Shades of Step Billionaire

by Harlow, Jenna

  “Where are we going?” she asked. Jeremy smiled like he had a secret.

  “Dinner,” he said.

  Chapter 14

  Jeremy smiled coyly as he leaned back and rested his head against the seat, closing his eyes. Olivia knew he was up to something. He certainly seemed to enjoy having the upper hand. She thought about pressing him for more information, but then decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride. The city receded in the distance and they turned and followed the coast north. Through darkening skies, she could just barely make out the white crest of waves as they crashed onto the shore below, and beyond that, the dense canopy of trees, inward from the shore.

  Twenty minutes later the helicopter landed on a pad outside of Jeremy’s country estate. It was a large brick colonial mansion, situated on sprawling grounds just off the coast. Manicured lawns spread out over an expansive landscape ending on cliffs overlooking the ocean. The main house, imposing and gentrified, proudly stood in the middle of the land, as if waiting for important guests. Jeremy took Olivia’s hand as she exited the helicopter.

  “Oh, Jeremy, it’s breathtaking,” she gasped. He led her to the entrance and into the main dining hall. Again, Olivia gasped at the setting. It was an expansive room with dark paneling and large palladium windows. Marble columns flanked the entry way and an enormous crystal chandelier dangled over the huge walnut dining table. The room had been decorated with fresh flowers and soft candlelight. Expensive china and silver dinner wear was set on the adorned table.

  “Jeremy, how could you put this all together on such short notice?” she wondered.

  “You’d be surprised at what can be accomplished with a phone call,” he grinned. Olivia stepped into the dining room and inspected the table as carefully as if she was in a museum. She had never seen such a display of opulence outside of a movie before. Part of her couldn’t believe it was real.

  “It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

  “So are you,” Jeremy replied, not missing a beat. Olivia blushed, he was certainly charming. She figured she’d have to be on her toes around him. Lightly she reached out and touched a crystal vase. She felt self-conscious, being so in awe of his wealth and splendor. She tried to resist the urge to gush, but found it difficult. It was, after all, stunning.

  “Come, sit. I’ll give you a tour after dinner.” He pulled out a chair at the massive table. The glossy wood piece dominated the room. Olivia guessed it must have seated twenty. There were two place settings arranged at the end of one side; one at the head of the table, the other just to the left. An arrangement of cut fruit and artisanal cheese sat next to a bowl of warm olives and a charcuterie plate. Candles flickered on the table, making the scene warm and cozy despite the imposing size of the room and table. Olivia took a seat in the chair Jeremy held out for her.

  “I know it’s a bit much,” he said, referring to the grand setting. “I use this mostly for corporate functions,” he said. Olivia nodded as she looked around the room. Large wooden beams of carved wood adorned the ceiling, and crystal sconces hung on the wall like pieces of jewelry. She was still taking it all in when a uniformed staff member appeared.

  “Welcome sir, madam,” he said, slightly bowing first to Jeremy and then to Olivia. The butler held a bottle of wine over his arm to display.

  “Here is the 1961 Palmer Bordeaux you requested from the cellar, Sir.” Jeremy nodded and he swiftly opened the bottle. He handed Olivia a glass. Following Jeremy’s lead, she swirled the liquid around in her glass and sniffed the aroma. Floral, fruit, spice and earthy character blended together into an enticing aroma.

  “I’ve been saving this for some time now,” Jeremy said, taking a sip. He nodded his approval to the butler who then filled their glasses and disappeared back into the kitchen. His gaze narrowed as he watched Olivia take a sip of the rich liquid. “The 1961 Palmer is considered to be a legend from its vintage.” Olivia had never had anything more expensive than a glass of the house wine at mediocre restaurants. She assumed this was going to blow the quality of anything she had ever tried away. The dark liquid swirled in the glass on the way to her lips. The wine which was cool from the cellar, sent a chill through her as it landed on her tongue. The flavors burst into her mouth and cascaded over her tongue with the smoothness of silk. She was right, it was magnificent. She had never experienced anything like it before. She pulled the glass away from her mouth.

  “It’s stunning,” she replied.

  Candle light danced in Jeremy’s eyes. He leaned forward as she took another sip. “The wine is at its apogee, the peak of flavor. It is known for its extraordinary sweet, complex nose,” he said swirling the glass in front of him and then inhaling the vapors released from the wine. Olivia followed his lead and did the same. He then took a sip and swallowed as she lifted her own glass to her lips.

  “As you take it in your mouth and it rolls onto your tongue, notice how the flavor is intensely concentrated.” Olivia looked up at him as she tipped the glass up to her mouth. His words, like the wine, were smooth and sensual. She held the liquid in her mouth for a moment, savoring the intricate flavors before she let it slide down her throat. “It should fill your palate with flavors of lavishly ripe, full-bodied fruit, soft tannins, and stun you with an opulent, voluptuous finish. As he spoke, she noticed Jeremy’s eyes had drifted over her and swept over her entire form and then swept back up and locked only her eyes. A shiver ran through her and she suspected he was no longer talking about just the wine.

  The butler appeared again with steak au poivre for Jeremy and smoked salmon with red potatoes and watercress for Olivia.

  “I hope the food I ordered is okay. I wasn’t sure what you’d like.” Olivia stared at her plate as the butler sat it in front of her. It looked like it had been prepared at a three star Michelin restaurant.

  “Everything is wonderful,” she said. The food was as delicious as she had expected, and she savored every bite, knowing that she may never be able to afford to eat anything like that again. They spent most of dinner catching up with each other. Jeremy told her about his business adventures and she shared her experiences in school and her career aspirations. She found him incredibly easy to talk to, and marveled at how comfortable she was with him.

  She set her fork down on her empty plate and surveyed the room one more time. As she turned to look around, a lock of hair fell forward, blocking her view. To her surprise, Jeremy leaned forward and brushed errant strand back into place. As he did so, their eyes locked. The glimmer from the candles in the background cast a warm hue on the room and made the rich wood and crystal shimmer in the dim light. Even Jeremy seemed to glow. Her heart skipped, staring into his eyes. It seemed for a moment as if time stood still. The entire night had been so surreal. It was as if she were living out a dream or a fairy tale. A handsome prince, a rescue, whisked away to a beautiful castle. It was perfect, too perfect. She sighed, looking at Jeremy. He looked every inch the part of the handsome prince with his dark brooding good looks, broad shoulders and muscular form. Jeremy leaned forward, and she felt a gentle pressure on the back of her neck as he pulled her toward him. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. Surrender to the handsome prince, or protect herself from the unknown? With that thought reality crashed down on her again as she remembered that most fairy tales were usually riddled with tragedy. Cinderella didn’t leave the ball with the prince, she ran away a pauper. She wondered if something similar would happen to her. As Jeremy inched closer, Olivia found she was unable to quell her unrest. She decided to address it. First, she abruptly pulled back from Jeremy and set her hands defensively on the table in front of her.

  “Jeremy tonight is wonderful. The helicopter ride, your beautiful mansion, the lovely dinner. Everything is absolutely perfect,” she let out a long breath before continuing. Jeremy slowly leaned back in his chair, attentive to her words, his expression cool and aloof. It made Olivia even more nervous, but she continued anyways. “I appreciate your attempt to wine and dine me
, but I hope you’re not thinking this can go anywhere.” She hoped her voice didn’t shake while she spoke. It nearly killed her to say those words, but she felt, under the circumstances, that the best defense was a good offense. She wasn’t too naïve to see where all this lavishness was headed, and she knew her best chance of resisting him would be sometime before his hands or lips were on her.

  Jeremy took another sip of wine and tilted his head against the back of his chair, contemplating his answer. His expression was impassive, yet she thought she detected a slight smile on his lips. Olivia waited anxiously for him to respond, wondering how he would react. After what seemed like an eternity he leaned forward and tossed his cloth napkin on the table. “You’re direct, I appreciate that,” he said as he pushed his chair away from the table. “Now stand up. I want you to see something.” His tone was steady, certain. It sent a chill through her. His face was expressionless. Olivia wondered what on earth he could show her that would have any bearing on their conversation. Her lips parted as she thought to question him, however, she was intrigued to see what he wanted to show her, so she stopped herself and instead stood up. Jeremy’s lips curved slightly at the corners, but he didn’t say anything further. Obediently she followed as he made his way through the foyer and up the grand staircase.

  They turned left at the top of the stairs and made their way to the end of the hall. Olivia glanced into empty rooms as they passed open doors. Most were well appointed guest suites, more opulent than any hotel room she had ever been in. She wondered who had ever stayed here. As she turned back to Jeremy who was marching down the hall with an air of purpose, she wondered how often he slept here. It felt rather intimidating when she imagined a single guest occupying a room. Finally he stopped abruptly at a set of carved double doors at the end of the hall. Olivia could tell by the majestic nature of the entrance that it must be the master suite. Still with no discernable expression to read, Jeremy unceremoniously opened the door and led Olivia into the room.

  Her eyes widened at the sight of the suite. It was lushly appointed in luxurious fabrics, dark hard wood furniture, molding, floor and trim. An elegant rug covered much of the floor while lush draperies adorned the oversized windows. The centerpiece of the room was a magnificent four poster bed made out of carved hardwood. Several doors led off the main room, she imagined to closets and an attached on-suite bathroom.

  “This way,” Jeremy said. He moved swiftly through the space, as if the splendor of the room were meaningless to him. Olivia felt as if she should stop and pay her respects to honor all the work and detail that had gone into it. Lord knows her little bedroom in the city paled in comparison. As Jeremy rushed off before her, she turned back to him and quickened her step to catch up. He made his way to a large wooden wardrobe in the far corner of the room. It was an imposing piece; hand carved and stood nearly seven feet tall. Jeremy glanced back at Olivia as she approached with a mysterious gleam in his eye.

  “What are you up to?” she asked playfully. She couldn’t imagine what he had in store for her. He pulled open the heavy wood doors. The wardrobe was empty except for a few suits hanging on a rod.

  “Is this it?” she asked, confused.

  “No,” he replied. Without another word, he shoved the suits aside and pushed in on a notch in the wood located at the back of the compartment. She heard a ‘click’ and then, to her amazement the entire wood back opened, just like a door. Jeremy stepped through and held out his hand for her to join him.

  “Are you coming?” he asked.

  Olivia was stunned, shocked, nervous and intrigued all at once. If this were anyone else, she would have declined. It was a little too out there for her. But, she trusted Jeremy. Biting her lip and repressing her doubts, she followed him through the opening.

  “Welcome,” he said, clicking on a light. He turned to assess her expression as she looked around the room.

  “Oh my god,” she whispered. “What is this?” Her eyes swept around the room, darting from one thing to another and then back to Jeremy. She wasn’t quite sure what to think. The room before her was dimly lit with candle shaped wall sconces and a chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. Frosted glass floor lamps flanked both sides of a four poster king size bed. The walls were covered in dark blue foil wall paper with a velvet damask print and the bed sported a richly embroidered matching blue coverlet. Olivia stepped into the space hesitantly.

  “This is a special place. My secret room, Olivia,” he said. As Olivia’s eyes adjusted to the dark, she became aware of more than just the décor and furnishings. To her right, a strange assortment of gadgets, whips, cuffs and paddles hung on the wall. Several apothecary chests with varying sizes of drawers sat in the far corners of the room. An elaborate black swing with odd straps and cuffs hung from the corner of the room nearest her, and a tufted leather sofa sat opposite the bed, as if for viewing. It’s a BDSM room! Olivia’s heart rate accelerated with that realization. She had read about places like these with great interest, but never in her wildest dreams did she ever think she would be lucky enough to actually be in one. She crossed the room and gently examined the assortment of equipment hanging on the wall, as if they were precious artifacts. Her body responded almost immediately, she felt wetness between her legs and a tingle of longing pooled in her crotch.

  “Oh, Jeremy,” she said, as she continued along the wall, past the paddles, and riding crops and over to the apothecary chest. She was so enamored with the items in the room, she barely noticed Jeremy, who was shadowing her with keen interest.

  “What’s in here?” she asked, approaching the apothecary chest. Her hand ran across the smooth wood.

  Jeremy stepped forward and motioned with his open hand. “Go ahead, look for yourself,” he said. Olivia locked eyes with him. She felt a strong connection with him in that moment. As her heart pounded in her chest she saw in his eyes a desire for the exact same thing she wanted.

  Slowly she opened a drawer. Her heart filled with anticipation as she pulled it open, her eyes wide. She reached in and pulled out a black silk blindfold. Holding the article, she smiled up at Jeremy.

  “Nice,” she said.

  “Try again,” he said, motioning back to the apothecary. She kept her eyes locked on him for a moment before turning back to the chest of drawers, wondering what kind of mysteries and delights the piece held. She extended her hand again, this time reaching for a smaller drawer on the top row. She pulled it open and retrieved what looked like a clear plastic space-age looking ring with a scalloped shaped finger piece. Curious, she picked it up and turned it over in her hand. “What’s this?” she asked.

  Jeremy took it out of her hand, along with the blindfold. “It provides,” he paused for a moment, searching for the right word, “simulation,” he said. Warm tingles radiated out from between her legs at his enticing words. Again their eyes caught and held. It was a moment of truth. Jeremy was silently challenging her and she was deliberating her next move. It was almost not fair, to bring her to a room that tantalized her so much and then expect her to walk away from it, from him. She craved him and his toy room as much as an addict craved a fix. “Jeremy,” she whispered.

  Without answering her, Jeremy abruptly turned and in three quick strides crossed the room and opened the door to the wardrobe. Olivia’s breath caught as he walked away, her heart racing. Even before he spoke, she knew that he was doing. He stood in shadows as the light from the room beyond the door obscured his face. “The tour’s over, Olivia. It’s time to go,” he said. Olivia’s chest tightened at his words. She wanted to see more, she wasn’t ready to leave.

  “W-w-wait, please let me see more!” she stammered while her mind raced to find a reason to stay. This couldn’t be the end of it. Jeremy stood firmly in the doorway. Reluctantly, Olivia crossed over to him.

  “Jeremy, please?” she heard the desperation in her own voice. How could he just cut her off like this? She stepped closer to see Jeremy’s face. His expression softened as he lo
oked down at her, his handsome face melting her. She realized standing there that in her eyes, he was the perfect man: strong, handsome, adventurous, and he wanted to give her everything she craved. Her body nearly buzzed as she stepped closer to him. As she moved forward, she felt his arms rest on her shoulders and he lowered his head to her.

  “Olivia, I brought you here to show you what you would be missing if you walked away. I understand your reluctance because of our family situation, but I don’t have those same hang-ups,” he said. As he spoke, he reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Electric currents coursed through her as his fingertips brush along her cheek. He licked his lips, giving them a smooth glossy sheen, inviting her to kiss them. She tried not to stare, or get distracted, and refocused her gaze onto his eyes which were boring into her. She so much wanted him to have her, to take her and possess her. What was she afraid of? Why was it so hard to allow her the pleasure he was offering?

  “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the perfect woman. Besides being incredibly sexy, you’re smart, funny, and we have a lot in common. When I signed up with Royal Matchmakers, I was looking for someone to fuck- someone who could satisfy me in a way I hadn’t been before. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. With you, I could easily see having both, long term. I want you in my bed, and in my life, and for me, that is a rare combination.” He paused, raking his hand through his hair. God, I love it when he does that. “But if you’re serious, and you have decided you can’t be with me, I will let you go.

  Jeremy stopped talking and searched Olivia’s face for a response. Olivia stood frozen, as if immobilized. After a moment, she crossed silently in front of Jeremy and exited the room. Her head hung low as she walked, feeling as if her entire world was falling away. As she walked through Jeremy’s bedroom she realized she would soon cross the threshold of his doorway, marking her life without him. A raw pit knitted in her gut, urging her to stop, warning her that she was giving up on something that could be as wonderful as it was frightening. Jeremy’s words rang in her ears like an echo as she walked. She knew if she walked through that door those words would forever haunt her. She could feel the regret enveloping her like a thick fog.