La Brat (25 page)

“Yes. Yes, but I…” Eugenie watched her employer arrange the flowers. Farah had sent them. Their VIP client knew Eugenie was ill and had sent flowers, wished her well. No recriminations, no complaints that she was not available, not at her post where she should be. Perhaps this was going to be all right after all.

“You’re bloody good, love, but no one’s indispensable. Not even you and me. Elise and Pierre seem to be managing without us, at least for a day or so. I’m as surprised as you are, but there you have it.”

Aaron was grinning at her, and Eugenie knew her expression must be one of pure incredulity. Certainly, that was how she felt. Utterly astonished. Her initial shock was followed by a wave of relief, then delight, then gratitude that so many people seemed to care about her. People who mattered.

She settled back against her pillows, shifting slightly as Aaron arranged them for her. She tried a couple of experimental swallows. Her throat was sore, felt very dry, but she could manage. And now, she wanted answers.

“What happened? The doctor said something about smoke? And my head?”

“You were in a fire. Your apartment. Aaron managed to get you out. He’s quite the hero.” Elise dragged a chair over to settle herself on Eugenie’s other side. “Do you remember anything about it?”

Eugenie shook her head, careful to avoid any jarring movements.

“Tell us what you do recall. Start from when you left your office. You texted me to say you were almost done. Do you remember that?”

Aaron’s tone was light, but she knew him too well to be fooled. This was serious.

Eugenie turned to study Aaron’s face, frowning as she tried to cast her mind back. Was it really only twenty-four hours? It seemed like a lifetime ago. Maybe that was common in people who survived near-death experiences. Had she had one of those? It certainly felt like it. But she had survived, that was the important thing. She was here to tell the tale. And Aaron wanted to hear it.

“Yes. I finished costing up the wedding favors and I emailed the supplier with the final quantities. Then I texted you.” She paused as Aaron handed her the cup of water again, grateful for a few more cooling sips. She settled herself against the pillows and closed her eyes as she continued. “I left my office and headed back up to my flat. I saw Annette on the way, stopped for a chat. Just five minutes or so. I was looking forward to seeing you.”

She opened her eyes to glance at Aaron. He squeezed her hand. “Me too, love. I made you a casserole.”

“I would have enjoyed that. I was hungry.”

“You’re always hungry. Go on. What happened after you left Annette?”

“I went up to my flat.”

“Did you go straight there? Did you see anyone else?”

“No, I don’t think so. Well, just the maid who does the rooms. She brought me some fresh sheets.”

“What, she left them in your apartment for you?” This from Elise.

“No. She was in the corridor with her trolley when I went past. She knocked on my door a couple of minutes later and handed me the sheets.”

Aaron’s gaze was intent. “Okay. Then what?”

“I… I don’t know. Nothing. I don’t remember anything else after that until I woke in this room.” She looked from Elise to Aaron, bewildered. How could she have just lost an entire day?

“What time was this? When you went back to your room?”

“I’m not sure, around eight, I suppose.”

Aaron pulled his phone from his pocket. He tapped the screen to bring up his text messages. “That’d be about right. You texted me at seven fifty-three.”

“What was a maid doing still working at eight in the evening? They usually finish by four.” Elise reached for her own phone. “I’ll call Annette, find out who was on duty yesterday. That maid might have seen something.”

“No, wait.”

Eugenie couldn’t miss the sharpness in his voice, that tone of command. His words were enough to stop Elise before she had chance to hit the call button.

“We’ll look at the CCTV first, see if that helps.” He paused as both women stared at him, puzzled. He flattened his lips before continuing.

Eugenie knew they would not want to hear what he was about to say.

“If there was a maid on that corridor, she’s just as likely to be a suspect as a witness. I don’t want to alert her if I can help it.”

An insider. Someone on the TFS staff might have been responsible for this. Aaron had put in place a veritable arsenal of security measures to protect them from external interference, from the malevolence of strangers. But Eugenie knew that if the threat came from one of their own, the danger was much more acute. He knew it too, as did Elise.

He put his phone to his ear. “Pierre? It’s Aaron. Hi. Yes, she’s conscious now, much better. Thanks. I’ll tell her. Right now, I need you to do something for me. Can you check the CCTV footage from the corridor on floor seven? Yesterday, say between seven thirty and eight thirty in the evening. I want to know about every person who went along that hallway.” He paused then chuckled. “I knew I was right to hire you, even though your rates are extortionate. Okay, text me a list. I’ll view the footage myself when I get back.”

He put the phone back in his pocket. Eugenie just watched him. Waiting.

“Pierre already checked the CCTV. He says there was a maid working, and a couple of others went by. Staff on their way to and from their rooms probably, but we’ll talk to them all. For now, though…” He tapped out a text message. “There. I just asked Pierre to access the staff rosters for yesterday. We’ll soon know everyone who was working last night.”

“What about the police? Isn’t this a matter for them?” Elise looked perplexed.

Aaron nodded, his features tight. “Oh, yes. We’ve already reported the unexplained head injury and they’re waiting to interview Eugenie. We’re still waiting for the fire investigation report too, but I’m almost certain they’ll conclude the fire was started deliberately.”

He reached for the half-empty glass of water as Eugenie was seized by a violent fit of coughing. She was grateful for his support, his quiet care as he sat beside her and held the cup to her lips. Her lungs heaved and contorted as they battled to rid themselves of the irritants still in her body. At last she was still again, her breathing even. She turned her face up to his.

“I don’t remember anything about a fire. Is that how my throat got so sore?”

“Yeah. I found you unconscious beside your bed. The wastepaper bin was on fire and the curtains. The room was full of smoke.”

She shook her head, her certainty absolute. “I didn’t set fire to my bin. I don’t even have a box of matches.”

Aaron seemed to have been thinking along the same lines. “No. That’s what I was wondering. But someone did.”

“And you think it was deliberate? Who? Who could have done it? And why would anyone want to do that? To me?” Eugenie grasped at his hand again, her world tilting. What he was suggesting amounted to an attempt to murder her. And it had so nearly succeeded.

“I don’t know—yet. We will solve this, though. And until we do, you won’t be out of my sight, not even for a moment. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

He caught her gaze and held it. She felt steadied by his quiet determination, his unwavering confidence. She believed in him.

With a self-conscious cough of her own, Elise stood and reached for her bag. “I need to get back. I just wanted to see you for myself, to make sure you were okay. I’ll let everyone else know.”

Aaron turned to her. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind, could you just let everyone else think Genie is still unconscious? Best not to broadcast that this attempt failed in case it encourages whoever set that fire to have another go.”

Both women stared at him.

“Do you think they might? Am I still in danger?” Eugenie could hear the tremor in her voice.

Aaron gave her a reassuring smile. “Not right at this moment. Whoever did this is probably assuming you’re still at death’s door, and I want to keep it that way. Apart from us three, only Pierre knows you’ve regained consciousness and are able to tell us anything about what happened. When the doc says you’re fit to be discharged, my plan is to sneak you back into the hotel without anyone else knowing you’re there. Pierre and Elise can help keep other staff away while we spirit you through. You can hide out in my apartment. We’ll check out the CCTV images, see if anything jogs your memory further—if you feel up to that, of course. Or you can just get some rest.”

“No, I want to help. And I want to be at that wedding. If I can…”

“It’s not until late afternoon tomorrow. We’ll probably know a lot more about what happened by then.” He grinned at her. “I don’t want to miss it either, after all the work we’ve both put in.”

“When can I leave here?”

Elise leaned down to kiss Eugenie’s cheek, a purely Gallic gesture. “I’ll see if the doctor’s still around and ask him to come back and talk to you about that.” She turned to Aaron. “I assume you’ll be staying here?”

He nodded.

“I’ll see you soon then.” Elise stopped in the doorway. “Aaron, let me know when you’re coming back and I’ll make sure the coast is clear.” With a quick wave at Eugenie, she was gone.

A few minutes later, the doctor came back. “I gather you want to leave us already?”

Eugenie’s smile was self-conscious. “I’m feeling a lot better now, thank you. You’ve been very kind, but I’d like to go home, if I can.”

He smiled at her. “Ah, we have that effect on so many of our guests. I daresay your accommodations at the Totally Five Star are much more comfortable. Well, your readings were near enough normal, but I’d like to get a couple more hourly observations in before discharging you. It’s after nine in the evening now, so how about you stay with us overnight and we’ll look to send you on your way first thing in the morning?”

Eugenie grimaced. She’d hoped to be leaving sooner than that. Aaron’s expression was suddenly pure Dom, daring her to argue. Eugenie subsided back against her pillow.

“That sounds fine, Doctor. Thank you.”

On reflection, tomorrow would come soon enough.

Chapter Eighteen

Aaron much preferred her in his bed than in the hospital one, especially as she didn’t find it necessary to wear any clothes. Perhaps it was the fact that he was stretched out alongside her. Certainly, that didn’t hurt. Eugenie turned to nestle up against him, her nose buried in the cotton of his T-shirt. He could hear her breathing and thanked God for that sound. He’d nearly lost her.

“Thank you for staying with me.”

He pulled her up his body to plant a kiss on her mouth. “I said I would. We’re joined at the hip, you and me, until this is settled.”

“Nice idea, Sir. And since we are here, in your bed…”

His cock twitched, but he knew that would have to wait. Still, he couldn’t help playing with her. “Insatiable slut. Aren’t you tired?”

“No, Sir. I’ve done nothing but sleep for nearly two days.”

“Thirty-six hours, actually. Well, since you’re so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed right now, do you feel up to watching a bit of television? Of the closed circuit variety?”

Eugenie sat up next to him, treating him to an uninterrupted view of her gorgeous breasts. His cock was taking on a life of its own.

“Can we view it from here?”

Christ, yes. We could probably view it from the moon if it got any bigger.

“Sir? The CCTV—can we watch it from your apartment?”

Aaron gave himself and his rampant testosterone a mental shake. Business first, pleasure later. Lots of pleasure.

“Yes. I can patch my laptop through to the hotel system. Wait there.” He rolled from the bed and left the room. A few moments later, he returned, his laptop under his arm. He’d loosened the button on his jeans. He set the computer on top of the duvet and winked at her as he fired it up.

“Looking good there, little Genie. Maybe I should move you in permanently.”

“Sir?”

“Just an idea. Your flat is uninhabitable and I don’t think there are any vacant ones. At least not singles.”

Her face fell. “Oh. I see. That’s kind of you, Sir.”

“And of course a live-in sub is so much more convenient. I could fuck you every morning. How would you like that, Genie?”

“I’d like it very much, Sir. If it’s not too much trouble. Are you sure you have enough room for me?”

“I’ll make space. Are you being a brat again, Genie?”

“Me, Sir? Of course not.”

“Mmm, I think you are. Whatever, I’ll spank you anyway. After we’re done here.”

“Thank you, Sir. Do I have any clothes left? After the fire, I mean?”

He glanced across at her. “I’m not sure. There was a lot of smoke damage. The TFS insurance will cover you, though. Elise sent some stuff over for you to borrow until you can replace your own.”

“She’s been so kind. She’s a wonderful boss.”

“She values her best staff and looks out for them. And she likes you.”

“You too. I mean, you’ve been wonderful too. Did I thank you for rescuing me?”

“You did, and you will again. I intend to fuck you until you see stars later. If you feel up to it, naturally. That’ll be my reward.”

“I see. But even so, Sir, I want you to know how grateful I am.”

He turned to face her, his expression serious. “Don’t be grateful. I love you. You mean the world to me. What else would I have done? I need you. Here. With me.”

“So, the live-in sub thing, it’s not just for convenience?”

“Who are you talking to, Genie?”

“For convenience, Sir? I apologize.”

“Accepted. No. It’s not. You may be many things, my sweet little slut, but convenient is not one of them. You’ll lead me a real dance, but I’ll manage to control you. Somehow.”

“Your belt might be useful, Sir.”

“Indeed.”

“And a cane. A cane always gets my attention.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“I don’t much like being whipped.”

“I noticed that too. I’ll be needing a new whip. Maybe two.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Aaron growled as she shifted to kneel on the bed, leaning forward to peer at the screen of his laptop, her pert little bottom right in front of his nose.