The Tycoon’s Secret(11)

Before she had a chance to say anything further, she felt movement beside her. She turned her head to stare into the dangerous eyes of the dark haired stranger. Her breath was snatched from her lungs. He was sitting far too close to be appropriate.

She didn’t know how close to the mark she truly was in fearing him.





Chapter Five




Damien watched the emotions flicker across Sierra’s expression.

Fear.

Anxiety.

Apprehension.

She was afraid, he silently noted. The fear of her father was obvious, but there was more to her story. There was something just below the surface of all the other emotions.

He almost laughed aloud at the thought. He was paying money to find out more about Sierra Monroe. Her father was basically selling her to him. Damien was starting to think he was the one who’d gotten the bargain out of the deal. She was even more intriguing up close.

Damien waited for Douglas to introduce them, but the man was silent, so Damien took charge. He wasn’t patient and wouldn’t wait around wasting any of his valuable time.

“Damien Whitfield,” he said with a slight nod.

“Sierra Monroe, though you seem to know that,” she said with hesitation. It was obvious she was nervous, not used to being called in to her father’s office when he had guests over.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Monroe. I’m looking forward to getting…acquainted,” Damien told her as he offered his hand. She looked at it with suspicion, but her father had taught her well, because even though it was obvious she didn’t want to touch him, she accepted his hand, allowing his large fingers to engulf her delicate hand.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her gaze refusing to meet his. Damien noticed her father’s silence as the two of them sat on the couch, almost in a world of their own. He ignored her question.

For all her father knew, Damien wanted Sierra for his own personal sex slave. Damien was disgusted that the man so willingly sold his daughter to the highest bidder. Almost disgusted enough to walk from the room.

Almost.

Not quite.

His eyes took in her petite form, the way her legs were pushed tightly together, how she was twisting her fingers in her lap. When her tongue quickly moistened her surprisingly plump pink lips, he felt a shimmer of desire awaken within him. Surprise filled him.

He narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t about desire, and it was best if he remembered that. He got a new employee and an inside connection to the Anderson’s. He was glad Douglas had called him. The timing had been impeccable.

With an iron-will that had made him overly successful, he ripped his gaze from her, his attention focusing once more on her father. He looked at the man, waiting for him to inform his daughter of their arrangement.

Damien knew he didn’t live in the dark ages. Sierra could refuse to go with him, refuse to be his virtual slave, not that he was telling her that was her job title. He also somehow knew that she wouldn’t defy her father. What had him most intrigued was whether her obedience came from loyalty, greed, or fear. He was determined to find out the answer.

With Sierra squirming uncomfortably beside him, he felt an odd stirring of protectiveness rise within him. No! He refused to feel any weakness toward the girl. She wasn’t some innocent bystander who needed protection. He’d researched her well, and knew she was as good as any other at playing the games of the rich and famous.

He’d seen her on the arm of many influential people. Whether it was her choice, or her father’s, she hadn’t seemed unhappy to be traipsed around as nothing more than arm-candy for her different escorts.

“Sierra, Mr. Whitfield has offered you a very generous position with his company,” Douglas eventually explained. Damien observed the man who showed no emotion as he spoke. He was stone cold as he talked to his daughter, as if she were nothing more than another business transaction.

Well, to be fair, that’s what this was for Douglas Monroe – a business deal, where he got a significant sum of money, and Damien got a high-priced…employee.

“What? I…I don’t understand…” Sierra stumbled over her words, her voice confused as she looked up, gazing at Damien with shock filled eyes.

“It’s very simple. He’s in need of a public relations representative, someone who’s reliable, trustworthy and free to travel. He only advertised in the most exclusive of listings. He heard about the excellent job you’ve done with your charity work, and he’d like to hire you. I’ve accepted on your behalf. The position starts immediately. You should be honored that a man as influential as Damien Whitfield would even consider you for the position, much less hire you, especially with your lack of…experience. Positions like this don’t come around often, and they’re never just handed over.”