I can’t get Aria out of my head at all that morning. I’m practically buzzing with desire for her even hours after I last saw her.

Knowing that she’s back in my house, sitting in that room and waiting for me drives me insane. I know she’s there for me and nobody else, and nobody else can touch her. I didn’t expect to feel this possessive of her, but there’s something about the fact that she’s entirely mine and mine alone that brings me immense satisfaction.

It was stupid of me to back away from her for that week. I freaked out a little bit when I realized that my self-control was waning around her, but that shouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Isn’t the whole point of having her to let myself have some fun?

There is danger in this. Aria’s tantrum was public and problematic, but I can’t really blame her. I would have felt much the same way if I were cooped up in a room for days with nothing to do. Even at my home where everything is provided for her, it would still be so easy to feel incredibly lonely. I neglected her and I deserved that punishment.

It won’t happen again. Not after this morning. Not after last night. I lean back at my desk and take a deep breath. It’s around noon and I have a lunch appointment with Richard Taylor soon, but I’m not really thinking about that.

My mind is only on her. And what her next punishment will be.

I want to fuck her so badly I can barely stand it. Frankly, it’s taking all of my willpower not to leave work in the middle of the day and go home to have her. I know that would be irresponsible of me, considering the important business I need to get through today, but god damn. I know she’s so close to genuinely wanting it, if she doesn’t already. She’s on the edge and I want to tip her over.

I want to taste every inch of her. That skin, smooth and perfect, and those perfect pink little nipples. And her pussy, delicious little pussy, I want to feel it wrapped around my cock. I want to make her scream my name as I fuck her deep and rough. At this point, I almost don’t care if she begs for it first or not.

I’m sure I’ll make her beg for it once she gets a little taste.

I take a deep breath and glance at the clock. I need to get going. And I need to stop thinking about this. My plan was to seduce her, and that’s still my plan. I’m close to getting it just right, and so I need to stay patient and in some measure of control. I have about three more weeks for this, and that’s plenty of time. Besides, I can always buy her again if I want more time.

I call for a car then get up and head out. My secretary tells me where the meeting is supposed to be, this little Italian bistro a few blocks away, and then I head downstairs to get into the waiting car.

We drive the short trip to the restaurant and I have to force myself not to think about Aria at all during the drive. I need to concentrate.

This deal with Richard is getting dicey. He’s an intense man with an intense fortune, and he’s always playing to win. Everything with him is a game. He doesn’t care if something is mutually beneficial or not, he just wants to win, whatever he believes winning actually means. That’s just the kind of man Richard is. Nothing else matters to him but the deal, and it’s getting fucking exhausting.

This shouldn’t be as difficult as it is, but Richard can’t make it easy. We both stand to profit here, but he wants to make sure his bottom line is the best it can possibly be by pushing back against me. Maybe he thinks I’m weak and ripe for pillaging or some shit, but he’s in for a surprise.

The driver drops me out front and I head inside. Richard is at a booth toward the center of the restaurant, and I head over to him. He smiles and stands as I approach.

“Ethan,” he says. “Glad you came.” We shake hands and then sit back down.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say.

“Did you see the latest contracts?” he asks, diving right into business.

That’s not like him. He seems laser focused today for some reason. He’s normally much more interested in shooting the shit and drinking, but today he’s having only water and a simple sandwich for lunch.

I don’t let that get to me, though. We dive into the contracts and start negotiating clauses. He’s quibbling about the silliest, most worthless shit, and a half hour passes. I almost want to fucking yell at him to get over himself, but I know that’s not productive.

The meeting wears on until finally Richard leans back in his seat and orders a whisky from the waitress. I can tell that he’s done discussing and so am I. Richard is an arrogant bastard, but I want this deal to go through. It’d be damn good for both of us.

But I can’t keep doing this. “What are we doing here, Richard?” I ask him.

“What do you mean?”

“From the start of this, you don’t seem like you want this deal to happen. Do you really give a shit about lighting renovations?”

He watches me for a second, a small smile on his face. “No,” he admits, although just ten minutes earlier he was trying to get a clause in the contract that states we can’t change lighting fixtures for two years to “preserve his brand,” which is utter shit.

I sigh and lean back in my seat, at least happy to get some truth from him. “Okay then. Tell me what you want.”

The waitress comes back with his drink and he grins at me, taking a swig. He leans forward toward me, that grin still on his face. “I’ve been reading about you for years, Ethan,” he says.

I raise an eyebrow. “So?” I ask. “Business reporters love to make shit up.”

“Sure, sure. They really do. But to be completely honest with you, Ethan, it’s been pissing me off. A lot. For a long time.”

“You’re angry that the media is covering me?”

“No,” he says, laughing. “No, I’m angry that they’re covering you and not me. I used to be the young hotshot, you know. Everything they say about you, they used to say about me.”

“They still write about you all the time,” I say softly, beginning to get a bad feeling.

“Never good. Not anymore. They’re biased against me.”

“So, what? You have a grudge against the media and you’re taking it out on me?”

He shrugs. “More or less. I also don’t like you, Ethan. I think you’re an arrogant piece of shit with no talent and no experience. You come from nothing because you are nothing.”

I stare at him for a second then slide out of the booth. “We’re done here. You can keep your building. Good luck trying to pay for it.”

“Wait,” he says. “I have something you want to hear.”

“I think I’m done listening to your shit, Richard.”

I turn to leave.

“That was quite the performance she threw,” Richard says, and I pause. “Dresses all over the street? How much money did she throw out your window?”

I slowly turn back toward him, wrestling to keep my face straight. “What are you talking about?”

“Sit back down,” he says softly.

I hesitate. I hate to do what he tells me, but I know this could be very bad for me. I don’t know how much he has or how he even knows about Aria’s tantrum. I sit down slowly, prepared to listen.

If he has pictures, I’m fucked. I don’t know how I can explain that one away. It won’t ruin me, of course, but I can’t afford a scandal right now. Not when we’re in the middle of intense negotiations and a merger. They could still walk away, and all of this work, plus millions of dollars, would be wasted. My reputation probably wouldn’t recover.

I watch him, keeping a level head, trying to remain cool. I wasn’t about to panic or freak out, not now. I can’t show weakness to this man. He’ll pounce the moment I show even the slightest hesitation.

“What do you think you know?” I ask him, not breaking eye contact.

“I know that you have a woman living in your house,” he says. “I don’t know who this woman is, since we unfortunately didn’t get a picture of her, which is curious in itself. But she recently decided to throw a very public and very loud tantrum. Does that sound right?”

“So you don’t know anything,” I say.

He smiles. “I know what you’re thinking right now, Ethan. You’re thinking, maybe I don’t have pictures. Maybe you’re safe.” He leans toward me, his smile getting bigger. “You’re not safe. Not at all.”

I watch him, restraining myself from striking out at him. “Proof,” I say.

He holds up his phone. There’s a picture of my house with clothing lying in the street.

“See?” he asks.

“How do you have this?”

“I hired someone to watch you, of course,” he says. “Well, a few someones. I do this with every person I enter into negotiations with. Comes in handy.”

“You’ve been following me,” I say flatly.

“My people have, yes. And they got some good shots.”

My heart is hammering in my chest but I do my best not to show him. “What do you want?” I ask.

“Lighting. Statues. Carpeting. Any little fucking thing I want. Understand?”

He wants my fucking balls in the palm of his hand, that’s what he wants. He doesn’t care about anything else but that. “We’ll talk,” I say and stand.

“We won’t talk. You’ll do as I say or I’ll leak this. Plus the nice video.”

“Set up another meeting with my secretary.” I turn and quickly walk away.

If I sat there any longer, I would have given in to him. I know it. I would do it just to protect my company, but also to protect Aria. Her tantrum did cause some issues, and I can only imagine how this is going to snowball.

It’s not entirely her fault. She couldn’t have known what her actions would do. She’s a good person and just wanted a little attention.

But now she’s going to have to deal with the consequences.