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“Shower. I have a meeting with Sarai, and then we can talk,” he said.
“Roth, you can’t keep dragging me all over the place.”
“It’s the only way to put you where you should be.”
“Is Kaia here?” she asked, hoping for some backup. She had been wondering about his mother but didn’t dare call her, knowing she was with Roth.
“No, she recovered and went back home. She missed her mountains.”
At the moment, she would give anything to be anywhere but here, even freezing Colorado. “You’re going to ruin my life, aren’t you?”
Even in the bright sunlight, his eyes were two pitiless black holes with no hint of brown.
“That depends on you. Shower and then meet me in my office.”
He walked out without another word. Autocratic motherfucker. He was cold as ice unless they were fucking. An image of him in the dressing room with his head thrown back in ecstasy slipped through her mind, but she resolutely pushed it away.
The bed and bathroom faced the south. She could pick out the Empire State Building, The Chrysler, and several of her father’s signature blue structures. She had been fortunate enough to see the city from some exclusive spots, but this was something else. The dramatic panorama took her breath away. She wasn’t afraid of heights, but she was hesitant to walk toward the wall of glass, which was flush with the side of the building.
In the master bath there was an elegant egg-shaped tub where one could take in the views, separate his and her vanities against either wall and a glass shower with double doors that could comfortably fit up to four people. His personal bathroom was stocked like a hotel with rolled towels and a robe hanging in the closet. When she pried her eyes from the view, she stripped. Multiple shower heads removed all evidence of what they’d done in the dressing room. Steam obliterated her view of the city as the warm water cascaded over her used body.
It seemed like a lifetime ago that she discovered her fetish for doing it in public. They were strolling home, and she was in a frisky mood and had been teasing him throughout dinner. When she “accidentally” grabbed him, he’d had enough and dragged her into an alley and pinned her against a grimy wall. She became the initiator then, telling him in graphic detail exactly what she wanted him to do to her. He’d done everything and more. After, he carried her the last block home because her legs weren’t working right. That was shortly after they were married and right before he moved to London. He probably considered that moment rock bottom since he was in the midst of watching his companies topple. But for her, those were her happiest memories. Being disowned was liberating for her. No more expectations, standards, and boring dinner functions. She could be whoever she wanted to be and fuck in an alley if she wanted. She thought she was leaving the upper echelon behind, yet here she was… Back then, it never occurred to her who Roth would become. He was worse than her father and even more powerful.
She pawed through the clothes she bought from Black Jade. Dai didn’t have anything as mundane as jeans unless they were ripped to shreds, decorated in crystals, or sporting outrageous fringe. She pulled on a full-length skirt that fit her like a glove and the cropped top (since she didn’t need a bra to wear it). To top off the look, she pulled on a black and white coat that made her feel like Cruella de Vil. Her suede shoes didn’t match anymore, but the skirt was so long, they peeked out only when she walked.
Blow drying her shoulder-length hair didn’t take long. She fingered the strands. She should visit her hairstylist while she was in the city. When she finished fussing, she grabbed her packages and lugged them back through the hallway to the foyer. She could hear the rumble of Roth’s voice coming from some room off another hallway, but she didn’t go toward it. Instead, she examined his lair, which was superbly done in light colors that made the already massive space feel even larger. The view of Central Park from this height was stunning. It was a riot of orange right in the middle of the city. Along one wall were cutout window seats that would make an epic reading nook.
For the most part, she preferred the country for the solace and quiet, but this was warm and welcoming. If she had a dig like this, she might stay in the city more. Despite its vastness, it felt safe and insulated and its own world of tranquility, which was ironic considering the owner.
Her father had his hand in real estate, among other things. She knew how much her sisters’ penthouses were worth, but this was next level. The space, view, size… This thing had to be upwards of eighty million.
“Jasmine.”
She jumped and saw him standing less than six feet away.
“Come,” he said and turned.
She followed him down a hallway lined with artwork and entered his office. It was just as grand as the one she visited in the business district.
“Did you use the same designer for both places?” she asked distractedly.
His office faced the East River and the Atlantic Ocean. It was a beautiful day, and she could barely focus, she was so dazzled by the views.
“This is amazing,” she said reverently.
“It’s an investment.”
Her lip curled. It was more than an investment; it was a home, but businessmen never got emotionally attached to anything that could make them money. She walked around his office and admired several interesting pieces.
“Come, sit.”
She stiffened. “I don’t know where you get off thinking you can order me around. I didn’t sign my life over to you.”
“That’s what we need to talk about.”
He was intractable. Had she expected anything else? Not wanting him to put his hands on her again, she approached the desk and sat on the edge of her seat. Involuntarily, her eyes went back to the view until a loud thud drew her attention back to him. Roth rested his hand on a thick stack of papers. She looked from him to the stack and then back at him. Realization dawned, and she blanched.
“That’s the contract? Why is it so huge? It’s going to take my lawyer a couple of days to go through it.”
