I’ve been sitting in my office for the last few hours after finally giving up on getting any sleep. I’ve been trying to do paperwork, anything to keep my mind off Callie but it hasn’t worked, the only thing on my mind is her.
Six months ago I’d received an email from an unknown sender with a photo attached of Callie standing on a balcony locked in another man’s embrace. The image has never left me; in fact, it’s burned into my brain. My sweet, innocent Callie turned out to be just like all the other money grabbers going after the next rich man. She’d messed up though because I have far more money than the bastard she cheated on me with.
It still stung that I hadn’t seen through her act. I, Alex Smith who ran his own finance company at thirty-four, a hardened, cynical man according to the papers got the wool pulled over his eyes by a twenty-six-year-old virgin. She’d been a virgin that was no lie, I’d seen the evidence with my own eyes, felt her tightness and the knowledge I was the only man she’d ever made love with had filled me with pride. I’d never been one to believe in love, always thought it was a fairy-tale until Callie walked into my life, but then I saw the photo and all my illusions shattered.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over her betrayal, but having her at my beck and call for the next few months will go a long way in helping. Hopefully, I’ll get her out of my system once and for all.
A knock at the door brought me out of my thoughts and I called for them to enter, a look at my watch told me it was nine fifteen. Callie was here. I knew she would come, her love for Jon was strong and she would do anything to protect him. Other men might have felt threatened by their relationship and their closeness, but from the start, I’d always known they were like brother and sister.
I watched as my secretary ushered Callie in and closed the door behind her leaving Callie and I alone. I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach when I got a proper look at her face. She looked tired; the minimal make-up she wore didn’t cover the black smudges under her eyes, but more than that she looked scared, of me or of what was coming I wasn’t sure. I ruthlessly pushed the feeling away. I won’t let her vulnerability ruin my plans, especially when I’m so close to getting her back in my life and in my bed. Besides didn’t I fall for her act before? Not again. Looking at her though, I realise revenge isn’t at the front of my mind right now. She was the best lover I’d ever had, she might have been innocent in the joys of making love, but she’d been a willing student and I’d really fucking enjoyed being her teacher.
“Callie,” I greeted. “Please sit down.” I gestured to a chair and waited until she sat before perching on my desk in front of her. I didn’t miss her eyes widen when she saw how close I was or how she averted her eyes from my crotch which was at her eye level. She was tense and uncomfortable with the scrutiny she was under. Tough.
“I see you made the right choice.”
“Well, as I didn’t exactly have a choice it shouldn’t surprise you.”
There’s the feisty woman I remember. I grinned at the fire in her eyes and felt my body responding to it just like always. I shifted on the desk, enjoying her blush when she saw my growing erection. Shrugging I didn’t bother to hide it what would be the point when none of this would be happening if I didn’t still find her attractive.
“You have an appointment at a boutique then afterwards at the salon. My secretary has all the details.” One look at her and it’s obvious she’s pissed. Good. “You’ll need to be dressed and ready to leave at six. I have a client’s celebration party to go to and it will be the perfect place to make our courtship public knowledge.”
“We’re going out tonight?” she asked in surprise.
“Yes. We need to be seen together before we announce our wedding date and what better place than the hotel where your dirty secret came out.”
She looked confused, and it pissed me right off.
“My dirty secret?”
“One day you’ll admit what you did. In fact, I’ll make sure of it, right before I kick you out of my life for good.”
She doesn't deny it, perhaps she knew there was no point, or she just doesn’t care. Either way, I’d already found her guilty.
She rose to her feet, like a queen dismissing her subjects. “I’ll get the information from your secretary.”
I shook my head. “We’re not finished Callie, sit down.”
She sat.
I reached over and picked up the prenuptial agreement I’d had drawn up. “Read it, sign it and give it back as soon as you can. You’ll see that you come into this marriage with nothing and you will leave with nothing.” Her mouth opened to speak, probably to argue about signing it, but I cut her off. “Don’t think about arguing with me because I won’t change my mind,” I told her.
Her lush body stiffened, and the fire was back in her eyes. “I want nothing from you except your word you’ll leave Jon alone.” She said through her teeth and I watched as she dug around her handbag pulling out a pen. Her hand trembled as she reached out to take the paperwork from me and I saw no hesitation as she signed her name on the dotted line. She thrust it back at me and stood up again. “There. Can I go now?”
I must look confused, I most definitely felt it. Her behaviour didn’t add up. “No. there’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“This,” I growled before cupping her face in my hands and kissing her. She gasped in surprise and I used it to my advantage thrusting my tongue into her open mouth. I dominated her, not giving her a choice but to kiss me back, and when her hands tangled in my hair, I knew I’d won. I pulled away reluctantly, finding it hard not to drag her back into my arms when I see her kiss-swollen lips. “You can’t fight it any more than I can.” Her shocked eyes meet mine. “I have no problem admitting I still want you. I’m going to enjoy our time together. Maybe you’ve learnt some new moves.” My words hurt her; I saw the pain before she looked away and guilt filled me again.
“I won’t be an active partner in this little charade; I’ll be lying back and thinking of England.”
The claws are out. Why does that make me proud? “Trust me Callie; there is no way you’ll have anything or anyone on your mind but me when you’re in my bed. I’m certain of that.”
“You won’t know that will you.”
“Oh, believe me, I’ll know, but from experience, I remember once I have you in my bed you melt for me and will do anything I ask. Isn’t that right?”
She blushed. No denial, though. “That was a long time ago.”
“I’ve just proved nothing has changed just as I proved it last night too. It takes all of two seconds before you sigh and kiss me back. Why don’t you admit that I’m your weakness?”
She shook her head. “You are not my weakness. Perhaps I just wanted to see if you kiss like I remember. I’m disappointed, though, I think you’ve been kissing too many women who don’t care about pleasure as much as how big your bank account is.”
“You shouldn’t talk about those girls like that Callie; after all, you’re one of them. We have proof of that. It’s just a shame the guy you picked over me isn’t half as rich as I am. Did you realise this and decide you’d try a bigger fish? You haven’t succeeded if that’s the case because why else would you be living in such a small house when you could live in a mansion.”
She bristled. “There is nothing wrong with my home. I love it and we can’t all live in mansions otherwise what would the rich rub in the working class faces?”
“Hit a nerve did I? It’s funny you didn’t deny the things I said. Does that mean you’re looking for someone to finance your life? While we are married, I’ll provide you with everything you will need to be presentable. As my wife you will be popular with the newspapers and I won’t let you embarrass me, but I will not give you anything else, you’ll be disappointed if you expect me too.”
“I should start getting ready.”
It frustrated me that she didn’t rise to my bait. Her tone suggested my accusations didn’t bother her, but her hand shook as she picked up her handbag from the chair and her eyes were bright with unshed tears. I should be happy, I’m doing what I said I would do, I’m making her pay, but I felt nothing but regret. This was going to be harder than I thought.
“Yes, we’re finished; by all means go make yourself beautiful. Don’t forget to buy new underwear; I’ll look forward to taking it off later.” I smirked at her expression and walked to the door to open it for her. She made sure not to touch me as she walked past and I nearly flinched at the memories of the morning she did exactly the same.
“Bye Alex.” She said softly, and I wondered if she was having the same thoughts. I closed the door on the sight of her slumped shoulders and knew I had to put her out of my mind. I was already so behind with work and if I was going to take time off to have a honeymoon, I need to get on top of it. It’s a lost cause though, because excitement for tonight was running through my veins, excitement for her body, her curvaceous body which I knew just as well as my own, and spending time with the one woman who I didn’t think I would ever get over even if I tried to kid myself that in three months she’d be out of my system for good.