“Good afternoon, Angelina.” The waiter came and took their drink orders. Dietrich was already in a foul mood from the way things had unexpectedly played out between him and Blythe. He would not be fucked with today by Angelina. “I thought Ricardo was coming as well?” Seemed the old man was growing less and less interested in the dealings of his business. He had to be nearing seventy, so it was only a matter of time before Angelina became CEO.
“He has not been feeling very well I am afraid.”
Their drinks came, and Dietrich quickly drank half of his scotch. He needed the fire the alcohol brought inside if he was going to get through this lunch. He had been dreading this day since they touched down.
“No?” This was news to him. “I’m sorry about that. Please send him my well wishes for a speedy recovery.” She smiled at him over the rim of her wine glass. After their order was taken he cut right to the chase. “The merger I spoke with your father about is already underway. We have blueprints being drafted for a new set of hotels, one in California and another in Oporto—”
“Amor, do we really need to discuss business?” She pouted, and it had him tensing. He expected this, of course, but damn she moved quickly. He also hated that she referred to him by that endearment.
“Yes, Angelina. I won’t be in Portugal for much longer, and this needs to be wrapped up. That is the whole purpose for this lunch. Documents need to be checked to make sure everything is on schedule for next year’s ground-breaking.” Dietrich gritted his teeth at the clearly bored expression on her face.
“Dietrich, Amor, this is why we have people working for us. They can make sure all of this is completed. We are at the top.” He chose not to comment on her asinine theory. He may be wealthy and have countless people working for him, but he had built his business from the ground up. He took care of the things that needed to be done. Why put it off on others when he could just as easily do it? She leaned forward, and the scent of her Chanel perfume suffocated him. “How about we see the view of Lisboa from the penthouse? I know Stellan would enjoy it as well.” Her black hair was pin straight and fell across her shoulders. This also wasn’t the first time she had insinuated she wanted both of them.
“You’re right, Angelina. We don’t need to worry about this paperwork. It can be taken care of using other methods.” Dietrich wanted to get this shit taken care of now, but he wasn’t in the mood for these games. But the smile that spread across her face told him she thought he meant something entirely different. When he stood so did she, and it was clear she assumed he was finally taking her up on her offer. When she went to grab his hand he shook his head. Her smile faltered.
“I’ll have my office fax over the paperwork for Ricardo to look over.” He grabbed his wallet and threw a few hundreds on the table to cover the cost of the drinks and meals that wouldn’t be eaten. He left the Four Seasons without a backward glance, his mind swirling with what he should and would do when it came to Blythe. Angelina’s advances had opened his eyes that he wanted something more substantial. He was ready to lay it all out to Blythe.
****
Blythe’s sandals hung from the tips of her fingers as she walked down the beach. The waves rushed to the shore and caressed her feet. They were leaving tomorrow, and she couldn’t help but feel sad by the thought. The time had gone by so quickly. After Dietrich spanked her with his belt a lot of things had run through her mind. She had enjoyed it, immensely. She had also enjoyed what the three of them had done. Submitting to not one, but two men, letting them do whatever they liked to her body, and loving every minute of it, had always been her “dirty little secret”. The one and only time she had asked one of her boyfriends to spank her had ended badly with her looking like some kind of freak. At the end of the day that was how she felt, well, until Dietrich and Stellan had opened her eyes that what she wanted wasn’t bad at all. They may have only shared that one night and a few stolen glances, heated kisses, and several spankings, but it had been the most fulfilling thing that had happened in her life since her accident.
She turned toward the ocean and watched the waves roll in. Blythe had successfully spoken to her mother and Austin without breaking down and confessing everything. She was quite proud of her acting ability, but deep down she knew Austin wasn’t a fool. That man could smell distress a mile away, no matter how well she covered it up. At least he hadn’t grilled her thousands of miles away and over the phone. Blythe already felt on edge.
The foamy deposit lined the shore. She drew a pattern in the sand with her toe, the infinity symbol, and stared at it. The next wave came by and washed it away. The disappearance of that sign was like her life, of what she had wanted and could never have. It just went to prove that nothing lasted forever.
Her trip into Lisbon hadn’t even been enjoyable because her mind had been on Dietrich and the sudden awkwardness that surrounded them. It was her fault, of course, that the air had been uncomfortable. She knew the kind of man Dietrich was before she even met him. Of course things had drastically changed in a very short time frame. It wasn’t just about sex, not to her at least. There was no denying that the attraction went deeper than letting them tie her up, spank her, and have sex with her at the same time. Things shifted, quickly, and Blythe didn’t know how to handle it all. So, she did what she did best. She detached herself from everything. The last few days around Dietrich and Stellan had been awkward, to say the least. After everything that had transpired she couldn’t even admit that what they had done meant more to her than a fling between the sheets. Blythe wasn’t a fool. For whatever reason, Stellan and Dietrich wanted her. They could have any woman they desired, so she knew that once this business in Portugal was over they would go on to the next female, most likely one who was svelte and gorgeous.
Sitting on the beach and watching the sun set over the horizon was bittersweet. She would miss the villa and the beach. The seclusion and quiet surroundings had helped her relax, and also helped her forget about everything she had tried so hard to accomplish and failed at miserably in her life. Idly she reached down and rubbed her ankle. On the outside it looked fine, but on the inside that was where the real pain and damage was. It wasn’t just the physical pain, but also the emotional and psychological aspect of it all. Her heart and soul were crushed, and in all honesty she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to get past that. The guilt of shutting Stellan and Dietrich out made her feel like a world-class bitch, but really, she would be the one who was heartbroken when it was all said and done. To them she would only be a distant memory of the poor little chunky girl they tag-teamed in Portugal one month. A bitter laugh rose in her throat. She liked to think that wasn’t true, that their softly spoken endearments, the gentle caresses, and the way they looked at her as if she were more than just their next conquest, had her meaning something more to them.
Why are you doing this to yourself? Just tell them what you’re feeling inside. They might feel the same way, want the same thing. Maybe, but then again it could all end up blowing up in her face. She thought on it some more, and knew that if she didn’t at least tell them the truth she would never know what could have been. And so what if they told her what she felt was not reality? At least she would know, deep down inside, that she put herself out there. Feeling a bit more confident in her decision to talk to them and clear the air she stood and headed back to the villa. When she neared the home she saw Stellan and Dietrich on the veranda. Their backs were to her, but they were close enough that she could hear what they said.
“Dietrich, I think you’re over-reacting.” Stellan rested his hand on Dietrich’s shoulder.
“No, you didn’t see her face, Stellan. The woman wants more than I’m willing to give. Than we are willing to give.” Blythe stiffened at his words. She shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but her feet refused to move.
“I’m not saying you’re not right, I’m just saying you need to tread lightly. You don’t want a scandal with the company.” Dietrich inhaled sharply.
“I don’t think she’d pull any kind of shit like that. She needs to be put in her place, to know where we stand. I tried to tell her that, but her expression told me my words wouldn’t have sunk in. She is delusional with how she feels for us.”
The sound of ice clanking in their glasses seemed deafening. Blood rushed through her body, and tears pricked her eyes. Had she been so wrong about them? You’re a fucking fool, Blythe. Before she heard anything else that would cut her even deeper she darted up the stairs and through the front door. It didn’t matter if they heard the door slam shut. She couldn’t bear to look at them after what she heard.
She closed her bedroom door and leaned against it. The beauty that surrounded her was almost like a saccharine slap to the face. She closed her eyes and slid slowly to the ground. Blythe let the tears fall that she didn’t want to shed.
****
She had avoided them the entire fucking night. When it was clear she wasn’t coming down, giving them some bullshit excuse that she was tired and didn’t feel well he had left her alone. Dietrich wasn’t about to beg to talk to her. Yes, he had important things he wanted to say, things that would change their relationship, but whatever was going through her pretty little head was something she needed to deal with alone until she was ready to open up to them.