Those Three Words: A Single Dad, Billionaire Boss Romance(10)
She challenged me.
Called me out on my bullshit.
From what I’ve gathered in our short interactions, Miss Silver is the exact opposite. Timid, perhaps a bit naive or innocent.
The kind of woman I have no business wanting to defile. And yet, from the moment I first met her, something has slowly started stirring in me. A desire to have her at my mercy, completely helpless against every filthy fucking thing I want to do to her.
An image of Margot stretched out on my bed, naked, arms and legs tied to the four posts, sends a pang of desire straight to my cock.
Would she beg me? Would she willingly give herself to me?
I bet she’d be fun to tease, I think to myself as I run my hand over my rough five-o’clock shadow. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to force images of sweet little Miss Silver begging for release from my mind.
I walk down to the end of the hallway where a large bay window sits, giving an expansive view of the backyard.
I never intended on making this estate my home. It was my late grandfather’s house and while Meredith and I never had any use for this much space, she absolutely fell in love with the house when I showed it to her years ago. My mother insisted Meredith and I take it. My father had passed two years before we were married, and my mother couldn’t bear to live here alone without him. She moved into a smaller place a few miles away and we moved in here.
I, on the other hand, now can’t imagine parting with the house knowing how much it meant to Meredith.
“Sir, can I help you with something?”
The breathy sound of Miss Perry’s voice interrupts my thoughts and I turn to face her, offering up a small smile.
“No, just—thinking. How was your vacation?”
I walk to where she’s standing and we both turn to head down the main staircase.
“It was nice. Spent some quality time with my sister, sunning ourselves lazily on the beaches of St. Tropez and sipping a few too many fruity cocktails.” Her voice is breathy and I know she’s putting it on.
“Sounds relaxing.”
“Oh, it was. You would love it there.” She reaches out and touches my arm softly. “We ended up spending some time on a yacht owned by the Felton brothers. You know them, right? Teddy and Martin?”
Teddy? I know what she’s trying to do and I’m not interested. Nobody besides maybe his mother or whoever he’s currently sleeping with calls Theo Felton Teddy.
“Yes, I’m very familiar with the Felton brothers,” I say as I open the fridge and grab a bottle of water.
“Well, they spoke very highly of you. We certainly had a fabulous time with them and they invited us to join them on their next trip to the Amalfi Coast. I told them I would need at least six months to recover from this last trip and to make sure I have time to work off all those delicious cocktails. Can’t be losing my figure before another vacation.”
She giggles and it’s like nails on a chalkboard. I’m not a total asshole. It’s not that I hate Fiona. It’s that I can’t understand why she insists on using this flirty tone and her attempts to make me jealous.
I very stupidly and drunkenly made the mistake of taking her to bed—once a very long time ago. It was shortly after Meredith had passed and I was a wreck. I was lost and lonely and confused and after a few too many glasses of whatever I was even drinking, she found me in my study, and well, the rest is history.
After that night, though, I made it abundantly clear that it was a mistake and I wished her to stay working for me. She agreed and said she completely understood that considering my circumstances, I practiced poor judgment and it meant nothing more than that.
“I’m sure you have nothing to worry about, Miss Perry, and I’m sure the Felton brothers will provide magnificent company on your future vacation. I’ll be in my office for the remainder of the evening.” I check my watch. “Eleanor will be home from my mother’s in a few hours. I’ve already informed Miss Silver.”
I can see a look of disappointment on her face that I didn’t take the bait and say something about the Felton brothers or her partying with them. I give her a nod and grab my bottle of water and head back to my office.
I sit down in my desk chair, my eyes landing on Margot’s resume. I pick it up and read it for probably the fifth time. It doesn’t reveal anything new, but then a thought occurs to me.
Where was she living previously?
I turn to my laptop and type her name into the White Pages website where her address is listed. I search the address and find it’s a small apartment building on the west side of the city. There’s a phone number listed. I pick up my phone and dial it and it begins to ring.
I’m not sure what I am planning to accomplish with this call. I guess I’m curious if she broke her lease and how much it was. I want to make sure that’s covered. I can’t imagine a public school teacher makes enough to cover that kind of expense.
“This is Charlie Zelinski,” a raspy voice says abruptly on the other end of the line.
“Charlie, this is Graham Hayes. I’m calling about a previous tenant of yours. Margot Silver.”
“Yeah, what about her? She’s still gonna pay me, right?” And there’s my answer.
“Well, that’s why I’m calling. She’s my live-in nanny now so it’s my fault that she had to vacate her apartment early. I’m calling to settle any debt she might have with you.”