by Alex Strong
But the scariest information of all—at least as far as Karina was concerned—was the fact that he was worth 1.2 billion dollars. Which meant that a couple hundred thousand was chump change to him.
By the time Karina got home that night, her stomach was in knots, and she was grateful to find that Ginny had received a more enticing offer at a nearby bar. She immediately crawled into bed, where she mostly tossed and turned long after Ginny stumbled home. Would Damien really go through with it? And if he did, would she be able to keep up her end of the bargain?
She cursed her alarm when it went off at five the next morning, but at least she would be able to sneak out for work before Ginny woke. She had no idea what to say to her and dreaded what Ginny might think of her for agreeing—even if it was only because Karina never imagined he could’ve been serious.
As Karina mulled it over at work that day, she realized the solution was simple. When she got home, she would figure out some way to get a hold of Damien and let him know that she had changed her mind. Yes, her parents would lose their house (a heartbreaking thought), but Karina knew they would never want her to sell her self-respect for it. They would’ve been appalled that she had even considered it.
When she got off work, she pulled her phone from her bag to see that she had missed a call from her mom. She listened to the voicemail asking her to call back as she walked out of the shop and toward home.
“Hey Mom, what’s up?” Karina asked as soon as her mom answered.
“The strangest thing happened! Well, I just don’t know what to make of it. I mean, I know your father and I have been praying about it every night, but I never imagined….”
“Mom,” Karina said. “Slow down. What have you been praying about?”
“A courier just stopped by an hour ago, which was so odd. I mean, I didn’t know those still existed, I just thought everybody used FedEx or whatever.”
Karina sighed. It always took her mother forever to explain anything. “What did the courier drop off?”
“Papers saying that the house has been paid off.” Karina stopped dead in her tracks. “I’m holding the deed to the house in my hands right now. Or at least a copy of it. Apparently it’s been filed somewhere for safekeeping.”
“Oh god,” Karina whispered.
“I know, right!” her mother exclaimed. “And that’s not all. There’s even statements in here showing that all the hospital bills have been paid in full.”
Karina stumbled over to some nearby steps and fell down onto them.
“You know what this mean, sweetie, don’t you?” her mom asked.
“Yes,” Karina managed to say.
“It means we aren’t losing the house! You could move back home if you wanted to. You could finally afford to go back to school.”
Her mother was so happy, so relieved, and Karina didn’t want to be the one to take that away from her, no matter the cost.
“That’s great news, Mom. I’ll, uh, I’ll have to get back to you about moving back in or not.”
“Okay sweetie. Your dad wants to go celebrate. Talk to you soon. Oh, honey, our prayers have been answered!”
“Yes, Mom, they have.”
Karina hung up the phone knowing that those prayers had been answered because she’d made a deal with the devil.
The Devil Collects
Karina slowly made her way back home, wondering how long it would be before she heard from Damien. (Probably not long, judging by how quickly he took care of the house and bills.) She walked in to find Ginny sprawled out on the couch, a water bottle and bag of chips nearby. Karina saw this as a good sign, as Ginny was never very talkative when she was hungover.
“Someone dropped a package off for you,” Ginny said without even looking up from the TV. “It’s over on the counter.”
The manila envelope stood out ominously against the blue linoleum. Karina imagined it looked just like the one that had been delivered to her parents today. She tore it open and slid out copies of the same documents her mother had received, but this pack had a handwritten note paper-clipped to it.
Karina,
As per your request, here is confirmation that your parents’ debt has been taken care of. I am sending a car at 11 a.m. tomorrow to pick you up; please be ready by then. Only pack the most important items you need for the month, as everything else will be provided for you. I’ve enclosed a check to cover your portion of the following month’s rent.
Damien
The note was cold and professional, and it made her stomach tighten that much more. Tomorrow morning. Less than twenty-four hours until she ran off with this man, this stranger.
She looked at the check made out to Ginny. Virginia A. Redding, to be exact. Karina pulled it from the stack and walked over to the chair Damien had sat in only yesterday.
“This is for you,” she said, handing the check to Ginny.
“What’s this for?” she asked.
“It’s my rent for next month.”
“But why—” Ginny’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, this check is from Damien Bishop! Why is Damien Bishop giving me a check for your rent?”
Karina took a deep breath. “Because I’m going to be with him for the next month.”
Ginny’s eyes went even wider, and then she smiled, and Karina felt sick.
“Are you sleeping with him?”
Karina shook her head, and Ginny’s forehead wrinkled.
“Then why are you going away with him?”
Karina finally spilled the whole story. When she finished, Ginny looked to be in awe where Karina had expected disgust.
“Wow,” said Ginny. “I’m so jealous.”
“Jealous? Are you kidding me?”
“He just solved all your problems and now you get to spend the next month by his hot, gorgeous side. Of course I’m jealous.”
“But I don’t know the man!”
“You know that he’s rich,” Ginny said. “And built like a Greek god.”
“Do you realize he could be some psychopath? In fact, I’m starting to think that he is. This is not what normal people do!”
Ginny shook her head. “I’d bear it for thirty days.”
“Then maybe you should trade places with me.”
“Gladly.”
Karina remembered Damien’s words to her yesterday morning. I want you. She doubted he would accept a substitute. Even a more attractive one, in her opinion.
“I should go pack,” she said, knowing that Ginny would never see it from her side. “Not to mention call the shop and my parents to let them know I won’t be around for a month.”
“Try not to sound so excited about it,” Ginny called out as Karina walked out of the room.
“Fuck you,” Karina called over her shoulder and shut the door.
By that night, Karina had packed all the items she deemed necessary to get through the next month and had made the dreaded phone calls. She told the shop that there had been a family emergency and that she would be out of town for a month. Her boss had been annoyed about the short notice, but even he agreed it would be easy to fill her shifts. Everyone was looking for more hours these days.
Lying to her parents had been harder. If they wouldn’t have thought it odd not to see her for a whole month, she might not have said anything and just claimed to be busy whenever they tried to plan anything. In the end, she told them that the coffee shop was opening a new store in Miami and they had asked her to go down and help get it going. She figured that way they would know where to go looking for the body if she never came home. Not that Karina really expected it to come to that. Damien had left his fingerprints everywhere.
Her dad seemed a little suspicious, but Karina’s mom was excited for her—she thought it was an honor for Karina to be asked and the perfect opportunity to escape the dreary spring they were having.
Karina was exhausted when she climbed into bed that night, but sleep eluded her just as much as the night before. She tried not to, but she kept glancing
at the clock, counting down. Ten hours until Damien came for her. Nine…eight…seven….
Karina woke early the next morning despite the few hours she had managed to sleep, and she showered and dressed before moving her bags out to the living room, leaving them ready by the door. She made a cup of coffee and then sat by the window, staring out at the gray drizzle covering the streets. As she pulled the blanket from the couch to wrap around her shoulders, Karina wondered what the weather was like in Miami right now. Was it really as hot as they showed in the movies? It occurred to her that this would be the first time Karina had ventured beyond the neighboring states. If only she could get excited about the idea.
At half past ten, Ginny wandered out of her bedroom. She poured the last of the coffee into a mug and came to stand by Karina.
“Did you tell your parents?” she asked before taking a sip.
Karina shook her head. “They know I’m going to be in Miami, but they couldn’t bear this.”
“I’m sorry I acted so heartless yesterday,” Ginny said, putting an arm around Karina.
“It’s okay,” Karina. “I realize it probably sounds like a fairy tale, it’s just that—”
“I know.”
They stood for a while in silence, enjoying the warmth of the coffee.
“Call me every day,” Ginny finally said. “Let me know that you’re okay.”
Karina nodded, fighting back tears. What had she done?
A black sedan came gliding down the street and double parked right in front of their building.
“Is that him?” Ginny asked.
“It must be,” Karina choked out.
They watched a man in slacks and a sweater climb out of the driver’s side and head for the front entrance.
“Good luck,” Ginny said, giving Karina one last hug.
“Thanks.” Karina slung her purse across her chest and opened the door just as the driver came up the steps.
“Karina Watson?” he asked.
She nodded and started to roll out the suitcase, but he stopped her.
“I’ve got it,” he said. “I can take care of that as well.” He pointed to the small duffle bag on the floor next to it.
Karina stepped aside and let him pick it up.
“Is there anything else?” he asked, and she shook her head.
He headed back down the stairs. She turned to Ginny, not really sure what to say.
“I guess I’ll talk to you later,” Karina told her and followed after the driver, leaving Ginny to close the door behind her. It wasn’t until she was halfway down the steps that she finally heard it shut, and Karina swallowed hard.
Outside, the driver set the bags down before opening the passenger door for her. She held her breath as she looked into the car and was shocked to find it empty.
“Where’s Damien?” she asked.
“Mr. Bishop will be meeting us at the plane, Ma’am.”
Karina looked up at the window where she knew Ginny would be watching, gave a wave, and then climbed into the back seat.
Not a word was spoken the entire trip; the driver didn’t even attempt to make small talk. Karina stared out the tinted windows the whole time and was surprised when they pulled into a small, private airfield.
Of course, Damien Bishop had his own jet. The thought made Karina even more nervous. She had imagined them flying down to Miami with a hundred other passengers and some flight attendants who would distract her from what she was really doing on that plane. Instead, she was going to be stuck in a confined space with only her and Damien. She wondered if he would expect anything from her so soon.
The car stopped near the door to the plane. The driver was quick to let her out, then immediately started unloading her bags along with others that must have already been packed before she’d been picked up. He didn’t give any direction, and Karina assumed she was supposed to board the plane.
Slowly, cautiously, she climbed each step and discovered she was wrong about her and Damien being the only ones on the plane.
A man close to her age, maybe a year or two older, greeted her the second she set foot in the cabin, and another one—definitely older and more somber-looking—was seated nearby.
“You must be Karina Watson,” the younger one said with a cheerful smile.
Karina gave a single, slow nod.
“My name is Tom. Damien had hoped to be here to greet you personally, but it seems he’s been delayed slightly. He should be here any minute though,” he said hurriedly, as though reassuring her. “He’s asked that I help you get settled and make sure you’re comfortable. May I show you to your seat?”
“Um, okay.”
The interior of the plane was the most luxurious thing Karina had ever seen. Warm beiges and sleek wood paneling made it feel inviting to her. There was only a single row of seats along each side of the plane, but each one was roomy and plush with padded armrests and high backs. As she sat in the one she was led to, Karina suspected it even reclined.
“Can I get you anything?” Tom asked as she sat down. “Coffee? Sparkling water? Champagne, perhaps?”
“Just water is fine,” she said. “Plain water. Not sparkling.”
“Very well, then,” he said and disappeared into the back of the plane only to quickly reappear with a glass of ice and a bottle of water.
Tom placed them both on a flat, recessed area of the paneling beneath the window.
“Will that be all?” he asked, and Karina nodded. “Damien should be back any minute,” he repeated just as something out the window seemed to catch his eye. “Oh look, there he is now.”
Tom rushed to wait by the door, and Karina looked out the window to see a black limousine parked outside. A man climbed out of the passenger side front and opened the rear door. Karina inhaled sharply as Damien emerged. He was laughing and appeared to be talking to someone still in the limo. He nodded to whoever it was and walked away, letting the other man close the door before following Damien to the plane.
Tom greeted Damien just as exuberantly, but Karina could only stare at the empty seat facing her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
“Is everything ready?” she heard him ask Tom.
“Yes, sir,” Tom replied. “Jim is just waiting for your word, and Miss Watson has arrived and is seated.”
“Good. Tell him to take off. And bring me a glass of scotch as soon as we’re in the air.”
“Of course.”
Karina heard the soft footsteps coming her way and thought for sure that her heart would burst, it was beating so furiously.
Damien sat down opposite her, facing her, and Karina couldn’t not look him in the eye. It was the same intense look he had given her at the coffee shop. Good god, was that really only three days ago?
“Karina,” Damien said in that sensuous voice of his.
It was hunger, she realized. The look in his eyes was hunger. For her. And Karina feared she wouldn’t survive it.
“Damien,” she said, fighting to keep her voice even.
The plane started to roll forward, and Karina found herself gripping the arm rests.
“Everything okay?” he asked, tilting his head.
“It’s fine,” she said a bit harshly.
“Have you ever flown before?”
“Don’t you already know the answer to that?” she asked, and he frowned. “You seem to know everything else about me.”
He sighed. “I only gathered the info that I needed to help you.”
“That’s what this is? Helping me?”
“You’re here, aren’t you? Of your own accord, I might add.”
The engines started to roar, and Karina felt herself sink deeper into the chair as the plane accelerated. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to be over with, and felt something on her knee.
She opened her eyes to see Damien leaning forward with his hand on her.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Damien told her.
Karina wondered if he meant the plane ri
de or him.
“How long until we land?” she asked.
He leaned back in his seat. “It’s about a three-hour flight depending on the wind.”
Karina dared a look back at the other three passengers. “So who are they?” she asked.
“Tom is my personal assistant. The other two men are part of my security team. You’ll undoubtedly see a lot of them, but they don’t talk much.”
“Do you always travel with bodyguards?”
“I do.”
“I see,” she said when he didn’t elaborate. “How did the expo go?” Karina finally asked, not sure what else to talk about.
“Not as well as I’d hoped, but I found a couple of promising candidates I’d like to look into more.”
Just then, Tom appeared.
“Thank you,” Damien said as Tom handed him a glass of something gold.
“Are you two hungry?” Tom asked. “Should I bring out lunch?”
Damien looked at her. “Are you ready to eat?”
The mention of food reminded Karina how long it had been since her last meal, and she nodded.
“Then yes please,” Damien said. “And bring a bottle of Viognier with it.”
Karina waited for Tom to disappear before she leaned forward and asked, “What is vee-oh-nee-a?”
Damien leaned forward until he was only inches from her face, and she could smell his subtle yet intoxicating aftershave. “It’s a white wine,” he whispered.
She sat back in her chair feeling embarrassed.
“Are you a wine drinker?” he asked. “I could request something else.”
“No, it’s fine,” she said. “Yes, I drink wine. It’s just—it’s just that my exposure is generally limited to whatever my roommate brings home.”
“I see,” he said. “Well, perhaps we can remedy that during your time with me.”
Karina looked at him, so many questions running through her head. What exactly were his expectations of her during that time? She was afraid to know the answer.