“She’s assisting with the staff in the kitchen, making sure that everything is prepared as requested. You have at least ten minutes or so before you need to head to your table. Is there anything I can get you, or perhaps give you any information on?” she asked and looked at some of the people watching him. She wasn’t sure if they were waiting to snag his attention when she saw a tall redhead who looked like a supermodel, skin and bones but fake boobs, approach.
“Liam,” she whined in a voice that made Louisa cringe. She hadn’t meant to blatantly show her reaction to the woman’s voice, but it didn’t go unnoticed by Mr. Russell or his guard, who snickered.
She grabbed on to Mr. Russell’s arm and continued to whine. “There’s too much food around here and nothing that isn’t fattening. It’s disgusting and a complete disappointment. Can’t you do something about it?” she asked with attitude. If anything the woman needed to eat. She looked sickly.
Louisa looked the woman over. She stood at least four inches taller than Louisa even without the designer stilettos the chick wore.
“Louisa? Perhaps you could assist?” he asked, saying her name and staring at her deeply, his gaze trailing along her breasts, which were real and definitely not as big at this woman’s.
“Why of course, Mr. Russell. Miss, I’m not sure if you walked by the table near the front of the food station, but there is an entire setup of fresh vegetables, grilled vegetables, fishes, grains, and anything one might need who is on a restricted diet.”
“I am not on a restricted diet. Some people watch what they eat,” she said and gave Louisa’s body the once-over as if she was fat or something. The woman needed psychological help.
“Either way, whatever your food desires are, I’m certain you can find many options over there,” she said and past Mr. Russell she saw Deanna run by with some fancy bottle in her hands.
“I doubt it,” the redhead said.
“Brea, enough. I’m certain you can find something,” he said and then snapped his fingers and a second later another man, a guard, was there.
“Mark, Brea is not feeling well. Please escort her to the car and have Jay take her home,” he said.
“What? I’m feeling fine,” the redhead said, but one firm look from Mr. Russell had her closing her lips and looking about ready to cry. “This was our first date,” she said to him.
“Take care,” he told her and then took Louisa by her arm and began walking. She could hear Brea curse and then carry on a bit, but his guard got her out of there quickly.
“So, Louisa, how long have you worked for Deanna?”
“Oh, I don’t work for her, I’m just helping her out with this event. Freelance work,” she told him and then pulled away from his hold. He paused and squinted at her like she committed a crime. He licked his lower lip.
“You look awfully familiar. Have we met before?” he asked her and really narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’m not certain, sir, but if you follow me I can lead you to your table.”
She played dumb. He looked like he didn’t buy her answer. She didn’t want to advertise that she worked for Paulano. God knows what the man might say to her or think.
“Join me at my table to talk,” he said and began to walk away.
“I’m sorry but I can’t do that,” she told him and he stopped short and his guard stared at her angrily. She felt her heart racing. Who the heck did this guy think he was?
“I don’t think you heard me correctly. I’d like for you to join me at my table.”
“Oh, I heard you correctly, sir, and I can’t.”
“Are you denying a request? You do realize I’m the one flipping the bill here.”
“Mr. Russell, there you are. Your table is all set and everything is there as requested,” Deanna said, interrupting them. Louisa began to inch away and looked for the moment to sneak off when she heard Russell speak.
“Deanna, we have a problem.”
“A problem? What problem?” Deanna reacted immediately and Louisa felt her heart racing. Deanna worked so hard to get this event and it opened opportunities for her to do other events as well. She had to help her out and make sure things ran smoothly.
“It seems that I’ve lost my date for this evening. I was just asking Louisa if she would join me at my table and it seems she has other responsibilities for the rest of the evening and can’t oblige my request,” he said and looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. She almost chuckled. This man knew how to play Deanna. Probably play many people, especially women. Not her though. No way. She was annoyed.
Deanna shot Louisa a hard look. “I can assure you that Louisa is more than available to assist you,” Deanna said to him and then looked at Louisa.
“Don’t worry about your other responsibilities. The staff and I will handle it. You can assist Mr. Russell with whatever he needs,” she told her and Louisa widened her eyes at Deanna.
“Really?” she asked with attitude.
“Yes. Please,” Deanna asked and Louisa recognized that desperate expression.
“Fine.”
“Very good, then. Shall we, Louisa?” he said and offered his arm but she didn’t take it.
“I’ll lead you to your table, sir,” she said with attitude and heard his guard chuckle. She could feel both men’s eyes on her body and as she got to the private table she felt a hand on her hip and Mr. Russell press close.
“Take this seat here next to me,” he whispered. She swallowed hard and he pulled out the chair and she took a seat. His guard opened the expensive bottle of tequila and poured them small glasses of the stuff, then took a seat on Mr. Russell’s other side.
“To meeting new people,” Mr. Russell toasted her. She rolled her eyes, clicked glasses with him, and she took a sip, but they both swallowed down the double shots of the stuff like water. He licked his lips and looked at her.
“So tell me about yourself, Louisa.”
She stared up into his dark black eyes and looked over his face, his expensive clothing. “I think not,” she replied and looked away. He moved his arm over her chair and inched closer.
“But I want to know more about you.”
She turned to look at him, her eyes narrow and her attitude getting worse.
“What for? I am not your type. I don’t play games, and because my good friend needs this job, is working her rear off to please you, I’m forced to sit here and play nice. You’re wasting your time, Mr. Russell. I think Brea was more your speed,” she stated.
“It’s Liam, Louisa. Brea was a decoration for my sleeve, and what makes you think you’re not my type?” he asked and remained close to her and stared down into her eyes, making her feel a mix of emotions. He was charismatic but he was still a player. She didn’t need the aggravation.
“Honestly, you need to ask me that?”
“Yes, I want to know why you think you’re not my type.”
She looked at his guard who watched her with interest, but not sexual, more like he was intrigued.
“For one, I’m not a mindless bimbo who doesn’t eat meat,” she said to him.
He roared with laughter, shocking her. His guard chuckled.
“So you’re not a vegetarian, but it’s obvious you care about your physical appearance. Go on,” he said to her and she felt his fingers graze over her bare shoulder and caress her skin. She turned sideways in the chair.
“Do you think this is working? You demanding that I come sit here and be your pretend date? That I’ll fall for your silly lies, your flirty comments, and demanding tone? That I’ll drool over your designer clothes, your charismatic smile, your hefty pockets? Because I’ll tell you right now, Liam, I’m not going to. I’m just trying to earn a living, pay my rent, live my life with no aggravating problems. So why don’t we skip the nonsense, you can take out your cell phone and go down the line of women you have on speed dial to entertain your needs. I’m not biting,” she stated firmly and stood up. He grabbed her hand and his guard just stared at her
with a smirk.
“I’ve offended you, and that wasn’t my intention. You hit me off guard. I’m going to be honest with you, Louisa. I remember you. You worked for Paulano Felini, did you not?”
Busted.
“I did.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you worked for him for a while. He was always looking at you with hunger in his eyes. Did he break down your defenses and then toss you to the side?” he asked and she was shocked.
“Actually, no, he came on to me and I put him in his place, then threatened to sue him for sexual harassment. Women don’t need to take that kind of abuse and disrespect anymore, Liam,” she snapped at him.
He stared at her and then licked his lower lip. He reached up and stroked her jaw. “You’re right. A woman as beautiful as you should be respected. I didn’t mean to offend you. Let’s start over and pretend we don’t even know each other. I saw you and I wanted to get to know you. It’s as simple as that. Please don’t be offended or insulted. I have some people joining us shortly and they can be boring as damn hell. I need your assistance. I promise to make it worth your time, and when I say that I mean it professionally.”
She didn’t want to believe him. He stroked her wrist where he held it firmly and she felt something. Was it an attraction? Could she be so stupid as to fall for the charms of a man like Liam? A twenty-four-year-old virgin, out of choice, and here she was wondering, was it time to give in and get it over with? Could a meaningless fuck solve her emotional barriers or make them worse? She started to feel nervous, anxious to get away, yet curious as to what drew her to him.
She just wanted to leave and do her job but then Deanna was back, bringing along four men and Liam didn’t release her hand as he remained standing next to her along with his guard to greet them. He released her hand to place his hands on her shoulders as he introduced her to the men who all ate her up with their eyes and smiles, then took seats. A glance from Deanna and a squeeze to her shoulders from Liam, along with a whispered plea in her ear and she sat back down and assisted him with putting on a show and ultimately snagging every man’s attention at the table. She flirted back, indicating she was not attached to Liam whatsoever and it definitely pissed the man off, especially when she exchanged numbers with all four men who were looking for assistance with planning private dinner parties at their homes. She hoped Liam Russell got her message loud and clear, but then she felt the hand on her knee, the squeeze right when Mr. Griffin, one of the men, hinted about meeting for lunch to discuss options and pricing for a private gathering at his home.
When the men walked off to get after-dinner drinks she started to rise from her chair. He grabbed her hand, covered it with his. “Wait, I have this event in two weeks, and I’m in desperate need of an event coordinator. I would like you to do the job.”
“I’m sorry, Liam, but I’m working here and then cutting back on the freelance work. I couldn’t possibly take the job on as lead. However, I’m certain Deanna would love the job.”
He looked insulted and surprised at her refusal to take on the job.
“Perhaps I could assist Deanna. I just don’t want the full responsibility. Where is it at?” she asked.
“The seaside hotel. The event will put this small gathering to shame.”
“Well, that place is huge. Four times the size of this place.”
“Yes, indeed. Tell me that you’ll think about it. Please?” he asked.
“I’ll think about it.”
He reached up and stroked her cheek. “See, that wasn’t so bad,” he said and gave her a wink. She gave a soft smile and wondered what Liam was really like when he wasn’t playing some sort of role.
* * * *
“She’s incredible, Keno, don’t you think so?” Liam asked his guard as they listened to her saying good night to the four businessmen. He was so pissed off that she flirted with them and told them that she was not his date and that she worked for the event planner and then she even exchanged phone numbers with the men. He knew them all well, and they wanted her in their beds, just like he did. In fact, the four men were never so talkative and enthusiastic. It was Louisa who brought it out in them.
“She is incredible, boss, but it seems she really isn’t interested in you and thinks you’re a rich prick.”
“I am a rich prick, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to walk away from such a delicious treat.”
“She’s not your usual type of treat.”
“No, she isn’t. She’s a delicacy and one that I know if I indulge in that I’m going to want more and more of.”
“Then why indulge in her?”
“Simply because I want to. She’s a challenge, and you know how much I love a good challenge.”
“Be careful, boss, she’s got a bite on her.”
“I think her bark is bigger than her bite, but if I’m wrong and she does have a bit of fight in her, the more interesting things will be in my bed. Get what you can on her. Address, background check, everything you can and I’ll work on Deanna to get information that way, too, and even call that dick Paulano if need be.”
“She’s definitely worth the effort, boss.”
Liam stared across the room at her speaking to a group of men and she had them smiling. He felt jealous, and knew he would get her in his bed no matter what it took.
“Definitely worth it,” he whispered and smirked with his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. He always got what he wanted. Money, power, control, everything. He would win her over, and he knew exactly how to go about doing it.
Chapter 2
The nights shouldn’t be like this anymore. Her confusion, her being easily manipulated proved her wrong in the worst possible way. She shivered just thinking about it as she pulled the covers tighter and stared at the clock. She was wide awake now. Four o’clock in the morning and too early to get ready for work.
She thought about the event she helped Deanna with and how easily she could head her own company as an event coordinator. She loved it, enjoyed meeting people, working with them to fulfill their dream occasion and party. She absorbed herself in her work and turning down men was becoming second nature.
She thought about Liam Russell. He was so much older than her, but man was he attractive and something about him stirred an interest, or maybe a challenge, in her. She thought about her mother and despite the fact she no longer felt the need to make her mother happy, she felt like she failed because she was still a virgin, unable to let down the walls around her body and heart and let a man inside. She knew sex wouldn’t hurt. It had to be pleasurable with the right man. She knew touching didn’t need to hurt either and she was glad she fooled around enough to know some pleasure could be had without actually having sex.
She hadn’t thought about that last night, or how she evaded Liam’s attempt at getting her to meet him for drinks and set a date for dinner. She hadn’t bit. In fact she thought about accepting his invite, which brought on feelings of fear and uncertainty she was getting tired of. Hearing about what her friends were doing, and even who they were doing, made her feel sort of like a freak, or an idiot for holding on to her virginity. She fooled around with men, so it wasn’t like she knew nothing about sex. She just didn’t go all the way.
Hell, she only let one man finger her and another man suck on her breasts. That about summed up her sexual encounters. She was okay with that, or so she thought she was until last night. Until she realized that she attracted a lot of different types of men, even ones like Liam, but she never entertained them. She knew if she said yes to a date, it meant she was saying yes to having sex with them. Plus she lived with this constant fear. She hadn’t let Miles touch her. He forced his hands upon her and his fingers. When she thought about dating a man she feared him trying the same thing or pushing himself on her. The best choice was avoiding the date all together. Years had passed and she still wasn’t over that incident, and her mom’s call seemed to bri
ng those bad memories back into her mind.
She wanted something more. She didn’t know what. She just hoped she knew when it happened, but she was growing inpatient and lonely, too. Perhaps if she met Liam again she would take the chance and just get this whole sex thing out of the way. Maybe it would heal her fears from the past, the memories of the damage done to her, and the abandonment she continued to feel until this day despite all her independent accomplishments. She sighed and forced herself out of bed to get ready for work. It was a new day, a new job, and anything could happen.
When she was all set to leave, her cell phone rang. She was rushing out the door despite having all the time in the world this morning when she answered.
“Louisa, so glad to hear your voice. Are you off to your new job?” Paulano asked her. She was shocked to hear from him.
“Why are you calling me?” she asked, then got into her car.
“To talk.”
“About what? I thought I made it clear—”
“I heard you were spending some time with Liam Russell. You’ve gained his interest,” he told her and she couldn’t understand why Paulano was calling her about this unless he was jealous and actually thought he had a chance with her despite her threat of sexual harassment.
“Why are you calling me?”
“To warn you. You know I care about you. We shared an office for how many years?”
She got behind the wheel of her car and opened the garage door so she could pull out. She started the engine.
“Still don’t know why you’re calling me. I have nothing to say to you. If you continue to harass me I’ll be forced to notify the police.”
“No need for that. Besides, you never know when knowing me could help you out of a jam.”
“I doubt that.”
“Just know that Liam Russell is not a man to defy or to try and ignore. If he sets his sights on you, you will be his. The man is worth millions though, so you’d be set for life, but what he demands, you more than likely can’t handle.”
“I can’t believe you’re calling me and giving me advice on some guy I don’t really know. What is this really all about?”
Kamikaze Nights [Love on the Rocks 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 4
