“This is the information Dave said you asked him for regarding Monroe. I offered to bring it to you.”
I had almost forgotten I’d asked Dave, our in-house private investigator, to dig up some more details on Monroe. “I’m having another meeting with James in the next couple of days.”
Dad did a double take. “You let him have another chance? Are you turning over a new leaf?”
“Let’s just say I’m feeling jollier, given the season, but this will be taken care of as soon as possible.” Her bright green eyes were imprinted on my mind. The second photo showed what the first had missed: her slim yet athletic frame. An idea of how I could make sure that I was paid for my generosity started to form because I knew there was no way Monroe could pay me back in time. Having her come to me willingly would be the ultimate payment.
“Are you sure? You seem…distracted.” The gleam in his eye told me we both knew who he was talking about: Monroe’s daughter.
My father’s voice brought me out of the thoughts I was having. “He borrowed the money from me, and he’s going to pay it back. If he doesn’t, Monroe Media Agency will go under and be gutted and brought into the Cross Empire.”
“And there is the Damien that I know.”
I nodded at my father as my thoughts faded back to the woman whose photo was imprinted in my mind. This was new because women sailed in and out of my life on a regular basis and I got what I wanted before I got out.
The ringing of my phone broke my concentration on the woman in front of me. I pulled out my phone and recognized the number.
“Dad, I need to take this.”
“Sure. I’ll see you later.”
I waited until he left and then I answered. “Yes?”
“Tate didn’t have the money he owed you.”
“Finish him.”
“You mean—”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do you want it to be quick or slow?”
“I trust your judgment. Just make sure it’s handled.”
I hung up and returned my phone to my pocket before my eyes drifted back to the file on the table. The women in my life had to submit and I could tell that she wouldn’t, yet my attention was focused on her. I knew I needed to find out more information about Anais, the woman whose picture was staring back at me.
“Thanks for coming to my office today. I apologize for not being able to make the trek to your office.”
I could feel the nervous energy flying off of James in droves. I couldn’t blame him. After all, he didn’t know what I might say or do that could upend the life he had built.
It was the day after my father had tossed the folder of information about the Monroe family into my lap. According to what Dave had provided in the file and my own deductions, I figured there was no way James Monroe was going to pay back the money he owed in six weeks.
“It wasn’t a problem, and no hardship on my end,” I said as I sat down in the chair in front of his desk as he did the same with his chair. Although his demeanor highlighted someone who had a lot of confidence, I could sense the nervousness dripping off of him like raindrops in a storm.
“Mr. Cross—”
A knock on a door interrupted us. James rubbed a hand over his face and said, “Come in.”
The door opened and in walked the stunning brunette, from the folder. Anais Monroe. Her eyes darted between the two of us.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy. Your calendar said you were free.”
“This is something that came up last minute,” James said.
I nodded along with him because the meeting had just come together, maybe an hour and a half ago.
I took my time studying the beautiful woman in front of me. She wore her brown hair down, cascading in soft waves on her back, and her eyes had finally settled on her father, even though I knew she was well aware of my presence in the room. She wore a white blouse, navy blazer, and dark blue jeans with beige heels. Thoughts of her hourglass shape wearing only those heels slid into my brain before I could stop it. I discreetly adjusted myself and turned my attention back to her.
“Anais, is it anything that needs to be discussed right now?” James asked. “Oh, wait. Let me introduce you to Damien. This is Anais, the head of our social media team and the person who I have the privilege of calling my daughter. Damien is here to talk to me about a few business things.”
I stood up from the chair and leaned over to shake her hand. Her palm was warm and soft, but the handshake she gave me was firm and sent a slight jolt to my cock. I could tell she felt the same, because her eyes lingered at our hands for a second too long before she pulled away and turned back toward her father.
“No, Dad. It can wait, and I’m sorry for interrupting. Nice meeting you, Damien.”
“It was nice to meet you too,” I replied automatically. And it won’t be the last time.
4
Anais
I hadn’t been to one of these events in a while. The urge to run in the other direction was real as Ellie and I walked through the doors of the Olympus Hotel. Our heels clacked along the floor before we both paused, trying to get our bearings, because it seemed as if we’d entered another dimension. The owners designed the hotel in a sophisticated, regal way with reds and golds displayed throughout. The intimidation I felt as a result of attending such a high-profile event with high-profile people crept in.
I thought I had quietly sucked in a deep breath, but the glance Ellie threw me proved otherwise.
“You okay?” she asked, leaning over to whisper in my ear.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
All I did was nod my head. The urge to explain my worries and fears to her was there, but this was neither the time nor the place.
“You know, I was shocked you wore red, but I’m loving this gown.”
The dark red gown had been sitting in my closet for well over a year, because I didn’t have anywhere to wear it. The split down my right leg made it easier for me to walk in the black strappy heels I had also owned for a year or two and barely worn. I finished my look by throwing my hair into a French twist on the top of my head and applying a dark red lipstick to match the dress. Although my shopping excursion with Ellie hadn’t been successful for me, she looked stunning in her new dark green V-neck gown with spaghetti straps and an open back. She wore her dark brown hair down over her shoulders.
“Thanks. Honestly, I should have worn black. That would have fit my mood better tonight.”
“Hush,” Ellie said. “This’ll be over before you know it.”
“Will it, though?”
“May I help you?” A woman dressed in a black suit and black shirt greeted us.
“We’re here for the Project Adoption gala.”
When Ellie finished her sentence, the woman in front of us lit up. “Oh, it’s right down this hall and to your left. May I check your coats?”
“That would be great.” We both took off our coats and handed them to the attendant, who then took them to coat check. She returned to give us our tickets.
“Thank you so much,” I said as Ellie gave the woman a smile and nod before we trekked down the hall. “I hope we don’t have to stay here too long. These heels are going to rob me of circulation in my feet.”
“But they’re beautiful.”
“That’s true,” I said, glancing down to admire the shoes as we continued down the hall. It didn’t take long for us to figure out which room we were in based on the sign sitting on a stand outside the door. Moments later, Ellie and I were standing off to the side, opposite the entrance, sipping on glasses of wine and taking in the scenery in front of us.
“You know, I think people watching is my favorite sport.”
“I think it’s mine too,” I replied as I let my eyes float around the room. It was then that I looked back toward the entrance and a gasp fell from my lips.
“Hey, what’s wrong with—”
I didn’
t hear the rest of Ellie’s question. That was because my eyes settled on a man who struck both excitement and fear into me at the same time. I couldn’t stop the shiver that flowed through my body once his blue eyes landed on mine. The way they perused my body made me think he was undressing me in his mind, similar to the vibe I had gotten when we’d met in Dad’s office. I offered Damien the same treatment back as I stared at him from the top of his flawlessly styled brown hair to his shoes that looked barely worn. The standard black tuxedo reminded me of the suit he had worn to my office, but instead of wearing a black tie, he switched it out for a bow tie. It fit his body to perfection, and I would bet my paycheck it was custom made. Well, that bet wouldn’t be worth too much, seeing as I didn’t know how long I would have one.
“Hey, Anais—”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Ellie go from staring at me to the tall, dark, and handsome man standing across the room.
“Earth to Anais. Come back down from the clouds.”
The words she whispered caught my attention. “Wait, what?”
“You’ve seemed to have caught Damien Cross’s eye. Word on the street says that is both a blessing and a curse.”
“Can you give me an overview here?”
“Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome over there is as dangerous as he is good-looking. Not to mention he and his family are richer than Bill Gates. I’ve heard stories about some of his exploits and not just the ones that were mentioned in the tabloids. Are you even listening to me?”
“Nope,” I said. At least I was being honest. “We’ve met before. Briefly.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Ellie’s question came out as a harsh whisper, but I could hear the shock and knew she would tell me off later.
“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” she mumbled under her breath, lightly mocking me.
I snorted in return, used to this behavior from her. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and a glance at Ellie forced me to break eye contact with Damien.
She took a deep breath and said, “We need to talk later.” Ellie’s eyes shifted between us rapidly. “Oh, yeah, we definitely need to talk later.”
I looked back in Damien’s direction and saw he was still looking at me. Before anyone could do anything, a voice broke through the chatter in the crowd and asked if everyone could take their seats because the program was about to begin. Ellie and I sat down, and I was disappointed we weren’t sitting at the same table as Damien, but there was nothing that could be done about that. It wasn’t surprising he was seated at a table near the front and we were seated a couple of rows back. The table and the room were decorated to resemble an A-list event, playing off the reds and golds that were a part of the décor of the hotel. Project Adoption made sure to include pets in their theme. Each name card included a picture of an animal on it. I smiled at the dog on mine.
The MC of the night caught my attention when he walked up to the microphone and announced what we would be seeing this evening to support Project Adoption. He kept the gala interesting and lively, removing some of the hesitation I had about attending the event in the first place. About an hour into the gala and during a pause in the musical numbers, speeches, and auctions on stage, I leaned over to Ellie and whispered, “I’m going to go to the ladies’ room.”
She nodded, and I grabbed my purse and walked out of the large hall. It took me a moment to figure out where the bathrooms were, but once I spotted them, I walked as fast as my heels would let me. Thankfully, I made sure my gown wouldn’t take too much time or effort for me to use the bathroom. Within a few minutes, I was drying off my hands, ready to head back into the gala. I opened the door and stepped outside.
“Nice to see you here.”
I whipped around to find out where the rich timbre had come from. I was startled to find Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome standing just a couple of feet away. His blue eyes shone even brighter now than they had when we’d met in my father’s office a few days ago. I looked to see if anyone was around before my gaze landed back on him. I forgot to breathe for a second as I examined him without trying to make it too obvious. I couldn’t deny that he looked good.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
He said nothing but motioned for me to take a step closer. When I did, he put his hand on my lower back and led me toward a row of windows overlooking the entire city. His scent, a woodsy and spicy fragrance with a hint of something floral, crept into my nose, embraced, and consumed me. Yet there was still a sense of danger that I couldn’t pinpoint. I knew I wouldn’t be able to smell this aroma again without thinking of him. When he stopped walking, I took a step back, even though I craved the warmth his touch brought on my bare skin. It felt very intimate for someone I barely knew.
“I can’t attend an event to support animals? I do like them, and I assume you do too.”
“Sure you can, but that doesn’t require you to stop me from getting where I want to go. Excuse me.”
I tried to remain as polite as possible as I took a step to the left to get around Damien, but he blocked my path. I moved to the right and he blocked me again.
“Move.” My voice was low and menacing. I didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass Ellie and her parents, but I also had no problem doing so to get away from him. “Get the hell out of my way.”
“No, and the quicker you realize that no one can tell me what to do, the better.”
I rolled my eyes. “What do you want?” I asked.
“I have a proposition for you.”
His eyes were stuck on mine. They didn’t waver once. The blue orbs turned cold when I talked back to him. Confidence oozed off of him, making me feel intimidated by his presence, but I refused to back down.
“Well?” I asked, waiting for him to proceed.
“I wanted to talk to you about a deal I have with your father.”
My eyes narrowed as I tried to figure out what he was getting at. “What type of deal?”
He put both of his hands in his pockets and said, “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that Monroe Media Agency is having money troubles.”
I could have growled at him because he dared to utter my family business’s name and spread information I hated to say was true. I glanced around once more, making sure no one was within hearing distance before I took a step closer. “This deal was the reason why you were at our office?”
“Yes, your father owes me money after I offered to help Monroe Media Agency survive about two months ago. I gave him an opportunity to pay it back, but he couldn’t so I extended the deadline. Even with the boost Monroe Media Agency has received recently, it would take a miracle for him to pay me back everything I loaned him.” He paused. “But there’s a catch.”
“And what is that?”
“Your father has six more weeks to pay back the loan, and based on the meeting I had with him and my research, that will not happen.” He licked his lips and continued, “But I have one extra provision I want to include in this deal that, if it happens, would pay off his debt.”
“Oh, really? And what is that?”
“You.”
I took a step back as my glare became more prominent. “Excuse me? What do you mean me?”
It was clear who was running the show here. One side of his lips curved upward. “I want you.”
My blood turned as cold as his eyes. “Can you repeat that?”
He took a step forward, entering my personal bubble once more. “I rarely repeat myself, but I’ll make the exception just this one time. I want you.”
I couldn’t stop the feeling that he had become my worst enemy.
5
Anais
“I heard you, but I must be stuck in another dimension because I’m not comprehending it. What do you want with me?”
He took a step closer and said, “You will be mine for thirty days. Whatever I say goes.” He leaned even closer and I got another whiff of hi
s cologne.
I didn’t want to admit it, but the scent spoke to me like how the smell of a decadent cake would make your mouth water. Yet his words and the intimidation he swung around like a sword made anything that could have been wet dry up like the Sahara.
“I’ll even be generous and give you a couple days to think it over.”
“Are you saying you want to have sex with me in exchange for paying off my father’s debt?” The question flew out of my mouth and I didn’t care. It didn’t matter that it drew attention to us and could cause a scene.
“Those were your words, Anais. Not mine.”
No.
No way.
No way in hell.
He didn’t deny my interpretation of his proposal. It had always been hard for me to keep my feelings from showing on my face, but I succeeded and my face remained neutral. Inside, I was mortified at the words that had flown out of my mouth, but I was also too enraged to let that feeling take over. My body tensed up as I subconsciously tried to control the heat that was threatening to take over my face. Who did he think I was?
What further pissed me off was the fact that I could see a smile tugging at his lips. I was itching to slap him but thought better of it. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“I don’t appreciate my honesty being called into question. You and I both know I’m not lying, but I’m happy to show you proof.” He pulled out his cell phone and showed me a screenshot of what looked like a contract that my father had signed. “Now, as I said, this will be for thirty days. You will do anything I ask. If I were to tell you to run up and down Seventh Avenue naked, the only question you may ask me is for how long. If I said to stop in my office for a quick fuck, then you’ll do it, without hesitation.”
Savage Empire: An Enemies to Lovers Dark Billionaire Romance (Broken Cross Book 1) Page 3
