Bartered (The Encounter #1)(16)

Funny how things played out tonight. It had been ten years after all.

It wasn’t b long before I felt the guilt consume me once more. I had been warned, and yet I hadn’t believed what my father had said. Ultimately, Louise had been the one who’d paid the price for my stupidity.





Chapter 11


Isobel


“You can rest go rest. I have some work to do.”

Bastard! How the heck do I manage to “rest” after what he just did to me? Treating me like I was some cheap tart that didn’t have any feelings whatsoever. How dare he! I seethed as I jumped in the hot shower in the en suite bathroom of the master bedroom.

Was this how he treated his women? Chantel had simply had high praises for Hugo, but seeing how he’d been acting towards me for the past week, it was either he disliked me as a person or only saw me as a sex object.

Letting all six jets warm my body, I pondered harder about his immediate change of attitude. Well, he had become a total ass when I’d declined him about what he wanted. Therefore, he was after vaginal sex, which I had clearly stated in the contract—that we both had agreed to and signed—wasn’t part of the deal.

Remembering that next morning of negotiation, I distinctly recalled everything that had happened that day.



“There will be no vaginal sex. In the circumstances that Mr. Hugo Xavier won’t honor this binding agreement, he will immediately dismiss Ms. Callas from the six months contract, freeing her from all debts her father, Mr. Constantin Callas, accrued,” the lawyer, who had thick, black-rimmed glasses, said out loud enough for Hugo and I to hear him clearly. “Unless, of course, Ms. Isobel Callas asked of it herself, of her own free will.”

“After six months, all debts will be cleared,” one of them said out loud, giving me a dead look.

“There is a mandatory monthly health check-up that is non-negotiable.” The oldest of the four lawyers eyed me sharply. “After today, you will see a doctor that will be assigned to you for the duration of your stay. The doctor will provide contraception to prevent pregnancy. This is also non-negotiable.”

Didn’t he just hear what the other lawyer had stated minutes ago?

“Monsieur, there won’t be a possibility for that, I can assure you.” I protested as I gave Hugo a questioning look, hoping he’d change the terms.

“It’s non-negotiable, Ms. Callas,” the uptight lawyer reinstated.

Resigned and feeling helpless, I made a small nod. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

There was no doubt in my mind that Hugo covered all aspects when it came to his health and unwanted pregnancies. Consequently, when I went to go see the doctor and had my physical check-up, I wasn’t a bit surprised that regular, good ole pills didn’t suffice; instead, I was to get injections because pills were unreliable, apparently.



Hugo had the upper hand. But even though he had made me tremble with his skillful touch tonight, I wasn’t going to give in to him. I was Damen’s and not his. His little tantrum of not getting what he wanted wouldn’t cut it for me. It was best he knew that.

After my shower, I fell asleep waiting for him to come to bed. Since this was the main suite, I had thought he’d be sharing with me, but I was proven wrong the next day. I woke up with the other side of the bed untouched, which only led me to believe that he went somewhere else to satiate his needs.

After I got ready, showered and primed to face him, a soft knock came at the door.

“You may come in,” I murmured as I applied gloss on my lips.

The butler from last night appeared when the door opened, clearing his throat to get my attention. “Madam, Monsieur Xavier gives his sincerest apologies for not being here to join you for breakfast. I’m afraid he had some private business to attend to. He said that you can take the rest of the day off, and if you’re willing, there’s a spa appointment ready for you at your convenience.”

Private business, I acidly thought while I made a tight smile towards his little minion. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to consider it.”

When the butler left, closing the door behind him, I threw my gloss back into my purse, feeling his barbed rejection once more.

Huffing, I gathered myself to go upstairs to eat breakfast. The sun was already beating hot, and it wasn’t even ten in the morning. Taking the same seat from yesterday, my eyes scanned the small, delicious feast before me. Through his endlessly cold attributes, I couldn’t fault Hugo when it came to feeding me well. Even when he wasn’t around, he always had someone to bring me a meal.

“Mind if I join you?” A voice from behind made me snap my head towards the newcomer.

Well, what a surprise.

“Of course, there’s enough to feed an army.”

“That’s kind of you.” Chantel strode towards me before taking the opposing seat and then poured herself a cup of coffee from the traditional French pressed glass. She didn’t speak until she finished pouring, giving me a friendly look. “You must be wondering what I’m doing here?” Her brow rose as she pulled out a cigarette, lighting it seductively as I watched in silence, in awe of her confident grace.

“You’re here because Hugo sent you,” I provided the answer without taking my eyes off her.

“Non.” She drew from her cigarette before tilting her head to the side, blowing off the smoke through her bright red, matte colored, stained lips. She had the typical French savoir-faire, one I truly admired in most of the women that trolled around The Riviera. Looking at me thoughtfully, she spoke again. “So, how are you finding everything so far? Staying at the villa? Hugo himself?”