by Ilsa Ames
Wow, you’ve certainly filled out, now haven’t you?
She must’ve noticed my expression.
“I guess that means you remember me now, Micah? What’s the deal, anyway? With you coming back here to Ocean Hills, I mean. Hometown boy, come back to make good?”
Her tone was sardonic, a smirk playing on her lips that set me on edge. Her brown eyes looked directly into mine, as if challenging me. I drew myself up to my full height and looked down at her, condescendingly.
Two can play at that game. And I think you’ll find that I’m much more...experienced.
“I’m not really sure that’s much of your concern, Miss Gordon. Now, do you want to talk me through your proposal, or are you just here to waste my time?”
She shrugged, insouciant.
“I think the proposal speaks for itself. Feel free to take a look through it.”
I blinked at her. I wasn’t used to women acting this way around me. My looks, my status, my money; they all usually meant that women were pliable and compliant. Lizzy – Ella – was nothing like them...and it thrilled me. I loved a challenge.
I’ll have you begging for my attention soon, Ella Gordon. What I want, I get. And right now, I want you. It’ll make for a fun little side-project to go along with the house.
I riffled through the papers carelessly, but I’d already seen everything I wanted to. Her work was good - more than good, she was excellent at her job. She specialized in old places like these, and she had a great eye for detail, preserving period features while bringing the overall look right up-to-date.
I didn’t let on, of course. I just pursed my lips and shrugged.
“This is all quite interesting, but this is going to be a very extensive project. I’m not sure a smaller outfit like yours is really suited to take it on. I have very ambitious plans for this old place.”
That got a rise out of her, anger storming into her eyes.
“I have more experience than anyone else in renovating this type of property,” she began, but I just held up a hand.
“Please, Miss Gordon. Don’t take it personally - it’s only business. Besides,” I said, a smile on my lips, “I’ve yet to make my final decision. I’ll be in touch once I have.”
And then I turned and started to make my way towards the house, leaving her there on the driveway, mouth open in shock and impotent outrage.
A good starting point for our relationship, I think. She’s not the ice-queen she likes to think of herself as.
I didn’t turn and look behind me, just listened as her car door slammed and she roared off down the driveway, tires spitting gravel as she went.
As I reached the entrance to the house I took a deep breath and unlocked the large, heavy doors. They swung open with a creak, and I stepped inside - the first person to enter in many years. The first thing that struck me was the smell; it was stale and musty. But, overall, it could’ve been much worse. Since I’d left town all those years ago, it seemed someone had boarded up the windows’ – most likely to keep kids like me out of the old house. The windows had all been securely nailed shut with thick plywood, and those already heavy doors had been reinforced to keep out even the most determined of intruders.
The condition of the interior, while definitely in need of extensive work, wasn’t terrible. The entrance hall had huge, sweeping ceilings - as I craned my neck to look upwards I saw a stunning heavenly scene, replete with angels and a heavenly host, made completely out of mosaic. A few small tiles were missing, but they wouldn’t be difficult to replace.
The oaken parquet floors were dusty, but otherwise in remarkably good condition, and the walls would need to be completely stripped and repainted. That was going to be a big undertaking by itself - and this was just the entranceway.
I took some time to slowly wander through the quiet, empty house, picturing in my mind’s eye what it would all look like when it was finished. There were countless rooms, varying wildly in their decor and condition - some looked as if the house had only been sitting empty for a day, while in others animals had made their homes.
Curiously, I found at least one door that simply opened onto a brick wall, one hallway that didn’t go anywhere, just suddenly ended, and a staircase that wound around and up leading to….nothing. Just another wall.
These were all by the design of the original eccentric owner, and I guess just added to the charm of the weird old place. I could’ve knocked them all down, but I’d already decided to keep all of the original features intact, oddities and all. It was a part of the history of the place, something I was keen to preserve.
Consulting the brochure the real estate agent had given me, I could see that there were fourteen bedrooms, twelve full bathrooms, three dining rooms, two ballrooms even.
Why would anyone need two separate ballrooms?
As I wandered through the quiet house, I found my thoughts returning to Ella Gordon. Not just that body of hers; although, of course, I was finding it hard to shake that mental image of her figure-hugging dress, eager to see what was underneath. But her curious attitude towards me - why had she been so hostile? As far as I could remember, I’d never done anything to make her hate me when we’d been kids. Maybe she was just jealous of my success? Maybe she hated rich guys just out of principle? None of that mattered, anyway. She was a challenge to be conquered, and I knew I was up to the task.
She’d be getting the contract - truth be told, I hadn’t even had time to look at any of the other offers I’d been sent. But her work was excellent, and besides, I wanted to see what Little Miss High and Mighty was like between the sheets. If she was as feisty in the bedroom as she had been outside, then we were going to have a great time indeed...
Having explored the house, I made my way out back, to the overgrown gardens. Currently they were a tangle of weeds and overgrown grass, but I’d been informed that all of the original stone features were still in there somewhere. There was an astounding Olympic-sized swimming pool, a few outbuildings where servants had once lived, and, bizarrely, what had presumably once been some sort of zoo. And behind it all, the ocean, which currently glittered in the late afternoon sun.
I stood there in the last rays of the afternoon’s warmth, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. The only sound was of birdsong, and the wind gently rustling through the cedars. Faintly in the background I could hear the waves breaking softly onto the shore.
It felt good to be home. The future was full of such tantalizing possibilities, and I knew that I was gonna make it all come to fruition. This place would be my house, and a modern, hi-tech clinic for those needing bespoke in-house care. I also had plans to fund a program for local kids who needed care they, or their families, couldn’t possibly have ever usually afforded.
It felt right to do these things, to give back to the community that had led me to where I was today. I couldn’t wait to get started, to see my plan come to life before my eyes.
And, also, to get to know Ella Gordon better. To bring her into my life, to introduce her to the real me, and to teach her the pleasures of submission.
Thanks for reading! You can find the full book of His Control on Amazon. Read it for free with Kindle Unlimited!
His Control: A Billionaire Romance
Also by Ilsa Ames
His Control: A Billionaire Romance
Her Prince’s Secret Baby: A Royal Romance
Steal Me Away: A Mountain Man Romance
His Claim: A Mountain Man Romance (free with newsletter sign up!)
About the Author
Ilsa Ames is two die-hard romance readers-turned-authors. Best friends, moms, secret (and sometimes not so secret…) smut lovers, and crappy reality television junkies.
Smokin' hot, dominant alphas, smart, sassy heroines, & contemporary romance stories to make you say "yes please!".
We hope you enjoy!
www.ilsaames.com
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p; Ilsa Ames, Steal Me Away: A Mountain Man Romance