At Your Mercy (VIP The Pink Collection, #1)

by

At Your Mercy (VIP The Pink Collection, Book
One)

By Rhyme Devereux

Copyright © 2013 Rhyme Devereux

All rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Editor: Pauline Nolet

Cover Artist:
CoversbyRamona

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or
distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this
book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without
written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied
in reviews.

Please purchase only authorized electronic
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rights is appreciated.

This is a work of fiction. All names,
characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual
events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is
entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

A Year Later

About the Author

To my girl, Sherri Jones. We did it! Mom, I
finally finished something. Thanks to my hubby for dealing with my
mood swings. Kids, thank you for believing in me. Jen, girl you
really know how to keep secrets. I appreciate that. Pauline, you
are an awesome editor. Thanks for working with a new author.

"Okay, Violet, I should be there soon."
Rolling my eyes, I rest my forehead on the window of the
limousine.

"Ivy, one more thing …"

Here we go again.
“I’m listening.”

"This guy is sexy as sin and single. Don't
forget our rules." Violet emphasizes the last part slowly.

"Not a problem. Have to go, Violet. Ciao."
With a tap of my finger, I press the end button on the cell phone.
Geez, my best friend and owner of VIP can be extremely pushy. Her
business is booming, and that's turned her into one mean bitch when
it comes to satisfying her clients. Soon she will need to hire more
Companions. Right now, it's only the four of us. Well, five,
counting Violet, but she doesn't serve as a Companion for her own
business.

That remark she made about
our rule
,
well, I have my own: "never mess around with my clients." Not that
I would even consider that idea. I’m damaged goods. My childhood
was dysfunctional. As an only child, I witnessed on more than one
occasion my intoxicated dad physically hurt my mom. Afterwards, he
always came begging for mercy. I don't know where my dad is. The
last I heard he's been in and out of jail. My mom never loved
anyone else. Never dated. Love causes people to make all kinds of
wrong decisions. Screw that, I'd rather stay single all my
life.

I'm happy working for VIP. The pay is
impressive, especially for someone without a degree. I get to see
tropical places, mingle with different cultures, and be with some
tremendously powerful, attractive men. Don’t get me wrong. I
fantasize about the things I would love to do with these insanely
hot men. Some of my past clients had me manually stimulating myself
as soon as I got home after attending one of their social events.
Which reminds me. I need to buy more batteries.

I check the time on my wristwatch—twelve ten
p.m. I reach to press the privacy window control. "Joe, how much
longer you think we will be stuck in traffic?"

"Actually, we're almost there, Ivy. Sorry for
not taking another route."

"Sure. No problem. Thanks, Joe." Every
Friday, no matter the time of day, there's a ton of traffic on the
freeway. I pray my new client isn't a stickler for being on time.
Being fifteen minutes late isn't terrible. Checking my face in my
cosmetic mirror, I run my fingers through my curly red hair. All I
need to do is refresh my nude-colored lipstick.

The privacy window comes down. "Ivy, we've
arrived."

"Finally. Thanks, Joe. Pull up to the
entrance, please."

Joe opens the door and offers his hand.

"I'll be ready to leave by two o'clock, but
you may want to hang out for a moment in case this Jax Sterling has
a tantrum over me being tardy." I laugh.

Smiling, he nods his head. "No problem. Text
me if I can leave."

As I step into the crisp spring air on the
West Coast, I wish that I had brought my shoulder wrap along. The
sun is bright today. Not one cloud in the sky. Looking around, I
see the parking lot is full of expensive cars—Lexus, Mercedes,
Jaguars, and Range Rovers. This place is the hangout for business
lunches. Violet only chooses the best. Yep, this is how the others
live, and I get to play the part for a limited time.

Walking at a fast pace to the five-story
restaurant, my beige stiletto gets stuck in a crack of the stone
walkway. Suddenly, strong hands grab my elbow as I start to fall
forward towards the ground. My eyes slowly drift upward from his
black dress shoes, briefly taking in his tall, athletic build that
his gray dress pants can't conceal. Then my eyes wander over his
broad chest that looks hot as hell in a form-fitting black
shirt.

"Miss, are you okay?"

I am now.

I'm stunned to be looking into some gorgeous
man's blue eyes that are the lightest color I've ever seen. Except
… something's familiar.

"Um … what?" I say as I remember to
breathe.

"Are you okay?" He raises his right eyebrow
as he questions me.

"Yes, yes, I am. Thanks for helping me avoid
an embarrassing accident."

"We wouldn't want you to hurt that beautiful
body of yours." Smiling, he begins to walk away, but stops and
comes back. "I know this is going to sound like a pick-up line, but
do I know you? Are you from around here?"

"For the most part. I lived in Florida a long
time ago."

"Really, what part?"

"Tampa." A part of my life that I truly try
to forget.

"Well, if I did know you, I definitely would
remember those big, green eyes," he says while scanning my body
from head to toe. And then he walks in the entrance of the
restaurant.

Something in my mind is nagging at me. He
seems very familiar. Looking into my Coach tote, I search for the
envelope holding the picture that I haven't seen yet. I find the
envelope as I reach the elevators. Finding the elevator empty, I
push the third-floor button, which is the Italian restaurant.
Violet loves this place for meeting new clients. Each of the five
floors caters a different cuisine. I hear the soulful tunes of that
famous female British singer, Adele. I just love her. There's so
much heartache in her lyrics. As always my sweet mother’s voice
resonated in my head.

Ivy, listen. People will make you mad and
treat you bad. Don't let those things cause hate in your heart.
My mom always sought solace in her quotes.

Looking at my reflection in the glass
elevator walls, I smooth out various areas of my camel-colored
linen pants suit and check that the lace part of my silk tank top
covers my bra. My nerves are always a wreck when first meeting a
client. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.
Ready, set,
action
…

* * *

Once the doors open, I step onto the marble
flooring and walk straight ahead toward a tall, thin woman with
long, platinum-blonde hair standing at the podium.

Showing her perfect white teeth as she
smiles, she says, "Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

"Hi, my name is Ivy Montgomery. I'm meeting
someone here. His name is Jax Sterling." For the first time, I
finally look at the picture as I show the hostess. I immediately
recognize the sexy, dark-haired man as the one who prevented me
from busting my ass on the ground outside.

The hostess's lips make an O. "Ah, yes." She
escorts me toward the back of the restaurant.

Looking around, I take in the ambience of
this place—soft music, the lighting dimmed just right, and
high-back, luxurious leather booth seats. Privacy is unquestionably
obtainable if that's what you desire. As we reach the last intimate
booth in a corner, my eyes drift to a handsome face whose name I
now know.
Oh, crap. It's him.

The hostess's eyes are focused only on Jax
Sterling. "Miss Montgomery, Mr. Sterling, is there anything I can
get for—"

Cutting the hostess off, I smile and shake my
head. "No, thank you." I laugh to myself while watching the hostess
bat her eyes at him.
He is yummy
. She smiles as she walks
away.

As I pull out my cell phone and text Joe that
he can leave, I slide into the seat across from Jax. "So we meet
again. Are you Jax Sterling, who requested a VIP companion?" My
stomach is a little uneasy, and my heart pounds wildly. What is
happening here?

With a crooked smile, he rests his muscular
arms on the table and leans toward me, whispering, "Yes,
Ivory
."

I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. My hands
are trembling.
How do you know that name?
All my childhood
memories rush back to me at once. Trying to control the tears that
are threatening to escape, I say, "It can't be …"

He quickly stands and walks around the
mahogany table to join me, grabbing my face with both hands. "I
can't believe it."

He presses his forehead on mine and closes
his eyes. "Ivory, it's me, Jaxson."

"I may be stepping over some boundaries. Your
dad's style of living-jail-fits him. Then your mom having
Alzheimer’s; what a terrible disease. Your mom has been through so
much. Ivy …" Jax snaps his fingers, taking me out of my trance.
"You're not saying much. You okay?" Jax's eyes bore into mine.

"Yes, I'm fine. I think I'm still in shock. I
can't believe we met again after all this time."
Not to mention
how dangerously sexy you are with those addictive blue eyes I could
get lost in.

"Well, it's a surprise for me, as well. Of
all the women I could have had as my first Companion."

Excuse me?
"I'm sorry. Do I not fit
the description of the kind of woman you wanted?" My voice cracks a
little. Normally I couldn’t care less what my clients think of
me.

He reaches for my hand. I pull back out of
his grasp. "Ivy, you are more than what I expected. You are
perfect."

"I don't know about perfect." Now I feel bad
for getting all defensive. "Jax, will our background interfere with
our business relationship? I mean, us reuniting like this is
wonderful. Surreal in a way."

He smiles, showing his beautiful white teeth
and those plump lips that I could lick and suck on forever.

Chill, Ivy.

"Just because you happen to be a stunning
redhead who was my first unofficial girlfriend when we were kids
will not affect your job duties." He arches his eyebrows. "Unless
you want it to."

Wow. Okay.
Looking away from him, I
get out my iPad, preparing to write down my upcoming events with
him. "Okay, Mr. Sterling. What's first on your list of my Companion
duties?"

"To begin with, call me Jax or Jaxson. Using
my surname is not required, Ms. Montgomery." He smiles.

"Agreed."

"Good. Now, if I could have the pleasure of
your company to attend a cocktail party tomorrow evening. My
presence is only needed for social niceties. A way to expand my
network of business relationships. Be ready by seven thirty."

"This cocktail party sounds quite dismal." My
insides are bubbling with excitement, betraying my words.

Head tilted back, he lets out a deep belly
laugh. "Honestly, I wish we had reconnected earlier in our adult
life. You are absolutely refreshing. Ivy, being with me will never
be boring. You will come to realize that I'm capable of making
anything quite stimulating."

My breasts feel tight all of a sudden.
"I will hold you to that," I say, smiling.

***

I love the West Coast. The spring evenings
are around sixty degrees. We just arrived at the Oceanfront
Sterling Resort. During our ride over here, it was hard not to
stare at Jax. He is absolutely mouth-watering. His gray
Prada
suit fits him in the best way and complements his blue
eyes that seem to lure you into him like a magnet. Even with
clothing on, you can see that he has toned biceps, ripped abs, and
a tight ass to hold on to.
Mmm …

The cocktail party is being held outdoors in
a Spanish-Mediterranean-style theme. The dining area is on a
rooftop terrace. As we walk in, I'm surprised by the beauty of the
grounds. Spanish-style columns and pillars along with downlights
and accent lighting add a soft glow to the area. Most of the
walkways and paths are made of irregularly cut bluestone pieces
bordered with red bricks. In the center of the courtyard, there's
an intimate area with a stone fire pit where you can lounge on
earth-tone sofa sectionals.