Be a Doll(5)

All the while his smirk hadn’t disappeared, but his frown did. “There it is,’’ he said ominously, stood up and walked to the door and pressed the button next to it.

He didn’t spare me a look and I now didn’t know what to do with myself. Or think.

That foreboding moment I had felt before stepping in the interview room came back and with it, fear.





MATHIS


“I wasn’t expecting that interview to end so soon, Mr. Grimes,’’ Mrs. Stein said with a silky voice, but I prided myself in reading people well enough to be sure that woman was buttering me up.

I unbuttoned my jacket and sat in the chair in front of her probably authentic Louis Philip desk. I extended Miss Hodge’s file for her to take and she complied immediately. Her eyes hardened when they fell on the name penciled on the top.

So little Miss Hodge gave some trouble to the stuck up woman. It only concurred with what I thought of the young woman. She had spirit, something I hadn’t thought I could find in a woman who had been here, groomed and shaped to be a trophy wife.

When it became obvious I needed a wife for my business’ sake—and to make my mother happy—I decided that Carter Manor would do. In my circle, they’re known to be the best at this. I was only thirty-two and I knew I could have found any woman to marry me, but with Carter Manor I wouldn’t have to go through the whole daunting process and anyway, the women here knew what they got. I wouldn’t have to go through a fight and passive aggressive comments when I had an affair.

With Carter Manor I was ensured it was all business.

But what I hadn’t expected was Miss Hodge’s spirit. Upon coming here I was presented files of the available women along with pictures, of course. All women were beautiful, some more naturally elegant than others, but one stood out immediately for me.

Miss Hodge.

Her beauty was striking, so much so that I twitched in my pants, but beyond her beauty, it was her eyes that captured my interest. In her cornflower blue eyes, I saw someone who couldn’t be tamed, someone who had a strength like you rarely met in a lifetime.

She didn’t disappoint. If anything, I couldn’t wait to fuck her and see what she had. For the first time, I wasn’t as repulsed at the idea of getting married. Business or not, I could bet it would be interesting to see this woman unravel. I was willing to gamble on her and I hoped she would still remember some of the things Carter Manor taught her, starting with the fact that this was only a convenience marriage, nothing more.

“Waffling isn’t part of my make up, Mrs. Stein. I wouldn’t be where I am otherwise.’’ I nodded at Miss Hodge’s file. “I find Miss Hodge fitting.’’

“You do?’’ Her eyes briefly widened behind her glasses before she recomposed herself. “I mean, as I warned you, Miss Hodge can be…difficult.’’

“I’m aware of the comments in her file.’’

She frowned and straightened the file in front of her so it lay perfectly parallel with the edges of the desk. “Mr. Grimes, I know Miss Hodge is very attractive and smart, but you’re a young man yourself and you must keep in mind that—’’

“Are you saying that you know better than myself what I need and what I’m looking for as a wife, Mrs. Stein?’’ I stopped her, my voice dripping with warning. My eyes narrowed on her. “Miss Hodge is the one I want. I’m sure you have other perfect candidates, but I’m not interested. Understood?’’

“Of course, Mr. Grimes. I apologize if I came across as assertive,’’ she quickly apologized and cleared her throat. “I wanted to make sure you understood that when the marriage is ordained we, Carter Manor, can’t do anything for you anymore if Miss Hodge doesn’t mesh well with you and your expectations.’’

“I’m well aware. I always read the contracts I sign.’’

“Fine.’’ She cleared her throat again and nodded, clearly rattled. “As you know, we will take care of the wedding following your specifications. I have your file here so I’ll immediately contact the wedding planner we work with in New York and start the preparations.’’

“Good,’’ I said and stood up, buttoning my jacket again. “I have to go back to New York for a meeting tomorrow morning. I expect a weekly report on the progress of preparations up until the wedding in two months. And please, advise Miss Hodge that she can pick any wedding dress she wishes. If there’s an issue, contact me at the number I provided, not my office.’’

“Yes, Mr. Grimes. Thank you again for working with us.’’

I nodded and walked out without waiting for her to lead me back to her office door. In the hall, the butler appeared at my side and quietly walked me back outside where my driver waited for me.

***





MATHIS


“How did it go, sir?’’ my driver, Lucas, asked me with a small smile.

“Better than expected.’’ I looked outside and watched the countryside flashing as we drove back towards civilization and the airport where my private jet waited to fly us back to New York. “I’ll be a married man in two months.’’

“Congratulations, sir. If you don’t mind my asking, but what’s your fiancée’s name?’’