Whatever He Wants (9 page)

 
     
Her fists balled at her sides almost as if
she wanted to get up and punch him. “So we’re playing that game? You’re going
to make me grovel?”

 
     
“I can’t make you do anything although
you’re the one who came to me wanting something, so unless you spell it out I
can’t help you.”

 
     
“You’ve changed.”

 
     
“I think we’ve already established that.”

 
     
“Do you really hate us all so much?” she
whispered, placing her hand over her ample bosom.
“Me
especially?
I’m so sorry for what I did. If what you want from me is an
apology, you have it.”

 
     
“That would mean a lot to me…if I still
cared. Since you’re skirting around the issue, I assume you’re here because
I’ve authorized the termination of
AlCore’s
contracts
with my hotels?”

 
     
“You know it is,” she answered
tight-lipped, not bothering to maintain eye contact.

 
     
“And the
Alexanders
believe I’ve done it out of spite.”

 
     
She shrugged. “Didn’t you?”

 
     
“To make such an accusation would be an
acknowledgement that they had some prior connection with me or they’ve done
something to warrant me wanting revenge. To the best of my knowledge there is
no association. You yourself know I have no ties to them.”

 
     
She didn’t look at him but her body
language screamed embarrassment. In different circumstances, he might have felt
sorry for her. But then all he had to do was remember their last encounter and
any semblance of pity that tried to form within his heart was immediately
squashed. “So you won’t help us?”

 
     
“And what would be the benefit of my
helping a company that’s weeks away from filing bankruptcy? I’d be throwing
money away if I continued doing business with
AlCore
,
which by the way has been so grossly mismanaged in the past several years it
was only a matter of time before it faced financial ruin. Not to mention, the
quality of the products have gone down. That’s the gist of it. I can’t continue
to allow
AlCore
to supply my hotels with an inferior
product. Our clients deserve the best. I run a business, not a charity, my
dear.”

 
     
“Won’t you help for David’s sake?”

 
     
At the mention of that asshole, James
finally reached the end of his rope. “Speaking of David, I find it odd a CEO
who cares so much about the future of his company would send his wife who I’m
sure hasn’t spent one day in the office to speak on his behalf instead of
coming himself.”

 
     
When no answer came, he pounded his fist
on his desk making Gillian jump. “Get the hell out of my office, Gillian.
You’re wasting my damn time.”

 
     
This time she smirked. “I thought you said
you no longer cared.”

 
     
“I don’t but neither do I like being
played for a fool.”

 
     
She shot daggers with her stare. “Fine,
I’ll leave. Bitterness doesn’t suit you at all, James.”

 
     
“And desperation doesn’t become you, my
dear.”

 
     
“Just like that?
You won’t help us. Think about your family.”

 
     
“What family, Gillian? You’re barking up
the wrong tree. And frankly, I find it pathetic how your husband is willing to
prostitute you to save a company he doesn’t have the balls to fight for
himself.”

 
     
Gillian rose to her feet in a huff.
“Bastard.
You think you’re so much better than us now
because of all this?” She swept her hand out. “Well, don’t forget where you
come from.”

 
     
“I’ll never forget, Gillian, and therein
lies
the problem. Goodbye.” He returned his attention to the
papers he had been studying before she’d entered his office. It was only when
she marched out of his office and slammed his door behind her did he give up
the pretense of working. Her barbs had hit more marks than he was willing to
admit.

 
     
Though he was no longer sexually attracted
to her, Gillian still reminded him of a past he wished to bury.

 
     
A soft knock broke James out of his silent
musings. “Come in,” he called knowing it could only be Paul, or his secretary
Stella.

 
     
“Is everything okay, James?” Paul poked
his head inside the office without stepping inside.

 
     
“Yes, I’m fine, but I think I’m going to
need you to rearrange the remainder of my appointments today. And I’ll need
those packets I asked Stella for first thing in the morning. Make sure she
prioritizes that.”

 
     
“Will do.
Can I
get you some lunch? I notice you haven’t eaten today.”

 
     
“No, thank you.”

 
     
Paul ducked away and closed the door.

 
     
James had been truthful with Gillian when
he’d told her he had not deliberately set out to harm
AlCore
.
In fact, had
AlCore
maintained the same high
standards that had made them one of the biggest hotel and office suppliers in
the industry he would have continued their business association. He didn’t get
to where he was by making decisions based purely on emotion. But knowing the
Alexanders
were suffering, perhaps worrying about how they
would keep their superfluous lifestyle proved to him karma was indeed a bitch.
And that bitch was on his side.

 
     
Simone shook her head at Noelle as she
paced the living room. “Are you out of your ever loving mind? Please tell me
you’re not considering this.”

 
     
For the past few days Noelle agonized over
what happened between her and James and their subsequent conversation. Looking
back, it almost seemed as if it had happened to someone else.

 
     
“I
have a proposition for you.”

 
     
Noelle’s
body continued to throb with desire from his touch. She could see his lips
moving but couldn’t quite make out the words. “Huh?”

 
     
“I
said I have a proposition you may be interested in.”

 
     
She
moistened her now dry lips.” Are you offering me some kind of job?”

 
     
“You
can say that. As I already stated, I’ll never be anything but completely honest
with you. Noelle, when I first saw you I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I
was so drawn to you but I suspected you would be a woman of passionate depths
and now my suspicions have been confirmed. I live a certain lifestyle one which
requires a lot of a travel and several hours a week in my office. I don’t have
time for dating and I’m far beyond the age of running through a different bed
partner every time the whim takes me.”

 
     
Noelle
never considered herself some great genius but she wasn’t stupid. As he
continued to talk it became clear to her exactly what he was getting at. “You
want me to be some kind of regular booty call?”

 
     
He
raised one dark sinister brow. “I wouldn’t put it in such uncouth terms but I
am looking for a steady companion who can make herself available upon demand.
My schedule is erratic so I may need you in the mornings or late at night.”

       
“And I’m just expected to drop everything
for you?”

 
     
“I
gather from what you’ve told me about art school, making yourself available to
me won’t be an issue. As far as your search for employment goes, there’s no
need. Should you agree to this arrangement, you’ll be compensated for your
time. I own a penthouse in the city where I’ll expect you to live for the
duration of our agreement.”

 
     
“You
mean move in with you?” she asked softly still trying to make sense of this
whole thing.

 
     
“I
have my own house but when I need you, I’ll visit you not the other way around.
You’ll also be given a monthly allowance for clothing, lingerie, entertainment,
beautification and any other personal
effects you
require. My EA will see to all your household needs.”

 
     
“And
all I’d have to do is sleep with you?”

 
     
“I
believe we’ve already established that.” His words were formal, a jarring
contrast to his earlier tone.

 
     
“What
kind of woman do you think I am?”

 
     
James
didn’t answer right away as he gave her a long accessing look. “You’re a woman
of many layers and I’d like to be the man to peel each of them away.”

 
     
Though
they shouldn’t have, his words made her squirm in her seat. She bit the inside
of her cheek to hold back a whimper.

 
     
James
reached over her and opened his glove compartment. He pulled out a small white
rectangular card and handed it to her. “That’s my information with my
secretary’s number on the front. Should you decide to discuss this arrangement
in further detail, contact her and you’ll hear back from either me or my EA.”

 
     
“I
can’t contact you directly?”

 
     
“I’m
a busy man.”

 
     
“I
see.” She didn’t really but it was getting harder to be so close to him and
keep a clear mind. It was as if she’d been dumped in the center of a bad
B-movie. Things like this didn’t happen in the real world and if they did not
to her. “Well it’s been nice James but I have to go now.”

 
     
He
placed his hand on her thigh to keep her immobile. “Give this some thought,
Noelle.”

 
     
“I’ve
only met you tonight…I can’t just agree to this without at least getting to
know you better.”

 
     
His
eyes narrowed and he looked at her like he was inspecting a rare species of
insect. Noelle shifted uncomfortably in her seat under his piercing gaze.

 
     
“Two
dates.”

 
     
She
stroked her bottom lip with her tongue. “I don’t follow.”

 
     
“You’re
right. It’s a bit forward of me to ask something like this of you on such a
short acquaintance. Let’s go out on two dates. At the end of the second one
I’ll expect an answer.
Yes or no.”

 
     
Any
sane woman would tell him to go to hell. But she couldn’t deny the strong
connection she felt between them. “You’d take me out first?”

 
     
“It’s
what you want isn’t it?”

 
     
“But
you’re only taking me out on the condition of my becoming your lover?”

 
     
“You’re
free to say no. Think about it.”

 
     
“Okay,
I will. Think about it, I mean.”

 
     
He
offered her a tight smile in response, releasing his grip on her thigh.

 
     
“Well,
I uh, guess I’ll be going now. Good night.”

 
     
“Take
care, Noelle.”

 
     
This
time when she grabbed the handle to step out of the vehicle, he didn’t stop
her. After waving a quick good bye she slid out of the car and slammed the door
behind her. Too afraid to look behind her, she hurried inside her apartment
building.