Chapter Five
The light is again shining in the room and it isn’t until I’m sitting over here that I notice it. He has a talent of consuming me, causing me to miss things going on around me. I don’t like it. I set the cloth napkin in my lap and wait for him to sit before I begin uncovering the plates in front of me. “You didn’t forget a thing.” Omelets, fruit, bagels, bacon, and even pancakes litter the table between the juices and coffee.
He begins to slowly cut up his food, taking each bite as if he’s always eaten with such etiquette. “Let me guess, you always eat at the table.”
His eyes move to mine quickly and I can tell I’m right, but he answers with a question. “Do you not?”
“No. In fact, I like to eat right there.” I point to my bed and watch him look at me in surprise.
“I do like to dine on certain delicacies in the comfort of my bed, but generally try to keep the food part of my dining separate, unless you’re in to that kind of thing?”
I take a bite and slowly chew as I watch him watch me. He’s good at this staring thing and even though I try to keep my eyes locked on his longer, his intensity forces me to look away. The build-up of pressure in my throat is making it hard to breathe, let alone think around him.
“You’re here for business, so start talking.”
“Now you decide to talk business, I was in favor of where the conversation was headed.”
“The conversation wasn’t headed anywhere. You’ve made it very clear you have business matters to discuss with me, so spill it.”
“Fine. Have it your way. I want to add you to my team. I run a few businesses where I need a writer to help with complicated letters and such, but most importantly… I want you to work with me on an upcoming possible movie deal. Or at the least it’ll be a successful TV series.” I eat and wait for him to continue, trying to listen to the details and not get side-tracked with the way his mouth moves when he talks.
“It’ll be a biography. Possibly shoot it as a reality publication, but I’m not sure yet. We can talk about the details once you agree.”
“And you said a million dollars plus royalties. What makes you think the project will be worth that?”
“Trust me, I know the business.”
“What will my job requirements be?” I have the right to ask questions, especially with that kind of money being thrown at me.
“You have to travel with me to the shoot locations, work with me on ways to tell the story so that the viewers will love it.” He wants me to travel with him? He’s out of his mind.
“I don’t prefer to associate with people. I think you have the wrong person for the job.”
“I assure you, you won’t be dealing with anyone but me unless you wish to. I’ll provide you with an assistant to handle anything you need.”
“This seems a little too good to be true. Will I have my own hotel arrangements as we travel?”
“If that’s what you desire, then yes.”
“It’s what I require.” I take the last bite of my omelet before I continue. “I’ll need it all in a contract and will have my lawyers look it over before we make anything official.”
“Well enough. I’ll deposit the money into your account within the hour.” My jaw falls open with his response.
“Wait a minute… my lawyers haven’t seen anything and I’m not agreeing until they do.” There has to be a down fall to this deal, I mean other than the fact that I’m still not convinced he’s not a psychotic person with his proven stalking tendencies.
“Camille. It doesn’t matter what they say, we will make the agreement work. I’ll pay you just as I’ve said and if they don’t like something in the contract, we’ll change it. But you are the right person for this job.” What makes him so sure, because I’m most certainly not positive this is all for me.
“Have you read my books or something?”
“Let’s just say you come highly recommended.” That tells me nothing. Why does he have to be such a damn puzzle; a million dark pieces that my obsessive curiosity can't help but want to put together even though I know I should put it all aside.
“By who?”
“Does it matter? I’m convinced you’re the perfect person to help me, so all I need you to do is agree and then we can begin. Is it the money? Do you need more?”
“What? No. I can’t take more than what you’ve offered.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I guess there isn’t one. But I want you to add into the contract that if I chose to back out at any time, I can.”
“Done. But you won’t want to.” He seems so sure of himself, but at this point that doesn’t surprise me.
“You don’t really know me well enough to make that statement.”
“Possibly, but give it time and I’ll know you better than you know yourself. I’m a very perceptive person, Camille.”
“Give me today to make my decision. I don’t even know your name yet.” He stands and holds his hand out to help me up.
“My name is Damon Deverick. Feel free to do your research. I’ll be back to get you in two hours.” He leans in and kisses my lips with a soft peck, and I stand frozen not knowing what he’ll do next. He steps aside and leaves me standing there feeling slighted on that kiss as he walks toward the door. A man that intense can’t give peck kisses. He’s supposed to be passionate and make me forget to breathe in a first kiss.
“Where will we be going?”
“Out for the day. Wear the dress I brought you and if you’re bold enough, you can stay bare underneath. If not, we’ll work on that.” I turn to watch him open the front door to my apartment before he says anything else. “Lock the door, Camille.”
I start to move when I hear the door close. Locking both the dead bolt and the knob before I allow myself to fall against the door, I try to make sense of this man. My heart is pumping faster than it has in months and he’s left me with an adrenaline rush that I can’t explain. It’s the unknown. I’m not used to it. I’m usually in control and with him everything is up in the air as we both battle for power.
Pulling the dress from the hanger doesn’t help to slow my anxious feelings in the slightest. This thing is skimpy as hell and I’m definitely not going to be able to wear this in public. I’m holding it against the front of my body when I hear banging on the front door.
Expecting it to be him again, I look through the peep hole and see my sister. Shit… she’ll be full of questions.
“Cami. I brought some food in case you were hungover.” She proceeds to knock even harder, before I rush to my bedroom and toss the dress on the bed and close the door before making my way back over to let her in. “Nice, you look much better than I imagined you would. Did you have a good time last night?” She talks as she walks through the apartment, leaving me standing with the door open and not a word to say as my apartment is invaded for the second time this morning. “Look at you, already have coffee made… you’ve showered. Sis, I can feel you coming around and it makes me so happy to see it. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve never left, you know.” Speaking of leaving… I guess this probably isn’t the best time to tell her about the possible travel that will be going on soon. I need to research Mr. Darkness before I make a big deal about all of this and that’s not something I want to do with her looking over my shoulder.
“I need to borrow some shoes for today, this heel is messing up.” She starts toward my bedroom and I jump off the bar stool to stop her.
“Which ones, I’ll get them.”
“What? Don’t be weird, Cami. I’ll grab them.”
“Carli. Don’t go in there.” She stops in her tracks and slowly turns, her mouth gaping open as she begins to assume all sorts of shit.
“You have a man in there, don’t you?” Shit.
“Yes… I mean not anymore. He left a mess and… just let me get the damn shoes and don’t start asking questions.”
“Oh my godddd. It’s the owner of that club, isn’t it? He came here and fucked you good all night didn’t he.” I leave her standing and attempt to make a clean break when I hear her on my heels. “Jesus, you have like a damn breakfast in bed thing going here… but the bed is far too perfect for you to have done the good stuff.”
“Maybe I made it.” She starts laughing loudly as she picks up the new dress he wants me to wear.
“Oh please. I’ve known you my whole life and you don’t make your bed… ever. Damn this is a nice dress… tell me he brought it here for you to wear on your next date.”
“Ok.”
“Ok? Ok? He did, didn’t he?” She holds the material out, taking note of the bare back and gasping. “Oh, shit. Put this on. I have to see what it looks like on you.”
“No I’m not wearing it.”
“And these heels… I’m taking the shimmery pair. I know you won’t wear them anyway.”
“Take them all… and the dress.”
“What? No. This is exciting Cami. He’s pampering you. You deserve someone to treat you nice and buy you things. You’ve never had that, so enjoy it. Let him spoil you, then you can make it up to him in the bedroom. That’s what I do.”
“Negative. Not happening. Thanks for your relationship advice, but I’m not interested in that kind of crap. It’s business.”
“Sure it is. I can see it in the dress and shoes he bought you. If this is business, let me know what ritzy corner you’ll be working. These are items from someone who A… has phenomenal taste… and B… wants to see how sexy you look in them. That’s not about business. So, stop denying whatever this is and try the damn dress on.”
She shoves it against my chest and sits on the edge of the bed as if I’m just going to strip down and get naked right in front of her. I move to the bathroom and lock the door before I start to get changed. I can hear her moving around my room as I’m fighting with the dress.
“And here I thought you were starving and dying of thirst today, and you’ve had a man taking care of you. Tell me he gave you multiple orgasms and the two of you didn’t get any sleep all night.”
“Carli. I slept alone last night. He brought me breakfast and left just before you got here. No orgasms were exchanged.” Jesus. “Sounds like you need that O more than I do.”
“You have no idea. Things are a little stressful lately with the wedding and everything going on.”
I open the door, immediately concerned about my sister’s tone only to have her squeal and race toward me. “Oh Carli. This is so damn sexy. I can almost see the top of your ass. Your back is beautiful… you have to start wearing clothes that show off what you have. And by the way… you’re gonna have to lose the bra. I can see it in the back.” I knew it would show, but I just feel like I’m going to need some support. These girls are real and very large. I’m not one for them moving as I do.
“Maybe I’m good with my yoga pants.”
“Save those for the gym. Don’t make me burn your clothes.” And I know she would to prove a point, but then again she knows I’d wear the same two pairs over and over if that’s all I had. “I’m so excited for you. You have to promise to call me after this date of yours.”
“It’s not a date. He’s taking me out today to talk about a business deal and I promise I’ll call you when I get home tonight.”
“Yes I need to go… and you need to get yourself ready for this date. I’m making you an appointment with my wax lady. She’ll make you soft for the next one.”
“There won’t be a next…”
“Call me tonight.” She interrupts me like she always does. Then I hear the door slam on her way out.
I move to the mirror and look at myself in the dress. It shows off so much skin that I’m not sure I can wear it out, but then again he did challenge me before he left. I have been on a hiatus from life and should try to live a little… even if it’s only for the day. Guess it’s time to see just how brave I am. I’m going to shave then see how I feel. Worst case scenario, I’ll wear the yoga pants and a t-shirt. He’ll have to just get over it.