Page 5 of Filthy Desire

The velvety sound made Kara shiver.

“Especially when I get to evaluate people and decide whether they stay or…go.”

“Having the power to hire and fire is a heady thing,” she replied, willing her heart rate to calm.

The longer he stared, the more she wanted to fidget.

Don’t give him the satisfaction. Remember, you’re the Queen of the Q Agency.

“It is. I thrive on it. And do you know why? Because my standards are very high. If someone isn’t working as they should, they need to be brought to task. And taught a lesson,” he bit out, the clench of his jaw telling.

Kara met his gaze head on and refused to look away. “I assume that’s why I’m here? To be taught a lesson? Even though I still don’t know why I was called.”

“But you still came,” he stated.

“When my number one client requests a meeting, I answer. Normally I prefer phone or text but I’m not going to say no to Gio Ferraro.”

“Really?” Gio smiled and a dimple popped out on his left cheek.

His grin was beautiful but dangerous, and a tendril of fear swirled inside her.

“That’s wise. Do you know that every experience I’ve had with your agency, until now, has been highly satisfactory? The women are exceptionally beautiful, talented, and follow my requests to the letter.”

“But not Sara? Was there an issue this evening?”

Gio pulled a phone out of his pocket and tapped it, then turned it around so Kara could view it.

“Watch,” he commanded.

Kara stared at the screen. Sara was let into the apartment, then the bedroom. She got undressed and headed for the shower. That was normal. That what Gio’s usual request.

Then Sara exited the bathroom and began to open closet doors, then bedside tables…shit.

“I talked to her. Do you know that she’s a coke addict?” Gio bit out as he put the phone back in his pocket. “She was in withdrawal and started searching for drugs. Or money, so she could buy them after I was done with her.” He paused and stood up, walking around his desk. “I pay you a weekly retainer of ten thousand dollars for the finest women in this city and you send me a fucking drug addict in crisis!”

His voice boomed and nearly burst Kara’s eardrum, but she refused to react.

“I carefully vet each woman in my employ and there was nothing in her background check or recent health screening to suggest--”

“I don’t care for excuses!” Gio interrupted. “We’re here now. I want my money back for tonight and I will never use your services again. Not only that, but I’m going to make sure that everyone I know is aware that you and your agency can’t be trusted. Now get the fuck out of my office!”

Kara’s blood turned to ice as she thought about all the hard work she’d put into her business. The years of hosting underground parties and the time it took to establish a seven-figure sex service business. And one man was going to obliterate it? Did Gio really have that kind of power? Kara didn’t know, but she had a feeling that Gio didn’t make empty threats.

No fucking way was she going to let this man ruin her.

Kara would find a way to make this right. To convince Ferraro to change his mind.

Use that ivy league brain of yours and think…

“Mr. Ferraro, I have never, not once, had a complaint about my employees. Not once. This is truly an aberration and I assure you it will not happen again.”

Gio glared at her from across the desk and Kara felt like a deer in the headlights. She couldn’t look away, even though she knew that whatever came next was not going to be good.

“And how do you suppose to make it up to me? A free month of your services? Maybe a year? I don’t fucking care. You don’t have anything that I need, Kara. There are other agencies ready and willing to pick up where you slacked off.”

“Why did you use my services to begin with?” Kara lashed out. “Because I run the most discreet agency in New York. I have a client list that reads like the Forbes Top 100. Entrepreneurs, politicians, lawyers, judges, you name it, I’ve got them all. And they come to me, over and over again, because I have the best selection of women and men. Sara is an exception, an error, and I will do whatever it takes to make it right with you. I take my business as seriously as you do yours.”

Gio said nothing.

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