She shoots daggers in my direction. “Ruth.” She takes in my casual outfit and a small smirk pulls at her lips. She looks better than me and she knows it. “I see that you’ve met my boyfriend, Nicholas.” She grabs his forearm possessively.
He smiles down at her and places a kiss on the crown of her head. “I met Ruth briefly on the elevator a few weeks back. Remember? I was just formally introducing myself,” he explains.
She shoots another snare in my direction before tugging on Nicholas’ sleeve. “Honey, I want you to meet the mayor. He’s about to leave and I don’t want you to miss him.”
Nicholas glances at the crowd behind him. “Oh, sounds good,” he says, setting the plate of food down on the table. He smiles over at me. “It was great seeing you again, Ruth.”
“Likewise,” I say as Liz grimaces at me again before tugging Nicholas through the crowd.
Well, I guess she wasn’t lying after all when she said she has a boyfriend.
Chapter 22
For the umpteenth time, I straighten the coffee cups and the platter of pastries on the conference table in front of me. Then, I smooth over my tight chignon and adjust the lapels of my dark blue blazer.
I’m nervous.
That’s why I’m fidgeting.
Having an unsupervised one-on-one with a new client is a huge accomplishment for an intern at a prominent law firm like Cartwright Moretti Stevenson. I know that. That’s why I showed up early and fully prepared for this consultation.
I hear a light tap at the door. “Come in,” I say, leaping to my feet.
Tabitha, the receptionist sticks her head into the door. “Mr. Aksakov is here,” she says with a stoic expression on her face.
“Send him in, please,” I say trying to cloak the tremor in my voice.
Tabitha steps out of the doorway and speaks briefly to the man standing behind her.
I paste my most professional smile on my face and clasp my trembling hands in front of me waiting for the client to enter.
The door swings wide open and Sergei stands in the doorway. Although his suit looks expensive, he still looks cheap and vile. Fat and bald and more nauseating than before.
My voice catches in my throat as he walks in and locks the door behind him.
“Ruthie. You look beautiful.” A sick grin spreads across his face.
“What are you doing here?” I say, my voice coming out in a squeak. I can’t believe he’s here. At my job. Locked away with me in a conference room.
He puts on a fake pout. “You no look happy to see me.” He approaches me slowly.
Thinking fast, I reach for the pot of hot coffee sitting on the table behind me. I’ll do what I have to do to defend myself against him.
“You might want to think twice before you do whatever the fuck it is you’re thinking about doing, Angel,” he threatens. He’s right. He’s backed me into a corner and he knows it.
“What do you want? Why are you stalking me?” I growl at him. I’m so frustrated. I just want to move on with my life but my past haunts me at every turn. I just want it to stop.
Sergei stretches out a binder towards me. “I’m dying, Ruth. I don’t have much time left. I need you to sign the papers so I can transfer the club to you.”
“I don’t want that club!” I growl.
“Sign the papers,” he insists, his eyes bloodshot.
“I’m not signing anything. If you want me to have the club, just leave it to me in your will.”
“If I leave it in my will, my estate will be tied up in probate for months and the club that I dedicated my whole adult life to will be in limbo. Plus, you can always renounce the inheritance. If I transfer it to you while I’m alive, I’ll know that everything is dealt with. I can die a happy man.”
As if I care about that monster’s happiness. “Fuck you, Sergei. I just want you to leave me alone.”
Sergei sits on the edge of the table. “Look, Ruth. This can be very simple. Sign the papers and I go away. Or, refuse and I march down the hallway right now and show this folder to your little boyfriend, Michaelo Moretti, junior. It’s up to you.”
“Michael already knows about my past,” I say confidently.
“I’m sure he hasn’t seen it with his own eyes,” Sergei says tossing the folder at me. Photos of my naked body, swirling around a stripper pole with random men groping at my flesh, flutter to the ground.
Fuck.
“Even if he personally doesn’t mind having a whore for a girlfriend, the partners of this firm will mind…they will definitely mind. And he’ll have a choice to make. You or his future at this firm…and in politics.”
Tears pour down my face. I’ve been ambushed. I’m being blackmailed.
“Sign the papers, Ruth, and I’ll go away. Don’t sign it and you’ll lose this job the instant the partners find out about you.”
I contemplate my options. I see the demented look on this man’s face and I’m not willing to risk my future…Michael’s future.
I drop to my knees and scoop up the photos and the documents that were in the folder. I grab a pen for the conference table and sign with trembling hands.
I’m not willing to risk Michael’s future. I need Sergei to go away.
I know I’ve done the right thing signing these documents. I did the right thing for Michael.
I gather my bearings before I stand to my feet and shove the documents back at Sergei. “Are you happy now, you monster?” I say dragging the edge of my sleeve along the tears streaming down my face.
He gives me a yellow smile. “One last thing…” he says approaching me. He grabs my face in his sweaty paws and pulls my mouth to his. His tongue tastes rank in my mouth. I steel myself and I don’t pull away. Although I’m utterly repulsed, I won’t let Sergei see me cower away yet again. “It was great doing business with you, Ruth,” he says as he slips out the door.
I scream into the crux of my arm as soon as the door slams shut. I can’t believe what just happened. I grab the stack of pictures and rip them into tiny shreds, then I slip them into the pocket of my blazer. I pull myself together and reemerge into the bustle of Cartwright Moretti Stevenson’s busy hallways hoping that this is the last time I’ll have to face my miserable past.
Chapter 23
A knot twists in my stomach as I glance around the room at the crowd of hapless, bored-looking young journalists seated in conference room four. My guess is that they’re probably interns or junior reporters who were sent to cover this story because their bosses didn’t feel like it was important enough to warrant someone with more experience.
They may not think this press conference is a big deal, but to me, it’s everything.
The man I love is about to announce to the world that he has officially assumed his place at the helm of the law firm that his father spent the last 30 years building. These reporters may not care that Michael is the new managing partner of Cartwright Moretti Stevenson’s New York office but to me, it means that he’s moving permanently to the Big Apple and that he and I can finally have a real relationship. Distance won’t separate us anymore.
From my position in the corner of the room, I look over at the podium where Mr. Moretti is standing, delivering a few parting words. He looks slightly nostalgic but confident that handing over the reins to a son that he’s obviously so proud of is the ultimately right decision.
My eyes drift behind him to where Michael is standing, looking poised and self-assured and so damn hot in his dark gray custom-tailored suit.
Merda – he’s so fucking sexy. I can’t believe that he’s all mine. I’m one lucky girl.
Just then, he turns and looks straight at me as if he’s reading my thoughts. I feel myself blush deeply. A sexy smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, making his radiant blue eyes twinkle and his dimples carve deep into his cheeks.
I feel my pussy water.
Dammit. He’s gorgeous.
Just then, I feel Jasmine elbow me in the ribs as she reaches behind her t
o pick up a stack of black folders with the words “The New Cartwright Moretti Stevenson” emblazoned across the cover in gold letters. This morning, Pam Shenk from the human resources department gave Jasmine and me the task of distributing to the journalists the press kits that our marketing department had put together for the event. Someone from the printing department must have dropped them off while I was busy daydreaming about how badly I want to rip that damn suit off of Michael’s piping hot body.
I grab a handful of press kits as Mr. Moretti steps away from the podium and Michael takes his place. I hear him clear his throat as he adjusts his tie. I glance at him over my shoulder as Jasmine and I begin to distribute the binders to the press. I smile to myself as he begins to recite the speech he had prepared at 3:00 this morning while I was on my knees in his home office with his cock halfway down my throat.
As soon as I finish handing out the press kits I quickly return to my corner of the room so I can see him deliver the climax of his speech, the unveiling of the new Cartwright Moretti Stevenson logo.
But just then, a rumble begins to rise throughout the room. Jasmine rushes over to me, a look of horror on her face. Michael peers down at the crowd, looking slightly distracted by the sudden disturbance.
“Ruthie –“ Jasmine whispers loudly, yanking on the sleeve of my light blue blazer.
“What?” I ask as panic rises in my chest. Jasmine grabs me by the arm, pulling me towards the door. I jerk my arm away from her. “Jasmine, what’s going on?”
She flips to the end of one of the press kits in her hands and my jaw drops open.
By now, it’s utter chaos in the room. “It’s her!” someone yells excitedly from the front of the room. Camera flashes explode in my direction as I stand there frozen in shock, staring at pictures of Michael on his knees eating me out in the elevator.
Beyond Desire
(The Esquire Girls Series)
Ruthie (book 4)
Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Was it worth it? Was the earth-shattering sex with that tall, tanned, dark-haired Adonis named Michealo Moretti Jr. really worth ruining my entire life over?
All hell has broken loose.
Each and every one of Ruthie Salvador's darkest secrets have been revealed, leaving her with nowhere to run for cover. Her reputation, her career and her relationship with the man she loves all hang in the balance.
So, when she's offered an elaborate plan to get her life back on track, Ruthie must decide. Is she willing to compromise her integrity if it means that she can salvage her reputation and have a shot at happily ever after with the man of her dreams?
Table of contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 1
It went viral.
Not just the explicit pictures…Someone found the video footage of Michael and me in the elevator and posted it online.
And it went viral.
It’s been posted and re-posted. It has hundreds of thousands of views. Commentators are discussing it on the cable news networks. There are memes about it on social media.
Now, there are reporters outside of my apartment building. The pieces of my shadowy past are quickly being leaked in the press – my days as a stripper… Vlad’s death…my connection to Sergei and the Russian gangsters – and the media is sensationalizing it all. Adding to the truth. Exaggerating it. Calling me names.
Michael and the law firm are being dragged through the mud. His professional credibility is shot. The firm’s reputation is shattered.
All because Michael and I couldn’t stay away from each other.
There’s a gentle tap at the door. “Hey…” Jasmine opens the door a crack and sticks her head inside. Compassion colors her eyes when she takes in my tear-streaked face and disheveled hair. “I got you some milk and a sandwich. You really need to eat something.”
She enters the small bedroom and places the food on the weathered night table next to the bed. My stomach grumbles loudly as the smell of bacon and melted cheese fills the air.
Jeeze – I’ve been wallowing so hard that I hadn’t even noticed how hungry I am.
When the reporters got ahold of the explicit pictures of Michael and me at the press conference yesterday, all hell broke loose in the room. It was Jasmine who managed to pull me away from it all and somehow get me to the lobby and into a cab before the press could surround me.
I’ve been hiding out in her tiny Bronx apartment ever since, so mortified; I’m not sure I can ever leave this room again. I’ve turned off my phone and I’m petrified to check my email. I’ve created a bubble and I’m scared to let the outside world anywhere near me.
“Thanks, Jasmine. Thanks for everything,” I mumble as I take a small sip of milk.
“It’s no problem,” she says in a low voice as she sits on the edge of the bed.
But I know it must be a ‘problem’ – I’m hogging her bed and she had to spend the night on her couch in the cold living room. I’ve only known this girl for a few weeks but she’s been an absolute lifesaver at a time when I really needed someone to have my back.
“You really should take a break from surfing the Internet,” she says as she gently takes her computer from my lap, closing it and setting it aside. “You’re just gonna make yourself crazy if you read every silly thing that those strangers post about you.”
I know that she’s right, but I can’t just look away and pretend that my world isn’t crashing down outside of these walls. “I’ve just made such a mess. I’ve screwed everything up,” I whimper into my hands.
She takes me by the wrists and gently pulls my hands from my face. “Ruthie – everyone has a past. Given what you’ve been through, you’ve done a fantastic job of pulling your shit together.”
The look of pity on her face tells me that she’s read the stories on the gossip blogs, too. It’s the look that I saw on Michael’s face when he first found out about my past. It’s the look that I’ll be greeted by when I next see Hailey and Nadia and Amber.
I can’t deal with this.
I burst out sobbing.
Jasmine climbs into the bed and holds me tightly as I cry. “Ruthie, don’t worry about what those strangers are saying about you. You have friends who love you no matter what. They’re concerned about you. Hailey’s been calling off the hook. Nadia’s threatening to kick my ass on Monday if I don’t give her my address so she can come and check in on you.” I giggle softly at that. “And Michael – I can only ignore his calls for so long, Ruthie. He must be worried about you. He needs to know where you are.”
I sigh. “I don’t want to see anyone. I can’t face them.”
“We’re not judging you, Ruthie. None of your friends are judging you. We just want to know that you’re okay.” Her smile is soft and her words are reassuring. But I’m not ready to reemerge into the world.
“I just need time, Jazz. Alone. Please.”
Jasmine takes a long, deep breath. I can tell that she’s given up on trying to comfort me. “Okay.”
With that, she eases out of the bed and heads towards the door.
“I’ll check in on you later, okay? Let me know if you need anything.”
I force myself to smile. “Thanks, Jazz.”
Chapter 2
It’s barely the crack of dawn on
Sunday morning when I creep into the locker room at my gym. I need to kick something. To punch something.
I’m the only person around and I take full advantage of the opportunity to wail on the punching bag with all my strength. I hit it with all I’ve got. I just want something else to feel the pain that I’m feeling on the inside.
I can’t believe what a mess my life has become.
I fought so hard to get away from my past. I worked so hard to balance law school and work and my friendships. I just wanted a fresh start.
But then I let myself fall in love with a man who was way too good for me. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t resist him. And now, I’ve ruined, not only my life, but his as well.
Ruthie's Desire - The Esquire Girls Series - Ruthie's Story (Books 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Box Set Page 17
