Page 18 of Dirty Deal

The fact that I have epically failed to break the Merritt princess’s spirit at every step of the way doesn’t change the fact that I set out to punish her. To get revenge for her family’s sense of toxic entitlement. To demonstrate my bottomless rage that they crawled to me, of all people, for financial help after years of treating me like dirt under their shoes.

You’ve been such a jerk to me. You think I can help who my parents are?

My skull throbs.

The top desk drawer trundles open, and Ariq’s knowing gaze bores into me as I root around for a bottle of painkillers. There’s a telltale rattle at the back somewhere.

“Another headache?”

I grunt, finding the bottle and shaking two pills into my palm.

“Weird,” my assistant says, his tone pointed.

And Christ, at moments like this, part of me sees why Hugh Merritt wanted nothing but yes men all around him. It was a constant source of anger for me—being expected to work miracles while simultaneously tiptoeing around all the boss’s bad ideas. If I’d been born with a single cent to my name, I would have been spared those years of aggravation.

The fact that my assistant feels comfortable enough to call me out is both a blessing and a curse. Can’t a man be a monster in peace?

“So,” Ariq says, sliding his hands into his pockets. His suit is sharply cut and tailored to his form—evidence that I pay him well for these irritating opinions. “What will you make Lena Merritt do tonight? You’ve already had her polish all the staff’s shoes and scrub your toilet. Weak sauce, if you don’t mind me saying. What else have you got planned?”

Good question.

“Go walk the floors, Ariq.” I toss the pills back and swig from a glass water bottle, glaring at my assistant all the while. He smiles back, undaunted, as I swallow and set the bottle down with a thump. “We’re trying to run a luxury casino, not rehabilitate my personality.”

Ariq shrugs and strolls toward the door. “As it says on my resume, I’m an excellent multi-tasker.”

Once he’s gone, blessed silence reigns. Alone at last. My fingertips rub my temples while steady breaths draw in and out of my lungs, and to an outside observer, I’d seem calm—but inside, I’m rioting.

Lena. Lena. Lena.

The clock shows seven fifty six. Four more minutes before she’s here once again, shattering my peace and making me feel alive for the first time in months.

What do I have planned for her? That’s a better question than Ariq knows, because I have no goddamn clue what to do with the last three nights I bargained for. The thought of more mild torture makes my gut clench in protest, every cell in my body refusing to make her unhappy—but I need to dosomethingwith Lena. Something to justify the small fortune I’ll pay for her father’s debts after our nights are up.

Sex is off the table. Or at least… it’s not part of our deal.

If I want Lena that way, I’ll have to earn her.

Just like that, snippets from last night batter my exhausted brain: Lena on her knees, cheeks flushed, as she tugged mybelt open; Lena’s lips stretching around my cock; Lena showing me her tongue afterward, equal parts eager and defiant. These flashes have been torturing me all day, ruining my focus and keeping me constantly half-hard, and now I grip the edge of the desk for balance as I’m assailed once again.

Will I ever get this woman out of my system? Or will she haunt me for weeks, months,yearsafter our bargain is done? What if I’m wrecked for life?

A soft knock on the door jolts me out of my brooding. “Come in,” I call, forcing myself to stop gripping the desk.

Lena slips inside and shuts the door behind her, then turns to face me. At the sight of her pale, drawn features and the shadows beneath her eyes, my stomach plummets.

“Lena?”

Her chin wobbles.

My chair shoves back, and I’m reaching for her as Lena hurries across the office and flings herself into my arms. She’s so small, gathered into my lap—delicate and trembling. The tip of her nose is ice-cold against my throat, and I clutch her closer, my heart thudding where she’s plastered to my chest.

“Lena.”

She lets out a noise that’s half laugh, half sob and burrows closer. Her floral scent is all around me, snaking into my lungs.

“Shoot,” she says. “I was gonna play it so much cooler than this.”

“Are you…” My voice drops, horror gnawing on my bones. “Is this because of last night? Did I hurt you?”

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