Page 36 of Corporate Bondage

The concern in his tone blew my mind. After seeing the shipwreck that I was last night, he still took my calls and showed concern. I cleared my throat. “Good morning, Gio. I’m fi-better. You?”

“Feeling pretty fucking stupid right now.”

That took me by surprise. “Huh? Why?”

“Because I made a mess of last night,” he answered, sighing heavily. “I was so jealous of seeing that guy there that I wouldn’t even listen to a word you said, then I pushed your buttons. Everything that happened was my fault.”

“No, it’s my fault too,” I acknowledged. “I guess we both had a hand in it. I-I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

“No, I’m fine.”

I sighed in relief. “Can I drop by to pick up my car and-and so we can talk? I feel we should talk about it?”

He groaned. “I’d love that, but it has to be later. I’m on my way to the airport to pick up my mother. She was supposed to arrive with my dad and brother, but for some reason, they arrived a day earlier. I’ll drop her off at her hotel, probably spend the afternoon with her, but I'd definitely love for you to come over later this evening. Say around four?”

I glanced at the clock in the room. I’d have several hours to get some chores done, and by then I should feel like my old self again. “Alright. I’ll be there at four.”

“Good.”

Silence stretched between us. I felt the need to same something else, anything, but I had no idea what. “Gio,” I started, hoping the words would somehow come to me. I loved him, and I didn’t want to lose him. I had never loved another person the way I felt about him, and it terrified me.

“Hey, it’s okay. I know. And right back at you.”

He hung up, and I stood in my bedroom with the biggest, stupidest grin on my face. As far as confessions of love went, that had to be the worst in history, but he understood me, and I understood him.

I returned to the kitchen, revived.

“Well it looks like everything checked out okay by that big ole smile you’re wearing,” Tony stated, rising from the chair where he had been sitting. “I guess I’m no longer needed as a hostage, so I’ll just go now.”

“Sit your ass down, Tony.” Even as I snapped at him I was grinning. He parked his ass back in the chair.

He groaned. “What now?”

“Where are you going from here?” I asked him.

He shrugged. “You know, around.”

“Anywhere specific? And what about the man who beat the crap out of you yesterday? Are you in any danger from him?”

“Nah, he was just a random trick.”

I scowled at him because he was mincing words, making it hard for me to get information from him. “Do you have anywhere to stay?”

“I’ll find somewhere.” He lowered his head. “I always get on by. I could always go back to the strip club and ask for my old job back. Maybe if I blow somebody they’ll consider taking me on.”

“What about your family kid? Can’t they help you.”

“I don’t have any family.”

I sighed. It was exactly as I feared. “Alright, tell you what. I’ll take care of your accommodations and even help you to find a job. I have an opening for a PA but doubt you're qualified or that Gio would be okay with you working for me, so I’ll check around.”

“You’ll let me stay here?” His face lit up then fell. “I don’t think your dude’s going to be okay with that.”

I got to my feet. “Not here. I have the perfect place. I’m already paying rent on the apartment anyway. It’s going to need cleaning up. I’ve some time this afternoon before meeting Gio so I’ll help. My ex also left a bunch of his things here, and I think they might fit you. Come on.”

He followed me to the guest room, and I stepped aside to allow him to enter. “I doubt Bryan would mind you taking what you need. I’d rather you take all of it, but I’ll let you go through and see if there’s anything you don’t like. Put them in one pile, and I’ll donate them to charity. Do not leave the condo before I get back.”

He frowned. “Where are you going?”

“There’s something I should have done a long time ago.”

I left the condo and took the elevator down to the floor where my second apartment in the building was tucked away in the more affordable section of the building. The bigger ones such as mine were located at the top, and the owners had access to their own private parking deck so we didn’t have to encounter the everyday folks who were in and out of the apartment.

Once in the apartment, I scanned the room and knew I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t continue to feed that beast inside me if I wanted to get better. I needed to starve that monster to death. I doubted it would completely be gone. I’d always have a love for bondage and a little toy play in the bedroom, but the hardcore stuff I could do without.

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