Page 2 of Maximus

She is tripping over her words and then says with a worried frown. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Problem?”

She replaces the receiver and says in a whisper, “You will never guess what he asked for?”

“What?”

I lean forward and she glances around her and says in a hushed whisper, “He asked me to arrange entertainment.”

“As in?”

She blushes and then obviously thinks better of it and, taking a deep breath, says with a smile, “I shouldn’t say. It’s confidential, after all.”

She gathers herself and obviously remembers her position and says professionally, “Can I help you with anything, madam?”

“My key, thanks.”

She turns to her computer and removes a lanyard and swipes it into the machine.

“Here you go.”

As I take the lanyard, I note the stricken expression in her eye and from God only knows where this sentence has been hiding I say impulsively, “I can help you.”

“I don’t understand.”

It’s now my turn to glance around and I lean closer and whisper, “Your guest wants entertainment and I’m guessing it’s the female kind.”

She nods and I swallow the red flags and smile brightly. “That’s my specialty, just don’t tell the management.”

Her eyes widen and I summon my inner harlot to the surface and shrug.

“My client called to cancel and I have an opening, for want of a better word.”

Despite her obvious shock, she struggles to suppress her laughter and then shrugs.

“Why not? It would certainly help me out.”

Once again, she removes another lanyard and attaches a card to it that she swipes through the machine.

“Here you go. Take the elevator to the penthouse. He is expecting you.”

As my fingers close around the silk lanyard, the horror of my situation is socking me from all sides. What the fuck have I done? This is the worst idea of my entire life and yet I have never experienced exhilaration like this.

This is my moment to stick two fingers up at the world I live in and wrestle back control of my life. Just picturing my family’s expressions, if they were to see me now, makes it all worthwhile.

The trouble is, I am in unexplored territory and this may come back and bite me and, in all probability, that bite would be fatal.

CHAPTER 2

MAXIMUS

Fuck my life. I’m still reeling from the conversation with my father, and now I’m in an impossible situation. The whiskey burns a fiery trail down my throat as I shove respectability and decorum aside and stare into the abyss, otherwise known as my future.

My brother Cassius is the fortunate one of the family. The playboy, if you like, also known as the spare. He left one hour ago with his latest target on his arm and genuine regret in his eye — for me.

Maximus Tessoro. Heir to the Tessoro empire. A man with no options and no choices except for one. The one presented to me that may as well have been delivered with a ball and chain attached.

Marriage.

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