Page 114 of His Rules

He laughed. “You’re insatiable. We’ll discuss after the new rules are approved.”

“New rules?”

“Yes. Stronger and with intense consequences, especially for bad girls who break them.”

“Hmm… I’m sure you’re glad you don’t have a bad girl working for you.”

He laughed and pulled away, looking around the living room.

“This is the artist from the charity event who you purchased another painting from.”

“You are correct. I think she’s very talented and captured the essence of you perfectly.”

“You don’t really expect me to hang this in my own house.”

“Perhaps not, but you can hang it on the wall of that new office you mentioned. After you’ve earned it.”

As soon as I noticed he was walking toward the mantel, I cringed deep inside. The moment he picked up the tawse thing, I was instantly nervous. “I can explain that. A housewarming gift.”

He turned around slowly, barely lifting his gaze. “A very useful one.”

“For what?”

“For the punishment I’d yet to find time to give you.”

He started walking toward me and I took a step away from the painting, keeping the same distance between us. “For what?”

“For going out on your own finding evidence when I explicitly told you not to.”

“Well, I did keep you out of jail.”

“Not a good enough excuse.”

I held up two fingers with a little space between them. “Is it possible your expectations are just a tad too high?”

“Or too little?”

“So, what’s happening with Drake and Ashley?”

“They will likely be sentenced to several crimes. They’ll enjoy a new residence in the state penitentiary. Nice deflection, but it won’t work.” He took two additional steps toward me.

“The new company is formed, all the paperwork filed?”

“Yes. Everything is in place and we’re already in production for shifting the existing planes to the more luxurious design. We have two meetings next week with regard to purchasing additional hotels, one in Cancun.”

“We?”

“You’ll be there.” He had a truly evil grin on his face. “Another nice try, but you’re not getting out of the spanking.”

“Can I barter for a lesser punishment?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Anything you want.” I used my sexy voice he loved so much.

“I assure you I’ll get what I want in a few minutes. But you’re still getting the spanking.” He looked around as if trying to find a chair. I had an old chair in the living room and a small coffee table, nothing new. They were two pieces I’d brought with me. The rest I’d need to purchase.

He didn’t seem to care, moving toward the chair and plopping down on the edge. With a soulful look in his eyes, he patted his lap. “Come here, little girl.”