Becoming His Slave (4 page)

If Trenton had thoughts of approaching her again that night the opportunity escaped when Amelia and her guests returned from upstairs early, minus her Dom Alex. He couldn’t help the smirk that affected him; he knew Amelia was too much woman for that man.

He enjoyed watching the silent play that took place after a round of drinks was delivered. Amelia got Katianna to surrender her laptop for content inspection and read aloud to her guests. Her hand waving up in exaggerated embellishments to further the mood of the story and he wished he was in there with them to hear the story. He particularly enjoyed the red face Katianna wore.

Trenton continued to watch from the bar, he could tell when the story telling ended, there were hands being waved at their chests to cool their climatic arousal in playful banter, followed by what looked like rallying ploys for more. It was fun to watch.

Amelia was pulling her purse up and plucked her checkbook out, then handed a check out for Katianna to accept, only to have it waved away with a timid shake of her head.

He watched the tug-a-war push game between Katianna and Amelia when the Heiress tried to stuff it in her hands. Vashon’s boy-toy companion Yigal snatched her laptop and held it hostage till she accepted the check and tucked it away in a pocket.

The night was complete. Friends and associates gathered for the purpose of the club, business was conducted; some fun, some entertainment and a little more business—now it was time to go home.

Katianna followed Amelia and her friends out stopping to collect their coats at the door.

“Oh girl how do you go on wearing that?” Vashon chided Katianna as she pulled on the Army issued green wool trench coat.

Katianna shrugged. She knew it wasn’t up to their standards, not in any way was it considered fashion fare, but she happen to like it. It had that punk look, something she wasn’t very good at pulling off, but it definitely kept her warm, “It doesn’t cost me a fortune in dry cleaning and it gives me that hoodlum look I like going for.” She tried to tease them.

But Vashon and Yigal only laughed with a roll of their eyes. “Sweetheart, not at your pint size. The most you can pull off is the hoodlum Barbie doll.”

“Never the less if I wore something fancier around here I’d get mugged. If I look like them they don’t bother me.” She defended herself as she pulled it closed tightening it as they stepped out to the cold New York winter air. She didn’t take offense to their chiding on her size, she was what she was and she was definitely pint size compared to them. At least with Amelia she wasn’t dwarfed by her 5’6”, but then again Amelia owned the world, she was an heiress.

“Well somebody likes living dangerously. You couldn’t catch me walking the streets around here, not in any coat.” Vashon and Yigal shrugged in unison, then both leaned in, each planting a kiss on her cheek then loaded up in the Mercedes the valet brought around. “By sweets.” They called out with a wave.

Amelia’s limo pulled up next.

“Okay so use that money to cover your expenses for now—I want your manuscript on my desk no later than Dec. 20 that gives you two months to finish it. Okay?”

“Yes ma’am.” Katianna rolled her eyes, she felt like a ten year old right now—
now don’t forget to eat your vegetables and clean your room
—but she knew not to let it get to her. Amelia treasured her ability to write good stories, but she wasn’t a fool either. Amelia knew Katianna’s job waitressing at the coffee shop was causing her writing to suffer for it. This was her way of protecting her company’s assets.

“And don’t forget you’re the special guest at the
Leather & Lace Expo
two weeks from now. It’s an all weekend affair so I’ve booked a room for you at the Manhattan Palace where the gala is taking place, you’ll also have an escort at all times. And be sure to have some sexy things to wear.”

“Escort?” Katianna blinked at her with some trepid surprise.

“Yes, a bodyguard. You’ll be a celebrity, but you also have the right to have some time to yourself and not be bothered by fans, or have to worry about any creeps getting too fond.”

“Won’t you be there?” Katianna had never had a bodyguard assigned to her. Usually she was just grandfathered under the watchful eyes of one of Amelia’s.

“No. I’m leaving for Europe in a few days and won’t be back in time. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure you have someone you can trust with you and Lindsey from the office will be there to assist you and keep you on schedule.” Amelia leaned out offering her cheek and Katianna kissed her then received one in return and watched as the heiress stepped into her limo, the driver closing the door then hurried around to the front and drove off.

Katianna stared on, waving; knowing Amelia wasn’t looking, but did so anyways out of habit.

“Shall I call you a cab?” The valet attendant offered her.

Katianna reached into her coat pocket pulling out the small wad of cash she had left to her name, a five and s couple of singles crumpled up in her hand, her metro pass and some sparse change. “No thank you.” She hated walking in the city too, but she didn’t have enough money for a cab, but she could take the train, she just had to walk to that.

The sound of the club spilled out onto the side walk as the doors opened behind her with yet another person or group readying to head home before the club closed for the night. She’d wait till they were gone before walking off alone.

Trenton stepped out to find Katianna standing out front waving as Amelia’s limo pulled off.

“You need a ride?”

Kat spun to look at him, “Oh—” stuffing the wad of bills back into her pocket, “
Uhm
—no I was going to walk.”

Trenton raised a brow at her, “Walk? No I don’t think so. Come on I’ll take you home.” And he waved his hand out to usher her in the direction of the vehicles already parked at the curb in front of the club, but she didn’t move.

Trenton glanced at her, watching as she tugged her coat tighter to keep out the cold and pulled the strap to her computer satchel higher on her shoulder. She was nervous. “There is no refusing me in this equation, Katianna. Its Manhattan, I’m not about to let you walk home. Now please—” he held his hand out again, “before I pick you up and throw you in my truck.”

Katianna made a heavy sigh, but surrendered, she really didn’t want to be thrown into anything, except maybe his bed. But at the moment that wasn’t what he was offering as he took her arm and walked her over to the largest SUV she’d ever seen, nearly twice the size of a Hummer.

“This is what you drive?” Not in the least bit reserved in her surprise, “What is it? It’s like a tank with shiny paint.” She looked at it as he opened the door and without asking took her waist and lifted her up into the passenger seat so she didn’t have to climb. Her eyes widened further, inside it looked like a fancy high tech assault vehicle complete with three small screens on the dash, two laptops secured into the console between the seats and a large array of switches over head along the visor. Her head was filled with questions as she waited for Trenton to climb in behind the wheel.

“It’s a Conquest Knight—a glorified Gurkha basically.” He answered her as he flipped a few switches overhead and the three screens she noticed on the dash lit up. One a navigation screen, the second a rearview screen and the third displayed a green image, “Seat belt.”

“Is that a night vision screen?” She asked as she subconsciously obeyed, pulling her seat belt on.

“Yep.”

“And you need that stuff?”

“Sometimes.” He smiled at her and pulled out on the road.

“Thought for sure you’d be decked out with one of those Italian cars.” She hummed twisting in her seat to glance in the back. Four roomy captain seats facing each other, more screens and more switches over head. No bar—
luxurious
—but not to the point of being gaudy. Rather like a billionaire's military assault control room on wheels is what it was.

“Guess I don’t need to compensate for anything then
huh
?” He joked watching as she made no attempted to play off her curiousness and appear unimpressed. “So you gonna tell me where you live? Or shall I just drive around all night?”

“Oh.” She turned back into her seat and looked at him with a slight twist in her lips. Sure she knew where she lived, but
where
wasn’t just embarrassing it was downright frightening. At least for her it was, but it had been all she could afford and she didn’t what anyone, especially the likes of this man knowing where she lived. He’d never look at her again and she really did like the way he looked at her.

“Well?” A brow went up adding some jester like humor to those Bailey’s cream eyes.

Katianna tried to stifle her fidgeting as she fabricated the lie. “Well I just moved there and I forget what it’s called, but you know that tower place just two blocks from Grande Central?”

He nodded some. “I think I know the place.”

Good
, cause she didn’t, but any place close to the train station was good enough. She hadn’t meant to lie, but the truth was far more regretful and to avoid any further topic on it she decided she would get out no matter where he stopped.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the crescent courtyard driveway of the tower apartments. She was right away regretting that decision to get out where ever he led her, when he pulled to a stop in front of the elaborate Golden Yves Tower. Katianna nearly gulped as she stared out at the grand foyer of ivory decor and gold leaf trim replete with a large towering fountain for a center piece just beyond the archway framing the brass turn style doors, stationed by an elderly doorman who stepped out to open the door.

Katianna would have let him continue to struggle with the locked door, but a click from Trenton’s side and the door released.
Shit
. The door opened and the doorman stepped back, “Welcome home.” And he bowed.

Katianna glanced back at Trenton who was watching her, but damned if she could tell what he was thinking. If he knew she didn’t belong here he wasn’t letting his judgment show, but there was something there— something that showed he wasn’t impressed, but maybe surprised— maybe disappointed rather.

“Thanks for the ride.” She stammered and quickly jumped out and darted for the rotary doors and disappeared.

Trenton sat back in the seat, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully, while his elbow rested on the console. Katianna almost looked like a vagabond against the lavish
ritz
of the building and he knew she couldn’t possibly afford such a place. He would have normally insisted on walking her to her door, but he knew there was no way this was where she lived. Not without a sugar daddy. And if she had one of those then—
hell
—he found his way into her life. He’d have to find out who the provider was and get rid of him, so he could take over the position.

A horn from behind him blasted and Trenton pulled out of the drive and just as he did so he caught a glimpse of Katianna as she streaked across the street in another direction— her long wavy hair skirting behind her like a cape as she dashed off in the direction of Grand Central Station.

Trenton quickly pulled out forcing his way in front of two cab drivers, but by the time he made it over the two blocks to the city station she was gone.

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CHAPTER TWO

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TWO WEEKS LATER

“Now Trenton I expect you to take good care of her. I don’t want any of your tom-foolery boys watching her. I expect your best men assigned for this weekend, especially with the room for your men being attached to hers.”
Amelia was on the phone ranting on him over this weekend. She had always been particular about which of his bodyguards were assigned for certain events. Some were for the house, some for business and others best suited for events. But this weekend her star writer was on her own without Amelia to guard over her investment like she usually was, so now she was calling from France taking micro managing to a new level.

“She’ll be in good hands, Amelia. I promise.” Trenton gave her his usual level assured tone. He’d learned when he first started up the business of personal security to just let the client rant and not get worked up over the antics. Clients especially bossy ones just liked to yell a lot. And he never gave up his self control.

“It better not be that Simon character that boy never keeps his dick in his pants. I mean it Trenton. That poor girl is afraid of her own shadow, you can’t put any of your light weights with her, they’ll go lose with their tongues in that kind of atmosphere and insult her with their vulgarity or try to come on to her themselves.”

“Amelia I got Diesel on it. I told you I got her in good hands.”

“Diesel huh?”
He knew that would satisfy her. Diesel wasn’t just one of his men he was a partner and stepped in only on special assignments since he had a
business of his own to run with the gun shop and shooting range
. “Okay who else?”
Amelia cooled on the other end.

Trenton scratched his head a moment, “I haven’t decided, maybe William.” He lied about it being William. He had every intention of doing the job himself, he just wasn’t ready to tell her that. “So how’s Ramos? He taking good care of you?”

“Ramos is just fine. Dammit Trenton, don’t change the subject. Now is Diesel on his way to pick her up? It won’t be good for her to be late on the red carpet entry.”

“We’re waiting for her to come to the office.”

“To you? What the hell kind of escort service are you running here Trenton?”
He could tell she was beyond displeased now. It was after all customary for him to pick up his charge.

“Amelia I can’t go picking up a woman who won’t tell me where she lives. You wanna tell me? I’ll gladly see to it myself.”