Surrender

Page 13

“You said yes over the phone. I thought this was settled,” Rafe calmly replied as he picked up his glass of wine and slowly took a sip of the dark red liquid while she awkwardly stood a few feet from him. She finally moved her head, looking around for Mr. Kinsor, who had disappeared. She’d have to find another ride back home. It was too long of a walk.

Ari watched as Rafe swallowed, the way his throat constricted as the fluid slid smoothly down. As if looking through another person’s eyes, she noticed he was quite handsome and so self-assured. Why would he even need to hire mistresses? Like he’d pointed out in his offices, there was a line of women practically begging to be chosen to be on his arm.

He had to know she didn’t want to do this even before she’d refused, so why go through the motions? She would understand it a little more if he was an ugly tyrant, hideous to look at. With his olive complexion, slight Italian accent, and amazing self-assuredness, she didn’t see a reason behind what he did. In another time she may even be disappointed not to date him.

Of course, he wasn’t asking for a girlfriend – he didn’t want to date. He wanted a woman to do his bidding, be at his beck and call, fall at his knees, and do all sorts of kinky, twisted sexual favors. She’d never be what he was looking for.

Ari’s knees grew shaky as the two of them continued their stand-off, so she slowly sank down into the chair. As his gaze held hers captive, she took a steadying breath as she picked up the full glass of sweet red wine in front of her and took a sip, giving herself a minute to think. She didn’t know why it was important for her to say anything, but she needed to.

“I thought I could do this – sell my body for the sake of my mother. I was wrong. I planned on saying yes, was determined to take the position and deal with it. I had no idea I would say no until the word popped out of my mouth. I’m slightly desperate at the moment, but I guess I do actually have a bit of pride still intact. ”

Ari watched as his eyes narrowed dangerously. She hadn’t been trying to insult him, but it looked like she had, anyway. He seemed to be the type of guy you didn’t want to push when you were so precariously close to a steep cliff that they could shove you over.

Suddenly, she didn’t care. She felt exhilaration take over the ever present fear as she took another drink and looked him dead in the eye. He may have all the money in the world, and he may even have more power than the President, but he was still just a man. The bottom line was that he couldn’t force her into anything she didn’t want to do – no matter who he was.

If she’d been born in a foreign land, he could probably just shoot her right there on the spot with no consequences, but she was here in the land of the free, where she was safe. Feeling like she actually had a choice gave her hope. She’d made the right decision.

She refused to be somebody she wasn’t. She never would’ve even thought of dating a man as striking and sophisticated as Rafe – not in her lifetime. She would marry an accountant, or a fireman. She’d have a small house with a yard that needed mowing and two kids splashing in a pool with their puppy. She wasn’t a girl who wanted to play kinky games.

She finished her wine and felt relief that her knees had stopped shaking. It was time to leave so she stood from her chair. There was no point in their conversation continuing. She’d said no. She didn’t owe him an explanation. She reached down to grab her purse when his hand snaked out and gripped her arm.

“This conversation isn’t over. ” The raw power in his tone and the controlled movement of his hand sent a shudder down her spine. What had she gotten herself into by going to that interview? She really wished she’d never seen that ad.

Chapter Five

Rafe gazed in surprise at his hand gripping Ari’s delicate arm. His normal cool was agitated and he wasn’t ready to let her walk from the room. What startled him was his enjoyment of it all. He was intrigued to be refused by this complicated woman.

What he should do was wish her a good day, eat his meal in silence, and then go home. His assistant would simply call in the next woman on the list. It was easy – not a big deal. So why was his hand gripping Ari’s arm? Why didn’t he just let her go?

It was most likely because he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been challenged – not by a woman – not by anyone for that matter. Everyone practically bowed at his feet. Not until this very moment did he realize how bored he was by it all. It seemed he’d already accomplished everything he possibly could achieve, and now he just added to his success without many bumps in the road.