Page 134 of Risks of Temptation
His voice is so cold, I shiver. Malin tightens his arm around me. He says, "Agreed."
William turns, as if assessing me. "You were with Penelope?"
Chills dig into my bones. I'm not sure how to respond.
"She was only in Santiago's custody for a few hours," Malin states.
"But you saw her?" His black eyes remind me of the President's.
"Y-yes."
His face hardens. "What has that pig done to her?"
"Umm... I...ummm...."
"Answer me," he barks.
"She was only there a few hours. Do not speak to my property like that," Malin snarls.
William glances between Malin and me. "I heard I missed quite the event last night."
Malin's body stiffens further.
Heat flushes my cheeks.
William steps closer to me and looks down. His voice lowers. "Did you enjoy it?"
My heart beats harder. I push my chin out and confidently reply, "Yes. Every minute."
Bernadette gasps, but I think only I can hear it.
William's jaw twitches. He licks his lips and scans my body.
Malin moves me away from him. "Where is our apartment?"
William points to a man behind us I didn't notice. "He will show you."
We get escorted to our unit, and Malin leads me into a bedroom suite. He shuts the door. "Are you okay, ma belle?"
"Yes."
He pulls me onto his lap. "You cannot be so bold to members of the Global Leaders."
"How am I supposed to respond? Should I lie and try to pretend I hate it? Then when we are at an event or in front of any of them, am I supposed to resist your every touch?"
He sighs. "No. But you must not forget you still are expected to submit to them. Confidence, when they address you, is asking for trouble."
I turn away.
He pulls my chin back. "Ma belle, we are here to survive. We are not here to stand out."
"Then you shouldn't have paid a billion dollars for a girl."
His lips twitch. "Don't you mean woman?"
I tilt my head and bite my smile.
He leans into my ear and kisses underneath it. "I told you I got you cheap. You're worth a lot more than a billion dollars."
