Breaking His Rules

by R. C. Matthews

  “You what?” My knees buckled and I stumbled. He caught me and swooped me into his arms. A few short strides later, he set me on the edge of the bed. And I was grateful because my head was spinning with the implications of his revelation.

  “Tell me,” I demanded, my voice distant and wooden. There was no room for speculation. I wanted the truth…and I wanted to hear it from his lips. “Tell me everything. And don’t lie to me.”

  He sat next to me and leaned his hands against the bed for support. “I first met your father about three months ago. He was completely against the idea of selling the restaurant. I begged. Offered an obscene amount of money. Told him I’d do or pay anything to get it back.”

  My head lowered and I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “And?”

  “And he said there was only one thing I could do to win him over.”

  I bit my lip and gazed into his eyes. He was guarded. His body stiff. Like he was bracing himself for one hell of a fight.

  “He asked me to hire you,” Damon continued. “Let you get your feet wet. And then ruin your reputation so you had no alternative but to return home.”

  That sounded exactly like something my father would do. I ran a shaking hand through my hair and ambled to the window, needing to put distance between us. I stared unseeing at the courtyard below. It was dark so there wasn’t much other than the fountain running under the spotlights to distract me. A dull ache settled between my breastbones as I fit the puzzle pieces together. My hand rubbed methodically against my chest in an effort to ease the pain.

  “Is that why I was hired at Midnight Blue?” I turned in his direction and didn’t bother to hide the sheen of tears misting my eyes. “Six months went by without a response to my résumé and then suddenly…”

  What would I have given not to have to ask that question? Almost anything. But I deserved the truth, even though asking him made me feel like a complete bitch. Was Damon capable of treachery of this magnitude?

  He strode to the window and leaned his shoulder against it, staring down at me.

  “Yes,” he said, woodenly.

  My stomach protested and I closed my eyes to stifle the urge to puke. Damon knew who I was from the moment he laid eyes on me at Midnight Blue. All of it was a game for him. Every minute we had shared meant nothing.

  “Listen to me, Samantha.” He rasped. “It took me a long time to come to that decision. I didn’t want to resort to manipulation and to put myself in the middle of whatever was going on between you and your father. That felt wrong. But your father wouldn’t relent and I was becoming desperate. I convinced myself you were probably a selfish brat in need of saving.”

  Anger replaced my pain and pushed my blood pressure through the roof. “You knew it was me on the first night in The Lounge when we met, didn’t you?”

  His throat convulsed and I had my answer before he even said a word.

  “Yes,” he said, rubbing my upper arm and pleading silently with his eyes for forgiveness. “Knowing what I do now, I would take it all back in a heartbeat. I’m so sorry. Please believe me.”

  “Oh, my God,” I cried, lacing my fingers through my hair and tugging hard. “You’ve been using me this entire time.” I shoved past him and grabbed his pile of clothes, tossing them in his face. “When were you going to drop the ball on me? Get dressed and get the fuck out of here. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you.”

  Tears streamed down my face and he reached for me, but I backed away. His clothes fell to the ground and he inched toward me, like a man chasing after a frightened kitten.

  “Samantha, please,” he begged, finally backing me into the wall and grabbing my hands in his. “Hear me out. I know you’re angry. And you have every right to be angry. Just hear me out before you make any rash decisions.”

  Gut-wrenching pain spliced through my heart and I had no desire to listen to any more of his lies. “You promised to take us to heaven and back,” I shouted, banging my fists against his chest. “But instead you’re dragging us through hell. You fucking bastard!”

  “Please, listen.” Grabbing my shoulders, he shook me until I was forced to give him my attention. “I didn’t go through with it! Can’t you see? I could’ve fired your ass after we fucked that first night. It gave me all the ammunition I needed to bury you. But I didn’t.”

  His voice trembled with fear and desperation but I didn’t want to care. He had come to mean a great deal to me in a short amount of time so his betrayal cut deep. Yet his words penetrated my haze of anger, snapping me out of my stupor and I glared at him.

  “Why didn’t you go through with it?” I asked, disentangling myself from his grip. “The gun was loaded and all you had to do was pull the trigger. Fuck. I played right into your hands.” I poked my finger into his chest. “Why didn’t you fire me the morning after you fucked me?”

  “Believe me,” he said, hands on his hips and head bowed, “I wanted nothing more than to go through with it. Getting the restaurant back means a lot to my mother. But I wasn’t kidding when I said you bewitched me, Samantha. I couldn’t go through with it. You’re a damned good bartender. A fantastic lover. And incredibly smart and witty. I didn’t know what the hell was going on with you and your father, but I knew enough that I didn’t want to kill your spirit. It’s rare that I find a woman as confident, determined, and resourceful as you. No doubt I can be a mean bastard when it comes to business. But this was personal. So I decided that I’d have to wear down your father some other way.”

  He hadn’t fired me…but that didn’t forgive his actions…and now everything we had shared on that magical night turned to fairy dust. “You meant it when you said you never invite employees into your private apartment at Midnight Blue. Didn’t you?”

  “I meant it.”

  A sharp pain throbbed in my head and all I wanted was for this nightmare to end. “So you invited me in there only because you intended to ruin me?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you didn’t ruin me.”

  “No, love, I couldn’t.”

  My body collapsed into a heap on the floor as I accepted the truth, burying my face in my hands. I’d never felt so utterly defeated, so sad. Damon had broken through my barriers and convinced me he was honest and honorable. Leaning my head against the wall, I closed my eyes because I couldn’t bear the sight of him anymore. Nothing made sense. I couldn’t trust my instincts. Where had I gone wrong in this mess of a situation? I needed clarity so I could avoid falling into another trap.

  “Why did you ask me out for a second night, Damon?”

  He sank onto the floor next to me and leaned his back against the wall, resting his hands against bended knees. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

  “Because I desperately wanted you.” He glanced at me. “And it pissed me off you were so eager to get out of my car to greet another man.”

  A grunt of satisfaction lifted my shoulders at his honest admission. I recalled quite well his display of jealousy. Letting out a deep breath, I turned to gaze at him. Quiet resolve filled me and I summoned the strength to move on. Still, I needed all of the facts if I wanted to win the never ending battle against my father.

  “So, what did you discuss with my father on Sunday?” I asked, sitting rigidly in place, willing Damon not to touch me. A girl could only be expected to handle so much and I was on the brink of breaking down.

  “I told him all bets were off and he’s a crazy sonofabitch for encouraging Giovanni in his pursuit of you. I’ll find another way to convince him to sell the restaurant to me.”

  I nodded and stayed silent for a minute, digging deep for the courage to address one of my biggest concerns. “Do I still have a job?”

  His eyes narrowed on me. “Why wouldn’t you? Of course you still have a job. I told your father to go fuck himself. Why would I fire you after that?”

  “Because you and I are over.” I shrugged and got to my feet. “I’ll understand if you don’t want me to work at Midnigh
t Blue after everything that’s happened.” Rubbing my arms to ward off the cold, I sighed. “I appreciate the gesture, though. You telling my father to fuck off. This isn’t the first time my father has pressured my employer to fire me, but you’re the first to say no.”

  “We are not over.” Jumping to his feet, Damon wrapped me in his embrace and pulled me tight against his body. “There’s no reason we can’t continue on as we have been. I care about you, Samantha, and I enjoy spending time with you. Don’t you want to explore this thing we have going on? This attraction is rare and I think you know it.”

  “Damon—” My voice caught in my throat and I turned away.

  How could he expect me to trust him ever again after he plotted in such a cold way to destroy my reputation in exchange for a business deal? I had warned him that night in his penthouse about my disdain for calculating billionaires. He could’ve confessed everything in that moment but hadn’t. Didn’t that put him on par with Giovanni and my father? The thought soured my gut and didn’t feel quite right. They weren’t the same but Damon had proven he could be every bit as ruthless when the motivation was right. I turned and looked him square in the eyes. “I can’t trust you.”

  His face paled at my bald accusation.

  “I planned to tell you before my trip,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “You wouldn’t let me. Remember?”

  I bit my bottom lip and glanced away. He should have pushed harder and told me anyway.

  “I’m not like them.” He growled, gritting his teeth.

  He didn’t need to use names. I knew exactly who he was referring to because my thoughts had strayed in the exact same direction only moments before. And as much as he wanted me to believe he was different, his actions spoke much louder than his words.

  “You hired me with every intent of ruining me—someone you didn’t even know—so you could get what you wanted.” I lifted an eyebrow. “How is that any different than Giovanni or my father?”

  “Motivation.” He ground out with a steely glare. “What I did was driven by a desire to fulfill my mother’s greatest wish. That’s the difference. Do not throw me under the same bus as Giovanni. That’s bullshit and you know it. Once I met you and realized my mistake, I put an end to your father’s diabolical plan. Don’t tell me you’ve never made a mistake in your life!”

  He turned and collected his clothing before heading into the bathroom to dress. I stared at his retreating back in shock. What the fuck? He wasn’t the injured party. I didn’t need this bullshit and I didn’t need Damon.

  He stormed out of the bathroom with his hair slicked back with water and grabbed his keys and wallet, shoving them into his pant pockets. The receipt from Let It Rayne glared up at him from the counter. He grabbed it and tossed it in the trash before heading for the door. His hand hovered over the handle and he paused.

  “When you’ve had time to cool down and think about it, we can talk again. I still want you, Samantha. But you have to be the one to decide whether or not you can trust me. I could’ve taken you down in a heartbeat—especially after the way you treated me that first night at Midnight Blue. But I didn’t, because I realized quite soon after we met that you are a rare gem. Remember that, please.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Bewildered

  Resisting the urge to slam the door behind me, I stalked through the doorway and pulled it shut with a firm grip. Samantha hadn’t moved to stop me, hadn’t reacted to my parting words. A tight ball formed in my stomach and I took the stairs two at a time, running away from the devastating truth snapping at my heels. She would never forgive me.

  How could I make her believe I was different? Tension built in my shoulders and neck as my mind raced through the possibilities. But every road led to the same fucking dead end. I couldn’t force her to see. Because it didn’t matter in her eyes that I hadn’t gone through with the plan. Hiring her at Midnight Blue with the intention of ruining her reputation—that alone sealed my fate.

  Slamming through the front doors to her apartment complex, I swore under my breath and searched once down the street for my driver. Of course Stefan was nowhere to be found. I’d sent him home after we’d arrived. The chilly night air seeped through my thin dress shirt and I shoved my hands into my pockets, hunkering down against the cold while I walked in the direction of Lake Michigan where my chances of finding a taxi was best. I hadn’t even made it six steps when a limousine stopped at the curb and the back window rolled down.

  “Samantha toss you out on your ass, my friend?” Giovanni asked with a hint of humor in his tone. “Glad to see you’re getting the same treatment. Gives me hope.”

  “Back the fuck off, Giovanni.” I growled, in no mood to deal with him. Never mind that his joke wasn’t funny. Oh, no. It was far too close to the truth and stung more than the sharp jab of a wasp. “She isn’t interested in rekindling a relationship with you. Stop being a stubborn ass and accept defeat.”

  Giovanni scoffed and pulled out a cigarette. He took his time lighting it before drawing deep and blowing the smoke in my face through the open window. “You know me better than that. All it takes is a bit of patience and an iron will. She’ll relent. Eventually.”

  The man was insufferable and, at the moment, I was running thin on patience. “She’s mine.”

  “Then why are you on the street at two o’clock in the morning searching for a cab in nothing but slacks and a dress shirt?” Giovanni asked with an arched brow. “No, I don’t think so. You had your first argument. Samantha is ripe for the picking.”

  Giovanni had the ability to crawl under my skin and piss me off with little effort. And he was right about one thing. His patience and iron will were legendary. The bastard wasn’t going away anytime soon unless we struck a deal. “What are you doing here, anyway? You don’t honestly think you’ve a chance of getting her to let you in at this hour.”

  Giovanni chuckled and drew another hit from his cigarette. “I’m patient, not stupid. Just part of my routine. Checking to make sure she’s home safe.”

  My jaw clenched at the thought of Giovanni keeping close tabs on Samantha. He was as obsessed with Samantha as I was. Maybe even more so because I couldn’t see myself stalking her apartment. This had to end and now.

  “What do you want to leave her alone? Name your price.”

  The driver jumped out of the car and opened the passenger door. I stalked around the back end of the vehicle and slid inside. Heat radiated through the seat as I adjusted my legs and settled in. Within seconds the driver pulled away from the curb and, after listening to Giovanni’s instructions, closed the privacy divider. The fucker knew exactly where I lived as well.

  Giovanni smashed the end of his cigarette into a built-in ashtray, and then he turned to me while tapping his fingers on his leg. His intense stare sized me up, but I didn’t flinch or look away. I think a part of me already knew his answer.

  “You know my price, Damon. Or have you forgotten my reason for coming to Chicago?”

  Disgust swept through me and I glanced out my side window into the dark night. Had Giovanni been playing me all along? I wouldn’t put it past the cocksucker. He really didn’t give two shits about Samantha. She continued to be nothing more than leverage for his next business deal.

  “You want Midnight Blue.” Saying it out loud brought a sharp pain to my heart. It was inevitable that I would relent, even though the nightclub was my baby. It marked the first venture I financed on my own. And it was a raging success. Something I was inordinately proud of.

  “At a discounted price. Let’s say eighty percent of my original offer,” Giovanni said casually. “She’s a beautiful woman and means the world to me. We were engaged once. I imagine she could love me again if I put my mind to it. In exchange, I will never pursue Samantha again.”

  Pressing my lips into a grim line, I held back the acerbic words scorching my tongue. Rubbing Giovanni’s face in his own shit would not solve the issue. It would only serve to elongate the neg
otiation process and lower the asking price. But I wasn’t bending over like a prison bitch and offering up my brown spider. His offer was akin to rape.

  “That extends to the entire Rayne family,” I said with a steely gaze. “No more threats and no more contact. You have enough soldiers marching to your drumbeat. Any legitimate business you’ve got with Samantha’s father or brother can go through one of your associates. Throw that in and we’ve got a deal.”

  Giovanni held out his hand. “Done.”

  My hand encircled his and I squeezed firmly. Gentlemen handshakes in his line of business were a binding contract. And unless I fancied a bullet to the head, I would keep my end of the bargain.

  “I’ll have my attorney draw up the papers tomorrow,” Giovanni said as his driver pulled to the curb outside my penthouse. “But allow me one last call with Samantha. She won’t believe I’ll leave her alone unless I confirm it myself.”

  As much as I wanted to tell him to fuck off, the bastard was probably right. I opened the door and shot over my shoulder, “Agreed.”

  Giovanni’s window lowered when I reached the sidewalk. “She’ll never forgive you.”

  What the fuck? I glared back, tempted to plant my fist in his face. Our negotiations were over. Neither one of us would back out so anything that happened now was icing on the cake. But the sympathetic look he gave me halted me in my tracks.

  “What makes you think there is anything she needs to forgive?”

  Giovanni rubbed his jaw and smiled. “Who planted the seed in Mr. Rayne’s head about you ruining her? Think about it. Would you have ever sold Midnight Blue to me otherwise?”

  His words knocked the breath out of me harder than a fist to the gut. Samantha wasn’t the pawn in Giovanni’s latest game. I held that honor. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and blew it out. So this was how it felt to be fucked from behind? I’d always known he was a mean son-of-a-bitch who toyed with people’s lives. Samantha was right about that, too. Was that the lens she saw me through? The thought turned my stomach.