Mr. Darkness

by Hilary Storm

  “You have got to be kidding me.”

  Me: Impatient much?

  Mr. Darkness: You have no idea how patient I am.

  Me: Well, practice that a little longer, I’m still in a towel.

  Mr. Darkness: I don’t mind breakfast with a view if you don’t.

  Chills surge over my body as his dry way of flirting reminds me of how he touched me last night as we danced at the club. Not giving in to his persistent ways, I take my time finding the most homely yoga pants and long t-shirt to wear. I even brush my hair a few times before I go to open the door for him.

  The second I turn the latch; the knob rotates and he pushes through the door with a crew of servants behind him. “Set up the table over here… wait… I see her bedroom has more space in it. Put it next to that window over there.” He’s wearing a suit again. His serious demeanor has me watching his reactions as he takes in my apartment. He stands in the doorway of my bedroom, adjusting his cuffs and looking like perfection while the chaos of cleaning goes on behind him. He turns to look at me and with a sexy smirk, he begins to move toward me.

  “Camille, you look gorgeous.”

  “Ok, now I know you’re insane.” I step around the bar to put something between us and start to make coffee. He stands next to the counter and I can feel his stare burning through me.

  “You do realize I didn’t sleep at all last night planning this day for us.”

  “What made you assume I didn’t have plans?”

  “I didn’t assume anything. You can change your plans if you have them.” I scoff at his response just as his servants all come to him for further guidance.

  “What’s all of this about?” I wave my hand toward the people standing in my living room staring at us as if they’re waiting for permission to breathe.

  “You may all go. Thank you.” He follows them to the door as they all leave my apartment and then locks the door behind them. “I think we can both agree that you were never going to meet me anywhere to talk… so I decided to come to you.”

  “You don’t know.” He smiles at my defensive response. “Ok, you’re possibly right, but can you blame me? You’re a very…” I pause to think of a better word than creepy, “determined person and I’m just not used to dealing with someone like you. I work alone for a reason you know.” I walk into my bedroom to find my bed made and my dress from last night folded at the foot, my lacy bra and panties sprawled out next to it. Rushing to hide the lace, I ignore the material that catches my eye to the left. “Jesus, can a girl have some privacy.”

  “Don’t worry. They’re used to it. I had my assistant note your sizes so I can send you some gifts.” My eyes pull to a dress hung on the door frame of my closet, hooker heels in three colors on the floor beneath. I walk closer to find the back is completely cut out of the dress and start to laugh.

  “There’s no damn way I’m wearing that.”

  “Camille. It’s going to look perfect on you, trust me. This is my expertise.”

  “So you barge into women’s homes and get the size of their panties and bras… That’s not something you should really be bragging about you know.”

  “Not just bra and panties, my dear.”

  “I don’t know whether to call the cops or just throw you out. Something tells me the cops won’t find anything wrong with what you’ve done… do you own them too?”

  “No.” Why is he so confident? His posture is perfect as he walks to the table he had brought in. He pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit in it… even though I try to give him the stand-off he deserves, I find myself moving to sit in the chair. His dominance is heavy and his persistence is annoying, but maybe if I just listen to what he has to say… he’ll leave me alone.

  Chapter Five

  The light is again shining in the room and it isn’t until I’m sitting over here that I notice it. He has a talent of consuming me, causing me to miss things going on around me. I don’t like it. I set the cloth napkin in my lap and wait for him to sit before I begin uncovering the plates in front of me. “You didn’t forget a thing.” Omelets, fruit, bagels, bacon, and even pancakes litter the table between the juices and coffee.

  He begins to slowly cut up his food, taking each bite as if he’s always eaten with such etiquette. “Let me guess, you always eat at the table.”

  His eyes move to mine quickly and I can tell I’m right, but he answers with a question. “Do you not?”

  “No. In fact, I like to eat right there.” I point to my bed and watch him look at me in surprise.

  “I do like to dine on certain delicacies in the comfort of my bed, but generally try to keep the food part of my dining separate, unless you’re in to that kind of thing?”

  I take a bite and slowly chew as I watch him watch me. He’s good at this staring thing and even though I try to keep my eyes locked on his longer, his intensity forces me to look away. The build-up of pressure in my throat is making it hard to breathe, let alone think around him.

  “You’re here for business, so start talking.”

  “Now you decide to talk business, I was in favor of where the conversation was headed.”

  “The conversation wasn’t headed anywhere. You’ve made it very clear you have business matters to discuss with me, so spill it.”

  “Fine. Have it your way. I want to add you to my team. I run a few businesses where I need a writer to help with complicated letters and such, but most importantly… I want you to work with me on an upcoming possible movie deal. Or at the least it’ll be a successful TV series.” I eat and wait for him to continue, trying to listen to the details and not get side-tracked with the way his mouth moves when he talks.

  “It’ll be a biography. Possibly shoot it as a reality publication, but I’m not sure yet. We can talk about the details once you agree.”

  “And you said a million dollars plus royalties. What makes you think the project will be worth that?”

  “Trust me, I know the business.”

  “What will my job requirements be?” I have the right to ask questions, especially with that kind of money being thrown at me.

  “You have to travel with me to the shoot locations, work with me on ways to tell the story so that the viewers will love it.” He wants me to travel with him? He’s out of his mind.

  “I don’t prefer to associate with people. I think you have the wrong person for the job.”

  “I assure you, you won’t be dealing with anyone but me unless you wish to. I’ll provide you with an assistant to handle anything you need.”

  “This seems a little too good to be true. Will I have my own hotel arrangements as we travel?”

  “If that’s what you desire, then yes.”

  “It’s what I require.” I take the last bite of my omelet before I continue. “I’ll need it all in a contract and will have my lawyers look it over before we make anything official.”

  “Well enough. I’ll deposit the money into your account within the hour.” My jaw falls open with his response.

  “Wait a minute… my lawyers haven’t seen anything and I’m not agreeing until they do.” There has to be a down fall to this deal, I mean other than the fact that I’m still not convinced he’s not a psychotic person with his proven stalking tendencies.

  “Camille. It doesn’t matter what they say, we will make the agreement work. I’ll pay you just as I’ve said and if they don’t like something in the contract, we’ll change it. But you are the right person for this job.” What makes him so sure, because I’m most certainly not positive this is all for me.

  “Have you read my books or something?”

  “Let’s just say you come highly recommended.” That tells me nothing. Why does he have to be such a damn puzzle; a million dark pieces that my obsessive curiosity can't help but want to put together even though I know I should put it all aside.

  “By who?”

  “Does it matter? I’m convinced you’re the perfect person to help me, so all I need you to do
is agree and then we can begin. Is it the money? Do you need more?”

  “What? No. I can’t take more than what you’ve offered.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “I guess there isn’t one. But I want you to add into the contract that if I chose to back out at any time, I can.”

  “Done. But you won’t want to.” He seems so sure of himself, but at this point that doesn’t surprise me.

  “You don’t really know me well enough to make that statement.”

  “Possibly, but give it time and I’ll know you better than you know yourself. I’m a very perceptive person, Camille.”

  “Give me today to make my decision. I don’t even know your name yet.” He stands and holds his hand out to help me up.

  “My name is Damon Deverick. Feel free to do your research. I’ll be back to get you in two hours.” He leans in and kisses my lips with a soft peck, and I stand frozen not knowing what he’ll do next. He steps aside and leaves me standing there feeling slighted on that kiss as he walks toward the door. A man that intense can’t give peck kisses. He’s supposed to be passionate and make me forget to breathe in a first kiss.

  “Where will we be going?”

  “Out for the day. Wear the dress I brought you and if you’re bold enough, you can stay bare underneath. If not, we’ll work on that.” I turn to watch him open the front door to my apartment before he says anything else. “Lock the door, Camille.”

  I start to move when I hear the door close. Locking both the dead bolt and the knob before I allow myself to fall against the door, I try to make sense of this man. My heart is pumping faster than it has in months and he’s left me with an adrenaline rush that I can’t explain. It’s the unknown. I’m not used to it. I’m usually in control and with him everything is up in the air as we both battle for power.

  Pulling the dress from the hanger doesn’t help to slow my anxious feelings in the slightest. This thing is skimpy as hell and I’m definitely not going to be able to wear this in public. I’m holding it against the front of my body when I hear banging on the front door.

  Expecting it to be him again, I look through the peep hole and see my sister. Shit… she’ll be full of questions.

  “Cami. I brought some food in case you were hungover.” She proceeds to knock even harder, before I rush to my bedroom and toss the dress on the bed and close the door before making my way back over to let her in. “Nice, you look much better than I imagined you would. Did you have a good time last night?” She talks as she walks through the apartment, leaving me standing with the door open and not a word to say as my apartment is invaded for the second time this morning. “Look at you, already have coffee made… you’ve showered. Sis, I can feel you coming around and it makes me so happy to see it. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve never left, you know.” Speaking of leaving… I guess this probably isn’t the best time to tell her about the possible travel that will be going on soon. I need to research Mr. Darkness before I make a big deal about all of this and that’s not something I want to do with her looking over my shoulder.

  “I need to borrow some shoes for today, this heel is messing up.” She starts toward my bedroom and I jump off the bar stool to stop her.

  “Which ones, I’ll get them.”

  “What? Don’t be weird, Cami. I’ll grab them.”

  “Carli. Don’t go in there.” She stops in her tracks and slowly turns, her mouth gaping open as she begins to assume all sorts of shit.

  “You have a man in there, don’t you?” Shit.

  “Yes… I mean not anymore. He left a mess and… just let me get the damn shoes and don’t start asking questions.”

  “Oh my godddd. It’s the owner of that club, isn’t it? He came here and fucked you good all night didn’t he.” I leave her standing and attempt to make a clean break when I hear her on my heels. “Jesus, you have like a damn breakfast in bed thing going here… but the bed is far too perfect for you to have done the good stuff.”

  “Maybe I made it.” She starts laughing loudly as she picks up the new dress he wants me to wear.

  “Oh please. I’ve known you my whole life and you don’t make your bed… ever. Damn this is a nice dress… tell me he brought it here for you to wear on your next date.”

  “Ok.”

  “Ok? Ok? He did, didn’t he?” She holds the material out, taking note of the bare back and gasping. “Oh, shit. Put this on. I have to see what it looks like on you.”

  “No I’m not wearing it.”

  “And these heels… I’m taking the shimmery pair. I know you won’t wear them anyway.”

  “Take them all… and the dress.”

  “What? No. This is exciting Cami. He’s pampering you. You deserve someone to treat you nice and buy you things. You’ve never had that, so enjoy it. Let him spoil you, then you can make it up to him in the bedroom. That’s what I do.”

  “Negative. Not happening. Thanks for your relationship advice, but I’m not interested in that kind of crap. It’s business.”

  “Sure it is. I can see it in the dress and shoes he bought you. If this is business, let me know what ritzy corner you’ll be working. These are items from someone who A… has phenomenal taste… and B… wants to see how sexy you look in them. That’s not about business. So, stop denying whatever this is and try the damn dress on.”

  She shoves it against my chest and sits on the edge of the bed as if I’m just going to strip down and get naked right in front of her. I move to the bathroom and lock the door before I start to get changed. I can hear her moving around my room as I’m fighting with the dress.

  “And here I thought you were starving and dying of thirst today, and you’ve had a man taking care of you. Tell me he gave you multiple orgasms and the two of you didn’t get any sleep all night.”

  “Carli. I slept alone last night. He brought me breakfast and left just before you got here. No orgasms were exchanged.” Jesus. “Sounds like you need that O more than I do.”

  “You have no idea. Things are a little stressful lately with the wedding and everything going on.”

  I open the door, immediately concerned about my sister’s tone only to have her squeal and race toward me. “Oh Carli. This is so damn sexy. I can almost see the top of your ass. Your back is beautiful… you have to start wearing clothes that show off what you have. And by the way… you’re gonna have to lose the bra. I can see it in the back.” I knew it would show, but I just feel like I’m going to need some support. These girls are real and very large. I’m not one for them moving as I do.

  “Maybe I’m good with my yoga pants.”

  “Save those for the gym. Don’t make me burn your clothes.” And I know she would to prove a point, but then again she knows I’d wear the same two pairs over and over if that’s all I had. “I’m so excited for you. You have to promise to call me after this date of yours.”

  “It’s not a date. He’s taking me out today to talk about a business deal and I promise I’ll call you when I get home tonight.”

  “Yes I need to go… and you need to get yourself ready for this date. I’m making you an appointment with my wax lady. She’ll make you soft for the next one.”

  “There won’t be a next…”

  “Call me tonight.” She interrupts me like she always does. Then I hear the door slam on her way out.

  I move to the mirror and look at myself in the dress. It shows off so much skin that I’m not sure I can wear it out, but then again he did challenge me before he left. I have been on a hiatus from life and should try to live a little… even if it’s only for the day. Guess it’s time to see just how brave I am. I’m going to shave then see how I feel. Worst case scenario, I’ll wear the yoga pants and a t-shirt. He’ll have to just get over it.

  Chapter Six

  It wasn’t the shower that made me feel confident, it was the music. I’m standing in just a towel, finalizing my hair and makeup… actually smiling when he calls.


  “I’m here to get you.” I hear a car door close just as he speaks.

  “I need a few more minutes.”

  “Fine. I’ll come in.”

  “No.”

  “Camille. Just unlock the door, I’ll wait for you in your front room. Take all the time you need.” I rush to the door and then back to my own room, locking and unlocking so that he can come in, but keeping him from barging into my bedroom. Now I feel hurried and don’t feel the slightest ready for whatever it is he’s going to put me through today.

  Choosing to compromise on the bra and panties, I choose a g-string and leave off the bra. This dress is too short for me to be bare assed… but then again I can still feel the air, but this makes me feel better. I do a few small jumps and sways from side to side to see how much movement I can get away with before the girls get to moving… yeah I’ll need to be real careful.

  Taking one last look at myself, I primp my hair and throw all reservations out the window and walk toward the door. These heels are slightly taller than the pair I wore last night, and very much taller than the Chucks I like to wear when I do go anywhere.

  I walk past him to get my purse, trying not to seem like I’m looking for a compliment, but hoping for one anyway. What girl doesn’t want to hear that she looks nice? “Christ. I’m going to have to make a stop before we get there.” Well, that wasn’t exactly the sound of approval I was expecting, but I guess his mind is elsewhere.

  “Let me get my purse and I’ll be ready. Will I need anything else?”

  “Possibly a toothbrush for the morning.”

  “You’re a funny one. Ok, let’s go.”

  “Camille, I wasn’t trying to be funny.” His monotone, sexy voice sends chills over my body when he talks into my hair. A single finger skimming down my bare back before his other hand grips my hip, stopping me just before I reach for the knob. “You look sexy as fuck. Don’t think I didn’t notice those bare tits and the simple string of panties as a compromise. It’s as if you’re already meeting me half way, but still negotiating to keep your independence. I like your determination.” He moves the hair off my shoulder and kisses the inside of my neck, leaving moisture behind from his tongue licking all the way to my ear.