, you don’t mean to say—”
“The business is not going well,” he interjects, but it sounds as though he’s grossly understating things. “But you already knew that. I told you a while ago when I asked you for help.”
“Yes,” I say, folding my arms, “and I specifically remember saying no.”
“I know you did, but listen …” He takes in a deep breath and licks his thin lips. “I’m on the brink of losing everything. I did the only thing I could. I got a loan.”
“So? What does that have to do with me?” I ask, not touching my cappuccino. I know where this is going. I’m almost inclined to leave right now, but I don’t wanna jump to conclusions too quickly.
“Everything,” he says. “You’re my last hope.”
“Really? What about your wife then? Can’t she pitch in?” I snort.
“She’s left me.” He swallows as if he didn’t see it coming from a mile away.
I raise a brow. “Let me guess, she ran away with all your money?”
He narrows his eyes at me, but it’s all I need.
“Figured.” I sigh. “I tried to warn you.”
“Charlotte,” he says in a condescending tone. “You’re my daughter.”
“So?” I suck on my bottom lip. He can’t play on my emotions, not now.
“A loan always needs to be repaid. And part of the agreement was that you—”
“No,” I interrupt, my heart palpitating. “Tell me you didn’t.”
He closes his lips and stares me down, which tells me he really did do it.
“No, not happening,” I say, shaking my head. “How dare you try this on me again?”
“It’s too late. The deal has already been made,” he replies.
My heart stops. “What?!”
I get up, and with a flat hand, I slap his face. The whole place has gone quiet, and everybody’s looking at us, but I don’t care. “I am not an object you can trade for money! I’m your daughter!”
I refuse to become that woman who belongs to someone like some sort of pet. I want to be independent, someone with her own business and her own life. No man will ever make that happen, and no man can make me as happy as my independence does.
Father reaches for my hand, but I pull it away before he can grab it. “Charlotte, you’ll be happy with this man. I promise you.”
My father has always tried to control me by telling me what school to go to, how to dress, and what to say. When I didn’t listen, he scolded me … sometimes, he even hit me.
And now, he’s gone and traded me to some man in exchange for a loan.
“No. You can’t say that. You can’t do this to me.” I shake him off and try to walk away.
Right then, the door to the establishment opens and in walks a handsome, suited-up man with wavy dark hair, a cleft chin … and an insufferably arrogant grin on his face.
My eyes widen, and I begin to stutter. “Easton …”
Easton Van Buren … once a simple waiter in my father’s restaurant with big dreams, he’s now a notorious business mogul who opens clubs all around the world. We first met at my father’s second wedding when we were still kids, and now we meet again … at what seems to be mine.
“Hello, Charlotte,” he muses, his voice still as salacious as I remember. “How nice of you to be here too. Right on time.”
No, this can’t be happening. Not here … and not with him. Even though he sure looks like James freaking Bond when he walks and talks, I know he has an ulterior motive, and it’s anything but good.
He walks toward me and briefly grazes my arm, but the implications are huge.
“You,” I mutter in complete shock. “Why are you …?”
He licks his lips, and a wicked smile forms on his face. But those eyes … those dazzling blue eyes only show contempt and vengeance.
“No,” I mutter.
“Yes,” he murmurs. “I’m the one who lent money to your father, and I want you as payment for that debt.”
For a few seconds, all I can do is stare. Then my palm instinctively comes up to slap him. However, he grabs my wrist before I can even come close.
“Ah-ah, Charlotte. That’s not nice. Hasn’t your father taught you manners?”
I spit in his face. “Asshole.”
He wipes off the spit with one hand. “Now, now … it seems I’ll have to teach you to behave.”
My father clears his throat as if to grab his attention. “I take it you’ll accept this agreement then?”
“Oh, yes.” The way Easton says it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“What?” I mutter. I can’t believe this. He honestly sold me to a rich asshole just to get rid of his loan? “I’m not a bargaining chip!” I exclaim. “How dare you?”
Easton grabs my chin, and says, “I dare because I’ve wanted nothing more than to own you, and now I do.” The smirk that follows makes me want to smack him, but I don’t think he’d let me.
“I’m not an object. I’m a person, and I don’t fucking agree with any of this,” I hiss, glaring right back at him, so he knows I mean it.
“Tsk … we’ll have to do something about that dirty mouth of yours,” he growls, licking his lips. “And I know just the thing.”
He grabs my wrist and drags me toward the door.
“Let go of me!” I yell, punching his arm, but he’s too strong for me.
“No, Charlotte,” he says. “You’re mine now to do with as I please.”
“Are you insane? Do you think you’ll get away with this?” I stare him down. “You don’t scare me.”
My eyes widen as he lifts up his shirt to reveal a gun.
“Do I scare you now?” he murmurs.
When I nod, a grin spreads on his lips that remind me of the devil.
“Good,” he says. “Now … don’t make a scene, and do as I say, and no one will be harmed.”
“You’re trying to sell me! Please, Father!” I call out as a final plea for help.
But my father ignores it. “Charlotte, do your duty to your family.”
I glance at the waitress, the only other person in this diner, but she completely ignores us. Easton probably paid her off to keep quiet.
“Charlotte …” Father adds. “Do this. For me. Please.”
That last word hits me hard, and I stop fighting Easton. My lungs suck the air in and out like no tomorrow as I gaze into my father’s sincere eyes. He’s never begged me for anything. This is the first … and probably the last time.
Easton leans toward me, whispering dark words into my ear. “Your father sold his soul to his company, and he paid the ultimate price.”
“What do you mean?” I mutter.
“The only way to pay it off was with you … Or with his life.”
My eyes widen as I face the guilt laced in my father’s eyes. He’s never looked at me like that … like he owes me his world. But he does. And now I have to pay with mine.
“No,” I whisper, tears welling up in my eyes. “His life or mine? No, I can’t do this. Don’t ask me to do this, please,” I beg my father, but he looks away in defeat.
My knees buckle, and I have to fight not to sink to the floor.
“Look at it this way,” Easton muses, holding me tight. “At least now you’ll both live, and you get to say you saved your father’s life.”
I shake my head. I can’t believe Easton’s doing this. How did such a sweet, innocent boy become such an evil man? “You’re a monster.”
His tongue slips out to wet his picture-perfect lips. “Don’t worry, Charlotte … This monster will take good care of you.” He drags me out of the establishment. “Now let’s go home.”
* * *
Chapter 2
Easton
After years of waiting and plotting, Charlotte Davis now belongs to me.
I’m surprised by how easily I could convince her father to give her up. With a little bit of pushing and the obvious threat to his life, he surrendered her as if it were no big deal.
But it is to me. She’s my little treasure to keep and use however I see fit.
A long time ago, at her father’s wedding, that girl stole my heart … and then stomped on it with her two-thousand dollar high heels a few years later.
I’ll prove to her how good I can be. I can’t fucking wait to get my hands all over her. I wonder if anyone’s touched her, if she’s kissed a man before … if she’s still a virgin.
That was one of the deal breakers for me, and her father knows this, so I hope he was right when he said he’s kept her away from other men for most of her life. It’s unfortunate I could only get to her after so much time had passed. I would’ve stolen her away from that wretched man long ago if I could have, but I simply didn’t have the leverage then that I do now.
And she will know the power I’ve accumulated.
A simple glance her way makes her cower in fear as she sits next to me in my car. She’s still looking at me like I’m the devil incarnate.
Sweet, innocent, gullible Charlotte … she doesn’t even know how lucky she is. There’s nothing to fear. I’ll treat her like the princess she thinks she is, and then I’ll make her grovel and beg me to pluck her cherry. Will she taste sweet or sour? I can’t fucking wait to find out.
But first, we need to eat. I’m famished. I haven’t eaten anything since I got off the plane. I had to come all the way from the Netherlands to the United States just to claim my end of the deal … her.
And now that I have her, I can’t wait to take her back to my home and ravage her night after night. But we should fill our stomachs first because we have a long trip ahead of us.
When the car parks outside the restaurant, I clear my throat and wait until she looks at me. She hasn’t spoken a word since I forced her into the car, but I’m sure she has a lot of questions.
I haven’t decided whether I’ll answer them, but she hasn’t even tried to ask any. Maybe she’ll loosen up once we’ve eaten. I’m sure she’s hungry as it looked like her father didn’t give her anything to eat.
“We’re here,” I say. “Let’s eat.”
I step out of the car and lock it before going to the other side and opening it up for her. I told the driver to stay inside at all times because I want him available and ready to go. I also want to make sure she doesn’t go anywhere should she try to run.
He knows not to mess with me, just like all my other staff. They’ve been trained from the start to be quiet and respect my authority. It’s the only way they get paid their ample salary and ensure their families remain safe.
Threats always work to get what I want, and I don’t fucking regret any of them. I’ve worked too hard for my wealth and power to let anyone touch it. I don’t care what anyone thinks of that. I take what I want, and I own it. Fully. Completely. Just like her.
I don’t want her because it’s her, because she’s so witty, or charming, or cute.
No, I want her so I can control her. So I can use her for my every desire and make her bend to my will. I’ll flaunt her submission in her father’s face as the ultimate revenge.
Fuck, I can’t wait to see the tears on that fucker’s face.
It was already magnificent seeing their eyes connect the moment he gave her away, how her face turned white with betrayal and his filled with wrenching guilt. I could have come right there and then just from watching her squirm.
Yes, I’m an evil son of a bitch, but I don’t care.
That man made me into the monster I am today.
Because of him, my father is dead … and he will pay.
Licking my lips, I glare at her sitting in the car. Her legs are crossed, and her arms are folded as she gazes out the other window where I was just seated only seconds ago. She can avoid me all she wants, but sooner or later, she’s gonna have to come to terms with what her father did. What he gave away—his supposed precious little girl—is now mine to seduce and possess.
“Are you gonna get out?” I ask.
“No,” she hisses.
“Do you want me to drag you like I did in that restaurant?” I narrow my eyes. “Because I will if I have to.”
She sighs and then steps out, bumping into me rudely. I know she’s trying to prove a point, but it doesn’t faze me. She’ll do exactly what I ask her to do because my threats aren’t just threats … I follow through. And I think she knows that right about now.
I hold out my arm in an attempt to remain civil, and she reluctantly takes it. Still, she refuses to even look at me. It’s okay … we’ll get to that part later when she’s on her knees.
I lean in sideways until my lips graze her ears. “Do not try to escape or talk to anyone. It will get you killed.” Her fingers dig into my skin as I speak the words. “If you behave, I’ll treat you right,” I whisper.
She sucks in a sharp breath. “What are we going to do?”
Isn’t the answer obvious? I don’t know why she asks. “Eat.”
“And then what?” The arrogance in her voice amuses me.
“You’ll see,” I murmur, the corners of my mouth tipping up. “Come.”
I lead her into the restaurant and toward a table, then gesture for her to sit down across from me on a comfy leather couch. It’s a high-end establishment, unlike where we were with her father. I wanted it to serve as a nice contrast of what I can offer as opposed to what he’s given her all these years.
“Do you like the place?” I ask, unfolding a napkin.
“No,” she says bluntly. “When will you let me go?”
I laugh. “Really, Charlotte? You’re already talking about freedom?” I shake my head. “We haven’t even gotten our food yet. Let’s eat first, and then we can talk.”
“No, let’s talk now,” she says, sitting back with her arms crossed again in defiance. “Did you seriously think I’d accept this?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” I say, clearing my throat when the waiter arrives with two plates of giant lobster. “Thank you.”
She ignores her food completely, focusing only on me. “What did my fat
her promise you?”
“You,” I reply, cutting into my lobster to take a bite.
“He’d never agree to that up front,” she hisses. “I don’t believe it.”
“Maybe he did, or maybe he didn’t. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re here now, and that you’re mine.”
“I don’t belong to anyone,” she replies, staring down at her lobster as if it’s poisonous.
“We’re not leaving until you eat that,” I say, pointing at her food.
“I don’t care.”
“Would you say the same if your father died?”
Her eyes widen. I knew she’d still have a weak spot for him.
Oh, Charlotte … you’re too sweet and gullible. That old rat has used you, and now he’s thrown you to the wolves, and you still care about him. It’s admirable … but stupid.
“Is that it? That’s what you’re going to dangle over my head?” she asks, resentment showing in her eyes.
Yes. Yes, I fucking am. Because my father died for hers. And I will hold the Davis family accountable.
“If you give me no choice, then I will.” I add a smile to be nice because I honestly want to be. Sometimes I can be. But not right now because she needs to learn her place first.
“Great,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“Look at it this way … you get to save a life,” I say.
“By sacrificing my own,” she replies through gritted teeth.
“I promise you I’ll make it worthwhile. You’ll like it so much you won’t ever want to leave.” Oh, how I’ll make it worth her while.
“You’re sick,” she snarls, turning her head away.
“Maybe or maybe I’m just infatuated with you,” I say. Though she is right … on some levels, I can be a sick, twisted bastard. “But it’s not me who caused this; it’s you.”
“How? What did I do to deserve this?”
“You know what you did,” I growl. “Now eat your lobster.”
After I raise my brow, she reluctantly cuts off a piece and stuffs it into her mouth. It takes her a while to swallow, but I watch her every movement and relish the moment she does. It makes me think of all the dirty things I’ll make her do when we’re alone.
“Why did my father need your money? He could’ve picked anyone who didn’t have such an outrageous counteroffer,” she suddenly says. “Why you?”
Cruel Boy Page 23
