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“Both,” I replied, deciding to be honest. I turned to look out over the balcony. It was a beautiful sight overlooking all of Sydney Harbour. He wasn’t joking about the luxury.
A man in a white chef’s hat walked out to us carrying two plates. He quickly put one in front of each of us and without a word, walked back out of the room.
“I hope you like salmon with lemon and dill dressing and baby vegetables,” Nathan remarked as he reached for his knife and fork.
I nodded and picked up my own silverware. I couldn’t have cared less. It could have tasted like cardboard and I wouldn’t have noticed. I was feeling completely numb and still couldn’t believe I was really here. Food was the last thing on my mind.
After Nathan had finished his meal, the woman in the black dress, who Nathan called Jane, came back to collect our plates. I was still mindlessly picking at my food, but I was glad to hand the plate over. While it looked amazing, I just couldn’t stomach it.
“You have to eat,” Nathan said after Jane had walked out of the room.
“If you were that concerned about my welfare, Mr Davenport, I wouldn’t be here,” I bit out angrily. How dare he act as if he cared about me!
He smiled a rueful smile. “True, but I don’t like my women to be all skin and bones.”
“I’ve seen the type of women you go for, Mr Davenport.”
I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help but mock him. I could feel anger begin to take over my fear.
He raised an eyebrow in question. “Oh?”
“You’re one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. If you even look like you’re going to talk to a woman her photo is splashed across the internet. And there’s been quite a few women on those pages in recent years,” I noted.
Nathan was a rich, well-connected man, well known as a notorious playboy, especially for his short, sexual relationships. The tabloids have a field day with his social life. And the women seemed to fall at his feet.
Nathan smiled, clearly unfazed by his reputation. “Well Rose, prepare to have your fifteen minutes of fame, because as far as anyone is concerned, you are my new flame.”
I nearly choked on my sip of wine. “No, I’m not.”
There was no way I wanted to be seen as one of his floozy’s. Or anyone’s floozy for that matter.
“How else are we going to explain all the time we’ll be spending together? The truth? I don’t think that will look good for any of us.”
I sighed a long and slow sigh. I knew he was right and I couldn’t have my family go through that kind of embarrassment. “Alright then, I’ll agree to be your new flame. But I can’t promise much, just the sight of you makes my skin crawl.” I was a little surprised by the venom in my voice. It had to be the wine.
Nathan’s eyes narrowed and his voice dropped to a low growl. “I would watch what you say, Rose. I can make this a pleasant experience for the both of us or I can just take what I want when I want it, without any regard to your needs or feelings. That is what a mistress is for, isn’t it?”
I felt my blood run ice cold. Nathan’s eyes had a real maliciousness to them. I had no doubt he was the kind of man who would use a woman any way he seen fit, without any regard to her feelings. The trouble was, I’m sure most women he attracted were blinded by his manly good looks, powerful presence, and wealth to realise he was just using them.
Nathan’s eyes were still looking at me with such darkness, like they were trying to read my thoughts, trying to work out if he’d scared me enough. I forced myself to take in a deep breath and I raised my chin. I may have been frightened of him but I would not let him know just how scared of him I really was. I would not spend my future time with him cowering in fear.
“I don’t care what you have in store for me, Mr Davenport. I’m not scared of you.”
I was terrified of him.
“You were an hour ago,” he said casually, leaning back in his chair as he brought his wine to his lips.
“I wasn’t scared of you, but more of what your thugs were going to do to my brother.”
Nathan smiled. “Ah, yes, your brother. Tell me, Rose, why did you agree to this? Why didn’t you let me teach him a lesson? You know he deserves one. I have no doubt he’s been taking your money as well.”
I did know. Liam’s gambling was out of control. I was constantly lending him money to pay his bills. Some weeks I hardly had enough money to pay my own bills. A secretary’s wage could not support two households.
“Charlotte,” I said with a small shrug. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t help him at all. But I can’t see her suffer, especially in her condition. She’s been through enough.”
Nathan nodded. “I have met her. She’s a delicate little thing, isn’t she? You know when I threatened to hurt her, I was only trying to get a reaction out of Liam. I would never harm a pregnant woman,” he said, his tone softening, and I was surprised that his voice sounded sincere. I nodded. I did believe him.
We descended into silence and I looked out over the harbour. It was a beautiful, warm, November night. I was only wearing a pair of navy linen shorts and a white, short-sleeve shirt, but I felt quite comfortable in the outside night air.
