by Alex Strong
“Damien Bishop arranged it,” Karina told her.
Everyone’s demeanor changed at the mention of his name, and Karina hated these women even more for it.
“Oh yes,” said one of the ladies, a blonde. “We’ve been expecting you!”
The third girl ran off to the back room.
“I’m Yvette,” said the blonde. “Right this way and we can get started.”
Yvette led her to a chair with a side table, and the third girl came out of the back room carrying a tray with champagne in an ice bucket and a single flute glass. Karina was grateful as the woman poured it, because she had a feeling she was going to need alcohol to survive these vultures.
As Karina took her first sip, Yvette pulled out a rack already containing some dresses.
“Mr. Bishop told us a little about the event and your size, so we went ahead and pulled a few items to get started. But let us know if you’re looking for something different.”
Karina stood, still holding the glass, and looked over the selection. They were all gorgeous. But it didn’t take long to find her favorite—a strapless satin-twill gown in midnight black with an off-center slit on the front.
“Can I try this one on?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Yvette grabbed the dress and showed Karina to a dressing room. The second she stepped into it, she knew this was the one. It was less embellished, less flashy than the others, but sometimes less was more. The slit came half way up her thigh, and the back flared a bit just below her backside. A mermaid skirt, Yvette called it.
She walked out and stood on a little platform in front of several mirrors.
“Wow,” said the brunette who had brought out the champagne. “That dress is perfect.”
Karina did a little turn—being careful not to fall and embarrass herself—so she could see the whole dress. It was perfect. She was almost sad that Damien wasn’t here to see it, then decided she’d rather spring this on him later. At home.
“I don’t even think you’ll need any alterations. You are planning to wear heels, aren’t you?”
Karina nodded. She was now, apparently.
Just then, a chime went off, signaling that another customer had walked in.
“Yoo hoo, anyone here?” called a voice that made Karina’s skin crawl. Tabitha.
She walked back to where Karina and the women were, looking much more put together than Karina had when she walked in.
“Oh, Miss Rose!” Yvette exclaimed, jumping to attention. “We weren’t expecting you today.”
Tabitha removed her oversized sunglasses. “I was in the area,” she said. “I thought I would check in on my dress. Oh, hello.” She had finally noticed Karina “Haven’t I seen you before?”
Karina stepped down from the platform. “The engagement party,” she mumbled.
“That’s right. I was talking to Damien, and then you apparently had something urgent to tell him.”
Karina wasn’t sure how to respond to this woman. If she had disliked her at the party, that was nothing compared to what she was feeling now.
“I think I’ve decided on this dress,” she told Yvette.
“Excellent choice,” said Yvette.
“That is a gorgeous dress,” Tabitha chimed in. “What’s the occasion?”
“Some charity event this Saturday. I’m going with Damien,” she said, trying to gain the upper hand.
There was a flash of venom in Tabitha’s eyes, but it was gone so quickly that Karina couldn’t be sure she hadn’t imagined it.
“Ugh,” said Tabitha. “Is it that stupid museum fundraiser? I went with him last year and it was so boring. I’m glad he was smart enough not to ask me again this year. Better you than me,” she said with a forced smile.
Karina could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.
“Oh look, Miss Rose,” Yvette suddenly called out. “I’ve found your dress. Shall I get you a dressing room?”
Karina hadn’t even realized Yvette had left the room but was grateful for the interruption.
“Lilly, will you take care of Miss Watson while I help Miss Rose?”
“Absolutely,” the brunette said before turning to Karina. “If you want to change, I can bag the dress and ring you up.”
Karina nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
After changing back into her dingy jeans, Karina waited at the counter while Lilly found the right garment bag for the dress. She ran it through the register, but as Damien had promised, everything had been arranged and Karina didn’t even have to sign for anything. Lilly brought the bag around from behind the counter and handed it to Karina.
“Just between you and me,” Lilly said quietly, “Mr. Bishop has never bought Tabitha a five-thousand-dollar Jason Wu gown.”
The girl was trying to make Karina feel better, but her brain got stuck on the five grand part.
“Um, thank you,” she said, and made her way outside, where the driver was waiting to take her back to Damien’s home.
When Karina got home that afternoon, she fired up the laptop and did a search on Tabitha Rose. It didn’t take long to find her. Apparently she was a model, though it looked like it was mostly local stuff. Her parents were donors for various organizations, so they must have money.
Karina added Damien’s name in the search box with Tabitha’s, and the first thing that popped up was a photo of the two of them from an event. She read the caption and her heart sank. She’d been hoping that Tabitha was lying, that Damien had not actually taken her anywhere, but here was the proof. She slammed the computer shut, not wanting to see anything else.
By that evening, Tabitha’s words had replayed in Karina’s mind a million times, and it sounded uglier each time. Tabitha was jealous, Karina kept trying to tell herself. But the truth was that Tabitha and Damien must have dated on some level. He claimed that they never slept together, but what reason did she have to believe him?
“Miss Watson?”
Romi’s voice cut into Karina’s thoughts, and she looked up from where she was reading—or rather attempting to read—on the couch in the sitting room.
“I’m heading out for the evening,” she said. “Do you need anything else before I go?”
“No,” Karina said, shaking her head. “Of course not. Good night.” It was still so weird to have people waiting on her.
“I’ll set the alarm before I go.”
“Thanks, Romi.” Then she thought of something. “Wait.”
Romi turned around.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course,” said Romi.
“Has there ever been a—a mistress of the house?”
“No, only you.”
“Me?” Karina frowned. “I hardly think I count.”
Romi shrugged. “I was instructed to make sure you felt at home and that we all did as you asked. Same thing as far as I’m concerned.”
“Did you think it was weird he was bringing me home, then?”
Romi sat on the edge of the other end of the couch, keeping her posture straight.
“Honestly, when I got word to prepare for your arrival, I was sure that some nasty woman had finally sunk her claws into him. Most of the staff and I were bracing for a real witch to come barging in those doors.”
Karina’s eyes went big.
“But that wasn’t the case,” Romi concluded, apparently not willing to say any more on the matter.
“So he hasn’t brought other girlfriends around?” Karina asked.
“I’m not really comfortable discussing Mr. Bishop’s private affairs.”
“You’re right,” Karina said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry I put you on the spot like that. Forget I asked.”
“No worries,” she said, rising from the couch. “Good night, Miss Watson.”
“Night, Romi.”
Karina heard the beep and then the door closing behind Romi. And now she was all alone. Well, not completely alone. She knew that Damien had security patrollin
g the property twenty-four seven, even if no one was home. Being obscenely wealthy was starting to sound like a real chore.
She sighed, thinking she should head up to her room. All that was waiting for her up there, though, was another night of restless sleep. She closed the book she had borrowed from Damien’s library, giving up on it, and looked at the mini bar. Perhaps she just needed to take a page from his playbook and enjoy a nightcap. She stood and looked at the collection of crystal decanters. None of them were labeled, and so she sniffed each bottle until she found one that appealed to her. She poured a little of it into a cut-glass tumbler and took a sip. It was almost like wine but had a brown tinge to it and was much sweeter.
Deciding it was just what she needed, she poured more into her glass and then slowly made her way up the stairs. She paused at her door and looked down to Damien’s room, as she had a dozen times before. She walked over to it and tried the handle. It was unlocked as usual, and she crept in without turning on the light. She took another sip as she wandered around the room, looking for clues about just who Damien Bishop was. Beyond obnoxiously rich and sexy as hell, of course.
There weren’t many clues to be had, though. Very few personal items were in sight, and she drew the line at opening any drawers. She flipped on the light in his closet and ran her fingers along the hanging clothes. Mostly suits, a lot of white dress shirts.
Finding just as little in here, she turned the closet light off and walked over to the bed. She sat down on the edge and polished off her glass. Damien was right, this was helping to relax her. She set the empty tumbler on the nightstand and noticed something propped up against the docking station. She looked closer and realized it was a business card.
As she picked it up, she wondered whose business was so important that he kept their card by his pillow. It was hard to read in the light streaming through his balcony doors, but she didn’t have to because she recognized the giant green coffee bean on it. It was the card for her coffee shop.
Karina laid back on the bed, fingering the card. Why would he keep this? Why had Damien been so desperate to bring her down here? Was he so bored with his life that he thought it great sport to find someone so far removed from his world for him to seduce on his own territory?
She was reminded of the short story from high school where the wealthy hunter lures shipwrecked sailors to his island so that he can hunt them, having grown weary of hunting less intelligent animals. The Dangerous Game, she remembered as she rolled over onto Damien’s pillow, smelling his aftershave on it. That’s all she was to him. Game. Perhaps he had dated Tabitha before, but he had been bored by her and had gone searching for different prey.
Karina felt a tear on her cheek and was surprised by it. What did she care? What about this whole situation surprised her? As another tear slid down onto the pillow, she realized it was because she didn’t care about winning or losing anymore. She was done with this game.
Forfeit
“Well this is a welcomed surprise.”
Karina opened her eyes to see Damien’s silhouette on the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing in my room?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, your room?”
She bolted upright. Oh shit.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better homecoming.”
“I couldn’t sleep last night and thought a change of scenery might help.”
“And so you settled on my bed?”
Karina blushed. How was she supposed to explain this?
“I’ll go,” she said, sliding in the direction opposite him.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing her arm. “What’s the hurry?”
“I shouldn’t be here,” she said, pulling her arm from him and scrambling out of the room.
“Karina!”
She ducked into her dark room and closed the door behind her, locking it before sliding down to the floor.
There was a knock and she jumped.
“Karina?” Damien called from the other side.
She didn’t answer, and he tried the handle that wouldn’t turn.
“Karina, is something wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “I promise I didn’t snoop through anything.”
“I didn’t think you did. Will you please let me in and talk to me?”
“I’m too tired. Can we talk in the morning?”
She heard him sigh.
“Of course,” he said, and then she heard his footstep disappear down the hall.
When she was sure he was gone, she climbed into bed, reading three a.m. on the clock, and fell into yet another fitful sleep. She really missed her own bed.
When Karina came down for breakfast the next morning, the usual fare was laid out, but no one was at the table and only her place setting was left.
“Where’s Damien?” she asked Romi.
“He’s already eaten. He’s in his office now.”
Karina wondered how the man found the energy as she headed to his home office and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he said briskly.
She opened the door and peeked in to see him staring at his laptop as he typed. His face brightened when he finally looked up.
“Karina.”
“Can I talk to you?” she asked.
“Of course.”
He closed his laptop and she walked over to sit on the corner of his desk.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, looking concerned.
She looked down at her hands, unable to face him.
“The deal was thirty days if you took care of my parents.”
“Yes. Why?”
“I’m wondering what the ramifications would be if I were unable to stay the whole thirty days?”
He lifted her chin and she looked at his face. “Why?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”
She turned her cheek and his hand fell away. “I’m just really homesick. I don’t know if I can make it the whole month.”
“Did something happen?”
Tabitha. “No. I’ve just never been away from my parents this long and it’s been harder than I thought.”
“I see,” he said. But his frown told her he didn’t. He placed a hand on her thigh. “I won’t force you to stay, Karina. This was never about that.”
What was this about, she wanted to ask. But it didn’t matter now if he was letting her go.
“What about my parents?” she asked instead. “Will the bank tell them that it was an error?”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that to them. Or you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. She remembered the dress—the five-thousand-dollar dress—that he had just bought her sight unseen. “I was thinking I could head home Sunday, after the event.”
“Are you sure you want to stay until then?”
She nodded “I agreed to it. And besides,” she said with a weak smile. “You’ve bought me a beautiful dress for it. You should at least get to see me in it.”
“I can’t wait,” he said quietly, a sadness in his eyes.
She nodded again and then stood up to leave, but he grabbed her arm before she walked away.
“What if I arranged for you to go visit?” he pleaded. “Do you think you might want to stay the whole month after all?”
Karina shook her head, not daring to speak. Why was he making this so hard for her?
His grip loosened and she slipped way.
Back in her room, Karina removed the diamond necklace. It was the first time it had come off since Damien had put it on her. She laid it out on the dresser top and pushed it into a perfect circle with her forefinger. She didn’t want to accidentally take it home with her.
For the next few days, she and Damien became ships in the night. He had stopped trying and was clearly admitting defeat. And if Karina had thought she was lonely during the days he had been in China, it was worse having him here and all but ignoring her. To s
it next to him at dinner and have barely a word pass between them. Every morning he would eat and be gone before she came down.
By Saturday afternoon, Karina had packed her bags and was in the bathroom pinning her thick hair up off her shoulders when there was a knock at the door. She opened it, expecting Damien, but found Romi instead.
“Wow, Miss Watson,” she said. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” Karina said, blushing.
“Mr. Bishop said to come downstairs as soon as you’re ready. The car is waiting out front.”
“Thanks, Romi. Tell him five more minutes.”
As Karina grabbed her clutch, she realized that the necklace was no longer on the dresser. Assuming Romi had moved it into a drawer, she made a mental note to ask about it when she got home before heading downstairs.
She felt like a fairy princess as she descended the stairs. The dress moved just as beautifully as it felt, and the hem glided down the steps behind her.
Damien must have heard her footsteps, because he stepped out into the foyer and she was caught off guard by the sight of him in a tuxedo. She was apparently having the same effect on him, because he had stopped in his tracks, and she could see words trying to form on his lips, but no sound came out.
“¡Ea’ Diantre!” he finally said as she stepped off the bottom stair. “Wow.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said with the first genuine smile in days.
“You look…stunning.”
“I assure you, it’s all the dress.”
“No,” he said, and she was surprised to see the familiar look in his eyes. “It’s not. And I think it’s missing something.” He held out his hand, revealing the missing necklace. “I noticed you hadn’t been wearing it and asked Romi to bring it to me if she came across it.”
“I didn’t want to forget to leave it,” she said.
“Wear it one more night.”
She turned so that he could put it back on her and again, his hands lingered longer than necessary. She felt his lips softly kiss the nape of her neck and she closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of it.
“Don’t go,” he whispered so quietly, she wasn’t even sure she’d heard him right.