Bought: Highest Bidder(26)

I tap my thumb along the armrest of the chair, thinking about the other  night. The phone on my desk rings and it draws my attention, but I hit  the button to silence it. I don't need any interruptions right now. I  rise from my seat and walk to the window. Last night was more enjoyable  than I thought it would be. It was a success as well. Andrea and the  agency are pleased with the article that'll be going live at some point  today online and hitting the magazines tomorrow.

Most Eligible Bachelor is on the Dating Scene.  … how inaccurate. I sigh  deeply and ignore the ill feelings stirring in the pit of my stomach.  I'd rather stay away from the press altogether, but I've chosen this  course of action. I'll see it through.

One thing I hadn't quite prepared was my reaction to taking my sweet  treasure out. Her lack of understanding is drawing me in more than I  ever thought it would. I'm actually excited to take her to the club  tonight. I never thought I'd get the same thrill from Club X that I once  had. But it's ringing in my blood.

There's something bothering her though. It was obvious with the way she  was hesitating last night. I don't like it. I don't like her keeping  secrets from me.

I've arranged for a private room tonight so I can get to the bottom of  it. I'm sure a little orgasm denial will get her talking. Especially  considering how disappointed she was last night before I took her out.  An asymmetric grin kicks my lips up. She didn't fuss with her punishment  though. She didn't argue with me. She's so fucking perfect, and she has  absolutely no idea.

It's hard to believe she had no experience as a Sub before this. I  remember our conversation about her ex, and the curiosity rises in me  once again.

I walk back to my desk and click on the emails. Isaac should have a good  bit of detail for me on Dahlia's last relationships. She's had social  media profiles for years, so her background check and history will be  sent to me shortly. Maybe I should feel ashamed for digging into her  past and violating her privacy …  but I don't. Not in the least. She's my  Submissive, and therefore my responsibility.

Isaac's a professional. He's worked in security for years, and I can  trust him. It's not the first time I've asked him to look into someone  and he's done it with no questions asked.

My phone rings again, and I stare at it with irritation before finally lifting it off the hook and begrudgingly answering it.

"Stone."

"Mr. Stone, it's Andrea." I recognize her voice instantly. Andrea sounds  less than her usual chipper self. She sounds nervous, and the  realization makes me stand tall.

"Yes," I say in an even tone.

The sounds of her clearing her throat fill the phone as I wait with  tense shoulders. Whatever it is, she can just spit it out. It better not  have a damn thing to do with the article or my comment though. "My  comment about Miss Days-"

"Mr. Stone, it's about your wife."

"Ex-wife." I'm quick to correct her. Unconsciously my ring finger  twitches as I think about how a ring will never lay there again.

"I'm so sorry, sir. Your ex-wife. She's taking this to a different level now."

I huff a humorless laugh. "We took care of that problem, didn't we?"  With the photo and an agreement to several articles over the course of a  month or so, the magazines are going for the hotter news and bigger  paycheck.

I walk closer to the large window and look down at the tiny cars as they  move slowly under me. Seemingly so slow. "She's decided that she's  going to do a tell-all book now."         

     



 

I grit my teeth, hating that she just won't let it go. What is it that  she thinks is worth telling, exactly? A failed marriage because I worked  too fucking much? I put a ring on the finger of a woman who was more  interested in a paycheck than our relationship. I don't know how I let  her fool me.

And as far as my perversions that she's willing to throw in my face, her  tastes were far more extreme than my own. I take in a deep breath,  trying to calm myself.

"What exactly is in this book?" I dare to ask.

"Mr. Stone," she says, then hesitates on the line. "According to the  publisher who we've been in contact with," she hesitates again for a  moment, "the book will have pictures of the aftermath of your sexual  encounters."

My heart stills as she continues. Pictures? "There's no way for her to  be able to verify that they were taken at the time of your marriage and  I'm sure your lawyer will be able to prevent their use, but if this were  to be leaked it would certainly be detrimental to your image."

"Pictures?"

"They make it appear as though there were bruises and several  abrasions." Her voice remains strong as she says, "The way it's written  leaves a lot of implications. The editor and publisher have been in  contact because of potential lawsuits."

Anger slowly rises in me as I close my eyes.

Never. I never leave marks, never leave cuts. Even when I picked up my  first whip, I learned then the importance of only bringing the blood to  the surface. Just enough force to redden the skin and create a wave of  endorphins. I've never bruised anyone. Never. It's simply not my kink.  She wants to paint herself as a victim. Probably even more so, she wants  to paint me as a villain.

Andrea speaks before I'm able to respond.

"I'm certain these pictures are fabricated, Mr. Stone. Especially considering the toxicity of your divorce."

"You are correct," I answer her in a tight voice.

"They would have come up before, had there been any truth at all to what  she's implying. The problem is that there's no way for us to prove  this. The best possible line of defense would be for you to continue  this relationship with your..." The rustling of paper in the background  fills the silence.

"Dahlia." I say her name as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"Yes, Miss Days."

"Is she saying I beat her?" I have to ask. "She's claiming abuse?" Even  after everything we went through, I never thought she'd stoop so low. I  loved her. I loved the woman I thought she was.

I'd never do anything to hurt her. Not like that. She loved the paddle,  but it was only for play, only to intensify her pleasure. There was  never a bruise on her body.

"She is." The truth slams against my chest as I lean against the window,  the cool glass on my palms. "The wording is ambiguous, so you'll have  to speak with Mr. Harris on that matter." Her voice is soft and laced  with sympathy.

I clear my throat and reply, "I understand. Thank you, Andrea."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stone." The words hang stale in the air as I tell her goodbye and listen to the soft click on the other end.

I hold the phone in my hand, long after the line has gone dead. I can't  believe I was ever fooled by that woman. I loved her. I know I did, and I  was so fucking wrong about her and everything.

I push away from the window at the sound of a knock on my door.

"Come in," I call out, setting the phone back down where it belongs.

"Mr. Stone," Linda enters with a mug of coffee in one hand and a stack  of papers in the other. She walks briskly to my desk, setting them each  down before smoothing her skirt while looking up at me with a smile.

It instantly vanishes when she sees my expression. "Is everything alright?" she asks.

I give her a tight smile and ignore the concern in her voice.

"Fine." I sift through the stack and recognize the contracts that are  due today. "I'll sign these after lunch." It's nothing that can't wait.

Linda stands there for a moment and I can see she wants to pry, but she  presses her lips into a thin line and nods her head. "You'll let me know  if you need anything?" she asks.

"Of course." She leaves silently and the phone rings again. There are  emails and meetings, contracts and press conferences. I don't feel like  doing any of them.

I know exactly what I do want though. I silence the phone and grab my cell phone from the desk.

Dahlia's number is right there from when she called last night.

She didn't stay over last night. I had a four a.m. meeting with a  company in Singapore. But she called when she got back to her place.  Just like I told her to.         

     



 

She's not perfect, but she's the perfect Submissive for me. She gives it  her best effort. The training is the best part, and of course I always  give her what she needs after she's thanked me for her punishment. I got  very lucky with her.

I press send and listen to the phone ring …  and ring.

She doesn't have work or classes today. I almost brought her into the  office, but decided against it so that I could focus. But I need her  now.

Of course she's not fucking answering the phone.

I call again rather than leaving a message, and again it goes to voicemail.

Today has been a very trying day and I don't want to take it out on my  sweet Submissive. I take in a deep breath, running my hands through my  hair.