Page 12 of Dark Holiday

Me: This is highly inappropriate. I never requested photos of this nature.

Viper: … … Oh. I’m sorry. Wrong person.

I nearly drop the phone as I read her response. Fucking what? If they weren’t for me, then who the hell are they for?

“Daniel?”

I whip my head up, looking around the room. All eyes are on me, and it’s an unnerving feeling. I don’t like being the center of attention, especially when I’m in the wrong. Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I flash them my confident smile. “Sorry. Client.”

“Do you need us to wait so you can take care of this?”

Oh, I’ll take care of it all right. “Just some discussion back and forth about a deposition that’s scheduled for next week. It will only take a moment.” Bending back to my phone, I fire off a few more messages, letting the salespeople know a few more added instructions. Before closing my phone and looking back up at Charles, I set a reminder to check her text history after the meeting.

I keep my eyes firmly ahead as he nods, but my mind still drifts back to my little minx. She really thinks she can get the upper hand with me? It’s laughable. She has no idea the depths to which I’ll stoop to humiliate her and bring her to heel. I’ve always had this dark side, this river of violence that I wanted to drown her in, but I never expected her to play in the water.

* * *

The meeting goes on way longer than anticipated, but that’s just fine. What I have planned shouldn’t take that long. I glance again at my clock and note the time. If she’s still on schedule, I have about an hour to implement my idea. Jack hasn’t texted me any updates, so I have to assume we’re still on track. Walking to my office, I pull down the blinds and settle back behind my desk.

I have so many things I should be doing, but instead, I’m stuck debating exactly what to do to my girl. She’s a distraction I don’t need, and that thread of rage begins to spiral once more, filling my core until I’m pacing just to release the pent-up emotion. If I were a smart man, I would have sent her back to HR, showing proof of her deception, but no. I let my fucking dick and heart rule that decision.

If only she wasn’t in such dire straits. If only she could take better care of herself. If only she chose me to begin with. How much easier would her life have been? My family would have taken care of us both until after I graduated and became an affluent part of the firm. She would have wanted for nothing. Hell, I would have bought that damn waffle shop if that would have made her happy.

Shaking my head, I quell the anger threatening to overtake me. I have to get my head on straight. Being this upset isn’t going to help anything. Going back to my computer, I scroll through the list of contacts she’s been in communication with, noting only a few here and there to Brittany and Ryan. I click on those just to make sure they weren’t all having a torrid affair under my nose. I’ll pull her out of their house so fast it would make their heads spin.

They own their house on my good graces. I could revert the loan back to the bank at any point, and they’d be up shit creek. If they dared betray me in this way, it would be akin to suicide. Granted, they don’t know I’m holding their house in my hands. They just think I did some fancy lawyering to get them a reprieve on their payments for a few months.

I had the means to buy their house, and so I did. They were so desperate for help that they just signed over some forms without really reading them. The “refinancing” they did actually routes the payments to a shell company, and I collect it whenever I feel like it. If I were truly a vile person, I could have added so many other things, but I kept it simple - an honest contract between friends.

This way, I know exactly how to twist their arms if needed. Truth be told, they’re great people, and by taking in Cindy, it endears them even more to me. If they had refused, though, the “bank” would have come collecting.

Looking back through the last of the messages, I sigh and lean back in my chair. At least everything seems aboveboard. It’s just innocent chatting here and there about dinner and plans that I care nothing about. Both Brittany and Ryan are probably going to the club tonight, so it might be a good idea to meet up with them. Lord knows I should probably blow off some steam.

In my heart, however, I know I won’t go. It’s the same reason I never took on a submissive in New York. I dabbled with some play partners here and there, but none of them were Cindy. My lips curl up into a grin as I shut that tab down before maneuvering furniture about the room.

My cock twitches as my plan starts to come together. Cindy thought it was a good idea to play with fire, to test me, tease me, taunt me. No more. It’s high time Ms. Lewis learns exactly what it means to be my personal assistant. I won’t let her leave until I decide it’s time to go.

CHAPTER 7

Cynthia

Tension fills the car as Jack takes me back. Every time I see myself in the mirror, I’m almost surprised at the face staring back at me. It’s a stranger, covered in paint...a sensual clown. Hopefully, he won’t expect me to doll myself up like this every day; it’s far too much work. Unfortunately, the large bag of makeup to my right tells me otherwise.

Everything was already picked out for me, which, in some way, was actually amazing. For once, I didn’t have to agonize over what I was going to buy or how it would look on me. Daniel took that burden off of my shoulders. I never realized just how stressful buying clothes was until I walked into the dressing room with my only job being to put on the outfits.

I do have to give him credit. Most of these ensembles I would have never even chosen for myself. Yet, they flatter my figure in a way many clothes don’t. He hasn’t seen me for so many years; how in the world could he dress me so perfectly? A niggle of concern weaves its way into my brain, but I shove it out before it can even form a coherent thought. He must have a good eye for these things. Lord knows how many other women he’s used as a living doll.

Even in high school, he was a trendsetter but was that because he had good taste or because everyone wanted to be like him. Either way, the current outfit I was...encouraged...to wear by the saleswoman fits me to perfection, showing off every curve without being overtly sexual. My hair lays in soft waves over my shoulder, gleaming in the fading light. The way I look now is how I always pictured myself, but I could never bring it together for some reason.

Anticipation and dread coil together in my gut as we get even closer. Though I thoroughly enjoyed flustering Daniel with those photos, deep down, I know there’s no way he’ll let me get away with it. Hopefully, it hasn’t cost me my job. It’s silly to think that, especially when he could have just cut the shopping trip short. The fact that he allowed me to get all these clothes makes me think he’s got other plans.

Beneath that unease is the tiniest hint of arousal. Okay, more than just a hint. My new panties have been soaked since the moment I swiped his card. I never imagined I’d get so turned on by someone having this much control over me, much less Daniel, yet as we get even closer to the law firm, the feelings continue to build and swell.

Normally, I’m fine getting myself off about once a week or every other week, but even though I just got off last night, I’m ready to go again. My nerves hum, sparking every time I shift in my new clothes. It abrades my skin, setting me on fire from the outside in. What am I going to do when I see him?

Far too soon, I’m once again standing on the gleaming steps, looking at the bright columns. They’re bathed in a hellish red from the setting sun. Fitting. It seems I’m about to walk right into the depths of hell. Might as well have the outside match the interior. My knees knock together as I navigate my new heels. Thankfully, they’re not as tall as most of the women here, but anything more than my flats is just too high.

My calves and thighs strain as I walk, but I can’t help the sway of my ass or the enticing movements of my body. Each step I take is just one step closer to him, to Daniel, the man that haunts my dreams and nightmares. As I walk in, the office is near silent, all eyes on their desks, deep in their work. Glancing up at Daniel through the open blinds, I smile, noting his gaze sliding to me.