Buy Me 2 (Mistress Auctions, #2)(22)
“Oh, no worries, Kristen. I know the way, and I want to use the restroom first.” I make my way past her and hear Cupid call out from behind me, “I’ll see you in the salon after.”
“See you there,” I toss over my shoulder. When I get around the corner, I press myself against the wall and listen for Cupid’s departure. The spa clients go through a changing room, and then out into the different spa areas. Women and men have separate changing rooms that are located in two different hallways.
When I hear Kristen tell Cupid what room he’ll be in, I wait a minute, and then peek around the corner and see the front desk is clear. Normally I would stop and snap at someone for leaving the desk unmanned, but right now I’m thankful.
Making my exit, I head straight for Charles’s office, which is on the same floor as Security. Once there, I slide my key into his office door, opening it a crack and slipping in.
When he said he’d be in meetings, I thought he meant on a conference call, like most of his meetings. When I was here, he never had anyone else in here with him. Ever. But when I walk into his office, Charles is standing behind his desk with his back to me, and there’s a man sitting in one of the black chairs in front of his desk.
I think about slipping out, but I freeze at Charles’s words as he start to turn. “I think you forget there are a lot of holes in the desert, Mr. Sheridan, and I have no problem filling them with men like—” His words stop when his eyes meet mine.
I have no idea what I should do, or if he’s going to be pissed at what I just heard. One thing I do notice is, I’m not scared. Well, maybe a little, but not of him hurting me or throwing me into a hole in the desert.
He cocks his head to the side, a smirk lifting his lips, the hardness that was there moments ago slipping away.
“You are a sneaky kitten, aren't you?”
The man sitting in the chair lifts his head to see who Charles is talking to.
“Don’t f*cking look at her.”
The man snaps his head back towards Charles, and I blush at his jealousy.
“We're done here, Slade.” Charles goes around his desk to escort the man from his office. “Kitten, in my chair. Take the long way around.” He motions for me to pass by them on the other side of his desk.
I go to slip around when the man finally rises and sneaks a look my way. “Got yourself a submissive, Mr. Townsend? I’d heard the rumors but—” His words are cut off when Charles grabs him around the throat and pushes him up against the nearest wall.
The man struggles, and his eyes shoot to me, like he’s pleading for me to make him stop.
“Don’t look at her. She won’t help you, and it only pisses me off more you have your eyes on her.”
His eyes go back to Charles, and he tries to speak, but can't. After a moment, Charles loosens his grip a little.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Townsend, and I’ll let everyone on the board at Brock Enterprises know.”
“You do that. They don’t want me coming for them.” Charles lets go of the man, who runs from the room as quickly as possible, coughing the whole way as he tries to catch his breath.
I move quickly, sitting down in Charles’s chair. I wonder if I look as imposing in the chair as he does. I used to think it was the chair. Now as I sit in the thing, I know it’s all him.
Charles doesn't bat an eyelash as he makes his way over to me, making me gasp by picking me up and sitting me on his desk while he takes his chair back. He slides in between my legs, resting my heels on the arms of his chair, with my legs spread wide apart.
He slowly strokes my ankles, and then my calf, making me close my eyes to enjoy the sensation. “You have the most perfect legs I’ve ever seen.” His words draw my eyes back open. After a moment he speaks again. “You’re not running from the room.”
“Should I be?” I say lazily as he continues to rub me.
“No, I would never hurt you.”
“I didn't think you would.” I didn't. Not even for a second did the thought cross my mind. I was just more startled to catch Charles in action. I heard he runs his business with a firmer hand than others. I’d lived on the street for a few years before I came to work with the Cortez brothers. Seeing two men fight is nothing new to me. While we might be in a fancy hotel, men don't like when you f*ck with their shit, and I'm guessing that's what happened here.
I’d never seen him act like that until today, but I'm not a terrible judge of people. I feel like if Charles needed to make a threat, it was due. I also know Aaron and Justin wouldn't let me near him if they thought he’d harm a hair on my head, but I’m starting to wonder if they thought about my heart.
“Do you want to ask me?”
I do, but I just shrug, going with my ‘less is more’ rule.
“Kitten, I’ll tell you anything if you ask.” I like that there are no games with him.
“Why do you want to,” I raise my eyebrows, “put him into a hole?”
“Doesn't seem so intimidating the way you say it,” he laughs, but his tone soon turns serious. “They’re after my father’s casinos.”
“I thought your casino wasn't tied with your father’s.” I looked Charles up online before I came to work for him. I knew he owned his own casino and that his father had a string of his own as well, but they aren’t affiliated.