“Why?” The question is soft and yet loaded.
“Why what?” I want clarification, and she doesn’t hesitate.
“Why would you want to know everything about me?” Her voice shakes as she tries to be tough.
Our eyes meet, and I see all the longing that she’s trying to hide. I step around the desk and sit on the edge. Brushing my thumb across her bottom lip, I say, “Because you’re mine.”
“So why the virgin-buying invite?” She’s cute, but the truth isn’t. I press my lips to her forehead, then return to my chair.
“That’s why you need to keep looking. The third page, please.” I down the whiskey, wishing that I didn’t have to do this to her. It takes her a few seconds to respond to what she’s reading, but then she does, her pain audible. She gasps, dropping the file on the ground.
“No.” She shakes her head in short, quick movements. “This can’t be right.”
I’m up on my feet again. I reach for her, taking her hands, and help her stand up. “Sorry, Phoebe, but it is. That’s why I brought you here. I can’t let them put you up for auction.” The thought of them even getting a glimpse of her forced me to fuck up their system. I’d hired the best tech guys for my businesses, and they were able to dismantle the dark website in a matter of minutes.
“How am I supposed to believe it’s true and this isn’t some shit you doctored up to get me here?” She pulls away from me, turning to face the door, but stands there with her shoulders slumped in defeat. She’s not so sure I’m lying. The doubt is in her head, but I have to make sure she knows I’d do anything to protect her—even share the truth, which I know will crush her.
I turn her around to look at me. “Okay, you want to see or hear the truth?” She nods, so I take her hand in mine. “Are you going to be quiet?”
“Um…” She refuses to look up at me.
I tip her chin, wanting her to trust me. “I’m not going to hurt you. Well, at least not physically, but this call will.”
Leading her over to my side of the desk, I take a seat and sit her down in my lap. She stills for a moment, but then relaxes on me, her ass snugly resting over my cock.
“Damn. This might not be the best place for you to sit, but I want you right here.”
A tiny giggle escapes her lips. It’s music to my ears, and for a moment I hesitate. This could really fuck her up. “Um…your hard-on isn’t going to convince me about the auction. I mean, technically not having to buy me just saved you a ton of money.”
“No, baby. It saved a lot of people’s lives. You have no idea how insane I am about this. And just so you know, the money isn’t the issue.” I slide my hand up her thigh, caressing it as I use my other one to dial her father’s number, pressing the speaker button on my desk phone so she doesn’t miss anything he says. I squeeze her thigh lightly as I wait for him to pick up. When he answers, I growl out, “Minks.”
“Mr. Christakos, sorry, sir,” he stammers. I’m smiling internally when I hear his fear. He’s in a world of fucking trouble, but he has no idea just how much.
“Where’s my money?” I bark out.
He calms down for a minute and sounds brave, unaware that I’ve got the jump on his disgusting money-making scheme. “I don’t have it. I should have it to you in two days.”
“How are you going to get my money, Minks?” I demand while scooting Phoebe onto my thigh and off my painfully hard cock. I have to think straight, and all my blood left my head, traveled south, and now helps stretch my pants.
He lets out a little laugh and says, “I had a surprise gift arrive in my lap a few months ago.”
I cover her mouth to stop the gasp from being heard. I want his fucking head on a platter. “You mean your daughter?”
“How did you know about her?”
“I ran into the beautiful woman today when I came to collect my money.”
“Wait…please tell me you didn’t do anything to her.” I can hear his own panic in his voice, giving me the slightest bit of joy. “I promise I’ll get your money.”
“I have her tied up in my basement. Why?”
“I need her, or I can’t get your money,” he confessed.
I handed my drink over to Phoebe and then asked, “Why?” She took a sip and nearly choked on the taste. I rubbed her back as I waited for him to continue.
“I can’t say, but I’ll have your money and then some.”