by Dakota Black
Veronica gave him another once over before moving away, fanning her face as her nipples remained hard. She might just have to get the sexy bartender’s number.
She was allowed a few moments of quiet time while music played, the guests moved onto a second drink and very expensive silver trays of food were doled out. Everything seemed fake, unfocused and at this point in her life, ridiculous. Images of hungry children, begging for food on the streets, crying out for mothers who would no longer comfort them remained lingering in her mind. She was forever changed by the horrific but also amazing experience. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice a crowd had gathered near the Grand piano until her father started speaking.
“Thank you all for coming. I’m so pleased and excited to have you here,” Thomas bellowed, his deep voice unusually tinged with a heavy Texas accent. “It’s been too long, dear friends. Jennifer and I would like you to lift a glass in celebration of our beautiful daughter’s return home.”
Every single person in the room turned to gawk, their glasses raised, their faces almost cracking from the plastered-on smiles.
Veronica took a gulp before lifting her wine glass and nodding. When everyone started clapping, heat rose from the swell of her breasts up to her hairline. She couldn’t help but stare at Derek, his expression one of knowing. What the fuck was her father up to?
“I know. I know!” Thomas laughed as his mannerisms demanded they all be quiet.
You could now hear a pin drop.
She shifted from foot to foot, the way too high stilettos killing her calves.
“Yes, she’s been away for over a year in South America, fighting wars and disease,” Thomas added.
“That’s Africa and famine, strife and disease, Father. But you already knew that,” Veronica chided.
Thomas didn’t react except for the darkness in his eyes. “Of course, my dear. We’re just glad to have you back.” He inched forward in the crowd. “Veronica has yet to become settled, but I understand she’ll be accepting a job offer from the Texas Institute of Research as their lead disease scientist.”
Cheers roared into the expansive room, followed by several rounds of congratulations. Veronica’s mouth dropped open as she took several long strides forward. Yes, she’d received a request for an interview, but had not corresponded with the director in any manner. Let alone, her father had no idea what type of employment opportunity they might offer. Although it was painfully obvious that her father was trying his manipulative tactics once again. Fuming with anger, she started to retort when Thomas held up his hand.
“And something else to celebrate. While I’m perhaps being a bit presumptuous, I’m a proud papa after all.” Thomas turned toward Derek, motioning him forward. “You all know Derek Winters. He’s quite the attorney, employed by only the finest law firm in the entire state of Texas. As you can imagine, I’m grooming this boy for our State Senate.”
Another round of cheers forced Veronica even closer.
“Now, now, Mr. Easton. You’re jumping the gun,” Derek said, his grin widening.
“Derek, my boy, you can certainly call me Thomas since…” Thomas allowed the words to trail off as he narrowed his eyes and looked directly at Veronica.
Everyone around her moved back, allowing a clear passageway. Veronica’s hand was shaking, but not from fear.
“Since you are going to be my son-in-law.”
The words, the understanding hit her hard. Even the sound of the shrieks of joy was muffled, every clap and congratulatory gesture in slow motion. She looked from her father to Derek, who blew her a kiss, and burst into laughter, doubling over and issuing a slight howl. The out of character reaction quieted the entire room. When she rose to her full height, now thankful the four-inch heels allowed her to stand several inches taller than both men, she lifted her glass. “I have something to say.” Everyone leaned in closer. “What a crock of shit.” Guzzling as much wine as she could tolerate, she turned on her heel, tossed the glass toward the wall and stormed up the stairs. The sound of the expensive crystal shattering into dozens of pieces gave her a huge smile.
She managed to grab her things, make it downstairs and halfway out the door before anyone tried to stop her.
When Derek jerked her elbow, pulling her back a solid two feet, she hissed. “Get off me, you prick.”
“Lower your voice. That kind of display is uncalled for and will not be tolerated. Am I clear?” Derek whispered between clenched teeth.
“Not tolerated? Who do you think you are?”
He tossed back his perfectly coiffed hair and lowered his head so only she could hear. “You and I will be married, and you’ll abide by every rule I establish, or your punishments will be severe.” He dug his nails into her skin as he issued a grin.
Veronica pursed her lips. “Really?” After giving him a smutty smile, she reared back, jerking her arm away and cold-cocking him. She watched with sheer joy as the man toppled backwards onto the ground and wiped her hands together, the action exaggerated. A crowd had formed, and she waved goodbye before stalking to her car, climbing in and starting the engine.
The squeal of her tires as she thrust down the accelerator made the entire blasphemous evening a bit more tolerable.
“He did what?”
Veronica tossed her shoes down and plopped on the couch, rubbing her feet. At least she could commiserate with her best friend. Lori Holcomb had been through a war of her own during the last several months. The few phone calls and emails had been more about comforting her friend than catching up. “All men are pigs.”
Lori placed two wine glasses down on the coffee table and yanked the cork from a full wine bottle. “Amen. I’ll drink to that, sugar. Assholes. Every one of them. What in God’s name possessed your father to do something like that? And Derek? I never liked that worthless, gorgeous piece of trash.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “He was always dominating but tonight was different, as if I was his slave. Weird.” Derek had changed but no doubt was influenced by her father. Daddy had made certain both she and her sister had known at an early age that women were subservient to men. What continued to surprise her was the longing she felt, the need to find the ultimate dominating man. The ugliness with Derek had left a nasty taste in her mouth.
Hunkering down on the floor, Lori crossed her legs and reached for a glass of wine. “Did you even get a chance to tell dear old daddy about your clinic?”
“Not a scrap and I don’t think I’m going to tell him anything. Matter of fact, I might just push my entire family out of my life. I need to live the way I want to. I’ll open the practice and they don’t have to know.”
“Uh-huh. You see how well that worked out for your sister.”
Veronica groaned. “Yeah, I know, but I’m stronger than Amanda.”
“Are you really? There’s something about controlling men that we find attractive, yet by the time they become assholes, we’re already so indoctrinated into their methodology that we can no longer crawl out of the hole. They keep us chained, whether with our bodies or just in our minds.”
“Ouch!”
“I oughta know,” Lori huffed and raised her glass. “To jerk off men who should have their dicks cut off.”
She chuckled as they toasted; the vision of tying Derek down and performing a little surgery causing her to salivate. “How’s the divorce settlement coming?”
“About the same as the last time I talked to you. Jack refuses to sign the papers.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. At this point I’m just waiting, trying to remain patient. I can’t afford to spend any more money so the separation status stands.” Lori licked around the lip of her glass.
“I thought you two would be love birds forever.”
“Remember, looks can be deceiving. I thought I wanted a man to take control of everything. The house, the money and all the decisions. Jack was more than happy to take on the role, but I was one misbehaving wench, or so he liked
to call me.”
They both laughed, but her thoughts drifted to the conversations they’d shared as girls. They’d both wanted a knight in shining armor, protective and loving, but also in charge. She attributed their ridiculous thoughts to the same kind of fathers, men who ruled with an iron fist.
Lori leaned over the table. “You know. At first, I absolutely loved the fact Jack was in charge. He took away the stress in my life, kept me on track with all the details in my job and I didn’t mind that he gave me an allowance. When the punishments started, I understood. I misbehaved and deserved a hard spanking.”
“What changed everything?” Veronica asked, her own realization of the kind of men she wanted fuzzy at best. What woman didn’t like a rough and tumble man, but in charge of everything? Dominating every aspect? Uh, no.
“When the spankings turned into punishment events. My mouth washed out with soap. Standing in the corner naked for an hour or longer.” Lori grabbed her wine, swirling the dark liquid. “I think the night he spanked me in the middle of a crowded restaurant in front of dozens of customers and four of our friends did me in. Yep. That was the kicker.”
“You never told me that. Jesus!” Lori didn’t have the same needs, only toying with the concept of playful submission. If her best friend only knew the kind of relationship she’d shared with Derek, she would be sickened.
Winking, Lori took a gulp. “I never told you because I knew you’d kick his ass.”
“I still might.”
“And I might let you.”
They laughed again until an uneasy silence settled in.
“Derek mentioned discipline, like he was going to lock me in the house when I was a bad girl.” Veronica heard the shimmer in her voice.
“I thought that’s what you wanted,” Lori said slyly.
Veronica raised an eyebrow. “I…”
“Oh, come on. I remember our conversations. I know what kind of big he-man you like. You hunger for the type.” Lori snickered.
“The type. I’m not that girl any longer.”
“Don’t give me that look. Besides, I don’t believe you. I know you too well, girlfriend.”
Veronica exhaled and gripped the glass. “There’s no man who can understand me.”
“I don’t know. I think there can be a wonderful balance of a dominating man, a submissive woman and even justified spankings.” Lori wiggled back and forth on her ass, a huge grin crossing her face. “I needed a firm hand, just not a firm everything. Well, some other things.”
“I guess.”
“Then, maybe you just need a round of hard, wild and kinky sex.”
“You are so bad!” Veronica couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had sex. Two years? Christ. And taking her passion purple vibrator hadn’t been an option. Yeah, wouldn’t that have gone well during customs’ checks? She held her breath as a series of vivid images dashed in her periphery of vision. You bet she could see herself draped over a man’s lap, her naked ass on display as she was spanked with his hand, a hairbrush, a paddle or even a belt. She fanned her face as her pussy clenched.
“Uh-huh. You like my thought, dear girlfriend of mine. Don’t tell me you don’t.” Lori huffed. “Maybe I’ll find some young stud and make him my submissive.”
The sip of wine flew out of her mouth. “Shit!” Veronica coughed then wiped the long strings off her chin. “Actually? Not a bad idea.” She reeled in her lascivious desires. That would have to wait. The pittance she received doing what some called ‘God’s work’ wouldn’t sustain her for long. She had to get a loan and open the practice or find a job. Soon.
“What are you really going to do?’ Lori asked quietly. “You know what I said is true. Your family will never leave you alone and my guess is that neither will Derek. The only way your sister found any relief was moving across the country.”
The sad truth hit Veronica square between the eyes. Amanda had tried to be herself in Texas, working as a teacher for one of the local schools. The job wasn’t good enough. Her father had pushed, using his influence to get her a position in the local state government office, a job Amanda loathed. Her sister had finally left the state, moving to Maryland, a month after Veronica left for Africa. No wonder daddy dearest was chomping at the bit to control her. “You’re right, but I don’t know what to do or where to go.”
“Another round with Doctors Without Borders?” Lori asked, a sly grin on her face.
“You know, as much as I loved being there, doing something honest and so much in need, I don’t think I can take even six more months in a third world country. I need some normalcy, whatever that is.”
“If you find it, sugar. Let me know.”
Veronica groaned. “What am I going to do?”
Lori tapped her fingers on top of the table. “I may have an idea for you.”
She eyed her best friend, the cagey expression and the twinkling eyes, and shook her finger. “Don’t you dare play that game. Fess up.”
Lori slid her glass across the table and rose to her feet. “Just hold your horses, little lady. Let me see if I can find something I noticed yesterday.”
Leaning back against the couch, she closed her eyes, nasty and murderous thoughts slithering into her mind. Her father was trying to ruin everything. Her entire life. He’d never understand what she wanted to accomplish in her life or with her career. And her mother would be zero help. Sweet beauty queen Jennifer Easton was the perfect wife. No trouble. Excellent eye candy after recent plastic surgery and always the consummate host.
“I found it.” Her voice was sing-songy as she flitted back into the room.
“If you make any suggestions about me becoming a nun, I will kick your ass.”
“Of course not. You’d be kicked out in two weeks. Tops,” Lori said as she winked. “This caught my eye yesterday and I thought of you. I printed it out.”
Veronica winced for no particular reason when she grabbed the piece of paper. Perhaps she was tired of being beaten down, treated like a possession. Blinking, she glanced at the title then back up to Lori. “On Staff Physician for Rush Enterprises?” She raked through bits of information stored in her brain, trying to remember where she’d heard the name before.
“Yep. Remember, the huge oil company based out of Dallas?”
“Vaguely.”
“Well, they’ve been in the news a lot lately. The big-wig CEO stepped down to take a position on the Board of Directors of a cancer research hospital. No doubt cut into his wealth big time.” Lori eased down on the couch next to her.
“What the hell would a doctor do at an oil company?” She read down the list, still not comprehending.
Huffing, she jerked the paper out of Veronica’s hand. “Staff Doctor needed for off-shore oil rig. Must have minimum of one year’s experience working in rural surroundings or in an emergency setting. Full benefits. One-year contract all inclusive. Salary, one hundred fifty thousand.”
“One hundred fifty thousand dollars?” That wasn’t bad for just coming off the stint she had. “On an offshore oil rig?”
“Do I need to paint you a picture? Girl, you’ve been down under for far too long. They drill oil out in the Gulf of Mexico. Huge stations that remind you of a battle station or maybe a spaceship?” This time, Lori giggled and reached for her wine.
“I don’t know about this.”
“Oh, come on. You spent time in a damn jungle wearing mosquito netting as a fashion statement. This has to be better. Plus…” She swirled her glass. “Roughnecks are fine looking men.”
Veronica laughed and read the ad again. What could it hurt just to apply? She certainly had the qualifications. There had to be limited communication and if the contract was all inclusive, she could bank the money for her clinic. She lifted her glass, clinking with Lori’s. “You, my dearest friend in the entire world, are brilliant. I think you might have found me the perfect way out.”
“Now, if we can only find you a hunky man to use and abuse.”
&nbs
p; Nash held his tongue as the pilot dropped the helicopter for the fourth time on the ride. The GQ type man was too busy chatting with his sidekick to worry about the passenger in back. Inhaling, he tapped his fingers on the edge of the thin metal frame as he glared out the window. The day was humid, sticky and threatening another round of violent storms. His thoughts drifted to what Camden Dane had told him and to what hadn’t been said. Both Camden and Mitchell were obviously concerned about underhanded activities.
“We’re almost there,” the pilot stated without looking back.
Thank fucking God. Then again, he’d read the various reports supplied by Camden and didn’t like the situation he was facing. A full inspection was in order. He’d been around enough offshore rigs during his less than illustrious career to know their lack of production was caused by difficulties with staff and certain issues with equipment. He’d bet the rather exorbitant salary on that ugly fact. Safety measures were another concern. Several men had been hurt during their regular activities.
He’d been allowed access to two private emails, although he suspected there were more. Neither had any direct corroboration of facts regarding the lack of rig performance, but both pointed fingers to the previous superintendent. Franklin Parker had been in a position to lie. He’d learned enough to gather Franklin wasn’t the brightest bulb. Was there another reason for purposely cutting down production?
Cutting corners meant shirking safety, thereby pushing every man and woman to their breaking point. The previous superintendent had a bad reputation, leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
The pilot cut the speed, making the final approach. When the chopper touched down, the massive beast jumped twice before settling down.
Hissing, Nash gripped the single handrail after bumping his head. Thoughts of beating the man to a bloody pulp gave him a smile.
“Here we go.” The pilot killed the engine and unfastened his seat beat, twisting in order to glare at Nash. “Got a tight schedule so if you don’t mind.”