Page 25 of Daddy's Naughty Realtor

Consequences? The threat makes my pussy pulse. I thought calling him Daddy during sex was a kink of his… but this?

“I know what kind of books are on your e-reader, kitten. You’ve left it on the table a few times. Fitting, since I’ve been a practicing Dominant for decades now.”

My phone rings before I can respond, saved by the ring. It’s my assistant, calling about a potential new client. As I take the call, Jeremy stands, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before moving to the living room to give me privacy.

* * *

By the end of the week, I've returned to work, and Jeremy has reluctantly returned to his own apartment, though he still calls or texts multiple times a day. The break-ins at both properties remain unsolved, but life goes on. It has to. We’ve developed something between us akin to a new relationship, but perhaps, stronger. He feels like my boyfriend, the one from before… before he saved the country by going undercover with the CIA. I’ve asked him some questions, and he’s told me what he could. Enough to prove he didn’t make up the story or the cover. It explains why he’d never had a social media account, how he disappeared without a trace. He’d been across the world under an assumed alias.

I'm grabbing coffee between showings when my phone lights up with a text.

Sydney: Mom, have you seen this???

Attached is a link to a local business news article. The headline makes my blood run cold: "Ford Development in Talks to Acquire Elite Realty in Surprise Move."

My firm. Jeremy's company is trying to buy my firm. Without telling me.

I abandon my coffee and call him immediately, heart pounding. Straight to voicemail. I try again. Same result.

Next, I call Richard. His assistant says he's in meetings all day and can't be disturbed. How convenient. How fucking convenient.

I drive to Jeremy's office, fury building with every mile. The receptionist tries to stop me.

"Mr. Ford is in a meeting, Ms. Long –” but I brush past her, heading straight for the conference room where I can see Jeremy through the glass walls, surrounded by men in suits.

Furious, I push open the door without knocking. Every head turns toward me, conversations halting mid-sentence.

"Gina," Jeremy says, surprise evident in his voice. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Clearly," I say, my voice icy calm despite the rage boiling inside me. "Can I speak with you? Privately?"

He stands immediately, buttoning his suit jacket. "Gentlemen, ladies, let's take twenty."

As the others file out, casting curious glances at me, Jeremy approaches. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

I thrust my phone at him, the article displayed on the screen. "Is this true?"

He glances at it, then meets my eyes steadily. "Yes."

The single word hits me like a slap. "Were you going to tell me? Or just let me find out when you became my partner? I get that Richard has a controlling stake in the firm, but I was planning on buying his share out."

"Of course I was going to tell you." He runs a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration. "The negotiations just started. Nothing's finalized."

“That's not the point, Jeremy! The point is that you're making moves to take over my company! My career! My livelihood, without even mentioning it to me. After everything we've..." I break off, too angry to finish.

"It's not what you think," he says, reaching for me.

I step back, out of his reach. "Then what is it? Explain it to me. I know you are dominant and I’d consent to that in the bedroom, in our relationship… if that’s even what we have. But this? I’d never consent to you taking over my career!"

He sighs, eyes never leaving mine. "The security company I hired found something. The break-ins at your properties? They're connected to a larger pattern. Several high-end properties listed by Elite have been targeted over the past year. Only Elite."

"What?" This is the first I'm hearing of it. "Why wouldn't Richard tell me?"

"Because I think he’s the one behind it. The company is almost bankrupt. He's been covering it up. He has a major gambling problem and wants to go bankrupt, which requires the company to take certain losses. The more insurance claims he can make, the more he has to pay out on paper…"

I shake my head, disbelieving. "No. Richard wouldn't put his agents at risk like that."

"He sent you alone to a property where a break-in was actively happening," Jeremy points out, his voice hardening. "He knew about it, Gina. He hired a criminal enterprise to break into the expensive properties. He gave them security codes."

---