Chapter 5
“What’s this?” Scott asked, opening the envelope that had been sitting on her desk at home. They shared a tiny flat in central London. It wasn’t the best part of town, but it was convenient to both their jobs which suited both of them just fine.
She was standing on a pedestal while Scott pinned fabric around her body. He was working on a design for a new dress for the magazine layout and she was acting as his model. At the moment, her hair was piled on top of her head to keep it out of his way while he nipped and tucked, putting the finishing touches on a sexy, sultry dress of soft green chiffon that fitted her body so closely, she couldn’t wear anything underneath.
“Thank goodness you’re boobs are still perky enough to pull this off,” Scott said, getting her attention finally. She’d been holding a file on one of her kids and hadn’t heard his original question.
“What do you mean?” she said, smacking his head playfully. “I’m not that old!”
Scott ducked just in time to avoid the file coming down on his head. He grinned unrepentantly before saying, “I mean, you’re such an old maid, one day, you’re going to be forced to wear a bra when you choose something like this. I’m just grateful that you’re not there yet,” he teased.
Victoria looked down at her breasts and shook her head. “They are fine,” she said. “And I’m not aging that fast so just knock it off.”
“At least in this dress, they get a little showing off, eh?” he continued. “Since no one else has been seeing them lately.”
Victoria rolled her eyes at the old argument, refusing to rise to the baiting. “Scott, just because I’m not dating, doesn’t give you the right to criticize my love life. I don’t remember seeing anyone in your bedroom lately.”
Scott took a pin out of his mouth and nipped. “Ah, but the operational word here is lately,” he said. “I’ve had relationships recently. What can we say about you, Madam Nun?”
“No need,” she replied, hiding the pain of her morning encounter from Scott by lifting her file folder up again. “I have a full enough life as it is. There’s no need to add a man into it and complicate everything,” she said. She almost said, “again” but stopped herself just in time.
After Dharr, she hadn’t wanted to meet any new men. For a long time, she hadn’t been able to dredge up any interest and then it took courage just to look at another man and consider his attractiveness. Because each time she looked, she would compare him to Dharr and find the man lacking.
It had taken over a year just to look at a man and not cringe in disgust. Finally, she’d decided she needed to get over him. Unfortunately, she hadn’t found anyone to compare to him. No matter how much she tried, unconsciously, she still compared the men she met to Dharr. So here she was, five years later and still a virgin. Much to Jasmine and Scott’s frustrations. And definitely not from their lack of trying. At every opportunity, they introduced her to one of their new acquaintances, hoping she would take to one of them. But not a single man she’d met could hold a candle to Dharr. Besides, she told herself, why deal with the pain? It had been too hard getting over him last time. Why would any woman put herself through that again? Jasmine jumped from man to man but Victoria knew that she wasn’t the kind who could do that. She was the emotionally committed kind, unfortunately, she grimaced.
Thankfully, Scott filled his mouth up with pins again and didn’t have the ability to speak for several more minutes.
When he was done, he shooed her off to take the dress off. But moments later, just as Victoria was pulling on her underwear, Scott opened her door, sitting on her bed while she finished putting on a bra and clothes. “You never told me who these kids were,” he said. He pulled the pictures out of the envelope and shook his head. “Poor little sprite,” he said. “What happened to her?” he asked.
Victoria was used to talking about her kids at the school but the envelope just hurt her too much. “Just some kids,” she said. The image of the little boy had haunted her all day. He looked too serious, she thought again.
“The boy looks to be about five or six, right?” Scott asked.
“Something like that,” she said. Victoria hadn’t taken the time to get the children’s ages from Dharr but she supposed that Scott’s guess was accurate.
He took out another picture and read the caption underneath. “But the girl is much younger. About three?”
“I suppose,” she replied, zipping the zipper on her jeans shorts.
Scott looked up at her as she pulled a shirt on over her head, not bothering with a bra because it was too hot. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her, unused to seeing her this emotionally detached when it came to children. “Okay, what’s the deal? You’re never like this about your kids. Spill it,” he said.
Scott was sitting at the top of her bed, leaning against the pillows that were stacked up against the headboard. “They are the niece and nephew to Dharr,” she finally said, her back to Scott so he couldn’t see her face.
“You’re kidding,” Scott replied, sitting up and moving to the end of the bed. “How did you get these pictures?” he asked suspiciously, immediately knowing she wasn’t giving him the whole story because of the cagey look in her eyes. And the fact that she wouldn’t look directly at him.
Sighing, Victoria decided that she might as well spill the beans. Scott would eventually get her to tell it all and wouldn’t stop pestering her until she did. “Dharr was at the school this morning,” she admitted reluctantly.
Scott whistled out his surprise. “What happened to them?” Scott asked.
Victoria took a deep breath, grateful that he was focusing on the children and not her reaction to Dharr. She wasn’t exactly sure herself what her reaction to him was so she couldn’t really describe it to Scott even if she wanted to. “Their parents died about five months ago. Apparently, the kids are having a very hard time right now.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” Scott asked in the silence that followed her revelation.
Victoria bit her lower lip and stared out the window, unable to face Scott. He’d see the pain in her eyes and she needed to be tough about this situation. “Nothing,” she said firmly.
Her words obviously surprised Scott since he didn’t respond immediately. Then she felt his gentle hug as his arms wrapped around her shoulders. “Nothing?”
“Nope,” she said and stood up to leave her bedroom.
Scott followed, watching as she pulled ingredients out for dinner. Victoria was the cook generally since Scott’s only specialty was sandwiches. “That’s not like you.”
“It is now,” she said, plopping spaghetti sauce down on the counter and vegetables for grilling.
“So you’re not over him, right?” Scott asked, sitting down at the tiny table in the kitchen. “The past five years are finally making sense now. That’s the reason you’ve never caught a fancy to any of the men I’ve introduced you to, eh?”
Victoria spun around at his words, “What do you mean? I got over him a long time ago.”
He raised one eyebrow at her heated reply. “So what’s the problem with helping out his niece and nephew?”
Victoria squared her shoulders. Scott could psychoanalyze her responses all he wanted. She wouldn’t change her mind. “I just won’t do it. He thinks he can buy anyone and anything. He offered me an astronomical amount to help out the kids. But I’m not for sale.”
“So don’t take the money. What do you have to lose? You don’t have plans for the summer except to model for me,” he grinned cheekily. “You could spend the hours writing that book you’ve been talking about but you could do that in Ashir too without too much trouble.” He considered her for a moment. “Nope, the only reason you won’t go is because you’re afraid of him.” He stood up and walked out of the kitchen. “You’re afraid you might fall back into his arms again.”
Victoria followed him, her mouth trying to form words to deny Scott’s assertion that she was easy where Dharr was concerned but he interrupted her before she could figure out how to deny his statement forcefully enough. “By the way, I have a date, tonight so don’t bother making anything for me,” he said and closed his bedroom door on her glare.
Victoria stomped back to the kitchen and put the spaghetti sauce and vegetables back into the refrigerator and walked out of the kitchen, furious with him and with the situation. She wasn’t hungry herself so if Scott was going out, there was no need to cook. Left alone, she paced the room several times, trying to get her temper under control. She flipped on the television but when nothing interested her, she flipped it off again.
A half hour later, Scott swung out of his room, patted her head teasingly and blew her a kiss before opening the door to leave. “Wow! Déjà vu!” Scott said. “She’s in the family room,” Scott said and disappeared down the stairs.
The hairs on Victoria’s neck started tingling and she swung around, terrified to see if her instincts were right. And there he stood, in all his masculine glory. Dharr was here, in her apartment, making it seem way too small when his overwhelming size entered it.
He looked around disdainfully, noting the mismatched furniture and worn out carpet. “Good evening, Victoria,” he said quietly and closed the door behind him.
“What do you want?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, painfully aware of the clothes she was wearing. The tee-shirt she’d pulled on was old and at least two sizes too small but she hadn’t been expecting company.
“Relaxing for the night?” he asked, his eyes moving down to her breasts which were thrusting through the thin fabric. “I like your shirt,” he said.
Victoria could feel her nipples harden underneath his knowing gaze. “What do you want, Dharr?” she demanded, wishing she wasn’t blushing right now but not able to control it. “I thought I’d already given you my answer earlier today. Besides, you mentioned you were flying to Germany. Why are you still here in London?”
He walked into the room, looking around at the various pieces of furniture. “But it wasn’t the right answer,” he countered. “When it is, then I’ll accept it. And I did fly to Germany today. Now I’m back.”
Her hands were fists at her sides by the end of his announcement. “You are infuriating.”
“And you are as beautiful as I remember you being.” He turned to look into the tiny kitchen but it obviously didn’t interest him overly much since he turned back to face her again quickly. “Have you married him? I didn’t notice a ring on your finger so I’m guessing you haven’t yet.”
“Him?” she asked, feeling caught off guard.
“Your boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?”
Dharr sighed and looked at her impatiently. “The man who just left.”
“Scott?” Victoria questioned. “Marry him?”
“That is what some people do,” he replied.
The whole scene was out of some sort of bizarre movie. “No. We haven’t married. Yet,” she added. If he thought she was going to marry Scott then maybe she could have a little pride left. He hadn’t left her with much last time.
Dharr raised one eyebrow at her callous reply. “Either you’re committed to him or you’re not, Victoria. After all these years, are you so fickle that you can’t make up your mind?”
He definitely had a low opinion of her, didn’t he? She walked away, intending to go into her room and put on a different shirt but he stopped her. “Are you?” he ground out, holding her wrist in a punishing grip.
She looked into his black eyes and wanted to slap him. But she didn’t dare. “Yes. I’m fickle. I just don’t want to settle down with one man, Dharr. I like variety and I like men. So why settle for one man when I can have a whole banquet?”
Dharr looked down at her beautiful, furious face and wanted to kiss her soft lips. He wanted to pull off the tiny shirt she was wearing and feel the soft, perfect texture of her breasts. It was as if the old feelings he had for her, the painful sexual frustration was back and more powerful than ever. He had been with many other women since he’d last seen Victoria but none had been able to ease the frustration within him. Something inside him made him realize that nothing would until he had this one woman.
After so many years, he still wanted her with a painful desire. So when his niece and nephew had started showing signs of problems, Victoria had come to mind. He would solve two problems at once, he thought. No matter how much he detested her morals, he knew she could help the kids. And he would make sure she helped him along the way too. It was time for him to settle down but he couldn’t do that until he’d exorcised the demons of his past. Or at least one demon – in the form of the delectable Victoria.
And now, he didn’t have to slow down as he had all those years ago. She’d definitely gotten over her fears of sex, he thought. She was obviously living with a man and admitted that she liked variety. Well, he’d give her variety, he told himself. He’d make love to her so many ways she wouldn’t be able to think straight. And when he’d finally gotten her out of his blood, he would toss her aside and find someone suitable to becoming his queen.
Yes, it was a nice, neat plan. Kill two birds with one stone, he thought.
The hand holding her wrist softened and he stepped back. In order to start his plans, he needed her on his own turf. Using intelligence and charm would be better than anger, he told himself. And if that didn’t work, he didn’t object to paying for what he wanted. After all, hadn’t life taught him that women were basically all prostitutes? They all wanted something from him. Even if it was simply bragging rights, none of them turned down a pretty trinket, did they? He just needed to find her price. So start negotiating, he told himself.
“So, do you need help packing?” he asked.
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not listening, are you?” she said. “I told you earlier that I’m not going. There are experts all over the world who can help your niece and nephew. Pick one and leave me alone.”
He ran a finger down her arm, the gentle caress creating a shiver in her body that she remembered so well. And he felt it, smiled over it. That shiver meant that she still felt all the old chemistry they’d shared before and it was just as strong now as it had ever been. “Ah, but as I said, I need the best. I need your compassion and directness. These kids have been hurting for so long, it is going to take some real caring to get through to them. From the very first moment I met you, I’ve been impressed with your way with children. It is extraordinary, to say the least.”
Victoria didn’t like the warm glow that eased into her heart at his words. But she pushed that feeling aside, knowing how good he was at getting what he wanted, whether he was telling her the truth or just words so she’d fall into his plan. “Flattery will get you no where,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest again.
“Not enough money?” he asked. “How about double what I offered you previously?”
Victoria’s mouth dropped open. She was stunned by the amount of money he was offering her for only a three month job. But then she remembered that he was a king. And a king to one of the wealthiest countries in the world with oil reserves so deep and vast that they were as yet untapped in some cases. Straightening her shoulders, she looked him in the eye. “You don’t get it, do you?” she replied. “I don’t like you. Therefore, you’re going to have to get someone else to help you in this case.”
“Not the right currency?” Dharr turned around and fingered the dress that was now laying across the back of a chair. “This looks nice. It should be on the cover of some magazine, shouldn’t it?” he said.
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” she demanded, knowing that Scott’s hopes were flying high now that there was the possibility of a magazine layout.
“What do you think I mean, Victoria. You’re boyfriend only has a layout potential. Think about what it would do for him, for your future with him, if he were to get the cover of the magazine instead?”
Victoria gasped. How did he know that an editor was interested in Scott’s designs? Was he bluffing? There was nothing on paper yet. Either party could back out, not that Scott would even think of doing that. The layout meant a real beginning for him and his designs. “You don’t have that kind of influence!” she said, praying that it was true.
Dharr walked over to her, standing less than an inch from her delectable body. “Not only do I have the power and influence to get him the cover, I can make the layout disappear. I can also make your job disappear,” he said, watching her eyes widen. “I’ve done it before when you crossed me, didn’t I?”
It took several seconds for his words to sink in. But when they did, they hit her just like a slap across the face. “You bastard!” she gasped. “The bookstore didn’t lose business. You had me taken off the schedule!”
“Of course. I told you to quit.” He continued to watch her face, noting the furious expressions. He said softly, “Don’t cross me, Victoria. I can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. And that of all your…friends,” he said, hesitating on the last word.
He walked over to the door and opened it. “Your last day of school is Wednesday. I’ll send a car to pick you up on Thursday morning. Don’t disappoint me, Victoria.”
A moment later, she was standing alone in the apartment. Her anger turned to shivers and then into full blown fury. In the end, she just sat down on the sofa and cried. She hadn’t released so much energy on emotions since he left her that morning and she swore she’d never let another man hurt her that way again. Now that very same man was here, in her life, turning it upside down. And possibly hurting others if she didn’t do as he said.
Around midnight, she slipped into her room, not wanting Scott to come back from his date and see her like this. He’d been through enough emotional upheavals from her to last a lifetime. He didn’t need another. And he didn’t need his career to be ruined before it even got started if she could do anything to save it. If it was ruined, it would be all her fault anyway. Dharr would see to that.
Life just wasn’t fair, she thought to herself as she watched the dawn slowly rise over the horizon. She’d wracked her brains trying to come up with a way to get out of this but each time she came up with a solution, she fell again. It all came down to Dharr’s threat to ruin Scott.
She didn’t really care about herself. She could head back to her parents farm and help out the kids in her old village. There were plenty there who needed help. But Scott didn’t deserve this. He finally had a chance and Dharr was threatening to kill it before it started.