Chapter Four
Tobias watched as Maria moved around his apartment. She’d been working late, and he’d come home early. He was taking her daughter out tomorrow night, and he’d not been in contact with Adora since his exploration of her body in the back of the coffee shop.
It had taken great effort on his part not to get in touch, to make this distance between them affect her. He wanted Adora to need him, to crave him, to want him so that by the time he took her out Friday night, she was desperate, and wouldn’t argue with him. She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever known. All he ever had to do in the past was say his name, and women flocked toward him like a moth around a flame. Most of the time he didn’t even need to say his name: in his circles, everyone knew who he was.
He was used to getting what he wanted, no questions asked, and yet Adora challenged him. She made him think, and just remembering her smart mouth made him hard.
When she began to make offers and counter offers, he’d known she’d be a damn good opponent in the boardroom. He intended to play golf with her professor this very weekend in the hope of finding out the other man’s thoughts on Adora.
She already dominated a great deal of his thoughts. Not that he minded that at all. He loved thinking about beautiful things, and she certainly qualified. She wanted to date, fine. He had no problems dating, so long as she was in his bed. He also didn’t mind her continuing college.
There would be no condoms involved. Just the thought of her being swollen, pregnant with his child, aroused him, had his dick aching in the most delightful of ways.
He’d already picked out the apartment he intended for her to stay in, along with the furnishings. She would want for nothing, and he’d even gotten a small place to set Maria up in. Adora loved her mother, he saw that, even though he didn’t figure why. In a way he’d have dropped his own mother if their roles had been reversed.
Only love would have made someone take a deal they clearly didn’t want.
Poor Adora.
She didn’t want to be owned by him, and yet her body responded to him in ways that obviously confused her.
Tobias smiled, thinking of all the ways he wanted to pleasure her. He intended to get under her skin so there wasn’t anyone else in the world she could think of. Staring at Maria, he saw a beautiful woman. She didn’t appeal to him like her daughter did, but right now, he saw something … different.
Maria had to have been young when she had Adora, and with no father’s name on the birth certificate, it piqued his curiosity.
Who had gotten Maria pregnant?
According to Maria’s paperwork, when she had gotten pregnant she’d been working for a company who’d let her go a few months into that pregnancy.
He wasn’t a fool.
Someone had gotten her pregnant, and seeing as the company she once worked for only dealt with wealthy customers, it made Tobias curious about who the guy was.
Did he know him?
Had he eaten lunch with a man who’d disowned his claim to his child?
He had no intention of keeping Adora his dirty little secret. She’d be the mother of his child, and once she was pregnant, he had every intention of doing things right.
She wouldn’t fit with his parents’ idea of a perfect wife, but he really didn’t give a fuck about that one way or the other. She’d be perfect for him. It was like he woke up one morning and just wanted to have something for himself, to please himself, not his parents. He’d done that before, and they were never happy. He’d witnessed his brother’s destruction at their hands. There was no way he’d go down the same way. They had a whole host of women lined up to fill the position of nursing a future Bennett. Women who came from wealth just like him.
None of them fired his blood the way Adora did.
When Maria finished her work, he noticed she went around his apartment another time, just fixing the odd thing that was out of place.
She was an impeccable worker.
The best really.
Within a few minutes she had her things, and was heading out the door.
“Thank you, Maria,” he said.
She turned toward him, and nodded.
Her English wasn’t great, which meant whoever had fathered Adora, spoke her language.
Tobias watched her leave, and he didn’t like the twisting in his gut. Maria was a nice woman, kind and quiet.
Men with money, with power, with privilege, they’d have seen Maria, taken what they wanted, and spat her back out.
He didn’t like that someone had shirked their responsibility in raising a child. In fact, it pissed him the fuck off. If he couldn’t handle the consequences why not bag that shit up?
Sitting behind his desk, he logged onto Adora’s banking accounts, and saw that she’d not touched a cent of the money he’d given to her.
Stubborn woman refused to take what he’d freely given her. The loans were all paid for, and her name was no longer marked by bad credit.
Flicking his pen between his fingers, he knew he was going to have to make her spend some money.
“Why are you so fucking stubborn?”
Bringing up Maria’s documents, which he’d also requested, he glanced through her service history, seeing the company she’d worked for roughly around the time she’d gotten pregnant. He recognized the name, and attached to Maria’s name was a list of houses she’d been dealing with.
He recognized every single name on the list. There was no way to narrow it down, which only served to piss him of even more.
His cell phone began to ring, drawing him out of his very pissed off mood at the fact he couldn’t play detective, and when he saw Julia and Andrew Bennett’s name on the screen, he groaned.
“Hello,” he said.
“It’s about time you answered, Tobias. I don’t like to be kept waiting,” Julia said.
That was his mother. A real piece of work.
He couldn’t recall a time when she even asked him how he’d been.
“What is it?” He rubbed at his eyes, really not wanting to speak to his parents right now.
“It’s Friday night, and we’ve invited the Clarkes. They’re in finance, dear. You’ve probably heard of them.”
And their three daughters.
“I’m busy.”
“You’re never too busy for your parents.”
He nearly laughed. She rarely referred to herself as anything parental.
Glancing at the time, he realized Adora would be finishing up classes soon, and he wanted to be there to pick her up.
“I’m not going to make it. Enjoy the Clarkes’ company. I’ve got plans.” He hung up, turning his cell phone to vibrate as he left his condo.
His parents had a way of sucking all the energy out of a room without even trying. He didn’t like them, not at all. In fact, he found their presence a pain in the ass.
Julia and Andrew liked to keep up appearances. They always brought up how torn he’d been over his brother’s death, and of course how the family was dealing with it. There would be a few tears spilt for the sake of the cameras. Behind closed doors, however, was always a different story.
His father had been pissed off, angry that his brother had decided to be weak. Always begging to be loved, trying to find it in anyone who’d have him. The drugs had been a welcome reprieve from the emptiness.
Driving toward the campus, Tobias recalled one of the last days with his brother. How he’d found him in an abandoned building, naked, shaking from the shit he’d filled his body with.
“It’s Tobias. Come to rescue me again, and take me back home.”
“Why do you keep doing this?”
His brother had coughed and laughed at the same time. “I can’t believe you’re not doing this. You spend so much time with your head in books, I’d think you’d understand.” Maximus looked up, and the sadness in his eyes had really struck him. “But you don’t get it. You’re as cold as them, aren’t you, Tobias? You don’t need love, or to feel.” Another cough, only this time it was a groan.
“What you’re trying to seek will get you killed.”
Maximus smiled. “Then I will die a happy man rather than rotting in Father’s library trying to please him. He can’t even disown me because he tries to keep all of my secrets from the world. He’s hoping I’ll change, that I’ll become like him. A heartless, soulless bastard. Let’s not forget Mommy and her thirst for power. She’ll do anything for it. You go ahead, Tobias. Be like them, and rot like them. Powerful they may be, but no one will ever truly love them, and I feel sorry for them.”
Pulling out of his thoughts, Tobias realized he’d parked at the campus already. He hadn’t thought about his brother for some time, and now he kept popping up in his memories.
Love was an overrated emotion.
He had no intention of falling. Glancing around the campus, he had an amazing vantage point, taking in the students and the teachers. He spotted Adora speaking to an older man around his own age, and Tobias didn’t like it as the two laughed.
There was a closeness there. He intended to put a stop to it.
****
“I found your comparison interesting. Your own apartment building to that of an upscale apartment—fascinating. You’ve got an eye for differences, Adora. It’s very rare. Usually my students wish to talk about modern architecture in buildings that have been erected for special occasions, not general-purpose buildings.”
Adora smiled. She enjoyed Professor Feswick’s class. Not only did he talk about historical architecture and how it had evolved, he listened to everything. Out of all of her professors, she adored his class the most. He had a real passion for it, which hadn’t died in the years of teaching.
“Thank you, I really do appreciate that.”
“I’m not sure an examiner would agree. Even down to your notice of cheap materials between them. Also, you know you cannot compare the two as I also looked into it on my lunch break, and both buildings were constructed by different companies.”
“I know. I looked into it as well. The company that built my apartment building is known for their cheap houses and apartments for the masses. The one where my mother works, they’re known for only building for the wealthy, and tend to only be involved if the paycheck is high enough.” Not only did she enjoy working on architecture, she loved going back to the nitty gritty basics, which again was why Feswick was her favorite professor.
“When you graduate, I hope I get a student with as much enthusiasm as you. You’re a real treasure, Adora. Don’t let any company that you decide to intern with take that out of you.”
Before she could speak, someone pulled her into their arms. At first, she tried to pull away, but looking up into Tobias’s angry glare, she found herself frozen.
It was Friday. She had no idea he intended to pick her up from campus. It wasn’t late either, and in that moment, she couldn’t remember if he’d given her a time when he’d pick her up.
Professor Feswick looked at her and then at Tobias.
“Tobias Bennett,” he said.
She didn’t like the way her stomach twisted.
“Professor Feswick.”
They shook hands, and she noticed the way that Tobias gripped his hand.
Pulling out of Tobias’s hold, she kept to her own space, not liking the way he’d claimed ownership of her in front of her professor. She wasn’t an idiot. He clearly didn’t like her talking to another male. She wasn’t a slut.
Rumor had it that some professors were known for offering good grades for favors returned. She always made sure to avoid them, as she had no intention of ever being that kind of student.
“I was just telling Adora what a fine student she is, and when she graduates, I hope another is as fascinated as she is.”
“I’ll miss your classes, Mr. Feswick. You’re an inspiration to me.” She spoke up before Tobias had a chance.
“I was hoping we’d discuss where you wished to intern in the next few months.”
Adora’s stomach twisted once again. Her degree required a certain level of work experience as well as academic. Her father owned one of the best firms in the country, known around the world.
“What kind of work?” Tobias asked. “I’ve got Adora’s best interests at heart.”
“We believe our students need a level of hands-on experience to see the true potential. Adora’s one of the top students in the class, and I was hoping I could put her forward toward the Hamilton program.”
Hearing her father’s last name filled her with anxiety. Pushing her panic away, she shook her head. “No, that’s not where I’m hoping to go,” she said.
Both men turned toward her.
She saw the confusion on their faces, and she didn’t care.
“Adora, you’re aware of the sheer volume and respect Hamilton brings?” Feswick asked.
“I’m aware of them.” And their lying, cheating, bastard of an owner. “They’re such an obvious choice. I don’t want to be obvious, so I was hoping to be part of the James and Co. program.” They were Hamilton’s biggest rivals, and she had no intention of ever, ever helping her father. That bastard had turned his back on her mother.
After reading her mother’s diary, and knowing the pain she must have been through, she vowed to never give the man the time of day, and that included interning at his company. Adora was aware her father had a wife and children now. The family he acknowledged.
“That certainly does surprise me, Adora. I know you only wish for the best, but it’s your future. Would you like me to put your name forward just in case? Hamilton is very … specific, so you may not even qualify.”
“Put her name down. At least then she’ll know,” Tobias said.
She gritted her teeth, and stared at Feswick.
“I’ll put your name forward for both.” Feswick glanced at his watch. “I must dash. I’ve got to be home for tea. My wife has plans. Enjoy your weekend.”
Feswick adored his children and his wife. He was always telling the class little stories, and she knew she wasn’t the only one that adored her professor.
“He’s an interesting man.”
She turned toward the man that had her torn in many different directions. “Why did you insist on putting my name forward?”
“Why did you insist on not having it put forward?” he asked, staring at her.
The identity of her father was a secret. She intended to keep it that way.
“Did you forget we had a dinner date?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I didn’t realize our date would be this early.”
“I like to get dinner out of the way. We have more important things to get down to.”
The wicked glint in his eye let her know exactly what he was talking about. Sex. He was going to be taking her virginity tonight.
“I’ve got to change,” she said, glancing down at her jeans and shirt. She tried not to think about her nerves or her excitement about the coming night.
“You’ll more than do.”
“This won’t be accepted in a restaurant.”
“Then we’ll stop over at one of the shops. We’ll get you more suited.” He placed a hand at her back, and guided her toward his car. Once at the door, she stopped, and turned toward him.
“You were jealous.”
“Excuse me?”
“You saw me talking to my professor, and you were jealous.”
“I don’t believe in jealousy, never have. You’re very much mistaken.”
“You couldn’t stand me talking to him.” She smiled. Jealousy was a good thing. Well, not really a good thing, but it meant that he could at least feel something. “I’m not the kind of woman that screws her professors to get grades.”
He stared at her. “You’re aware that there are women who don’t feel that way, right?”
“Of course I’m aware. I’ve heard of them, and I tend to steer clear of the professors who like to do such a thing.” She stared at him. “You should know. Like you said, you go golfing with some of them.”
She climbed into the car, allowing that piece of news to simmer inside him. He closed the door, and she waited as he rounded the car.
Tobias climbed inside, and she didn’t even have time to admire the décor. This wasn’t like the limo he’d taken her inside the other day. Did he have a new car for each day of the week?
“Have any of your professors propositioned you?”
“No. Like I said, I avoid them. I’ve earned my grades with hard work, not because I’ve given away my body.”
Tobias ran a hand down his face, and she wondered what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Had she finally gotten to him, or was it just an illusion? Was he putting a little show on for her to think that she was getting to him?
He confused her all the time.
From the first touch on her body, she couldn’t seem to shake the feelings he inspired inside her, nor did she want to.
He turned over the ignition of the car, and they pulled away from the college campus, heading back into the city.
“If any professor ever tries anything, anything at all, you tell him no, and you call me immediately, do you understand?” he asked.
“I do.”
Had she gotten to him? He didn’t speak for several moments just driving his car.
“How was your day?” she asked.
“Long.”
She smiled. He may not like it, but she hoped that she was getting underneath his skin just like he was hers. It would only be fair for the two of them.
He pulled up outside a very expensive designer boutique, and her nerves hit her once more.
She didn’t belong here.