Page 7 of One Twisted Christmas

“And how much will we owe you after all that is done.”

“Nothing. Your debt will be cleared.”

"That's insane," she mumbles, and I agree wholeheartedly with her. Indeed, it's crazy of me to forgive debt over dinner with a pretty girl but she isn't just a pretty girl, now, is she? It's rare for me to be around someone that doesn't despise or fear me and I want to spend time around that. Fuck, maybe I am a sentimental fool after all. Either way, Helena is someone I don't want to be parted from just yet.

“Have dinner with me tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven and drop you back at eight.”

“And you will forgive all of the debt, including the interest? For dinner with me?”

"You asked about your value, and I just told you."

“But dinner?”

“That’s what I said.”

“What if after dinner you want more?”

Oh, there isn’t a doubt in my head that I will want more. Crave more than just dinner from this girl, but I just won’t ask for it. I might be cold and calculative, but I am no rogue. “How can I trust you to not ask for something more after dinner? Like uhm…”

Her cheeks heat up and she looks away. "You mean, sex?" she nods and the red on her cheeks deepens to a pretty hue. "You can be assured, Helena, that all I want from you is dinner and the debt will be forgiven. You have my word."

She looks up, those pretty searching mine as if trying to detect any lies, but she must be satisfied with what she sees because she nods once. “Okay then, I’ll be ready by seven,” she says before her eyes widen slightly as if a thought occurs to her. “Um, so… I mean, would you, um, like me to dress in a certain way for dinner tonight.”

I step forward, closing the distance between and she lets out a shuddering breath when I reach to touch the collar of her coat, tugging it closer to her chin. It's the only touch I am allowing myself. Anymore and I will have her grabbing onto the railings as I drive my hard cock into her with all the neighbors watching. "Dress warmly," I say, pulling my hands away.

"Okay," she breathes, her eyes locking on mine for a hot second before looking away. The curiosity in her eyes has been replaced by something else but I don't want to read too much into it.Tonight, I'll get to sit across this beautiful girl and look my fill, want her… crave her, before shifting back to my shallow life.

Tonight, I’ll allow myself to have that.

My men don’t question why I leave the house without the house title or money. They know better than to question me, but I read the surprise in their eyes. They know I do not forgive debt for any reason and it’s clear that’s what happened here.

And it's true. I do not forgive debt as evidenced by all the other homes we visit. There is fear and hate in their eyes when my men walk in and ransack the place for valuables. Perhaps this is something they should have entertained before borrowing money from my family but in their eyes, I am the devil incarnate.

It’s never bothered me, it’s not about to start now.

It’s almost six when we leave the tenth house of the day and I question the wisdom of doing this myself instead of leaving it to my men. I don’t chase chump change and yet that’s what I have resulted to, just to prove my father wrong. I wouldn’t have had to do this if my father hadn’t handed out money like it was candy and without security too.

"Boss, what's next?" calls out Luka but I shake my head. I already have plans for the evening that I don't plan on canceling for anything in the world.

“We’ll call it a day,” I tell the men. “Take everything we’ve collected to the warehouse and log it in.”

"Yes, boss."

I watch them climb into the van and drive off before climbing into my own car and tearing off the curb. My head and thoughts are on Helena as I drive to my penthouse to get ready for our dinner.

A dinner I just spent over a hundred thousand dollars on and I can't find it in me to regret it. It's going to be worth every single coin sitting across the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen and having those beautiful blue eyes locked on mine all night.

***

“Oh my God, we’re having dinner here?”

Helena gushes as I pull up in front of the restaurant. The soft glow of the streetlight reflects off the sleek surface of my car, casting a warm glow on the cobblestone path. I glance at the girl seated on the passenger side, nose planted on the car window and eyes glued outside. I run my eyes over her and I can't help the ache that spreads in my chest at her beauty. Despite my insistence that she dress warmly for the night, Helena chose to dress in a stunning form-fitting black dress that accentuates her curves with delicate lace detailing along the neckline and sleeves.

A far cry from the flour-covered girl that I met this afternoon. I find that I like both versions of her. They have the same effect on me which works to send all blood rushing south.

Christ, she’s so beautiful. I resist the urge to reach out and run my fingers over her hair. I clear my throat and force down my desire for the girl. “Have you been here before?”

Helena turns to me with an excited look on her face. “You mean inside Bella Cucina? Of course not. I wanted to bring my father here when he left the hospital, but this restaurant is crazy expensive.”

---