Page 60 of Daddy Devious

But somehow, I’ve been struck colorblind. Because all I can think is how incredible it is that this man, this gorgeous, wealthy, impossible perfect man put so much time and effort into building all this just forme.

“I really don’t have to leave?” I whisper, afraid if I speak the words too loudly I’ll somehow break the spell and change his mind.

“No, little one. In fact, if you had tried to leave when your thirty days were up, you would have found yourself tied to your crib until you were ready to be my good girl again. Something you should keep in mind if the desire to return to your old life ever strikes.”

More red flags, but they might as well be bouquets of roses.

“I don’t want to go back.” Unsure if I should tell him the rest, I fiddle with his tie. It’s red today, and I’m sure he chose it because it’s such a powerful color, but all I can think of is how red my bottom is likely to be soon.

“Why does that sound like there is a ‘but’ hidden in there, little one?”

“You promise not to be mad?”

“I promise to listen to whatever you need to tell me.”

Not quite the same, but probably as good as I’m going to get under the circumstances. “I really don’t want to leave. But I don’t wanna be ignored, either.”

It feels like my heart is in my throat, waiting for him to answer. “Oh, little one. I suppose I have been rather busy the past few days, haven’t I?”

“Uh-huh.”

Picking me up, Daddy settles me so I’m straddling his lap, face to face with his serious expression. “I want you to listen to me carefully, Victoria Rose. Nothing in this world is more important to me than your safety and your happiness. If you need more of my attention, you only have to ask. I will always do whatever is in my power to give you what you need.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” The laugh he lets out is somewhat disbelieving. “You really don’t know what you mean to me, do you?”

“Well… no. You’ve never really told me.”

“I’ll do better than tell you. Come with me.”

Maxwell

With Victoria wrapped around me, I carry her downstairs to my office, where I sit at my desk and log into my computer. A few taps is all it takes to bring up the file I have on her.

To show her my heart, in bold black and white.

“Look at the screen, little one.”

Victoria shifts, leaning in to scan the pages on the screen. “This is the file I got. The one I used to…”

“To steal from me, yes. It was no accident that file ended up in your email, little one. That file wouldn’t even exist if I hadn’t created it just for you.”

Jerking away from the screen, she twists around to stare at me with wide eyes. “You set me up!”

“I did.” I allow myself a grin, despite the pounding of my heart. “I wanted you the moment I laid eyes on you over a year ago, Victoria Rose. From the moment I saw you, I began hatching a plan to make you mine. A plan that would leave no room for escape. Do you really think I would go through all of that effort if you didn’t hold my heart in your naughty little hands?”

“But… you never evenmetme before that day in the elevator.”

“Not officially. But I saw you, at a company event. You were talking to some asshole in a suit who kept putting his hands on you.”Like he had a right to touch what was mine.

“Stan.” Her nose crinkles slightly. “He’s always had a thing for me.”

“I wanted to rip his hands from his body for daring to touch you. That night I went home and called Evander. I knew if anyone could help me lay the perfect trap for my Little girl, it would be him.”

“This is…” Turning back to the computer screen, she shakes her head. “I should be pissed. I know I should be pissed because youset me up. What if I hadn’t taken the deal? Would you have really let me go to jail?”

“Never. I did all this to make you mine, Victoria, and I would have had you one way or another. So you should know now that there isnothingI wouldn’t do to keep you. If that means sacrificing a meeting here and there, or letting you snuggle on my lap during a call, I’m happy to do so. Everything I have, my time, my money, my heart, is yours. You only have to ask.”

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