Page 24 of Bloodlust

It's always business.

Never pleasure.

Time slows to crawl as I sit on my bed, staring at the black silk slip gown hanging outside my closet doors. It's a sexy garment. Simple yet complex. Like a decadent chocolate.

Malik Alba will eat that shit right up.

Zoey's research on the gunrunner revealed that he's somewhat of a conservative. A man of tradition. From my experience, those types of men are the dirtiest bastards alive. Proper on the outside, deranged on the inside. The number of CEOs that weasel into Suffer N' Rage, asking for The Beauvoir is astronomical. I know what they want.

I know rich men.

For better or for worse, I practicallyama rich man.

"Alba's going to be here in ten minutes," Zoey calls out from the living room. "You should get dressed."

I glance at the small pile of cocaine on my nightstand, letting out a sigh. To endure a night with the Khal Drogo wannabe, I'm going to need a little boost. Something to make his inevitable pontificating bearable.

I grab the gold-plated straw and do a line, tilting my head back and sharply inhaling the dust of white misery. Instantly, my body relaxes as my pulse quickens. A contradiction. A blessed one.

Zoey shouts from the other side of the door again, nagging me to get ready. Occasionally, it feels like she's my mother, constantly making sure I eat, drink, and sleep. It's wrong. She doesn't get paid for that. It's not a part of her duties. One time she said it's because she cares about me. I laughed. She's funny sometimes.

"So?" Exiting my room, I rotate slowly as Zoey smiles, taking in the sleek ensemble. "Does Alba stand a chance?"

"You could wear a potato sack, and he still wouldn't stand a chance," Zoey says, handing me my clutch and faux fur stole. "Go get us that contract." She pauses. "But be safe, okay? Don't do anything you don't want to do."

I scoff, striding toward the elevator. "I never do anything I don't want to do."

The second I step out of my condo building Malik's lecherous eyes soak in every inch of my body beforeflicking up to my face. Well, that was easy. I offer him a reserved smile as I hold out my hand, carefully examining his dark and burly features.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you,Camilla," he says in a thick accent as he brings my hand to his lips. "Your father didn't warn me that his daughter was so beautiful."

I tilt my head coyly. "Perhaps my father doesn't find me beautiful."

"In that case, I am glad he is gone. I do not work with idiots." He lets out a rough chuckle, opening the door to the stretch limousine. "After you."

"Thank you," I hum, sliding onto the leather interior.

A limo? God, he's worse than I thought.

Malik sidles up next to me and closes the door. "So, Camilla, tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?" I ask as the driver pulls into the street once given the go-ahead.

"Everything," he grins.

I chuckle. "Not going to happen. Be more specific."

"Hmm..." Malik shifts his body toward me but leans back. Interesting. "Tell me... How are you handling...the transition? Your father informed me of his retirement only a few weeks ago. I must say, I was a bit shocked."

We all were.

"Well, I already have you smiling at me, and it's only been two minutes." I cross my legs, the slit on my dress rising. His gaze darts to my thigh. "I would say the transition is going fairly well, wouldn't you?"

He rubs his chin, a smirk spreading on his face. "Are you trying to seduce me, Camilla? Is that your plan?" Heleans closer, the thick stench of his cologne suffocating me. "If it is, I must tell you, pussy holds no power over me. I only speak in dollars."

"How fortunate." I expel a melodically incredulous laugh as I place my hand on his thigh, digging my nails in slightly. "We seem to speak the same language."

Malik's eyes spring open for a fraction of a second. "Already so much in common? Perhaps thisisthe beginning of a beautiful partnership."

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