Anything He Wants 2: All's Fair (3 page)

Remi?
“Yes well, I’m new.” It
was difficult to know how much I could talk about so decided to keep it
professional. “I was hired yesterday afternoon.”

Celeste’s
eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. “Well, he certainly moved
quick
this time.” Her gaze softened. “This must all be so
strange to you.”

This
first bit of genuine sympathy almost made me cry. I wanted to thank her but
managed to refrain from throwing my arms around her shoulders, instead
swallowing back my gratitude. “Yesterday I was a temp barely getting by. Now
I’m, well.” I gestured to the hotel around me. “It’s a bit overwhelming.”

“Yes I
imagine so.” She looked around the car. “Do you have any luggage with you?”

“Uh...” I
couldn’t figure out how to explain that bit of detail.
Who flies across the
Atlantic without bringing any clothes or luggage for the trip?
Me
apparently, but I didn’t know what to say without bringing up embarrassing
details.

Celeste
cocked her head to the side at my uncomfortable silence, eyes narrowing. She took
a step back, examining me from head to toe,
then
nodded. “Ah, I see why,” she said with a knowing smile.

I looked
down at my clothing, not understanding her meaning. They were still clean,
although rumpled a bit from the trip and my sleeping in the chair. “Why, what’s
wrong with what I’m wearing?”

This got
a laugh from Celeste. “Oh, it’s not my opinion you should be worrying about,”
she said, shaking her head and grinning. “If Remi doesn’t like something, he’ll
do everything in his power to change it. He’s a steamroller, used to getting
his own way in matters. You don’t have to say
anything,
I can already see it happened to you.” She motioned toward the door of the
hotel. “Come inside, it’s chilly out here.”

I
followed her up the walkway while Ethan stayed out by the curb, fielding a call
on his cellphone. “When did you meet Mr. Hamilton?” I asked.

Celeste
gave me an amused look at the use of the man’s formal title. “We went to school
together years ago, although I moved out west almost immediately after
graduation. Got a divorce, moved back to start anew, couldn’t find anything.
Almost gave up hope, then Remi found me.” She shrugged. “I started out as a
manager,
then
when he restructured the entire company
after his father died I was given a choice: take the COO position or I was
fired. Like I said,” she added, rolling her eyes at me, “a steamroller.”

“Sounds
familiar.”
The doors were opened for us by hotel employees and I stared in wonder around
the entryway. “This place is even better than I imagined.”

“Wait
until you see the suites.” She glanced at her watch. “My plane doesn’t leave
for almost three
hours,
want me to show you around?”
When I grinned at her, she took my arm. “You have to see the pool first. Always
takes my breath away.”

The tour
was quick but thorough, and left me a little dizzy.
What did I do to deserve
this?
I wondered, staring at the over-the-top opulence.
Why am I even
here? Is this Fate’s payback for the crappy last four years? Will it be taken
away as quickly as my last life?

“I need
to get going. Even private planes have a schedule to keep.”

I barely
knew the woman but felt sad to see her go. The last two days had been hectic
and stressful, and Celeste’s presence, however brief, had been a welcome balm.
Extending my hand, I said, “Have a safe flight.”

She took
my hand in a steady grip,
then
leaned in close. “Look,
be nice to Jeremiah okay? He can be a jerk but he has a big heart for those he
cares about or decides to protect.”

Her words
startled me.
Be nice to
him? “He’s my boss,” I said stiffly, not sure
how to respond without sounding petulant. “I have to respect him.”

She
started to shake her head, paused to think for a moment,
then
nodded ruefully. “That’s close enough I guess.” Leaning close, Celeste added in
a lower voice, “It’s been almost two years since he had a personal assistant;
the last one,
hm
, left on bad terms. As his assistant
however you'll be accompanying him to functions and serving as his escort. Most
of the press are used to these arrangements and should leave you alone but be
aware you may get some attention. It’s inevitable.”

Did he
treat them all like me?
It surprised me when the mention of previous assistants
made me irritated. I suddenly remembered the swarm of paparazzi outside the
airport and went cold.
Suddenly this is a very bad idea.
Then again,
when had I ever thought the whole situation anything but a strange trick of
Fate?

“Ah,
speak of the Devil.”

I turned
to see the tall figure of Jeremiah enter the hotel. He had a small wrapped box
under one arm and was speaking privately with Ethan near the entrance. They had
a similar vibe I found interesting and I mentioned it to Celeste.

“Well
they were both in the military together, maybe it's that.”

“Military?”
I never would have pegged him to be a soldier.
There was a great deal I
didn’t know about the man I was now working for it seemed.

Celeste
nodded. “They were both Army Rangers until
Remi's
dad
died and left him in charge of the family business. Nasty business, that. I
came in right afterwards and helped field the fallout.”

I wanted
to ask more but both men made their way toward us and the moment was lost.
Celeste smiled and stepped forward, taking Jeremiah's outstretched hand. “Looks
like I'm no longer needed for this little soirée tonight.”

Jeremiah
raised Celeste's hand for a brief kiss before letting go, but beside him I saw
Ethan flinch at the gesture. The redhead stepped back then looked up at the
tall bald man beside her.
“Ready to go, babe?”

I
blinked, surprised first by her words then again as I saw Ethan’s stolid face
soften into a smile. Celeste gave me a wave and they walked off, the big man's
hand at the small of the COO’s back. Only then did I notice the gold band on
his left hand.

“They’ve
been married almost a year now.”
At my startled glance,
Jeremiah quirked an eyebrow.
“Your question was written all over your
face.”

I ducked
my head at his sardonic tone, clearing my throat. “What now?” I asked, slipping
one last glance at the retreating couple. The stress was back as I had no idea
what he wanted.

“Celeste
showed you around the hotel?”

“A
bit, yes.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that lit my face. “It’s absolutely incredible,
pictures never did it justice.”

He gave
an amused chuckle. “Wait until you see the rooms.”

3

I sank into
the warm water, gripping the sides of the huge porcelain bathtub so I wouldn't
slide under the surface. Foaming hills of bubbles tickled my nose as I settled
into a comfortable position and I grinned, blowing them so they danced in
little puffs through the air. The deep tub was surprisingly comfortable and I
settled in, breathing a sigh of relief and fiddling with the water knobs with
my toes.

Jeremiah
had sent me upstairs to the room, saying he had to take care of a few things
before joining me. I had followed the hotel worker who showed me to my room,
and when he’d open the doors I'd been rendered speechless. The interior of the
suite was the most over-the-top, gaudy place I had ever seen, with its gilded
mirrors and paintings, white panels trimmed with gold, crystal chandeliers and
lamps, Rococo moldings and filigree along each corner and open panel.
Tapestries lined the walls and every inch of the room screamed
Look at me,
I’m expensive
, hitting you over the head with its overstated elegance and
extravagant, lurid design.

I
absolutely adored it.

While the
hotel host had been showing me around I’d barely been listening, too busy
exploring on my own. The suite included several sitting rooms besides the
bedroom with furniture that looked expensive but very uncomfortable. Every
amenity I could think of, and several I’d never have considered, was provided
free of charge. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I saw the bathroom
with its tall ceilings and mirrors, marble tabletops and floors, and a tub almost
as big as a Jacuzzi sitting in the middle. My host had time to point out the
closet of linens and robes before I shooed him out as politely as possible and
drawn
myself
a bubble bath. I chose a Lavender scent
from the bath oils before stripping out of my work clothes, grabbing a robe and
locking the door.

I allowed
myself to enjoy the warmth and mellow scent of the water for a while before
setting about with actual bathing. Using my toes to fiddle with the hot water
knob kept the bath water warm as I thoroughly scrubbed my skin. I took my time
but eventually my wrinkled hands convinced me to leave the bath, the bubbles
only a white film atop the water. Slipping into the robe and wrapping my hair
in a towel, I poked around the countertops and drawers to see what other
treasures were hidden in the bathroom.

Three
sharps raps against the locked door made me jump in surprise. “I’d like to see
you out here.” Jeremiah’s deep voice carried through the thick wooden door, his
words a command that was expected to be obeyed.

I froze,
the tension I’d managed to wash away earlier now back with a vengeance. A quick
glance around the ornate room made me realize with dawning horror that I had no
clothes besides the robe and towel; I’d left them on the bed outside the bathroom
now occupied by my boss.

Swallowing,
I took a look at myself in the mirror. My face was scrubbed of all make-up,
shiny and clean but naked without my usual mask. Underneath the towel wrapped
haphazardly around my head, my hair was a mess and still too wet to brush.

I
can't let him see me like
this,
he’ll kick me out of
this hotel!

I hastily
pulled the towel off my head and called out, “Just a minute” so he wouldn't
think I was ignoring him.
Why do you care what he thinks
, a rational
side of my brain tried to ask as I fumbled with my wet hair and smoothed out
eyebrows that desperately needed a brow
pencil.
Don’t
you want to stay away from him anyway?

Maybe,
but I'd at least like to look decent when I'm walking away.

Tousling my
longish hair into some semblance of order and straightening my robe, making
sure the belt was tied snug, I walked over to the door. Pausing for a moment, I
gave myself one last
look
in the mirror -
seriously,
you're never this vain!
-
before
unlocking the
door and striding out.

Jeremiah
stood across the bedroom beside a small silver cart with domed dishes. The
faint aroma of food wafted to my nose, making my mouth water. He looked up as I
approached, his eyes taking in my robe and wet hair. “How did you like your
bath?”

I
resisted the sudden urge to gush, shrugging one shoulder. “Not quite what I’m
used to.”

His
steady gaze made me want to fidget as though caught in a lie and it took a
great deal of self-control to keep myself still. He turned to push the cart
toward the table and suddenly I could breathe again.
Stop letting him get to
you like that.
My responses to him were silly but I couldn’t help feeling
threatened, as if he was subtly stalking me.

“I have
something for you.”

That got
my attention.
“Breakfast?”
I asked, my eyes falling to
the dishes beside him. My tummy rumbled in anticipation.

“In
a moment, perhaps.”
He straightened and looked me dead in the eye. “Take off
your robe and come here.”

Everything
inside me went cold. I hugged the robe around me, trying to stave off the
inevitable. “Why?”

He said
nothing, and I looked up to see him watching me. There was no emotion in his
gaze; as far as he was concerned, I was to disrobe and go to him merely because
he said so. Because I’d signed a document saying I would do what he said,
something I’d only done because he had given me no other choice. The glittery
trappings around me did nothing to disguise what they were: a cage, designed to
keep me off balance and at his mercy.

Finally,
finally
,
I got mad.
“Why me?
Why all this?”
I gestured around the room.

He cocked
his head to the side.
“Why not you?”

He was
turning my questions back around at me and that pissed me off. “I was nothing in
your life, hands to type data then be tossed to the streets when I was no
longer useful. So why am I here?”

His lips
thinned but he said nothing. Moving across the room to a large marble table, he
picked up a crystal carafe and poured himself a glass of the amber liquid it
held. “My career consists of me looking for potential,” he said, swirling the
liquor around as he regarded me dispassionately. “It’s my job to find
businesses that I can buy or sponsor, fix up, then sell for a profit.”