by Juliet Woods
“Yes, Mr. Davidson – Ethan?”
It’s so fucking cute how hard it is for her to call me by my first name.
“I’m taking you out for a drink after work.”
“Uh – OK...”
“You do drink, don’t you?”
“Um, yes, sometimes I do...”
“Good, so let’s cut out of here at 5 sharp.”
A tiny smile creeps across her lips, turning the corners of her pouty mouth upward.
“OK, yes sir – Ethan.”
I have to turn away to hide the smirk on my face. She’s just so innocent, so virginal. It’s almost too easy.
Chapter 11
Lily
I get lucky in the afternoon – I have a lot of computer work to do, so I don’t have to talk too much to Bridget or my other co-workers. They’re all great people, but the constant socializing wears me out. This way, it will be easier for me to have the energy to face Ethan again. Alone. Over a drink.
Why did he ask me out again? Not that he really asked me. He kind of just told me. And I’m annoyed at myself for responding to that demand with a flood of warm wetness between my legs. The way he gives orders turns me on, to my surprise. There’s not much I can do about it, like it or not. I wonder if he would give me orders in bed like that.
I hope so.
I anxiously watch the clock. Will this be another date? Does he really like me? Does he only want to have sex with me? What would he think if I tell him I’m a virgin?
He’d probably be turned off by my childishness. He’s such an experienced man – he’s probably been with tons of women who know what a man wants in bed. I have no idea.
I feel the tension building up in my chest. At 5 o’clock, I almost jump out of my skin when he appears out of nowhere at my desk with a devilish grin on his face.
“Ready to go?”
I nod, trying to remember my breathing exercises and chill out. He’s so freaking hot, though, and it makes me nervous. The way he puts his hand on the small of my back, leading me out of the building and into the sidewalk outside. I never want that hand to leave.
The way everyone treats him is incredible. Everyone seems to know who he is, and they want to make him happy. When he walks into a bar, the host practically trips over himself to show him to the best table in the joint. So this is what it’s like to be a billionaire? Not bad.
He orders a bourbon, and I get my usual white wine. Except this is better than the cheap bottles Callie and I usually share. This is delicious. And it seems to go straight to my head, thankfully calming me down a little.
“Lily,” he begins. “As you know, I have a daughter, Masie. She’s 8 years old, and I’d do anything for her.”
I nod, curious about where this is going.
“Her mother died six years ago from pancreatic cancer, and it’s just been me and Masie for the past few years.”
“I’m so sorry, Ethan,” I say, feeling my heart clench with sadness for him.
“Thank you, Lily. The reason I bring this up is that Masie’s aunt, my sister-in-law, is suing to get custody. She’s got a crooked lawyer, and they’re not playing fair. It’s looking like I could lose my daughter.”
“Oh my God,” I start to reply. The tension’s building up in my stomach again. Before I can express my sympathy, he continues:
“It turns out that this judge usually rules against the father and in favor of a female guardian. So what I need most to win this case is a wife.”
I frown, worried about where this is going.
“Lily, would you be willing to help me? Will you sign the marriage papers with me, and live with me as my wife?”
A sinking feeling in my core overtakes me. So he just wants to use me. That’s all I am to him.
“You’ll be generously compensated for your time and sacrifice. You’d move in with me in my Upper East Side penthouse – it’s gorgeous, Lily. And I’m sure you and Masie will hit it off.”
My mouth is half open; I stare at him in astonishment. The nerve of this man. Having money has, without a doubt, gone to his head – he thinks he can just have everyone do his bidding like this? I don’t know what to say. I want to tell him off, but I don’t have the nerve to stand up to him like that.
“I – I can’t believe it,” I start. I guess the wine is giving me some courage after all. “I thought you liked me. And you just want to use me...”
“God, no, Lily, it’s not like that,” he blurts out quickly. “I’m sorry if it comes across that way. I do like you. I promise you that. I like you a lot.”
He takes my hand in his, cradling it in his own, squeezing it and caressing my skin.
“I’m sorry. I’d never want to use you.”
My indignation dies down, and I blow air out of my pursed lips. “But how can you expect me to re-arrange my life like this for you?”
“It won’t jeopardize your job in any way if you refuse, of course. But think about it – give it a chance. It could be really good for you, Lily. You’d get to move out of that shitty apartment. You’d be taken care of. I can pay for your education if you’d like. Whatever you want.”
The image of Louis trying to force his way into my apartment flashes into my mind, and I shudder. And – an education! I had begun to accept that I’d never get to go to college. And here I have the opportunity, just like that.
But I can’t just sell myself like this. That would be wrong, and dishonest. Can I really even trust Ethan?
My eyes fixate on his strong jawline, the rough stubble on his cheek, his lips turned upward slightly. I peer into his liquid, deep brown eyes. Those eyes that seem to look inside me. They gaze unflinchingly into mine, melting away the armor around my heart.
I bite my lip, feeling my resistance falling away as my clenched muscles start to relax. There’s just no saying no to him.
“My daughter will love having you around,” he says, tapping on his phone. “Here’s a photograph of her. Can’t you see yourself playing with this little girl? She’s a good kid, Lily. Help me keep her where she belongs.”
I take his phone and look into the perfect face of his daughter. She’s got Ethan’s eyes, and she grins for the camera, her blond hair falling down her back.
I could be part of a family, I think. I could have a home, and people who care about me. Maybe he really does like me? Maybe this could turn into something more?
“I’ll do it,” I say quickly, before I lose my nerve and change my mind.
Ethan closes his eyes and leans his head back as his mouth separates into a grin. Then he leans close to me, clasping my hands on the table.
“Thank you, Lily. You won’t regret it. I promise.”
I smile, feeling my heart swell and my brain swim with thoughts.
There’s a burning question that stands out from the rest: Will we share the same bed?
Chapter 12
Ethan
“Can you move in tonight?” I ask, grinning. It feels strange to ask Lily that question, but I love it. “We can sign the papers with my lawyer tomorrow.”
“Um, yes, I think so.” She smiles, blushing. “I’ll have to go home to get some things for the night.”
I pause, making a mental list of steps to take. I want to get Lily settled and moved in while my daughter’s out of the house – there’s no reason for Masie to see the upheaval and tumult of movers.
“OK, I’ll arrange for my daughter to spend the night with her best friend. She’ll be thrilled – she’s always begging me to be able to sleep over at her friend’s house. Then I’ll send you over to Queens in a car,” I say. “You can pack up the things you need now, and then I’ll send over some movers to get the rest of your things tomorrow.”
“OK, that sounds good,” she says, smiling. But suddenly her face falls as if remembering something terrible.
“What is it?” I ask.
“N-nothing,” she says.
“Come on, you can tell me. We’re getting married tomorrow after all,
remember? They say happily married couples don’t keep secrets.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“You’re a terrible liar. Spill it.”
“Well, uh, it’s just I kind of had a run-in with Louis – with my landlord – last night.”
I feel my stomach tighten, remembering the run-in she had with her boss the day I first met her, and how I wanted to kick that guy’s ass. “What sort of run-in?”
“It’s kind of embarrassing,” she looks down at her hands. “He claimed I owed him some money, which I do. But he forgot he had given me some extra time to pay it… it’s a long story. Anyway, he was really drunk last night, and he showed up at my door late, demanding I pay him right then. He – he tried to force his way into my apartment. He had this crazy look in his eyes.”
Her voice starts to break. “I was so scared. I don’t know what he would have done.”
My hands clench into tight fists until my knuckles strain under the force.
“What happened then?”
“I, uh, I kneed him in the balls and called the cops.”
I grin, proud of her. But the grin fades fast, thinking of her landlord. “That piece of shit. What’s his apartment number?”
“Ethan – no. You can’t do anything. Please. It’s fine now. I’m moving out of there.”
“What an asshole,” I curse again. I’m seeing red now, and I want to tear him apart for scaring Lily. “He needs to understand he can’t do that kind of shit to you, and not to anyone. I’ll go over there right now.”
Lily buries her face in her hands. “No, no. I shouldn’t have told you. Please don’t do anything, Ethan. I don’t want you to have any more trouble than you already have with the custody battle. That guy’s not worth it.”
I release my fists and take a deep breath. Gotta calm down. I don’t want to upset her. And she’s right – I don’t need to go punching some guy’s skull in with the court case looming over my head.
“OK, I’ll let it go,” I say. “But what’s with all these scumbag men in your life? Your old boss, your landlord--”
“Sometimes that’s how it is when you’re broke and on your own,” Lily says quietly. “People try to get everything they can from you. I’m always having to look over my shoulder.”
I shake my head. “Well, you won’t have to put up with that shit anymore. You’re not going back there alone. I’m driving you over there myself to make sure he doesn’t say a word to you.”
She nods, still unsure.
“I’ve just got to make a few phone calls. I’ll be right back.”
I move to a private area of the bar to make arrangements over the phone for Masie. Then I call Harry to let him know the good news, and he promises to draw up the paperwork and bring it over in the morning.
“All right, everything’s set. I’ll drive us out to Queens and you can get the essentials for tonight. The movers will get the rest tomorrow.”
She nods, looking a little dizzy from the wine, or from all the changes happening at once, or both.
As we drive, I steal glances at her sideways. Her breasts are round and perky, her thighs thick and shapely. She fidgets with her fingernails in her lap. Her obvious nervousness around me just shows how innocent and inexperienced she is. I want to fuck the innocence right out of her – bad.
I park outside her apartment. My car sticks out like a sore thumb among the tenement buildings and broken-down cars.
“I’m gonna have a word with your landlord,” I say as she unlocks her apartment door.
“Ethan, you said you’d drop it.”
I raise my hands up defensively. “I won’t touch a hair on his head. Scout’s honor. I’m just going to talk to the guy.”
She sighs. “All right. If you promise not to do anything crazy.”
I flash her a smile, then climb the stairs to his apartment and pound on his door.
I bang and bang on his door until he finally opens it, looking just as sleazy as I’d imagined.
“Who the fuck are you, asshole?” he asks, squinting.
He’s wearing a greasy T-shirt and reeks of cheap liquor. He appears to be hungover, not drunk anymore.
I take a step forward, my wide shoulders filling up the door frame.
“I’m gonna make this real easy to understand, you disgusting piece of shit,” I growl, staring him down. He takes a step back, shocked to see me standing in his face. “Don’t ever fuck with her again.”
Confusion registers on his face, followed by horror when he realizes I’m pissed off about the way he treated Lily.
“It seems like you need to learn how to treat ladies, don’t you?”
He cowers, looking up at me with fear.
“You like intimidating women, huh?”
“I – I didn’t do anything.” His voice quivers.
“But you tried to, didn’t you? Listen closely: the next time you step out of bounds, I’m going to find you in this shit hole again,” I lower my voice to a deep growl. “And next time you won’t get off so easy.”
He blinks, paralyzed by fear.
“Understand?”
He nods dumbly, not taking his eyes off me.
I look him over a moment more, and I almost decide to pummel him anyway. The anger and adrenaline are fueling me now. It’d feel so good to slam my fist into his face. But I promised Lily I wouldn’t. So I turn on my heels and charge down the steps, hearing him slam his door and lock it.
Later that evening, I open the door of my penthouse for Lily and watch as she walks in shyly. I grin when I see her gawking at the high ceiling of the foyer. She looks down, but not before I catch the corners of her mouth turning up into a smile.
“Miss Cairns, do come in,” I say playfully in a terrible British accent, carrying the flimsy duffel bag she packed with things from her apartment. I gesture for her to enter, and lead her through the foyer.
She looks stunned as she gazes at the high ceilings, marble walls, and glass chandelier.
I chuckle. “This way, please.” We pass a seating area, and she gasps at the view from the windows.
“I feel dizzy just looking down there,” she says.
“Yeah, you’ll have to get used to being 80 floors up. Just don’t get too close to the glass. Here, let’s go up this staircase.”
She follows me up the spiral staircase, pausing to look at the living room below with its cathedral ceilings. In the upstairs hallway, we pass Masie’s room, my home office, the gym, the library, and a couple of guest bedrooms.
Finally, I stop at the guest room closest to the master bedroom suite and plop her duffel bag down on the low, sprawling mahogany bureau.
“Wow,” she breathes.
“I hope these accommodations will be suitable?”
She goes immediately to the potted jade plant in the corner, near the picture window.
“Just one house plant?” she blurts out, then immediately catches her faux pas. “Oh, God, I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. Sorry!”
I laugh. “I’m sorry to not meet your specifications, Miss Cairns,” I say, drawing out the British accent as best I can. “The house will be happy to bring you all the living flora you require.”
Lily turns bright red. “God, I’m so embarrassed. This place is beyond my wildest dreams. Everything is gorgeous. I – I guess I’m just used to a lot of plants.”
“The movers can bring yours over tomorrow, no problem.”
“Are you sure? I kind of have a lot of them.”
I wave her concerns off dismissively with my hand.
“And – and they’ll be careful with them?”
I scoff playfully. “These guys are professionals.”
She smiles, looking over the jade plant, not even paying much attention to the decked-out room or its furnishings.
“So, this is your room, Lily. I sleep in the next room if you ever need anything in the night.” I study her face, thinking that I perhaps see a tiny sign of disappointment, but I’m not sure. W
as she expecting us to share a room?
She nods, finally looking up from the plant to survey her surroundings. “Thank you. This room is beautiful. I mean, I – I’ve never been in a room like this in my life. It’s fantastic.”
“Glad you like it. Do you want to rest? Are you hungry?”
“I could eat,” she says.
“Come on, I’ll make dinner.”
She nods, and the slight spring in her step lets me see a scintillating bounce in her breasts. It brings to my mind an image of her riding me, her breasts bouncing in full glory, her head thrown back in ecstasy.
Leading her back down to the kitchen, I explain that we usually have some staff members working here most days – a maid, a cook, various tutors for Masie, and a nanny when I’m not around.
“But I gave them all the night off, and tomorrow, too. And Masie’s gone as well – staying at a friend’s house for the night.”
“Oh.” She can’t hide the suspicion on her face.
“I did that on purpose, so that you could have some time to get used to the apartment without a lot of new people in your face.”
Her eyes sparkle and her lips turn up. “That – that’s so thoughtful. I really appreciate it. It does, uh, make things, um, easier for me in the beginning.”
She sits down at the bar stool and looks over the huge kitchen.
“What are you hungry for? I can make pasta, burgers, a nice stir-fry...”
“How about burgers?”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” I wink at her, then head to the fridge to get some ground beef and veggies out.
She giggles, but can’t hide the anxiety from her eyes.
“White wine?”
She nods, and I pour her a glass of chardonnay.
“What’s the peanut butter for?” She points to the jar I take from the pantry and set by the fixings for the burgers.
“Force of habit,” I say, laughing and reaching for the jar to put it back away. “Masie always wants peanut butter on her hamburger. I’m guessing you have more sophisticated taste?”
