by Alex Strong
A phone started ringing, and Damien fished it out of his suit pocket. He frowned as he looked at it.
“I apologize,” he said, standing, “but I have to take this.” He moved to a seat at the back of the cabin, taking his scotch with him, and Karina turned her attention to the clouds outside her window. When did they get this high? She had been so distracted with Damien she hadn’t noticed anything beyond the take-off.
Tom arrived to pull a tabletop from the panel beneath the window and brought a tray of salads and the wine shortly after. Karina glanced back at Damien as Tom filled her glass.
“It might be a while,” Tom said with a small frown. “I wouldn’t wait. Just in case.”
“Thank you,” she said and Tom left.
Karina waited a couple minutes and then started on her spicy Thai salad. She was just about to take the last bite when Tom delivered a thin slice of cheesecake topped with dark cherries. She wondered if he was always this efficient.
The plates were cleared, including Damien’s, and Tom refilled her glass and set it on the side before putting the table away, but Damien was still on the phone. Karina found the button to pull the footrest out and enjoyed the wine in silence. With a little bit of alcohol and some food in her, the last few nights were finally catching up to her. She didn’t know she had fallen asleep until a harsh jolt woke her up. Damien was sitting across from her again, and she was wrapped up in a blanket.
“We’re here,” he said.
The First Night
Karina looked out the window to see them speeding along the runway, but the plane was slowing quickly. Just the bright sunshine would have been enough to let Karina know she wasn’t home anymore, but the palm trees and vividly colored buildings felt like an entirely different world.
The plane came to a complete stop at the end of the runway, where a black SUV was parked, and Damien stood and waited for Karina. She pushed the blanket to one side and followed him to the exit. The door opened, and Karina was hit by a blast of warm, humid air.
“Bienvenido a Miami,” Damien said from her side.
The Spanish from his lips only made his voice that much more seductive, and she resisted the urge to look at his mouth.
As they climbed down the steps, Karina couldn’t but help feel a twinge of excitement.
“Let’s get in the car before we melt,” Damien said, and he let Tom and one of the bodyguards climb in the back before having Karina crawl into the middle row, where he slid in next to her.
The air conditioned interior felt much better for Karina, who had chosen a sweater and jeans that rainy morning back at home. She knew Damien must have felt the same in his dark suit.
Again the car ride was quiet—except this time for the sound of Damien typing on his phone—but Karina was content to watch the landscape go by. Even the people were so different. They had plenty of variety back home, but everyone there seemed to dress the same. It was easy, especially this time of year, to get lost in a sea of bland jackets and knitted scarves and hats. Not here, though. Karina couldn’t remember ever seeing so many different colors on so many bodies. And there was so much skin, especially as they drove along the beaches. The two-pieces she’d packed were starting to feel prudish compared to what many of the women were wearing. Even some of the men weren’t leaving much to the imagination.
The landscape soon changed to quieter, more subdued tree-lined streets. The ocean became obscured by large homes barely visible behind overbearing gates and walls. The driveways were so intermittent that at first she thought they led to apartment complexes. It finally occurred to her that it was testament to the size of the private properties.
And then they were pulling into one those driveways. A gate opened, allowing them access. The car continued up a long driveway, and Karina gasped as the most breath-taking house came into view.
“Do you like it?” Damien asked. She had almost forgotten he was in the car with her.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. It was simple in its design—white stucco with straight lines and metallic elements. But the rest of the property seemed to curve around it, from the steps leading up to the front door to the shrubbery and walkways, creating sleek, sensual lines around the expansive two-story structure.
The car stopped, and the bodyguard who had been riding in the front seat opened the door on Damien’s side. He climbed out and then offered a hand to help Karina, who had almost forgotten her nervousness. If only Ginny could see her now.
They walked into a grand foyer with its vaulted ceilings and a sweeping staircase leading up to the second floor. To her right was a formal sitting room complete with a grand piano.
“Let me give you the tour,” Damien said, and he led her through the house.
It was hard to remember why she was here as he showed her the elegant dining room, the gourmet kitchen, and even an entertainment room. At the back of the house was a sunroom, and next to that was a personal gym with sliding walls that opened to the outside. Behind the house was a full-sized swimming pool, a guest house, and beyond that, the ocean. A small canal cut into the property, a sailing boat docked on the pier.
They moved upstairs, and Karina’s nervousness started to return as he showed her the bedrooms.
“And this room is yours,” he said, opening a door.
“Mine?” she asked, confused.
“Yes. My bedroom is right next door.” He looked at his watch. “Dinner will be served in the dining room at seven. I’ll leave you to get settled and freshen up.”
He strode off down the hall to his room and Karina stepped into her own, closing the door behind her as she took in the space. It was almost as big as the apartment she shared with Ginny and was decorated in powder blue and white trim with pewter accents. There was a pair of French doors leading to a balcony overlooking the pool, a door for the closet, and one that opened to her very own bathroom. Now that she was looking forward to.
Her bags were already at the foot of the king-sized bed, waiting to be unpacked, and she walked over to them and sank onto the silver satin comforter. She had tried not to think about where she would be sleeping, but Karina never imagined she would have her own bedroom. Perhaps sleeping was all she was meant to do in this room. Was it to be that kind of arrangement? On the plus side, she wasn’t tied up in a dungeon yet. Speaking of which, Karina decided she should check in with Ginny to let her know so far, so good.
The call went to voicemail, and Karina left a message letting her know she had arrived safely. The time shown there was a little less than an hour until dinner, so she started to unpack. She rolled the suitcase to the closet and found it to be almost as big as her bedroom back home and already filled with amazing clothes. Wondering who they could belong to, she perused the labels. Many designers she recognized, quite a few she didn’t. It didn’t take long for Karina to realize that every single one was in her size. Were these meant for her? And how did he know her size? She found a shelf of shoes and tried one on. It was a beautiful nude pump with a red sole. She didn’t have to read the name on it to know it was a Christian Louboutin. Or that the pair of them were probably worth more than all the shoes she had in her closet back home. Again, the perfect size. But how?
A knock at the bedroom door made her jump, and she dropped the shoe, slipping her flat back on. She opened the door to find Tom on the other side, holding a garment bag and a laptop.
“This just arrived,” he said, handing her the Mac notebook. “Sorry it wasn’t here sooner.”
“Um, thank you?” Karina said, not really sure what she was supposed to say.
“And Damien has suggested that you wear this for dinner tonight.”
“Oh,” Karina said, taking the bag from him. “Okay.”
“Is the room to your liking?” he asked. “Do you need anything else?”
“No, it’s perfect. Thank you.” She started to close the door. “Wait,” she said, opening it again. She looked around to make sure Damien wasn’t within ear-shot. “W
hose clothes are those in the closet?”
Tom frowned. “They’re yours, of course. I tried to get a selection of current items, though a couple were directly requested by Damien. Are they not what you were expecting?”
“No, it’s just that…how did you know what size to buy?”
“Damien told me, of course.” As if that explained everything.
“Well, thank you,” she told him again.
He gave a nod and walked away. She shut the door and laid the laptop on a bedside table before moving back to the closet with the garment bag. There was a hook just inside the door that she hung the bag on and unzipped it. Inside was a simple navy silk dress. She tore off her clothes and tried it on. The thin material caressed her skin as it slipped on with ease. With a turn of her stomach, Karina realized it probably slipped off just as easily. She bent over and braced her hands on her knees, taking several deep breaths. She could do this. It was just like any other date she had been on. He wouldn’t be the first man she had slept with—far from it. He would, however, be the first to have bribed her for sex, though. A couple more deep breaths. Hopefully alcohol was served with dinner, because she was going to need all the liquid courage she could get.
Karina walked into the dining room promptly at seven, a familiar pounding in her chest, to find Damien standing at the head of the table waiting for her. It was the first time she had seen him without his suit on, but he looked just as polished in slate-colored slacks and a crisp white shirt that looked that much brighter against his dark complexion.
“You look amazing,” he whispered as she approached, and Karina caught the same hungry look in his eyes.
“I suppose I have you to thank for that,” she said tartly. “You did request the dress, after all.”
“I figured you might not know what to wear for the first night,” he said, holding out a chair for her. “I wanted to make it easier for you.”
“Do you always get dressed up for dinner in your own home?” she asked as she sat down and let him push the chair in.
“Only when I have guests,” he said, sitting in his own chair.
“Do you have guests often?” Karina immediately reached for the glass already filled with red wine and took a large gulp.
“From time to time. Truth is, I’m not home that often. How do you like the wine?” he asked.
“It’s really good, actually,” she answered honestly and took another, slightly smaller drink.
“It’s a Bordeaux blend,” he said, swirling his glass. “One of my favorites.”
“Good choice.” Another sip.
“Do you like the room?” he asked as he dug into the salad before him. “If there’s anything you’d like changed—”
“It’s fine,” she said, taking a small bite. The appetite she’d had on the plane had disappeared again. “How did you know my size?” she asked suddenly.
“I’m good at sizing people up,” he said, refilling her already almost empty glass.
“But my shoe size—how could you possibly guess that?”
“I saw your feet when I came to your apartment. Though I admit I wasn’t sure I had that one right. Have you tried any of them on?”
“I’m wearing a pair now,” she said. “They’re a perfect fit.”
“Good.”
Karina drank from her glass again, finally feeling the warmth start to spread through her.
“Are you not hungry?” Damien asked.
“I have a confession to make.”
“Yes?”
“I find this all unnerving,” she said.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Do you do this often?” she asked, feeling more brazen.
“You’re the first,” he said quietly.
She was about to ask why her, but a woman walked into the dining room carrying a tray. She took the salad plates and replaced them with dinner plates of salmon and colorful veggies. Karina went to take another drink only to find that her glass was mysteriously empty already. She waited a moment to see if Damien would refill it again, finally deciding to refill it herself when he didn’t.
“You should really try this salmon,” he said, gesturing to her untouched dinner. “It’s Alaskan salmon. So much more flavor than the stuff from our ocean.”
Karina forced a bite down. It did taste better than any fish she’d ever had, but she just couldn’t stomach it right now, so she reached for the wine glass again only to have Damien stop her by placing his hand over the top of it.
“You might want to slow down,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she said, pulling the glass out from under his hand. Wine sloshed against the side but managed to stay in its container. He frowned but said nothing.
Soon the dinner plates were taken away and a ramekin of dessert was placed before her.
“It’s lava cake,” he said.
She took a bite before pouring the last of the wine bottle into her glass.
“Do you normally drink like this?” Damien asked in what sounded like a scolding tone.
“You mean you don’t already know?” Karina was aware that her words were slightly slurred.
“I told you—”
“Yes, yes, I know. Only enough info to ‘help’ me.” She punctuated it by chugging the rest of the glass, and as she set down the glass, she knew she had overdone it.
“Will you excuse me?” she asked as she stood and nearly fell over.
Damien was on his feet in an instant, trying to help her.
“I’ve got this,” she said. “Just give me a minute. Please.”
Damien let go of her and Karina made her way to the stairs, focusing all her energy on staying upright. The journey to her room took entirely too long, and she barely made it to the toilet in time. It was nothing but red, and she vaguely wondered if she would notice if her insides came up with it, because by the time she was done, she felt hollow. She stood over the toilet a few more minutes, gripping the ceramic bowl, before remembering that Damien was still downstairs waiting for her. She just needed to clean up a bit first.
The shower stall was right next to her, and Karina reached in shakily to turn the water on. Once it was warmed up, she stepped in. It wasn’t until she was in a ball on the floor that she realized she was still fully clothed. What had possessed her to drink that much wine, and so quickly? Now she just wanted to sleep, but when she closed her eyes the room started to spin. She tried to ignore it but just ended up vomiting right there in the shower. It was official—the dress was ruined.
There was a tapping on the door, but Karina was sure she was imagining it.
“Karina?”
“Go away,” she called out. Or at least she thought she did. Her voice sounded so far away.
“You need to get of here before you drown.”
“I’m fine,” she mumbled. “I just need a few minutes.” She thought she might be crying, but it was hard to tell in the shower.
The water stopped falling on her and the dress was pulled—ripped, maybe—off of her. Here it comes, she thought. Time to pay up. But then something warm and plush was wrapped around her and she felt herself being lifted off the floor and soon after, lowered onto a cloud. A warm, fluffy cloud. What felt like a gentle hand brushed her face, pushing the wet hair from her cheek as her mind went utterly and blissfully black.
Expectations
Karina wanted nothing more than to continue sleeping when she returned to consciousness the next morning, but her aching head wouldn’t allow it any longer. She opened her eyes, trying to focus on the popcorn ceiling above her bed, except that it wasn’t popcorn. It was smooth, and pure white rather than graying. She sat up, her brain screaming, and looked around. Damien’s house. It all came back to her. Including the disaster that was last night. In a panic, she looked down to find that while the dress was gone, her underwear were still intact and she was wrapped in a robe. Nothing had happened last night, thanks to her. Karina wondered how mad Damien would be. And then she noticed the water gl
ass and a bottle of ibuprofen on the table next to her. She opened the bottle and let two pills drop into her palm. She studied them, hesitant. But they didn’t look suspicious, and she desperately wanted the pounding in her head to go away, so she swallowed them, washing them down with half the water.
She continued to lie in bed, waiting for relief, when she heard a splash outside the balcony doors. Cautiously, she climbed out and tied the robe around her. She opened a door and stepped out onto the balcony to see Damien swimming the length of the pool. When he got to one end, he tucked under and disappeared for a split second before reappearing, swimming just as strong in the opposite direction. Karina couldn’t help but watch the impressive machine. A phone started ringing, bringing her out of her reverie, and she realized it was coming from the poolside. Damien heard it as well and swam toward it.
“Hello,” she heard him say with his back to her. He was standing in the shallower end, and she could see the muscles in his back ripple with every movement.
“That’s not what I asked,” he said. “You need to figure this out. If I do your job for you, then I have no need for you.” He paused, running a hand through his dark, wet hair. “I see. Then how about if I go take a look right now, and if I manage to find a solution before you…. Good man. Call me when it’s done.”
Damien hung up the phone and then pulled himself out of the pool to sit on the ledge. He was now facing her direction. Karina took a step back, but it only seemed to attract his attention and he looked up at her, his expression unreadable. This time, she was sure she had done something wrong, and she went back into her room. She climbed back into bed and pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs, and waited. Waited for Damien to come and punish her, or have his way with her, or something. She looked at the clock and realized it had been over twenty-four hours and the man had yet to even kiss her.
But Damien never came. She thought she heard him walk by a couple times, sometimes pausing briefly at her door, but he never knocked, and she couldn’t even be sure it was him. And now she was getting hungry. Everything still ached and she dreaded going downstairs, but she couldn’t stay up here and starve. She needed a shower first—a proper one—so she went into the bathroom and found last night’s dress in the garbage. She could only imagine how much it had cost, and she had completely trashed it. Keep this up and Damien may just cut his losses and send her home.