Page 19 of Devilish Prince

“What the fuck are you talking about? You don’t own me, Lorenzo!” She’s flustered, and rightly so. For a man of my stature to visit her like this means something. Most people would be pissing themselves, but not Sofia. She’s more like wetting her panties in a different method, maybe aching for a release from her sexual tension. It’s been a while.

“Why have you purposely attempted to avoid Norman’s help? Don’t you realize how dangerous the city is? For three days you slipped his tail.” I wait patiently, keeping my expression and body language calm. My fingers want to turn to fists, but I refuse to be ruffled. She belongs to me and she will learn that very quickly without me being riled.

“Nothing happened. If I needed him I’d call.” She huffs and backs away a step. I swear it’s desire in her eyes, or maybe fear, but more likely desire.

“And you haven’t accepted the job…” I click my tongue. “It’s a shame really. Poor Dr. Holder is going to lose everything for no reason if you don’t just take the job.”

“How dare you!” She snaps, turning abruptly to turn the water on. She douses her hands in soap and scrubs furiously at them, as if she hasn’t already scrubbed them after surgery anyway. It’s an act to make me think she’s busy, when in reality she’s trying to avoid eye contact.

So I walk up behind her, pressing my body against hers from shoulders to knees, and I wrap my arms around her waist and breathe in the scent of her shampoo. “You know, Sofia, if you shirk your responsibility to me, you won’t receive the benefits.” As I say the words, I grind my pelvis against hers. I know it will get her going and that’s exactly what I want. She can’t get enough of me; it’s written all over her face every time we’re together.

She’s using me for the sex as much as I’m using her for the good name, and now I will get what I want. She grips the edge of the sink, leaving the water run, and I feel her shoulders stiffen. She may think I’m coming on too strong, but she doesn’t know that I could just order her to obey me and murder her if she refuses. I’m being nice here.

“Sofia, take the position.”

“And if I don’t?” she asks, pushing back against me. I take her hint, backing away.

“If you don’t, you won’t be able to afford to live in this town. You know that. Calvin’s expenses are only growing every month, and your salary only goes so far.” I adjust my tie and stand by the door as she rinses her hands and shuts the water off. “Besides, a man like me can pull strings. Just think of what I did to Holder.”

Grabbing a towel off a nearby rack she turns to me and scowls. “Are you threatening to get me fired?”

“I don’t make threats.” I narrow my gaze on her. “I make promises.” I open the door and stand there for a moment. “Dinner at my house at six p.m. Don’t be late. Norm gets flustered when he has to hunt you down.” And with that, I stepout of the doorway and let the door swing shut. I don’t take no for an answer, and I’m not about to start.

Sofia will take that job and she will continue to keep the arrangement we made. Even if I have to force her to do it. I’m not above bloodshed to get what I want. If she can’t play nice, then I won’t either. I head straight toward the nurses station where Norm waits in the same place he was when I left him a few moments ago.

We saunter right past the desk with now three staring nurses, and to the elevator where we descend to the third floor. I turn right and follow the signs to the administrative suites where I’ll find Dr. Holder. My father paid him a hefty sum, nearly one year’s salary, to move on and find a new position. He has been given the best and highest recommendations from Dr. Kline and the board, and now he owes me.

I rap on the door lightly and hear him call “Come in.” So I push the door open, leaving Norm in the hall again.

“Ah, Dr. Holder,” I mewl and he looks up in fear. I like that I inflict fear everywhere I go. A lesser man may grow weary of it, but I feed off it, like a piranha in the water searching for blood.

“Uh, yes, sir,” he fumbles, standing to reach out his hand. No doubt he’s not happy about being pushed out, having to relocate to a new city with his family and all that. But I could care less.

“Sit,” I tell him, not even extending my hand. “Dr. Carter is reluctant to take the position. Encourage her to do so, if you know what’s good for you.”

He sinks into his chair and wrings his hands. “But I can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to.”

“You can and you will. Or would you rather I have a talk with your wife?” I have all the evidence ready to plant in order to frame him for something his wife truly wouldn’t be pleased about. I narrow my eyes at him and he nods profusely.

“Yes, sir… I will try.”

“No, you will do. Now, I will be expecting a celebration call in a few days’ time. Please make sure I’m not disappointed.”

“Yes, sir.”

I back out and let the door shut, then suck in a deep breath. Dinner will be interesting. And if Sofia opts not to show again, the hunt will be fun too.

13

SOFIA

Ihold the sundress up to my body and press it along my curves. Jen tilts her head and eyes me but she doesn’t look sold. “I’m not sure it’s your color. Do they have it in blue?” She turns to the rack, sorting through the different dresses in search of the perfect dress herself. Both of us intend to go to the city festival next weekend for Memorial Day and we decided a while back to go shopping together for outfits.

So being our day off, we are at Hudson Yards with its star-spangled decorations to shop the sales in search of the perfect attire. And I think this dress is amazing, but apparently yellow isn’t my color. I hang it back on the rack and for the third time today notice a strange man watching me. He’s been in at least four of the stores we’ve visited and it’s unnerving. I don’t recognize him from anywhere else, but I don’t like it.

“Something wrong?” Jen asks, picking up on my anxiety.

I turn my back to the man and blink rapidly to clear my eyes from the emotion that tries to well up. “Look at my face and nowhere else, okay?”

---