Rodge chuckled as he reached to the table for a piece of cheese, bringing his body closer to me. “Part of this is exciting because I will be conquering you, of course.”
“And that doesn’t bother your ego at all, huh? Having to coerce a woman into bed?”
“Not at all. Some women flock to me because of money, some power—women always want something.”
“What a limited view you have of the female species. So, by your definition, I am after something. What is that?”
Rodge’s eyes shone as he looked at me. “My son, of course.”
“Yes, but it’s an act of selflessness. That’s not wanting something—that’s giving to make someone else happy. I don’t fit into your definition of a female.”
“If I allow him to get out of this contract, he’ll also have more money than me. More power. You’re going for the big prize.”
“Except when he finds out I’m here, he won’t want me. So what’s the prize?”
Rodge popped the cheese into his mouth as he stared at me. His eyes marginally squinted. “That, I’m afraid, I haven’t figured out. You’re a smart girl—much smarter than the girls he usually employs. What is your angle, Livy? You must have one.”
Stacy walked in. “Sir, dinner is ready.”
I stood, hardly having taken a sip of my wine. Rodge stood with me, still staring. Trying to figure me out.
I gave him a sly smile. “Like I said, I don’t fit into your definition of female.”
“You do. I just have to find out how.”
I rolled my eyes as I followed Stacy. We passed through spacious rooms decorated with dark colors and strange modern art. The smell of cooking wafted toward me as we passed through an archway to a room with a large dining table featuring a large but low arrangement of flowers. The lights were dim here too. Two place settings faced each other across the middle of the table. I had hoped we would each be at either end, but he’d gone for the intimate approach. Unfortunately.
I sat where Stacy indicated, putting my glass in front of me and resting my clutch on my knees, hidden by the tablecloth. My goal was to slip the drug into his drink toward the end of dinner, so that when we moved to a more intimate setting, he was already feeling drowsy.
How I would do that was a concern. A big one. I wasn’t very sneaky.
“You just want to get the night over with,” Rodge said as he settled.
My stomach turned. Knowing my expression probably showed my distaste, I took a sip of wine. Lowering it slowly, I cleared my throat. “I’m here to fulfill my end of the agreement. I don’t have to like it, and, quite frankly, don’t plan to. But I’m no fool, Rodge. I don’t intend to…go through with this unless I have something signed from you, waiving your rights.”
“What would you have me do, scribble it on a napkin?” He laughed as Stacy and another pretty girl, about the same age, and wearing the same outfit, delivered soup.
“I brought something for you to sign. I won’t touch you until it’s signed.” I waited until the soup was in front of me and the women gone before I picked up my spoon and swirled it around. I had no appetite, and I really wondered if there was something in the food. I planned to drug him and leave—I wouldn’t put it past him to do the same to keep me here.
Rodge’s face lost the smile. His eyes turned shrewd. “I’ll sign it after.”
“No way. I want it before, or I’ll leave right now. I don’t trust you.”
Rodge lifted the spoon to his mouth and sipped his soup slowly, some sort of creamy concoction that actually smelled really great.
“Why do you want me, really, Rodge?” I asked despite myself. “You can get younger, obviously. And prettier. Why waste your time trying to force me? Why do you hate your son that much?”
“I don’t hate my son. But I don’t like that he’s trying to rise above his station. I made him. I taught him, gave him a place to start his career. What does he do? He takes what I offer, and then uses it to leverage a better position. It doesn’t stop there. Rather than waiting until I die to receive his inheritance, he works out a deal to cut me out of his life early. Now I don’t have as much to offer another heir that would follow my teaching. So you see, I’m just balancing out the power once again. That’s all.”
“What’s the matter, can’t marry into money again? All the women with their own fortunes see you coming, and the young ones still have Daddy to protect them?”
He sneered at me. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand my situation.”