Page 75 of Subbing For Santa

“I can’t believe you’ve been right next door this whole time.”

“Believe it.” He chuckles, and I can’t hold back. I punch his arm, hard.

“Ouch.” He whimpers like a little bitch, his hand moving up to cover the spot on his arm that will most likely bruise.

“You fucking smug shit!” I hiss. “Not only are you my landlord, but you live right next door, in this,” I point to his mansion made of concrete, timber and glass, “uppity mansion.”

He barks another laugh, his face light with happiness.

“Correct.”

I gape at him.

“Come on, little elf. Let me show you where I’ve been watching you from.”

I shoot him daggers, but he just chuckles again, unfazed by my attempt at intimidation.

Griffin gets out of the car, rounding it to open my door like the sexy mafia gentleman he is. My eyes dart from his masterpiece mansion to my little Hamptons style rental, and I note that it’s actually a little hard to see much through the scrub other than the light grey weatherboards of my house.

“I can’t believe you were right next door the whole time.” I mutter, still shocked.

“It made things easier for me.” He admits, only chuckling when I shoot him another glare.

Leading me up the steps to an oversized glass and timber door, Griffin keys a pin code into the electronic panel and the door clicks open. I’m in awe as we step over the threshold, my eyes roaming over the slick modern design created by natural elements of stone and timber. It’s not really a mansion in comparison to his dad’s home, but it’s oversized enough in comparison to the little house I rent next door.

The one thing I notice is the lack of anything personal. There are no pictures of family members on the walls. No little knick knacks that one gathers over the years. This house could be a designer display home with how it’s presented. It’s certainly nice but tells me nothing about the man I’m holding hands with, other than he has money.

“This is my personal office.” Griffin opens a door to a large room which houses a large glass top desk and a sofa. “Here, this is where I watched you.” He picks up a remote, and the wall panels opposite the sofa open up to reveal a wall of TV screens, and there on the screens is the inside of my house.

“Fucking hell.” I murmur, dropping his hand to approach the screens, looking at each one to find different angles of my bathroom and bedroom, as well as the guest room where I service my clients, the living areas, and even the guest bathroom and the laundry.

Slowly, I turn to face Griffin as anger engulfs me.

“This… you…” I can’t find words to describe how I’m feeling right now.

Like I know he was watching me. But somehow seeing it takes away the mystery, and inside my head is screamingstalker. Peeping tom. Sicko.

I shake my head, not able to form words, and I dart towards the door.

“Don’t go.” He begs, pain lacing his tone. I stop in the doorway and turn back to see the pain etched on his face.

“This…” I gesture to the screens, taking a moment to swallow. “Is a lot.”

“I had to test you.” He takes a step towards me, so I take one back, putting more space between us. “I needed to make sure you wouldn’t be a threat to my family before I brought you in.”

“I don’t understand how that,” I point to the wall of monitors, “was testing me for that.”

“Aside from the sex stuff, which I’ll admit was purely my own depravity, I needed to make sure you could be loyal. By mentioning that I saw your sex parties, I was testing you, Aggie. I needed to know if you were the type of person that would disregard your client’s privacy once you knew it was at risk. I would have been concerned if you didn’t cancel your sex party, because above all else, I need my woman to be loyal to me and my family.” He steps forward, closing the distance, and cups my face. “Coming into the Marx fold is a huge commitment. This may have started with a game, but my intentions are serious, Aggie.”

“A week, Griff. That’s not enough time to know someone and decide they are worthy enough.” I whisper, leaning into his touch because I can’t help myself.

“Maybe. But I knew the moment I saw you that there was more to you. I knew you could match my energy. My drive for sex, even if it’s a little messy or unsavoury. And I knew, deep in my gut, that you are the woman put on this earth to be by my side and make me a better man.”

“Oh my god. Is this a proposal?” I balk, remembering his question earlier on the boat.

“Hell no. My proposal will be a grand gesture or something way more creative. Rest assured.” He says in all seriousness, and I shake my head.

“You’re crazy.”

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