The billionaire’s bet: A Seductive Deal(6)

When it was my turn, I was scared to death.

I swallowed a couple of times and straightened my clothes before walking into the room.

There were a couple of guys standing to my left with wires running to their ears. They were probably guarding the place.

“Welcome. You can close the door behind you and sit down in front of me,” a man behind a desk said. He was facing the window behind him and I couldn’t make out if he was young or old, or even what he looked like. I did what he asked and then walked over to the desk to sit on the seat. I could feel my nerves twitching in my shaking fingers.

The man turned around in his seat, his darkened glasses framing his bold face. I stared at him. His lips curled up into a sly smile and then he took off his glasses. His big blue eyes and chiseled cheekbones were all I needed to recognize him.

“Dominic?” I said, my eyes widening.

“Well, hi there. Didn’t see that one coming,” he said.

“What are you … is this for real?” I said.

“As real as it gets.” A cheeky smile appeared on his face.

“So you’re the CEO. You’re telling me you own this casino? You’re the boss?”

“You’re looking right at him.”

“But you said you entertained people …” I muttered.

“Isn’t this entertainment then?”

For a moment I was dumbstruck, my mouth falling open.

“So, tell me why you came here. You obviously found my ad in the newspaper,” he said.

I regained my composure and took the ad out of my bag. “Uh … yeah, that’s right. I’m interested.”

Dominic chuckled. “I don’t think this is a very good idea.”

I frowned. “What? Why not?”

“As you can see most girls just run away from the job. I’d like to spare you the humiliation.”

“Sorry, but, I think I can decide that for myself.”

His fingertips rested against each other, his elbows on the table. “I’m looking for someone special. I have very specific … needs.”

He stared at me as if he was waiting for me to leave or to speak up. Either way, I was getting this job one way or another and I wasn’t easily scared away.

“Well, I can be special. Whatever is necessary to get the job done,” I said, putting up my faux smile.

He squinted for a moment and then signaled the men around us to leave. When they were gone, Dominic focused on me again.

“So … you’re telling me you’d do anything I’d ask?”

“Well, I guess … yeah.” My confidence was diminishing with every passing second.

He sighed. “Listen, Miss Valentine, or can I call you Julie?”

“Julie is fine.”

We smiled at each other, it was rather uncomfortable.

“I’m going to be very honest with you,” he said. “I think you can handle it.”

I waited, he closed his eyes and opened them again, probably taking his time to think it through, whatever it was.

“This job is service based. Each time I use your service, you get paid. The service is quite extraordinary, so the payment is higher than usual. I require utmost obedience and there is zero tolerance for defiance.”

I bit my lip, anxious for what came next.

“I’m going to be quite frank with you, Julie,” he said. “What I require is not something most women will sign up for.”

“How so?” I said.

His lip curled up into a sly smile. “Because there is a certain line which most won’t cross. Understandable of course, but their loss as well.”

I chuckled. “I think I can handle a little spice. There aren’t a lot of borders I haven’t already crossed.”

He nodded softly, turning about in his chair as if he was gauging my reaction. “Even if it’d meant that you might get hurt? Would you be willing to give up your free will? If I’d ask you to strip bare, could you do it?”

My eyes widened and I swallowed. In my mind I went over every part of the conversation we just had, I scanned the paper that had asked for an assistant. That she must be eighteen or older and have plenty of experience with men. The pay. His flirts. The women crying, running down the hallway.

Now I see.

“You’re asking me to …” I stammered.

My cheeks flushed and my eyes deflected away from him. I stared at the ground, feeling utterly naked right there and then. My heart was racing. I wasn’t sure if I was appalled or aroused by the mere thought of this man seeking someone to use for his pleasures. I knew it must have something to do with sex. All the signs pointed in that direction. It was an extraordinary request indeed. One that heated up my core.

“I’m not asking you to do anything. You see, this is why I said I require a special kind of person. Someone who is willing to give in to me.”