Now, Please(32)

“I didn’t go to high school. I missed out on some things.”

“Then making out sounds great.” I ran my hands up his chest. “We could start now, even.”

His smile stole my breath as he turned away. “Later. Business first. Play later.”

By the time he’d crossed the room, the smile had already been wiped away. He picked up his computer and headed for the door. “Pack up. I’ll meet you back here.”

“Okay. I’ll probably go work on Bruce’s notes at the lagoon area, so if you get done early, that’s where I’ll be.”

He gave a brief nod before leaving the room.

“Okay…goodbye.” I rolled my eyes. He might be a big-time CEO with oodles of money, but he was still a work in progress. I would definitely teach that kid manners.

Smiling like an idiot, I headed back to my room to get ready. What I was doing with Hunter might be incredibly stupid, but I didn’t care. It felt good. I felt good. Repercussions be damned.



At about ten thirty I wandered into the lagoon area. I lowered myself onto a table and hauled out my computer. After signing in, I clicked out of instant message and didn’t bother opening email. Hunter had given me a pass, and I planned to use it. I’d been thinking about Bruce’s notes, and his goals, and had come up with a list of things that might be cool. I bent to my work and shut out the world.

It was because of the extreme focus, however, that I missed the person entering my oasis of solitude. I didn’t notice the presence until the table shifted and creaked as someone sat opposite me. Forced out of my concentration, I glanced up in irritation. And then froze.

Rodge sat with his hands clasped in front of him, staring at me with hard, cunning eyes. “You’ve become quite a nuisance to me.”

Feigning indifference, I glanced back at my computer screen. “I’m just doing my job.”

“So it would seem.” The top of my laptop slammed down. Rodge’s fingers splayed across the top, white from the pressure. I looked up, startled. “My son gives a command, and you tear off your panties to please him. I should’ve expected a lowborn peasant to adopt tunnel vision for her rich boss. I underestimated your drive to please your betters.”

“Peasant? Betters? Did you just fall out of 1890 and crack your head? Get off my laptop.”

Rodge stood slowly, his hand still on my computer. He walked around the table with predatory steps before sitting right next to me. I scooted away to allow more room, but he just leaned in. His breath, smelling of stale coffee, blasted my face as he said, “I wonder. If I fucked you just right, would you do my bidding as well as you do his? What do you think, Olivia?”

Chest tight, breath coming in horrified puffs, I stood in a rush. “I need my computer, please.” I snatched my computer bag off the table and held it in front of me. It was a terrible shield for a man of Rodge’s size, but it was something.

He stood, too. His body cut off my view of my computer. “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll like it too much?”

Rodge stepped toward me and grabbed a fistful of my hair. Before I could struggle, he yanked me closer. His lips smashed into mine.

My brain fumbled, deciding between stomping on his foot and kneeing him in the nuts. Without warning, his body was ripped away from mine. My head jerked before he let go. I staggered and fell, only then seeing another pair of feet.

I looked up. A sob of relief took me as Hunter stepped between his dad and me. His fist whipped out, clipping his dad on the chin and sending him to the ground.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Hunter demanded, his body flexed and fists balled.

Rodge turned onto his side and grabbed his jaw. He shook his head. “You always did like the ordinary ones, didn’t you? Always trying to shrug off your wealth and status to go chasing the gutter rats. And now I know why. They work like slaves. Kudos, son. Looks like I’ll have to get a gutter rat of my own.”

“Always trying to be someone different than you,” Hunter spat. He turned toward me and looked down for a moment before his mask of rage melted into guilt. He bent to me and picked me up out of the dirt. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I wiped off my jeans as tears rolled down my face. I clutched Hunter, my hands shaking. “He scared me, is all. I just didn’t react in time.”

Hunter threw his dad a look of pure loathing before leading me to the table to help me collect my computer. With his hand around my shoulder, he turned us toward the path to the golf cart.

“Dating below your class is suicide,” Rodge warned in a loud voice. “She’ll drag you down and make a fool of you. I should know—I was with your mother for sixteen years. You’ll see it my way before this is through. Trust me.”