Page 17 of Wildest Desire

Lexi

Ms. Jackie called me this morning to let me know she had booked my ticket to New York so I could speak to Mr. Williams about my current circumstances. She asked me not to tell him the truth, but I wasn’t going to lie to him. I respect him too much to do that.

Drinking my coffee, I think about what I’m going to say to him. I know he’ll understand because he's the sweetest person I know. Looking at the laptop, I figure I may as well do some shopping while I’m there too. I have four million dollars to spend now, so I may as well spend it making myself look beautiful. Shoes are usually at the top of my list, but I have been eyeing up this designer dress that I might pick up. That and a coat I’ve seen celebrities wearing which would look perfect with it.

Ms. Jackie told me that she was going to speak to the girls about my situation. Ethan will probably have me going right to his place at the end of the day, so I might not be at the office for a little while. I’m still going to send Ms. Jackie daily messages telling her where I’ll be. I don’t trust him just yet.

Wrapping my fingers around my coffee mug, I think back to Ethan’s comment yesterday. As we were leaving, he said he was going to make this difficult until I gave him what he wanted. Last night, I thought about the things I should have put in the addendum, but didn’t because I wasn’t thinking straight. I'm so angry with myself about it. He’s going to tease me until I’m begging for sex. If I’m the one to ask, then it won’t be breaking the contract, ‘No matter what happens, you are not sleeping with him!’ I mentally give myself encouragement.

Looking down at my phone as it pings with an incoming message, I roll my eyes at the name that pops up.

Ethan– Be here at 2pm.

Seeing it’s twelve, I get off the couch and start getting ready. Ethan didn’t tell me anything about this meeting. I still don’t know what I can and can’t wear. Looking through my closet, I decide on a baby-pink wrap dress and white peep-toe shoes.

* * *

When I walk into Ethan’s apartment building, I hear someone yelling my name. Turning around, I smile and nod at Joe.

“Mr. Knight told me to give you this.” He hands me a key to Ethan’s apartment.

“Thank you,” I say, taking the key from him. “So, how long have you worked here?” I ask him. He has such a friendly vibe about him.

“Too long,” he says with a chuckle. “I can say this, though. You're the most beautiful woman to walk through these doors in a very long time.” Taking my hand, he places a kiss on it.

“Joe, you're making me blush.” I smile at him before I walk to the elevator and take it to Ethan's floor.

Opening the door to his apartment, I take a look around the entrance area. Ethan is nowhere to be seen. Placing my bag on the table, I walk to the kitchen. My mouth waters at the amazing aroma from the stove. I lift the lids on the pots to see what he’s made for lunch. I remembered not to eat this time. I didn’t want a repeat from before, and be made to eat a second meal just because the jerk said so.

Walking around the apartment, I stop at his massive DVD collection.

“Do you see one you’d like to watch?” I turn around to see a shirtless Ethan. His hair is still wet, so I can only assume he just got out of the shower.

Shutting my mouth, I swallow hard and take a step back as he walks closer to me. My back hits the shelves before Ethan stops, standing directly in front of me. God, he smells so manly.

“Maybe later. I’m thinking…something scary,” he adds.

My body shivers at the sound of his deep, husky voice. “Sure, maybe I’ll get tips on how to cover up a murder,” I say with a smirk. I walk away from him before he starts getting under my skin. I won’t back down, but him walking out smelling and looking that sexy doesn’t help my resolve. “Should I plate lunch?” I ask, walking over to the kitchen.

“Yes.” He follows me, then looks through the cupboards.

“Do you want to put some clothes on?” I ask, looking at his chest and abs. He doesn’t have a six-pack, but he does have a body I would love to touch.

“You like what you see?”

“No, I’m trying very hard not to throw up looking at you,” I bite back. Yep, this is going to be so much harder than I thought.

He laughs for the first time. I look up at him in awe of his beautiful laugh. It’s genuine and goes all the way to his eyes, causing them crease at the sides. I can’t help but smile back. Only after he walks out of my line of sight do I get back to plating the food.

I’m putting the plates on the table when I hear Ethan behind me.

“Wine?” he asks as he walks past me to the freestanding wine cooler.

Before I can answer him, he’s walking back with two glasses. I watch him closely because I have a gut feeling he’s up to something. His eyes travel up my body, stopping at my neck. After taking a sip of his wine, he tells me to put my hair up. I keep wanting to ask him if he ever learned the word ‘please.’

Placing my glass of wine on the table, I pull a clip out of my bag and look at my reflection in the window to do as he asks. I’m not going to argue with him about it. I mean, it’s just my hair and maybe he wants me to look a certain way for this meeting. He’s still watching me, his eyes never leaving my neck as I pull my chair out. I stop when I feel his hand on mine. I swear an electric shock just went through my body.

“Why am I here so early? Isn’t the meeting later this evening?” I watch him move around the table. God, he walks like a model.

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