William pressed the emergency stop button. “Look. Not that I need to explain myself to you but I have a pretty good handle on the situation. This really is between Addison and me. But . . . if you must know, the redhead was nothing, a decoy to get the press off my back so they’ll stop hounding me. I’m trying to protect Addison too, only she’s so fucking stubborn she can’t see it. If this is what it takes to get her to see things my way, then so be it.”
“You’re joking, right? Are you telling me you didn’t sleep with that girl who’s clearly been photographed hanging all over you?”
William pressed the emergency button once again, and the elevator lunged upward. “I’m finished answering questions today. I am, however, glad to see you have so much faith in me, Sondra. Oh, and by the way, Mrs. Greyer says I’m not to see you anymore, so I’m going to have to cancel our seven o’clock. Tell me, though, who does it sound like is calling the shots here to you?
The doors opened, and William stepped off the elevator as he nodded in Sondra’s direction.
“William,” Sondra called after him with a hint of desperation in her voice before retreating a little and continuing in a more formal manner. “Mr. Hartman, please reconsider the tactics you’re using. It’s very obvious what it is you’re doing, and it isn’t healthy.”
William turned and winked. “Says who?”
When three dozen red roses were delivered right before lunchtime, Addie didn’t even have to guess who they were from. She sat staring at them for a moment, before opening the card. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and began reading.
Dearest Addison,
I know you’re angry with me, and I’m sorry for that.
You can tell me we’re done, if you want. But I know you better.
Just as some people prefer orchids and others roses, there is an undeniable magnetic draw that attracts certain people to one another.
It’s that way with us, Addison. You can try and deny it, but we’re two of a kind, you and I.
I need to see you. Now.
Carl will take you down through the private exit to the garage and drive you to my place for lunch. I’m already here, so there’s no risk of us being seen together.
If you don’t come, both literally and figuratively, I’ll be forced to keep my scheduled appointment with Sondra this evening.
I don’t think either of us wants the second-case scenario. First case always tastes so much sweeter, now doesn’t it? And as we both witnessed in your office this morning, coming shouldn’t be an issue.
Getting here is more than half the battle. ;)
See you soon.
Yours truly,
William
Addie brought the letter to her nose and inhaled. She could smell William on the stationery, and it infuriated her. She flung the letter down on her desk and searched for her cell. Why? WHY? Did she let him do this to her? One letter, one phone call, the sound of his voice, his scent and suddenly she was reeled back in. She was nothing more than prey caught in a spider’s web. She despised the fact, but he was right. There was something about William Hartman that she couldn’t resist. She was drawn to whatever game it was he was playing, and she couldn’t quit even if she’d tried. She knew it, and clearly, he sure as hell knew it. But love, that was a different matter altogether. Sure, she’d slipped up once. But no one knew how to wear a poker face and mask love better than she did. No one. Game on.
Carl walked Addie to William’s front door and offered up a slight smile. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Greyer. I can assure you that no one saw us on the way in.”
Addie smiled genuinely. She wanted to tell him that wasn’t what worried her at all but thanked him instead. As Carl held the door for her, she inhaled the aromas coming from inside. She made it halfway down the foyer before changing her mind and turning back. She shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be giving in to him like this, she told herself before the familiar deep voice interrupted. “Leaving so soon?”
Addie turned and eyed William cautiously. She took him in for a moment before she spoke. Dressed in faded jeans slung low on his hips and a fitted black T-shirt, he looked markedly different from the William she was used to seeing. “Yeah, well, you know getting here was half the battle.”
William strode over to her and took her hand. “Stay a while,” he said as he bent down, kissing her cheek.
Addie exhaled sharply. “Look, I really can’t stay long. My afternoon is pretty hectic, and I just remembered I left my car in the garage around the corner from the office. I gave Kelsey the afternoon off, so I’m going to have to hustle to get back to it after my last meeting as it is.”
William pressed his finger to her lips. “Whoa. Whoa. Easy there, girl. Don’t worry. All of that can be worked out.”
“Easy for you to say.” Addie scoffed as she headed towards the kitchen.
William stood back, watching as Addie kicked off her heels. He leaned against the stove, taking the sight of her in. “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I ordered several things off the menu.”
Addie nodded towards the bedroom. “Like I said, I can’t stay long. I’ve gotta get back, and I really didn’t come here to eat.”
William rolled his eyes, strode over to Addie, and kissed her hard before pulling back, searching her eyes. “All right, have it your way, then.”
Addie grabbed William’s arm and ushered him over to the couch, gently nudging him backwards. He reluctantly sat down as Addie straddled him. “Don’t you even want to talk about why we’re done first?” William whispered wryly as he slipped his hands underneath her skirt.
“Nope.” Addie replied as she slowly unbuttoned her blouse, her eyes never leaving his. William smiled as she pulled his shirt over his head.
“Are you sure?” he teased, feeling her up.
“Yep,” Addie murmured as she kissed his neck then sunk lower, sucking and biting all the way down. When William couldn’t take it anymore, he swiftly lifted her up off his lap with one hand as he quickly undid his pants with the other. Once he’d pulled himself free, he forced Addie’s skirt up, unfastened her bra, and grabbed her hips, slowly lowering her down. Only she surprised him when she abruptly pushed herself all the way down. He gasped as she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled. He settled her by grabbing her wrists and holding them behind her back as they moved in unison, hurriedly licking and biting at each other until they simultaneously found their release.
William released her hands and grabbed her face between his palms, kissing her as Addie searched blindly with her hands for his T-shirt. Finding it, she slowly stood and pulled down her skirt. She tossed it on William’s lap. “I’ve got to get back. Thanks for “lunch.”
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?”
Addie bent down to retrieve her shirt as William grabbed her wrist. Her eyes met his. “No. I’m not kidding.”
“Addison, I didn’t invite you here for this. We need to talk.”
Addie walked to the bar and slipped her feet into her black pumps. “Yeah, well, I didn’t come here to talk.”
William stood and fastened his jeans. “Cancel your afternoon.”
“I’m not canceling anything.” Addie huffed.
“I said cancel your afternoon, Addison. We need to talk.”
William walked to the bar and grabbed Addison’s phone before she could get to it. “I’m only going to ask nicely once more. Please cancel your afternoon.”
She tried to wrestle the phone from him to no avail. His hands were too big and too strong. William picked Addie up in one fell swoop and carried her to a room she hadn’t seen before. “This isn’t funny, William. I’m not playing anymore.” Addie laughed nervously as he set her down and cuffed her to a chair in the dark room. William lowered his voice and smiled at her all disheveled and cuffed in his house. “Neither am I.”
“Damn it. This isn’t funny. Seriously.” Addie’s tone grew pissed.
William undid a few more buttons on her shirt and kissed her cheek
. “I’m going to go make a few phone calls on your behalf, and then I’ll be right back. You stay put, okay?” William winked.
Addie threw her head back and exhaled. “If you don’t un-cuff me right now, I swear this is the last time you’ll ever see me set foot in your house again. Do you understand?”
William laughed as he slowly closed the door. “Oh, somehow I doubt that.”
William spent much of the rest of the afternoon slowly pleasuring Addison in all the ways she had no idea she’d even liked to be pleasured. He made her beg and plead with him as he brought her to the brink again and again, her anger only making their lovemaking more intense. He introduced her to the arsenal of toys and riding crops he’d bought just for her but kept it a little more vanilla than he hoped because he could tell she wasn’t used to being on the other side of the coin. He made love to her on the bed then sat her on the table and teased her over and over before finally bending her over it and fucking her hard.
She had no idea what was coming next, and he could tell she loved it—whether she was willing to admit it or not. That was the thing about Addison. She was going to have to learn to give up control if she wanted to be with a man like William, and so far, she wasn’t willing to do it. So he’d decided he’d help her out a little by starting in the bedroom.
When William was finished and Addie could barely stand, he carried her to the bed in the corner of the room and laid her on it, fastening the cuff to the frame. Addie watched him and frowned, but he could swear there was the hint of a smile there somewhere.
William looked at the handcuff and back at Addie as he opened a bottle of water and held it to her lips. “We haven’t done much talking, so I’m not letting you off, just yet.”
Addie downed the water. “What time is it? I have to pick up my kids.”
“I know and you will. It’s not that time yet. Carl’s going to have one of the guys get your car from the garage and drive it home for you. He’ll take you to get the boys in one of my cars to save time. I spoke with your assistant, had her handle your meetings, and everything is fine. I’ve got it all worked out.”
Addie wiped the sweat from her forehead. “This isn’t funny, William. Maybe your life works like this—having everyone else handle things for you—but mine doesn’t.
“But it can, Addison. Do you really think I could be this successful if I did everything myself? No. You have to learn to delegate, to let go of control a little bit.”
Addie watched as William pulled a pair of pajama pants from a drawer and slipped them on. “Yeah, we’ll I’d say I’ve pretty much given up all control.”
“Only because you were forced.” William grinned. He walked over to Addie and un-cuffed her. Sitting on the bed, he gathered her in his arms and rubbed her wrists. “Look, I’m sorry about this, but I needed to talk to you, and I needed you to listen. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Addie rolled her eyes and scooted herself out of his arms. “No, but that’s not exactly my idea of talking.”
“You wouldn’t listen before, but you see you’re pretty calm now.” William smiled and continued. “I know you saw the photos from the gala, but you could’ve at least let me explain. You didn’t even give me a chance to talk to you.”
Addie inhaled slowly and put on the mask she wore well. “What is there to say? You don’t need to explain anything to me, William. We’re not in a relationship. This . . . This thing we’re doing . . . It is what it is. There’s really nothing more to say.”
William, confused, pulled back, and studied her face. “I’m not sleeping with anyone else, if that’s what you mean, Addison.”
Addie shifted. “I don’t mean anything, but you’re right. We do need to have boundaries, and seeing you at the gala made me realize that.”
“And.”
Addie bit her lip. “And you can do your thing, and I’ll do mine. When we’re together, we’re together. When we’re not, well, we each have our own interests.”
William stood and ran his fingers through his hair. “Tell me, Addison. Do you have other fucking interests? Because I don’t. The girl you saw was there to throw the media off. I figured if they saw me with someone then they’d get off our asses and we wouldn’t have to worry so much. I was paying her to be seen with me. Nothing more.”
Addie frowned. Fuck.
“Mr. Hartman, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation,” a voice called over the intercom.
William stared at Addie as though waiting for her to speak. When she didn’t, he shook his head. “I’ll be right there, Carl.”
“There’s a bathroom right through those doors. Everything you need should be in there, but just hit the buzzer by the door if not. I had your clothes cleaned and pressed, and they’re there on a hanger.”
Addie stared at William blankly, refusing to say what was on her mind. He didn’t take his gaze off hers as she entered the bathroom and shut the door. She showered and dressed quickly before making her way back towards the living area. As she rounded the corner, she heard hushed voices speaking briskly. When Addie entered the room, it went silent. William had his back to her and appeared to be staring out the window. He spoke slowly and calmly, his voice rough. “We have to do something. This is escalating.”
Carl cleared his throat. “Mrs. Greyer.”
William turned and exhaled. Addison’s heart sunk when she saw the concern across his face. She glanced from William to Carl to the men she didn’t recognize and then back to William. “What’s going on?”
William made his way over to her in two swift steps. “Addison, sit. Please.”
Addie stepped back. “Don’t tell me to sit. Does anyone want to explain what’s going on here or why you’re all looking at me like someone died?”
William lowered his voice and ushered her to the couch. “Addison, please.” He sat and took her hand in hers.
Addie sucked in all the air she could and still felt as though she couldn’t get enough. “Oh my God, please tell me what’s going on.” Addie stood quickly. “Where are my children?” William pulled her back down to the couch and spoke slowly. “The boys are fine. They’re still at school, and there’s a team of my guys with them.” Addie exhaled and nodded. William continued. “When one of the guys went to pick up your car, what they found was pretty disturbing. We’ve notified the police, and they’re handling it now.”
Addie blinked back tears. “What did they find?”
William squeezed her hand and exhaled. “Max. He’s dead, Addison.”
“Max? My dog? I don’t understand. None of this is making any sense.”
William stared at the floor. “They found Max in your car. He was killed and placed there. It wasn’t pretty. The problem is the garage you parked in doesn’t have cameras and isn’t monitored. It’s possible that if you’d gone back to your car you could’ve been attacked. Obviously, this is the work of Hammons, and my guys are working with the police to prove it and have him arrested.”
“Why is this happening? What am I supposed to tell the boys? Addie sobbed.
“Is there any way that you and the boys can get away for a little while, Mrs. Greyer? Until we get this figured out and get Hammons back in jail where he belongs?” Carl interjected.
“I . . . I don’t know. I guess. I mean . . . I was going to leave them with my mother-in-law this weekend and go away with their dad. How long do we need to stay gone? They have school, and I have work.”
William choked. “You’re fucking joking, right?”
Addie wiped her eyes and glared at her shoes.
“This just gets better and better.” William shouted as he threw up his hands and stormed into the kitchen. “Can you believe this shit? She was going to really going to go away with him.”
Carl took William’s spot next to Addie on the sofa. “Mrs. Greyer, can you get away this week? I know it might be difficult, but it would really be for the best.”
“I don’t understand why he’s doing this. Why me?” Addi
e cried, searching Carl’s eyes.
“We’re going to get him, Mrs. Greyer. I promise you that.” Carl replied gently, handing her a tissue.
Addie stood and smoothed her skirt. “It’s time to go. I need to see my children.”
She left the apartment and then quickly skipped town, without saying goodbye. And while she never said it directly, William knew she blamed him for what had happened. Hell, he even blamed him, which made him all the more determined to fix the problem.
Penny Greyer was beginning to wonder why she had ever decided to help Scott Hammons in the first place. Sure, she despised Addison and wanted her out of the picture, but she was the mother of her grandchildren, and Penny worried that maybe Scott Hammons had misread her intentions. Not only that but Penny believed he was taking advantage of her. For starters, he hadn’t offered up one shred of evidence that Addie was up to no good. He said that he’d provide proof, but so far Penny had been the only one doing the providing.
Penny knew Addie was messing around with that Hartman guy again. Why else would he be providing her round-the-clock security? She just didn’t know how to get all of this through her son’s thick skull. She only wanted what was best for her child, which is all any mother wants, really. And unfortunately, yes, she had gone to greater lengths than most probably would have to get her point across, but what else was she to do. She’d always told Patrick he needed to marry his ex, and she’d been right. Penny didn’t understand what was so wrong with arranged marriages. She had it all planned out between him and Sophie, and she knew they cared for one another—until that damned Addison entered the picture, that is. No one understood why Penny disliked Addison so much, but what those people didn’t understand was having a dream for their child. Hell, Addison hadn’t only destroyed the dream that Penny had but she had cost Penny her best friend. When Patrick dumped Sophie and broke her heart, of course Penny’s best friend had sided with her daughter without so much as a second thought. So, yes, maybe her hatred of her daughter-in-law was a little extreme, but then again, when you’re right about someone or something, you just are. The way Penny saw it nothing was too extreme when it came to protecting your child and what you believe to be best for him.
Breaking Bedrock (Book Two) Page 8