Or could it be even life-threatening?
Bastien’s bratty little smile notwithstanding, just what would this man do if this tryst really caused a big scandal? Would he be “professional” about it?
Or would the “real Darque” come out? Would he be willing to do whatever it takes to silence a woman who could ruin an expensive campaign?
Bella took a nervous gulp.
As she expected, Bastien confronted her in the break room after the meeting, eager to gloat about his game. But Bella was too worried about the future to indulge him. She met his eyes and began huffing.
“That was too close.”
“I know. Isn’t it nice?”
“No. I mean, it is fun for now, but when does it stop?”
Bastien lost his smile and stared her down. “When I say it stops. Arabella. That’s when.”
“That works for you, but what about me?”
“What about you?” he said, his voice escalating in machismo. “You will do as you’re told. That’s what about you.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so, that’s why. You know who I am. You know what I do. You knew that before signing the contract, did you not?”
“Yeah…I guess.”
“No guessing. You say yes. You will do as you’re told. Or so help me, Bella…”
He said her name. And said “Bella” instead of Arabella. He was genuinely pissed. A feeling of nausea came over Bella, as she looked into his fiery eyes, not quite sure just how dangerous a man he could be. Or how dangerous the situation could be, regardless of how classy a man Bastien really was.
And not such a classy guy, considering how he was ranting—almost oblivious to the threat of someone overhearing his conversation outside.
“You want to get fucked. You want to get spanked. That’s what you get, girl. That’s it. Don’t you dare try to pull this relationship shit on me! I told you. I don’t do romance. I have no emotions.”
“All you do is give orders,” I said sadly, already figuring out his motivation. “You just want everyone to do as they’re told, no matter how it suits them. It’s all about you.”
“Yes, you are correct!” he said after giving it a moment of thought. “That’s how I work. It never steers me wrong. That’s how my social life goes too.”
“I understand. I wish that I could be special, you know. That I could be someone who’s not just another girl. Another lay. Another submissive woman. But I guess hoping that you really liked me was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
Her brutal honesty caught him off guard. He stared into her eyes, suddenly releasing some of his power.
“Oh well. I’m young, right? Guess I’ll just get over it.”
“Arabella…” he whispered.
She turned his way and glanced, not quite smiling or frowning. Just doing as she was told.
“What about the second session?”
“I have too much work to do. Mister Darque. Sorry.”
She turned around and walked away. Just as Bastien started breathing hard and feeling his anger return, Carter Abrams walked in. He noticed Bastien seemed agitated. And did make a note that Bella had just left the room.
The look on his face almost said, “What’s going on with you two?” But he wisely deduced now wasn’t the time. Abrams just smirked and left the room, perhaps hoping to leave Bastien with a deeper thought: You’re not fooling anyone.
For the first time, Bastien felt the danger in the air. Maybe he was pushing too hard, too fast. But he had never met anyone like Arabella. She put a trance on him, just as tight a hold as he wished to put on her.
He sighed and looked down, breaking his intense concentration.
If she only knew.
Bella had determined not to see Bastien for the next session, or perhaps for any reason ever again outside of work. The worst thing about it was not knowing whether Bastien would have the strength to go public…rather than live in denial and possible…maybe…kill her to keep the story quiet?
They all said Bastien was a dangerous man. How much was real and how much was urban legend? She decided it was time to start researching him again. Even if he caught her doing it, it was beyond the point of respecting him enough to keep her job. Her life was more important than a job.
Then, as she searched for Bastion’s pictures in the media, she was struck with how congenial a man he could be—smiling for the cameras, giving them a warm avuncular face…sometimes even hugging his ghoul of a mother in public.
The man was capable of compassion, or at least the illusion of it.
So why was love so out of his league? Why was he incapable of any real human emotion? Her marketing experience in college taught Bella the importance of understanding human psychology. Men never stray far from what they are taught in their youth. Was he taught that he should hurt women? Or could it be that something or someone was taken from him?
All the records she searched on official websites gave the same story. His biological father was from a small town in Campo, Portugal and swept Bastien Darque’s mother off her feet when they were both in college and she was attending Pompeu Fabra University. Thus far, a rather innocent portrait of a family. The senator certainly appears on television to be an upright citizen, even if politically ambitious.
Nothing else was turned up from an online search. If there was more to the story, it might require a more intensive investigation—perhaps even a private investigator. Wow, wouldn’t that provoke Darque if he knew she was tailing him with hired help. That does seem like the kind of stupid thing a college intern might do…only to have her body dumped in a lake somewhere.
Santo was his father’s name. She tried searching Santo, hoping maybe a mention of him somewhere in the press might reveal something about his marriage. Usually misogynistic children had terrible relationships with their mother. But from all apparent news sources, he had appeared in public with his mother frequently, smiling and hugging like they were a real family. Could it all be an act?
Then, just as she was ready to give up she found a small snippet of a headline that caught her attention.
Aspiring Political Mind Agnes Mallory on Widowhood – An interview About Moving On
What if Bastien never knew his father? Could that have been the start of a huge downward spiral ending with his current obsession with control? The article was incomplete but it did give her a lead to explore at the library. Every bit of research conducted would have to be safe—preferably offline and definitely with no in-person interviews, which always trace back. Bastien already knew the relationship was volatile and that Bella was on the edge of leaving—or worse, yet trying to ruin him.
Bella wasn’t sure and needed a rest. She managed to avoid Alicia, her roommate fairly well, knowing she would have questions about whether her new man was in fact the billionaire political figure she managed to embarrass herself in front of.
But the next morning Alicia was there, not at work, and in a very chatty mood for some reason.
“Wake up, sunshine,” she said, intrusively invading her space and shoving her face right into the morning sunlight.
“Oh hey.”
“Did you have a goodnight sleep?” she asked, a bit miffed.
“What? I guess.”
“Did you dream anything, honey?”
“Ummm…about toast, I think.”
“I ought to kick your ass.”
“Excuse me?!”
“You hid this from me. You sneaky, sneaky woman.”
“What?”
And just like that, Bastien was there. In front of her. In Alicia’s apartment…just inches away from a still groggy Bella.
“Oh no…you didn’t.”
“I didn’t do anything. He came to see you, darling.”
“Yes,” Bastien said. “I know where you live, darling,” he said with a wide smile…a bit unnatural and not quite as friendly as the first time they met.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Billionaire Romance: Darque Control (A Darque Billionaire Romance Book 2) Page 4
