by Kira Blakely
Nash smiled and bent forward to pick up his pants. I took his cue and started sliding my dress back up. Well, at least he wasn’t going to be rude about it. Maybe Nash Preston wasn’t the big asshole I always thought he was. But it had only been a few minutes since we both came. It could have been too early to judge him yet.
“Should we head back in and mingle with the gentry?” he asked, zipping up his pants. He extended a hand to me, which I caught to help me back up. I beamed at him, a happy satisfied smile.
“Lead the way, good sir,” I joked and he gave me his arm. I must be dreaming.
Chapter 16
Bonnie
The way Nash kept a firm grip on my waist as we walked around the ballroom made me feel like this wasn’t an act. That through some stroke of luck, Nash Preston was actually interested in me. Attracted to me. And I could finally live my wildest fantasy.
He shook hands with a couple of people, and introduced me to some more celebrities. Our encounter on the balcony had made me strangely confident of myself. I felt less like a bruised puppy who he was being charitable toward, and more like an actual date. Is this what Nash Preston did on all his dates? I wasn’t judging. I was just glad it had happened.
A sudden cheer in the crowd drew my attention from my otherwise distracted thoughts. I realized I was still clinging to his arm, while several people had turned to look at us in unison. Then my eyes went to the man on the small stage at the front of the room. He had clearly mentioned Nash’s name or something, because now people were clapping, looking at us.
“I have to do this; will you be okay by yourself?” Nash said, looking over at me. I was confused, still dazed, but I nodded my head. I was conscious of eyes on us, as Nash left my side and began walking toward the stage, fixing the cufflinks on his wrists.
This man had just made me come. I couldn’t get that thought out of my head as I watched him walking up the steps and shaking hands with the MC. Those fingers had been inside me, I blushed. It was our little secret.
Then the man was saying something again into the mic and I decided to pay attention. The bright stage lights were on Nash now, as he stood beside the MC. He was the most handsome, dashing man in the room, and he had just jerked off to me on the balcony. I couldn’t stop myself from biting down on my lip.
“The Preston family has made the largest donation for our very worthy cause, as they do every year,” the MC was saying. My eyebrows shot up. Nash had made a donation already? He hadn’t mentioned it to me.
People around me were clapping and cheering, and I instinctively clapped as well.
“Luther Preston’s son, Nash, is here to represent the family this year. And he has very kindly donated a sum of three million dollars for this spectacular diamond necklace,” the MC was now holding up a long rectangular blue velvet box.
The crowd erupted in applause again as my eyes widened. Had I heard that right? Nash had donated three million dollars? He was standing humbly to the side, with one hand thrust into his pocket, smiling at the MC.
The man was quick to snap open the velvet box, and the crowd around me gasped and sighed when the diamond necklace was revealed.
“The famous Antoinette, designed by none other than Devos Jewelers in Paris,” the man added, while people continued to applaud. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.
“It has belonged to Lady Marseille’s family for two generations, and she has very graciously donated it to our cause.” The man was now speaking directly to an old lady in the crowd. Everyone turned to look at her. I could only see the back of her snowy white head as she held up a champagne glass to acknowledge the applause she was receiving.
“The necklace is set in platinum, with 181 carat diamonds in triple strings,” the MC drew our attention to the necklace again. It sparkled wildly under the stage lights, catching my eye as I looked at it dreamily. It was stunning, and my hands robotically continued to clap.
“And now, Mr. Preston would like to say a few words,” the MC said, handing the mic over to Nash, who took it, with that charming smile on his face that I knew was melting several hearts in the room.
I couldn’t stop blushing as I looked at him. I wasn’t sure what I was more excited about just then, the fact that I had seen his cock recently or that he had just bought this beautiful piece of legendary jewelry.
“Thank you, Mr. Rubio, and thank you, everyone. As you all know, my father and I have been deeply dedicated to this cause ever since we lost my mother to breast cancer fifteen years ago. We are indebted to the organization for the progress they make each year in research and donations. I would also like to thank Lady Marseille, who very kindly donated this beautiful diamond necklace to the cause, which I will now gift to a very lucky lady.” Nash was speaking like a natural. He was good on stage, very charming and all eyes were on him. And then his last two words jolted in my ear.
“Bonnie Calhoun, will you please come up on stage?” Nash said before my mind could fully register what he had implied.
The clapping continued, as several people turned to look at me. It was vastly noted that an outsider from their billionaire-circle had accompanied Nash to the gala. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that all eyes turned to me now. I was stunned into silence, shaken and staring at Nash on the stage.
“C’mon up, Bonnie. Don’t be shy,” Nash said with a slight laugh, and some people in the crowd cheered.
I gulped and started walking toward the stage, my hair flowing behind me now as I made my way. I hadn’t bothered to pin it up in a bun after the balcony. There were goose bumps on my flesh as I climbed the steps, trying very hard not to trip.
“Congratulations, Ms. Calhoun, very lucky indeed,” the MC said into the mic, as Nash walked over to me, beaming from ear to ear.
“Nash, seriously…” I said, keeping my voice low. He walked around me so that he could place the necklace around my throat.
“I had to buy something,” he said, in an equally low voice, and I barely heard him. I felt the coolness of the stones sting my skin when he slipped it around my bare neck.
The crowd was applauding again.
“Turn around, madam, you look stunning,” the MC said and I had no other choice but to face the crowd with a three-million-dollar diamond necklace around my throat. I was blushing deeply, giving Nash a nervous smile as he stood beside me, like a proud parent.
“Thank you, Mr. Preston; thank you, Ms. Calhoun. Now, we should move on to the next item,” the MC said.
Nash stretched out his arm toward the steps, indicating that I should leave the stage. “After you,” he said gallantly, and I walked quickly, desperate to get out of the limelight.
I tried to maintain composure as I weaved through the crowd, because several eyes were still on us. Nash was following me, still stopping to shake hands with people he knew. Eventually, I came to a stop when I found a little clearing in the crowd. I turned to look at him, the heavy diamonds still weighing me down.
“I really can’t accept this, Nash,” I said immediately.
He was smiling at me, his gray eyes sparkling. “It looks lovely on you, Bonnie. Really, keep it, please.” His voice was earnest, more gentle and humble than I had ever heard it before. What was going on? Did he feel guilty for buying my company? Did he want something else from me? I couldn’t wrap my brain around it, which only made me more nervous.
“It doesn’t matter how it looks, Nash. I just can’t accept a thing like this,” I continued, still speaking in a hushed voice. People were turning to look at us, and I didn’t want to make a scene.
“Bonnie,” Nash said and placed a hand on my waist, “stop worrying about things. I know you detest this world, but it’s for a good cause and it’s a gift. I don’t expect anything in return; you can be sure of that.”
I gulped as I stared into his clear gray eyes. How could I accept this necklace from him? How had all this happened? I wanted to take his word for it, that he wanted nothing in return, that he wasn’t just playi
ng a game.
“Forget about it for a bit, and lets just enjoy ourselves for the night,” he said, pulling me closer to him. And he was right, it was so easy to forget about everything else when I was with him.
Chapter 17
Nash
Bonnie wore that diamond necklace with grace and elegance, and it suited her personality, too, glittering, standing out in the crowd. I wished that she would forget her moralistic views for one minute and just enjoy the beauty of my gift. And thankfully, slowly, as we walked around arm in arm, she was calming down.
I still couldn’t stop thinking about the balcony. Bonnie Calhoun’s breasts; I’d had my fingers inside her. I wanted more, because nothing had ever felt so good. I had never wanted a woman so badly, and she was such a tease.
I got a whiff of her strawberry-scented shampoo as she walked beside me, and I closed my eyes to enjoy that moment. She had always been this fresh, fiery and full of life. It was always a battle with this one; she kept me on my toes.
“So, you just drink lots of champagne and shop for diamonds at these things,” she was saying with a smile on her full lips as she took a sip from her glass.
I chuckled and shook my head. “C’mon, Bonnie, you’re enjoying yourself,” I said, staring at the way her tongue shot out of her mouth to lick her lips. I wanted it in my mouth, I wanted that mouth on my cock. Everything about Bonnie had the capacity to make me come. Every part of her body was a minefield.
She threw back her delicate blonde head and laughed. “I didn’t say I wasn’t,” she said, with a twinkle in her large blue eyes. Her eyelashes were naturally thick and dark, making her eyes look even larger and more innocent. I knew there was no innocence there. This lady was a minx. I’d seen the way she pulled her dress down and played with her nipples. I was already getting hard again just thinking about it.
“Hello, son,” my father boomed from behind me, and I turned in surprise. I had assumed he wasn’t coming; he had never enjoyed spending his money at these events. But he always did, because he was expected to, and also to keep the family image intact. I noticed the woman on his arms. I didn’t recognize her, and she looked only a few years older than me. My nostrils flared, and I clenched my fists.
“Hello, Father, I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said, trying not to look directly at the woman who appalled me. We were at this event in the memory of my mother; the least he could do was show her some respect.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, would I?” Father said in his usual cold-as-glass voice, turning his gaze to Bonnie.
“And you are Bonnie Calhoun,” he said, extending a hand to her.
Bonnie smiled graciously and shook his hand, and immediately I wanted to take her out of his presence. He controlled every other part of my life; I didn’t want him meddling with Bonnie.
“And you are Nash’s father,” Bonnie said, slipping her hand away from my arm. I could see that she had suddenly grown self-conscious, and she tucked in a few strands of her golden hair behind her ears.
When I turned to Father, he was eyeing the diamond necklace on Bonnie’s throat, which was resting delicately in the dip of her impressive cleavage. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say next, but I could tell that he was preparing for some cruel outburst.
“I don’t suppose my son socializes with all his business partners in this fashion,” Father said, with a rude twinkle in his eye.
Beside me, Bonnie continued to smile. Surprisingly, she was keeping her calm quite well. I was the one cracking under the pressure of my father’s scrutiny. The woman on his arm wasn’t making matters easy either.
“She’s an old friend, like I said, Father,” I replied, trying to draw his attention to me, rather than keep his stare on Bonnie. But Father didn’t budge. He continued to look at her, like she was beneath him. Like he was ashamed that I had chosen Bonnie to accompany me to this gala.
“Of course, an old college friend. And you have given her a marvelous gift of friendship, too,” he said, dropping his gaze to the diamond necklace again. I could sense how uncomfortable that comment had made Bonnie.
“It is a stunning piece of jewelry, isn’t it?” I said, in a rigid voice, hoping that he would get the hint to stay out of it.
“And I’m very grateful for it; in fact, I was telling Nash how I can’t accept it.” Bonnie looked at me with strained eyes. She looked like she was very close to just tearing the necklace off her neck.
“No, you should keep it, my dear. I’m sure Nash feels guilty enough already,” Father interrupted her, and I could feel my jaws clenching again.
“He shouldn’t feel guilty. It was a business transaction, I sold my company willingly.” A soft chuckle escaped Bonnie’s lips as she spoke. She was trying her best to maintain her composure. I didn’t want Father to say anymore. I wanted him to shut up and walk away.
He gave a deep laugh, which I knew was a mark of his cruelty. “Yes, you did. And now we will have to tear the building down and convert it into a digital showroom for the new line of electronic products flushing in from China,” Father said, and a deathly silence descended on our group.
The smile on Bonnie’s face dropped instantly. “A showroom?” she asked and I recognized a tear in her voice. I hadn’t mentioned it to her for a reason. Her office building was a representation of her life’s work. I had led her to believe that her ex-employees would continue to work there, on the same coding projects as before. She wasn’t expecting to hear this, from my father of all people.
“Yes, didn’t he tell you?” Father asked, his gray brows arching up in mockery.
Bonnie turned to look at me and I stared back at her, begging her with my eyes to just hear me out.
“And your codes are going to be used for online games that we are going to start marketing to teenagers,” Father continued.
“Are you serious?” Bonnie spat out. She had lost all sense of propriety by now, and I couldn’t blame her. “Those codes were written for building cyber security. I worked for two years on them,” she said, her voice raising.
“We have no use for it, my dear. We’re taking it apart and using it for our games,” Father said, chuckling now.
“That’s enough, Father,” I said, as harshly as I could. But he wasn’t even looking at me. He had eyes only for Bonnie, and for some reason, he was on a mission to make her miserable.
“No use for it? Those codes are worth a lot more than your company paid me.” Bonnie’s face had gone red by now. I could see the thick angry vein in her neck as she spoke to Father through gritted teeth.
“Nobody was willing to shell out that kind of money, were they?” Father said, his face still filled with a smile.
“That’s enough, Father. There is no need for this,” I said and stepped in between Bonnie and him.
“We’re just having a chat, son,” Father said, completely unconcerned that his words had just destroyed my chances with Bonnie. That had probably been his intent.
“Leave, now. I’ve made the donation. Your work here is done. Take your whore and get out of here before I drag you out myself,” I growled under my breath. He looked small, leathery and old, and I was mad enough to want to physically hurt him.
“I’m your father, Nash,” he said in a prideful voice, staring up at me.
“You’ve reminded me of that a million times. Now get the fuck out,” I said, and the woman pulled at his sleeve.
“We are going to talk about it in my office tomorrow morning, Nash,” he said through gritted teeth, leaning in toward me.
“It’s my office now, Father. And no, I will not be paying you a visit in your retirement home tomorrow morning. You can forget about it,” I snapped at him, just seconds before the woman pulled him away from me.
When I turned around, I found that Bonnie wasn’t behind me anymore. A wave of memory hit me when I saw her weaving through the crowds, hurrying away. Only this time, she wasn’t wearing a shimmering red dress, and she was definitely running away fr
om me.
Chapter 18
Bonnie
A showroom? They were going to tear my building down and convert it into an electronics store? And my code! The code I had spent so much time writing, perfecting, with a clear aim in mind. They were going to use it for stupid online games?
I didn’t know where I was going; all I knew was that I had to get away from Nash. Where were my employees going to go? What degrading work were they going to make them do? They had bought us out to destroy us. Not to continue our ideas. I was ready to break down and cry. I should have known all this was too good to be true. I should have known that Nash Preston was always going to be a big mistake.
The cool night breeze slapped my face as I burst out through the back doors of the ballroom. I realized I was out in the garden, which was unlit and noisy with the sounds of crickets. I kept running, not sure of where my feet were carrying me. This was too surreal. I had made a huge mistake by putting my faith in Nash. Once again, I was left humiliated and insulted, running away from him.
“Bonnie, stop!” I heard his voice behind me, but I didn’t stop. I wasn’t just going to do whatever he wanted. I was panting now. My chest felt tight with emotions. My mind was spinning from the events of the night. I had been so foolish.
“Bonnie, just stop!” he cried out again. He caught up to me and whipped me around to face him.
“When were you going to tell me? Huh? When were you going to tell me what you had planned?” I spat out the words.
He looked so handsome in the moonlight, and despite myself, I felt goose bumps on my flesh. I knew I was weak around him, which was why I wanted to get away from him. I didn’t want to look at him ever again.
“Just give me a moment to explain. Stop running,” he said as I tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
“Let me go!” I hissed at him.
He dropped his hands away from me, raising up his palms and taking a step back. “All right. All right. Just don’t run again, okay?” he said in his usual calm steady voice. What would it take to make Nash Preston lose his cool?