I stirred in my seat uncomfortably. “He’s got a good job and a good future ahead of him. Plus he’s not terrible to me. He’s just stressed with work.”
It was hard for me to explain my relationship with Ralph to Stacey. She was my age, but she had a decent life. Her suburban roots were completely wasted on her. Even though she’d run away when she was seventeen, her parents still stopped by to check on her and make sure that she was okay. She had a support system.
I had Ralph. Things weren’t always great, but my spirits were lifted at the news that he wanted to talk to me. It sounded like Ralph might be my knight in shining armor after all. “Stay away from Trent, Stacey. He’s bad news,” I warned, before standing up to take the money to the office.
After clocking out, I walked to Ralph’s apartment. It really was too late to have been walking alone at night, but every penny had to be saved, and I didn’t want to take the subway. At least the night air had cooled considerably and felt good on my skin.
Humming to myself, I pulled my hair out of my ponytail and ran my fingers through it. When I moved in with Ralph, things would be different between us. We’d be closer. More intimate.
I smiled. That might not be such a bad thing.
Crossing the last street, I stepped deftly away from the outreached arm of a junkie begging for money, and skipped up the stairs to Ralph’s apartment. Almost shyly, I knocked on his door and bit my lower lip.
I knew that he’d come through for me. I just knew it.
The door opened, and he had a huge grin on his face. “You got my message. Good. I’m glad to see you, baby.”
“Me too.” I leaned up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss, but he turned his head and walked away. A little bewildered, I followed after him. “Ralph, I know what you’re going to say, and but I think this can work. You have your reservations, but it’s going to be okay.”
Turning, he gave me a strange look. “You know?”
“I do.” Reaching out for him, I gently tucked my fingers in the opening of his shirt and drew him near me. “I know that you’re concerned about us and about finances, but I promise this work out so that we’re both happy. Very happy.”
Tilting my chin, I kissed him. As usual, I waited for that moment when I’d feel light-headed and tingly, but it never happened. Kissing Ralph just never got my blood pumping, but not all good relationships were built on a consuming passion, right?
I couldn’t complain about him. He’d respected my need to take things slow. He didn’t hit me or yell at me, and he certainly didn’t try to do the things that I heard my father doing with women. It was the best relationship that I could hope for, and I really didn’t want to lose it.
“I knew you’d take it well.” He smiled at me and let his hands brush down my body. When they moved down my breasts, my stomach clenched, but I didn’t jerk away from him. “You’re such a good girl, aren’t you, Daisy. You’re going to do everything that he asks and get that money for us, right?”
“What?” I pulled back and frowned. “Do everything for who?”
“My boss. Brick Langston. I’m telling you, baby, this contract is my ticket to the big leagues. With that money, I’m going to move to the city, and now that he knows my name, he’s going to be watching me. I’m on the fast-track to the top.”
My mind whirled. “Contract? I don’t understand. You got me a job at your office? Doing what?”
“Fucking Brick, of course, although I doubt you could call it office work. You’ll be living with him for a month, and you’re not exactly the kind of woman that he’d show off to his employees.” He laughed. “You didn’t think that you’d be doing office work, did you?”
“Doing wh-what?” I stammered softly. “You made a contract saying that I would sleep with your boss? I don’t understand. I thought you were going to tell me that I could move in.”
Grimacing, he pulled away. “God, no. I already told you that wasn’t happening. But this is perfect. You needed a place to stay, and he wants you. So you’ll live with him for a month and do whatever to make him happy. He’s paying for you, Daisy. And the contract is already signed.”
“You sold me? Ralph, you don’t own me! I’m not your hooker. I’m not anyone’s hooker! You can’t just do that, and I won’t…” I shook my head, trying to understand what the hell was happening. “I won’t do that.”
“The fuck you won’t,” he snarled and advanced towards me. “I’m sick of supporting you, Daisy, and getting nothing in return. I know you’re slutting around with your co-workers. I’ve heard them talk, so if you can give it up to a bunch of minimum-waged stoners, you can give it up to a multi-billionaire.”
“What?” Stunned, I reached out and grabbed the kitchen counter. He was supporting me? As far as I could remember, Ralph had never bought me anything. I always paid for dinner when we went out, and most of the time, I had to buy groceries for him when he complained that his student loans were making him impoverished. And I certainly wasn’t slutting it around with my co-workers. “Ralph, I don’t know what’s going on here, but you need to calm down. I’m not resorting to prostitution.”
His ugly face softened, and he reached out and pulled me into his embrace. I stiffened, but when his arms wrapped around me, I took a few deep breaths and melted into his hold. This was good. We’d talk about it. Ralph was just desperate, that’s all.
“Don’t think of it as prostitution, baby. Think of it as the answer to all your problems. We’re not talking pennies, here. He’s paying good money, and I’m willing to give you, say, ten thousand dollars.”
Ten thousand dollars! I squeezed my eyes shut. The things that I could do with that kind of money. That would pay my rent for a year, but still… “I’d have to live with him?” I whispered. “Live with a stranger for a whole month? Ralph, I don’t think I can do that.”
“What? Like you’ve never shacked up with someone before?”
“No, I haven’t.” Pulling my head back and swallowing hard, I stared at him. “Ralph, I’ve never been with anyone before.”
He stared at me blankly. “What does that mean? You’ve never spent the night with someone? You were just begging me to let you live here.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve never spent the night with someone. Or shared a bed. Or anything.” Taking a deep breath, I admitted the truth. “Ralph, I don’t slut around with my co-workers. I’m a virgin, and I don’t really want to lose my virginity to a stranger.”
“You’re a virgin?” he scoffed. “Daisy, you don’t really expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Why do you think that we’ve never…done that?” My virginity wasn’t really a moral choice. It wasn’t premeditated. I wasn’t waiting for marriage or anything like that. I had some intimacy issues. After hearing my father with my mother, the abuse and the crying, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew that it was supposed to be good, but most of the time, sex felt like it was more about power than anything else.
“Honestly?” Releasing me, he stepped back and headed to the refrigerator for a beer. “I just assumed that you didn’t want me to think that you were a slut. So really? You’re a virgin, huh?”
Nervously, I nodded. I wasn’t sure how he would take it, but he actually appeared pleased by the prospect. “So you can understand why I don’t want to do this.”
“Look, you don’t have to be scared, Daisy. Sex is nothing. It’s not a big deal. And think of what will happen afterwards. Think of my future, Daisy. You care about that, don’t you?” He tucked his finger under my chin and lifted it. “You care about me, right?”
“Of course. I want good things for you, Ralph.”
“Then do this for me. Do it for us, baby. It’s just a month. It’ll fly by,” he cajoled.
Shaking my head, I tapped my fingers nervously on the counter. “And after the month? Will you still want to be with me? Will we be together?”
“Of course we’ll be together, baby. We’ll be able to afford a grea
t place in Manhattan. If I get promoted, I’ll be able to get you a real job in the company. No more coming home smelling like burgers and hot dogs. No more living next to drug dealers and whores. That’s your dream, right?”
It sounded like a dream, that was for sure. “I don’t want my first time to be with a stranger, Ralph. Will you, um, be with me tonight?”
He’d been asking, and I saw the desire in his eyes when he looked at me. My stomach twisted at the thought of our first time being like this, with this contract hanging over my head, but it was better than giving it away to some rich slimeball that I’d never even met, right?
“Oh, baby. You have no idea how lucky we are that you’re a virgin. If I had known, there would have been more negotiations, but now? Well, now I’m pretty sure that Brick is going to get me anything that I want. This is going to score me some major brownie points.”
“Brownie points?” I pressed a hand to my stomach. “Ralph, you can’t be serious.”
“No, no, no. Shhh, I’m sorry, baby. That’s not what I meant at all. I just meant that Brick is going to have more respect for you, and you want that, right? You want him to treat you with respect. I’m only thinking of you, baby.” He reached for me again, but I stepped away from him.
“I just need some air,” I stammered, turning around.
“You’re going to do it, right, baby? For us?”
What were my options at this point? A homeless shelter? A woman’s shelter? Just a few days on the streets would be dangerous for me. But a future with Ralph? And ten grand? That was worth a month with a stranger, wasn’t it?
“For us,” I whispered and wrapped my hands around my body, before fleeing his apartment without a backwards glance.
Chapter Six
Brick
From the window of my penthouse, I watched the young woman on the sidewalk. Ralph had almost carelessly dropped her off in front of my building. I was too high up to see many details, but the fact that she was still frozen on the sidewalk five minutes after he’d walked away spoke volumes.
Daisy was terrified.
Finally, she moved. She walked away from the building only to turn and walk back. After pacing for several more minutes, she finally walked up the steps and pressed the buzzer. I’d given Ralph the code to my intercom, and I would change it as soon as she was in my condo. The last thing that I wanted was that asshole to know how to reach my intercom.
“Mr. Langston?” she asked nervously. “My name is Daisy Smith. I believe that you’re expecting me.”
Without answering her, I unlocked the front door. Opening the top cabinet in the hutch behind my desk, I watched the monitors linked to the surveillance cameras. She took her time getting up here, but when she got off the elevator, I couldn’t help but smile. She wore a pretty floral summer dress, and her hair was tied back at the nape of her neck. She was so sweet looking. I could only hope that her personality matched her looks.
Her knock on the door was light and hesitant. I opened it and watched with pleasure as her eyes widened. Without a word, I handed her a glass of whiskey. “Drink this,” I ordered her gently.
Her hands shook as she gripped it and tossed it back. Immediately, she coughed and handed the glass back to me. “I’m so sorry,” she rasped as color stained her cheeks. “I don’t really drink much. Or at all.”
“That’s okay. I can tell that you’re nervous. It’ll help calm you.” Stepping back, I let her in. “Welcome to my home.”
Slowly, she walked in and looked around, but even as she tried to take it all in, her eyes continued to return to me. “You’re Mr. Langston?” she asked softly, as if she couldn’t believe it. “You’re so young.”
“I’m forty.” I chuckled softly. “That’s not so young, especially not to someone as young as you.”
Embarrassed, she ducked her head. “I’m sorry. I hope that didn’t offend you. Ralph just said that you owned the company, and I just assumed that you’d be an old man.”
“Do I please you?”
A gorgeous smile spread over her face, and the flush on her cheeks deepened. “You’re very handsome, yes.”
“Have a seat, Daisy.” She swayed back and forth a little, the single glass of whiskey already affecting her, and I was afraid that she’d pass out right in the middle of my floor. As she sat, I opened the wet bar and refilled her drink, pouring myself a glass as well. I walked back towards her and sat down, careful not to get too close and scare her away, but the ache to touch her clawed at me. Her large breasts heaved with every breath, and a strap slipped down her shoulder. I instantly hardened, but restrained myself as she absently pulled the strap up and accepted the drink. This time, she sipped at it instead of just downing it.
“I can only guess what kind of man you must think I am,” I remarked, leaning back in my chair.
When she met my gaze, she immediately turned her head and fiddled with the hem of her dress. “You certainly don’t seem the type to pay for someone like me. I imagine women throw themselves at you.”
“Ralph told me about your situation,” I said vaguely. “I wanted to help, but as I’m sure you know, nothing is free. Still, I want you to enjoy your time with me, Daisy.”
She fiddled with the glass in her hand. “Did Ralph tell you I’m…that I never…”
A virgin. I didn’t believe the boy when he’d told me, but seeing that she could barely get the word out, I knew that it must be true. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. A lovely virgin under my roof, just waiting for me to discover all that she had to offer.
“We don’t have to talk about that right now,” I said and cleared my throat. “Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?”
She seemed comfortable, almost relieved, at the change of subject. “What do you want to know?”
I didn’t tell her about the background check that had been done on her. I knew she’d lost her mother to a drug overdose a couple of years ago, and that her father was a drunk and lazy piece of shit who did nothing but use her. Knew about Ralph, or course, and that she had a job—which she would be terminating immediately.
For a background check it wasn’t that extensive. There wasn’t much to go on. As far as I could tell, Daisy had never even left the state. She’d done absolutely nothing with her life. She had no experience.
I wanted to change all of that.
“Whatever you want to tell me,” I said.
Sipping on her drink, she tugged at her hair, but started to relax a little. I was pleased to see her easing back into the couch cushions. “I, um, I didn’t get kicked out because of anything that I did. I won’t cause you trouble. My father decided that it was time for me to get out on my own since I’m eighteen now.”
Clenching my fist, I tried not to give away that I knew the truth. “Don’t lie to me, Daisy. If there is one thing that you need to remember, it’s that.” I kept my voice even, but she could sense my anger. Her eyes widened, before her gaze shot to the door.
She was going to flee.
“It’s okay. Just tell me the truth,” I murmured soothingly. “That’s all I want for right now.”
A little bit of defiance flashed in her eyes. “I didn’t lie. I just omitted a few embarrassing facts. Like the fact that my father kicked me out so he could move his girlfriend in. She’s not a big fan of me.”
“And why is that?”
“I look like my mother,” she said hoarsely.
Her whole body shifted, softened, and she looked down. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and her pain was evident, but it had nothing to do with her father. “You miss her, don’t you?”
Daisy nodded. “I lost her a year ago. Drug overdose. She was a heavy user for most of my life. I count myself lucky that I had her for as long as I did. She wouldn’t win any Mother of the Year awards, but she did love me. My father’s new girlfriend is an old high school fling. I think she blames my mother—and me—for the fact that she didn’t get my father back then.”
I felt a fli
cker of annoyance. Daisy might have thought she was telling the truth, but she was lying to herself. Her mother didn’t deserve an ounce of her love.
She took a deep breath and looked up. “My father has always been a heavy drinker.”
“An alcoholic,” I interrupted in a neutral voice.
Daisy nodded her head and sipped at her drink. “I try not to do anything in excess. I want to be different from them.”
She was already different from them. Better. Just being around her was like a breath of fresh air. “My grandfather was an alcoholic as well. I didn’t spend as much time with him as you spent with your father, but I understand the disease well.”
Her surprised eyes met mine, and I could see the pleasure in them. I had her. All it took was one little connection, and now she was mine.
The warm-fuzzy session was over. I openly wandered my gaze over her body. Her breasts heaved under my inspection. I sat my drink down on the table and reached over, taking her hand and helping her up.
“Mr. Langston,” she whispered nervously.
“Shh, don’t be scared. I’m not doing anything tonight. I just want to see you.” I let my hands brush along the curve of her hips as I walked around her. The picture that Ralph had shown me hadn’t done her justice. Her heavy breasts and that great ass was more than enough to fit in my hands, but her waist was too small for my tastes. “You’ll need to eat more,” I mused. “Put on some weight—and keep your strength up.”
“Gain weight?” she looked down at her body. “I always thought…well, Ralph said…I don’t consider myself thin.”
I was going to fire Ralph when this was all over with and make sure that every good company in New York blacklisted him.
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