The Perfect Stroke (Lucas Brothers #1)(133)

“I thought she was treating you better?” I ask, immediately pissed off. I warned Mayra to treat Ana with respect. Ana is a permanent fixture in my life. I’m not letting her go. I will, however, fire the maid. Easily.

“She is, around you. She waits to show me her distaste and hate when you’re in another room.”

“That’s unacceptable. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Really, Roman. It’s not a big deal,” Ana says.

“It is. I told you to fire her if she kept disrespecting you,” I complain, upset this has been going on without my notice.

“She’s been better. I’m rarely alone with her. Besides, it doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with her. It won’t be long until…” she trails off as her face heats up.

I think about what she said, and any way I choose to finish her sentence displeases me.

“Until what, Ana?” I growl this time, my voice dark.

“Roman, let’s not get into this right now. You’ll be late,” Ana says, refusing to meet my eyes.

She’s right, I will be. I don’t give a f*ck. Something about hearing the woman you are obsessed with talk as if your time with her is limited has a strange effect on a man.

“Ana, we’ve gone over this shit. Do you not get that I’m not letting you go?”

“Roman…” she trails off for a second, her eyes looking down at her hands instead of me.

“Ana. Eyes, now,” I order, and her face snaps up and her eyes sparkle with displeasure, but f*ck that, she needs to understand this. “You are going nowhere.”

At my words, some of the anger leaves her, but there’s another look on her face now, one I’m not sure how I feel about. It almost looks like hopelessness.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time, Roman. If I’m still around in a month, I’ll handle her…”

“Mayra!” I yell, my voice loud enough to shake the rafters in the ceiling. I’ve had enough of this shit. Ana must know because she pulls away, jumping at my tone. She pulls the sheet tight around her body and now there’s fear in her eyes. My dick pushes against my jeans because caring for Ana or not, I’m still a bastard. The sight of her fear makes me want to control and conquer her that much more.

“Mr. Anthes?” Mayra says from the door. I turn to watch her freeze as her eyes go to Ana lying in my bed. Her dislike shows on her face clearly before she hides it and raises her eyes to mine.

“I told you, if you didn’t respect my woman, you were finished. Apparently you didn’t take that to heart.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Anthes.”

“Ana says you’ve been disrespecting her in private.”

“Roman,” Ana starts, but I ignore her. The controlled mask on Mayra’s face slips somewhat.

“I’ve been doing my job, Mr. Anthes. I don’t have time to cater to the whims of some—”

“My woman. That’s who she is, Mayra. She’s mine. She’s staying. I will have my ring on her hand and my child in her belly. She will be around for a long f*cking time. A lot longer than you will.”

“Roman,” Ana gasps.

“Mr. Anthes,” Mayra starts. I ignore them both and instead pull off my jacket.

“Pack your things, Mayra. I want you out of this house in thirty minutes. Robert will drive you back into town. I’ll mail your severance pay. I’ll be generous though; it’s more than you deserve.”

“You can’t be serious!” Mayra protests, her face now full of hate, but now it’s not all directed at Ana.

“Deadly, and now you have three less minutes to pack than you did before.”

“Bastard!” Mayra spits at me. I grin. She looks at me, and then back at Ana. “You’ll regret it,” she snarls and then stomps out. I grab my phone and call the security detail that is on duty in the guardhouse by the gate to my estate.

“I’ve just released Mayra Baxter from employ. She has thirty minutes to leave. Have Robert waiting on her and a man on her as she walks from the house to the limo please.”

“Got it sir,” I hear right before I hang up. Ana is sitting up in bed, her face full of shock.

“Roman, I don’t think… I mean… Why would you… What are you doing?” she stutters before finally getting the only question that matters out.

“I can’t leave until Mayra is gone,” I tell her, unbuttoning my shirt. Ana’s eye watch my every movement.

“About that, there’s still time. Maybe you could talk to her and get her… Roman! What are you doing?” she asks again, her back going straight as I unzip my pants.

“You have thirty minutes to make me forget.”

“Make you forget what?” she asks as I kick off my shoes and discard the rest of my clothes. When I’m completely naked, I walk to the other side of the bed. My dick is hard and leaning towards her. Bastard knows what he wants.

“That you thought for one minute you were leaving me,” I tell her.

“Roman.”

“Shut it, Ana,” I tell her. I palm my dick, stroking it once, slow and hard. I pull her on the bed by her leg until she’s lying crosswise. She doesn’t fight me; I think she’s still in a sort of shock. “Spread your legs wide, Ana.” I order.