Page 22 of Bad Duke

OLIVIA

No talking happens while Alex drives me to work. Instead, his eyes remain focused on the road, one hand clutching the wheel and the other curled around my thigh. I like the way it feels there, especially when he occasionally strokes me with his thumb and causes that flutter in my stomach that reminds me of what he’s done to me. I find it a little strange that he doesn’t ask me for an address, and that he makes all the correct directions to get us to the dance studio where I work. His car pulls up outside the entrance and I blush with embarrassment when everyone passing turns their heads to admire it.

“Stay there,” he tells me in his usual stern tone as he gets out of his seat and rounds the bonnet of the car, so he can open my door for me. I take the hand he offers and step out onto the pavement.

“Thank you.” I smile. Noting that he looks just as sexy in the jeans and shirt he’s wearing as he does in a suit. I still can’t stop questioning why this man, who’s so handsome, rich, and powerful, would be so adamant about me carrying his child. The thought stirs an uneasy feeling inside me, one I have to push to the back of my mind when he leans forward and kisses me in a way that reminds me that I belong to him.

“What time do you finish? I’ll arrange for Patrick to pick you up.” My head is still spinning and if it wasn’t for the hand he has wrapped around my waist, I think my knees would give out on me.

“I have a late class tonight so I won’t be done till eight.” I can see he isn’t pleased by my answer by the way his brow furrows, but he seems to accept it.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.” He looks down at my body and smirks to himself before he checks the road for cars and gets back behind the wheel. I stand on the curb and watch him drive off with a loud roar that vibrates between the buildings and rumbles through my chest. How am I supposed to get any work done today when he’s given me so much to think about? Am I actually considering giving this man what he’s demanding from me?

I spin around to head inside and almost jump out of my skin when I see that Lewis is standing right behind me.

“You made me jump.” I hold my hand to my chest and giggle nervously.

“Who was that?” he asks, ignoring the fright he’s given me and being far too intense.

“That, errrm. He’s a friend. His father just passed away so I was?—”

“You're late,” he barks at me and when I take my phone out of my bag I see that it’s only 8.56 am.

“My class isn’t until nine,” I point out, moving past him towards the entrance and wondering why I feel the need to explain myself to him. He’s not my boss, but he sure likes to think he is.

“And yet, you are usually so punctual. It’s something my mother continuously praises you on.” He follows after me, rushing to get ahead so he can hold open the door.

I smile and thank him before I enter the foyer and smile at Fleur, our receptionist. A few of my older students are waiting, lining the corridor outside the studio door.

“You all ready?” I ask them, trying my best to be professional when all I can think about is Alex’s hands on my skin and the fact he wouldn’t let me leave his house until he’d come inside me. He’s forbidden me to see a doctor, but the more I think about it, I can’t just let what happened last night and this morning go untreated.

“Warm yourselves up. Miss Adams will be with you in a moment,” Lewis tells them and I turn to face him letting him know that he’s pissed me off with my expression.

“Olivia, I’m worried about you.” He grabs at me and it turns my body cold.

“You're worried about me because I didn’t get in early?” I look up at him and raise my eyebrows. He’s surely got to realise that he’s overreacting.

“Yes. It’s abnormal behaviour, you are here by 8.45 am every morning, without fail,” he very precisely points out.

“Well, the only thing that's making me late for my class today, is this conversation,” I snap, turning on my heels and heading back into my class. I’ve got too much on my mind to be polite to him today.

Lewis is off with me for the rest of the day, but I don’t let it bother me. I busy myself with my classes and let my mind wander back to last night and my encounter with Alex. Lunchtime comes and goes and I don’t leave the studio, instead, I ask Fleur to pick me up a salad when she goes across the road to get herself something. I do some more research into the morning-after pill, apparently, the sooner you get it the more effective it will be. I’m not as worried about the STD side of things. Alex assured me he’s always been cautious with other women, and I believe him. Something tells me he wouldn’t put me in that danger. Which is ironic considering that I’m fully aware of the kind of man he is.

The end of the day comes around way faster than I expect it to, and I’m just about to head out the studio to meet who Alex has sent to pick me up when Madame Riverty steps out of her office and calls me inside.

I follow her through, taking the seat that’s offered and fidgeting with my hands nervously as she sits opposite me. I won’t lie, the woman petrifies me. She even petrifies Hilda and they’re sisters. I’ll bet this is about me being ‘late’ this morning.

“Are you satisfied, Olivia?” She gets straight to her point.

“Very,” I assure her, letting my eyes flit up to the clock and feeling bad for keeping Alex’s driver waiting.

“So, you enjoy teaching foundation?” She peers at me over her glasses and gives me a crooked smile.

“Well, it’s all I’m qualified for,” I remind her. It’s never really bothered me. Students of all ages have to start somewhere and I get to see a lot of progress.

“Do you not have ambitions, Olivia? You were a student yourself, once.”

“I couldn’t commit, Mum was too ill, and Jamie?—”

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