by Penelope Sky
Conway’s eyes narrowed, as if he recognized the name.
“Once my brother was dead, Knuckles said he would take me as compensation. He said I would be his sex slave…and he counted down the days until he finally took me. He’d slip me notes in my bags on the subway or on the couch I slept. He was toying with me, building up to a climax and slowly torturing me. He threatened to hurt me even more if I ran for it, but I couldn’t just let it happen. I couldn’t wait around for him to grab me by the hair and drag me back to his prison…so I ran.”
Conway kept driving, but his speed decreased noticeably. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was too afraid. That’s why I didn’t want to give you my name either. But I became so famous from that fashion show, it led him right to me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this when I offered you my deal the other day?”
“Because you wouldn’t have paid the kind of money Knuckles wanted, and I wouldn’t have wanted you to.”
“But a hundred million is okay?” he asked incredulously.
“I didn’t ask you to do that…”
“You were begging me with your eyes, Sapphire. Or am I wrong?”
No, he wasn’t wrong.
“If you had just told me what was going on, I could have helped you. But you didn’t. You didn’t trust me, despite everything I’ve done for you. I offered you the deal of a lifetime to pay back your debts—and you turned me down.”
“And I should be grateful for that?” I snapped. “You offered to clear my debt if I fucked you.”
“Five hundred and thirty thousand dollars of debt,” he snapped. “That’s not pocket change, even to someone like me. You don’t have a penny to your name, and you’re struggling to survive. Beggars can’t be choosers, and you chose wrong. That was a great deal, and you pissed it away.”
It wasn’t a bad offer. “That’s not how I wanted to lose my virginity…”
He shook his head slightly. “Well, now I bought it for a hundred million—and you’re giving it to me. I own all of you, from head to toe. I will fuck you when I want, dress you how I want, and do whatever I damn well please.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter and stared straight ahead, his jaw tense.
I was still covered in his jacket, and his smell enveloped me. The fabric was soft against my skin, and despite what he’d just said to me, I felt safe. “That’s fair…” If Conway hadn’t saved me, I’d be facing a much worst fate. He saved my life as well as my dignity. Even if I worked for him for the rest of my life, I’d never be able to repay the money he spent to save me. Knuckles could have bought me instead, and my face would be black and blue at this very moment.
Conway wasn’t a saint.
But he wasn’t the devil either.
I had no other opportunities or resources. There was no hope for me to go back to America. The second I left Conway’s side, I would be vulnerable to the world all over again. Knuckles would take me the second he got the chance.
Conway would never give me the money to pay back my debts now, and even if he did, I would never take it. He’d already done enough for me.
This was my life now.
I was the property of Conway Barsetti.
His willing prisoner.
“Thank you for buying me…” I had never said the words out loud. The entire situation was fucked up. I was thanking a man who bought me to fuck me, but since he was the only decent guy in the situation, I was grateful. I would much rather be stuck with Conway than anyone else. Once you truly suffered, your perception of life changed.
Conway didn’t acknowledge my words. He kept driving with one hand on the wheel. “This is how it’s going to be. I will use you for my concepts, and you will do exactly as I say. You will not have other men—only me. I will provide for you and protect you for the rest of my life. In return, you will be my muse. Understood?”
I was the one woman he would live out his fantasies with. I would follow his orders and be exactly what he wanted me to be. My job was to please him, to inspire him. Obeying was something I would always struggle with, but I would do the best I could. After what he did for me, I owed him my life. I would give him whatever he wanted. “Yes.”
14
Sapphire
I’d been to the house before, but it was for the after party at the end of the fashion show. There had been people taking up every single inch of space, making the house and the grounds congested because there were thousands of people on the property.
Now it was empty.
A stone wall wrapped around the entrance to the property, and we had to drive at least a mile before we reached the three-story villa with the fountain in the front. Some of his land was full of vineyards, and the other part was full of perfectly manicured bushes and rose gardens. Something I hadn’t noticed the other night was the pasture where a few horses grazed. A barn sat in the distance, and a white fence kept the large beasts contained. It was dark so it was difficult to make out, but the distant light from the barn illuminated their outline.
“You have horses?”
Conway pulled into the roundabout and killed the engine.
I knew I wasn’t getting an answer.
When I got out of the car, I wrapped the jacket tighter around my body and felt the nighttime breeze move through my hair. All of my belongings had been left behind, so all I had was this jacket—and it wasn’t even mine.
A man stepped out in a purple collared shirt and navy blue slacks. He had a thick gray mustache and tanned skin. He must have been in his fifties or sixties, and judging by his fitness and sun-kissed skin, he worked hard around the property. “Good evening, Conway. I’ll take the car.”
Conway tossed him the keys.
The man caught them even though the lights from the front of the house were dim. “What are your instructions?” He didn’t make a comment about the way Conway was dressed, the fact that his shirt was missing or that I was wrapped up in his jacket. He must have seen Conway in these kind of situations before—half naked with a woman to bring inside.
“Sapphire will be staying in the Grand Guestroom. She needs a meal and something to drink.”
His servant didn’t blink at the request. “Of course, sir. Right away.”
Conway only gave him a nod in acknowledgment before he walked up the stone steps to the front door.
I trailed behind him, and when I didn’t walk fast enough, he turned back to look at me.
I came to his side, pulling the jacket tighter around my body.
We stepped inside the entryway, where the ceiling extended all the way to the third floor and revealed the double staircase. It was a grand entryway fitted with two enormous stone statues near the staircases. Both were Roman soldiers, decorated from Caesar’s era. They held spears at their sides, and their bodies were rigid and hard like Conway’s.
He headed up the stairs to the right, the muscles in his back rippling and shifting underneath his skin. His narrow hips stretched out into his wide shoulders, looking just like the statues he had erected in his home.
We went up to the third floor, and I took the opportunity to admire the artwork on the walls. The oil paintings were all unique and beautiful, adding color to the Tuscan style home. The windows all had square wooden panels in the center, and they opened outward to let the fresh air into the house.
Conway stopped at a double doorway on the third floor and stepped inside. “This is your space. It has a private bathroom, a living room, and a balcony. You should have more than enough room.”
I spotted the large king bed with a bright red and orange bedspread. The Mediterranean colors matched the panels on the windows. It was dark outside so I couldn’t see the scenery, but I imagined the view was spectacular. All of the furniture was perfectly designed to complement the room. Paintings adorned the walls, and the individual art lights in the ceiling illuminated the works at the perfect brightness. The second room contained the large living room along with the balcony. The bookshelves wer
e full of books, and the couch was positioned in front of a large TV on the wall.
It looked like I was staying in the presidential suite of a resort. “It’s…gorgeous.” Even if I hadn’t slept next to a dumpster, I would still think it was the most beautiful room I’d ever seen. It didn’t seem fair that he’d spent so much money on me, and I got to enjoy such luxuries.
“Dante can get you anything you need. You’re free to use the gym or the pool. Just stay out of my way for the next few days.” Cold as frost, he turned away from me and walked back to the door.
“Why?”
His hand gripped the knob, and he didn’t bother turning around. “Because I don’t want to look at you.”
* * *
His home was extraordinary.
I’d never seen it in the light of the sun before. It was a cloudless day, and the sky was so blue that it seemed like an ocean was stretching over my head. My patio had a great view of the stables and the vineyards. When the sun hit my spot on the balcony, it was the most comfortable place on earth.
My bathroom was nearly the size of my bedroom, with a large tub under a window that overlooked the front of the house. There was a huge shower and double sinks. If this was just a guest bedroom, I wondered what Conway’s master bedroom looked like.
I explored the grounds on foot, walking along one of the paths that went by the stables. I stopped and stared at the horses for a long time, admiring their beautiful coats before I passed the swimming pool and the large terrace where the party had been last weekend.
It was a palace.
I didn’t cross paths with Conway, even though I hoped I would. He said he wanted nothing to do with me for a while, and I knew that was because he was pissed at me—pissed I’d been so stupid.
I’d cost him a fortune.
Dante appeared from behind me, “Sapphire, can I get you anything?”
I was standing in the largest living room in the house, the place big enough for a ballroom. There were three stories to this place, and I still hadn’t explored them all. “No, I was just looking around.”
“I noticed you didn’t take your breakfast tray.” Dante stood in a collared shirt with his hands behind his back. He was noticeably cold toward me, disliking me even though he’d never spoken to me before.
“My breakfast tray?”
“I set it in your living room.”
He’d been in my room?
Dante must have noticed the surprise on my face because he said. “There’s a separate doorway in there. I’ve been instructed to bring you breakfast every morning for the next few days.”
“I’m sorry…I didn’t see it.”
He didn’t bother covering his sigh. “Then let me make you some lunch. Come.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can do it myself—”
“You don’t like my cooking?”
“Uh…I never said that.”
“You didn’t eat your breakfast tray, and now you don’t want lunch?” he asked incredulously. “I’ve studied the culinary arts my entire life. My cuisine is the finest in this great country. If you don’t like it, then the issue isn’t with the food—but you.”
Man, we’d gotten off on the wrong foot.
He stared at me with venom in his eyes. If he showed his teeth, he would probably have fangs.
“I really didn’t see the breakfast tray. I would love some lunch because I’m starving. I just didn’t want to bother you…”
“Bother me?” he asked in surprise. “This is what I live for, Sapphire. Taking it away is like taking away a piece of my soul. My purpose is to serve, to make this palace into a home. I treat all of my master’s guests just as I treat him—like royalty.”
I certainly didn’t feel like royalty in that moment—just a pain in the ass.
Now he stared at me with a furious expression, as if he expected me to say something else.
What was I supposed to do? “Uh…I’m sorry I misunderstood.”
“I accept your apology.” He walked past me, his body rigid with pride. “Where will you take your lunch, Sapphire?”
“I have options?”
He stopped and turned around again, his eyes narrowed.
Did I say something stupid again?
“Anywhere you want. Just tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”
“What do you recommend?”
“It’s a beautiful day.” He extended his hand to the window. “Sunny and warm. The terrace is always a great spot.”
“Then I’ll take my lunch there.”
He clapped his hands once. “Excellent. Lunch will be served in just a few minutes.”
I sat on the balcony under the white umbrella, admiring the acres of land Conway owned. The horses grazed in the pasture, and the sun cast the land in a beautiful hue. The gentle breeze brought warm air directly against my cheeks. The water in the pool sparkled under the brilliant sunlight.
Dante served me like a patron at a restaurant. He brought me iced tea first, a basket of bread, and then served a green salad with vinaigrette and grilled chicken with roasted tomatoes.
It was almost three o’ clock, and there was still no sign of Conway.
Dante returned to the terrace and collected my plates. “Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes, it was amazing. Thank you.”
“Dessert?”
There was more? “I’m full, but thank you.”
His eyes narrowed in offense.
“I mean…of course.”
“Alright. I’ll return with a cup of coffee and biscotti. I just made a fresh batch.”
“Great.” I wasn’t sure what Conway’s plans were for me, but I couldn’t sit around and gain weight. He probably wanted me to keep my measurements exactly as they were.
Dante returned with the coffee and biscotti, placing everything on the white tablecloth along with a small vase with a single red rose. “Anything else I can get you? I have tiramisu and lemon cake as well.”
I assumed he had everything in his kitchen. “Is Conway home right now?”
His face immediately hardened at the question.
“I’m just curious.”
“He’s working right now.”
It was clear Conway had instructed Dante to keep me away from him. I was to entertain myself until he was in the mood to have a conversation with me. “Can you tell him something for me?”
“I can pass on a message. But I can’t make him listen to it.”
“Tell him…” I didn’t know what I wanted to say. I wanted to apologize to him since it was my fault that he had to bail me out…and spend one hundred million dollars. But an apology through another person would make it empty. “I’m enjoying his beautiful home.”
* * *
Days passed, and I didn’t even catch a glimpse of him. I wasn’t even sure if he was staying at the house. I knew he had a place in Milan, so maybe he was sleeping there to swallow his rage.
I was enjoying my time in paradise. In America, I’d been a broke college student eating Top Ramen and hard-boiled eggs every day. Now I had a professional chef prepare all my meals—and ask if I wanted coffee and dessert afterward. I got to enjoy the pool as it overlooked the Italian landscape, and I was able to use a private gym that was big enough for dozens of people to use.
This was what it was like to be rich, I guessed.
I sat on the terrace with a glass of wine beside me. My feet dangled in the pool, and I wore a sundress I’d found in my closet. Conway must have sent someone to buy me clothes, giving my measurements so they would know exactly what would fit me. And everything was more beautiful than anything I’d ever worn. As if I had a kingdom to rule, every day I was dressed like a queen.
Footsteps sounded beside me, heavy footfalls that could only be caused by a heavy man. It wasn’t Dante, who was thin and limber. It was someone who carried the weight of the world.
It was Conway.
He sat beside me on the ledge and rolled up the bottom of his jeans so he c
ould place his feet in the pool. Then he grabbed my glass and took a drink of the red wine, swirling it before he let it touch his lips. He set it down again between us, licking his lips when he was finished.
The silent treatment was finally over.
The sun set over the horizon, and the brilliant splashes of orange, pink, and blue sprinkled the sky. His terrace had the best view of the most spectacular sunset I’d ever witnessed—and he got to enjoy it every day.
He watched the sunset until the sun finally dipped below the horizon. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
It took me a moment to understand it was a direct response to the message I’d given to Dante a few days ago. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. When I passed through the small villages around Milan, I saw lots of beautiful things…but nothing like this place. It’s like a scene from a movie or something.”
“Real life is always more beautiful than the movies.”
“Maybe for you…” A rich man like him was only exposed to the luxurious things in life. Constantly surrounded by flowers, expensive cars, and gorgeous women, life was a dream. But for someone like me, life was an ongoing battle. There was one fight after another.
“Life is what you make it, sweetheart.”
I sucked in my breath through my front teeth, immediately hating the way that word sounded on my ears. It made my stomach clench tightly. I suddenly felt powerless, like Knuckles could grab me by the neck all over again.
Conway’s eyes shifted to me. “What did I say?”
I stared at the skyline, watching the light slowly fade. The stars were starting to shine bright overhead. “I just hate that name…”
“Why?” His voice was deep and masculine, and he always spoke in a baritone. He emitted so much confidence with such few words.
“That’s what Knuckles calls me…” I didn’t need to give a deeper explanation than that. I didn’t need to get into the details of how he would torture me. I’d crash on a friend’s couch, but still wake up to a note from him left on my chest. He liked to watch me run—because he got off on it.
