Boxed Set: Rocked by a Billionaire – Vol. 1-3 (10 page)

– But, er… I…

– Shhh! You’re not allowed to talk. You only have the right to come… if you deserve it.

His fingers were tracing circles around my breasts. He was so close to me, I could feel his erection through his very expensive trousers. He stepped back and said in a voice which would allow no protests: 'Suck me!'
I slid along the work surface and knelt down on the floor, my nose level with his flies. The vision of Sacha in a suit and me completely naked on the kitchen floor was particularly exciting. I opened his zip, unfastened his belt and admired the extent of his arousal. I started with a small licking motion, then quickly increased the speed, my hand running up and down his marbled penis while I tongued the tip. My other hand was massaging his balls, one after the other. Then I stuffed his rod fully into my mouth and sucked diligently, trying to concentrate as hard as possible. Soon, he withdrew from my mouth and ordered me to lie on my stomach on the work surface. I complied. The marble didn’t cool me down, I was already hot and dilated all over. He grabbed my butt in his hands and pulled my cheeks apart, hard yet very casually. I let out a small cry, slightly embarrassed at being this exposed.

– That’s the most beautiful view of a butt I’ve ever seen, he quipped…

He lay down on top of me and spread my feet a bit more with his, which were still wearing shoes… I pushed myself up onto my elbows to raise myself from the marble and he took the opportunity to clasp my breasts in his hands… I couldn’t see his face but he seemed extremely aroused. His penis pushed up against me every time he massaged my breasts. Then suddenly, with one finger, he opened the way for his rod and penetrated me, first slowly and then with one sharp movement. I fell back flat onto the marble. He withdrew slowly then penetrated me again sharply. I felt as if I were being pierced right through. I was gasping for breath. Then he grabbed my hair and pulled it backwards, so that I had to arch my back inordinately… I felt like a dislocated doll. He was still thrusting in and out with the same force, but unhurriedly, pounding me as if he were hitting me. He punctuated each thrust with a 'no more disappearances, you understand?' I muttered 'Yes, I promise' in a muffled voice between moans. He emptied himself into me with several enraged shouts of “You understand!” We got our breath back.

– Bloody hell, Liz, you really have got one of the loveliest butts I’ve ever seen. But don’t ever do that to me again. I won’t forgive you twice.

I turned over and took his head in my hands. There wasn’t a hint of anger in his eyes now.

– I didn’t think it would get you so worked up, to be honest. I’m sorry I acted like a little girl. I kissed him gently on his eyelids, his temples, his chin, his lips… I won’t go off again without telling you, I promise. Have... have you… what I mean is... have you ever been abandoned by a woman before? I hardly dared venture onto this dangerous territory. And I regretted it immediately. He bristled.

– I don’t want to talk about that. Then, in a falsely jolly voice, come on Miss Lanvin, time to get ready, you have two days’ absence to catch up!

During the morning, I sent a quick text message to Jess to remind her I was there for her and check they had arrived safely in Chicago. She replied with, 'He’s in love with you, it’s so obvious', which was completely off-topic. That was just like Jess… I burst out laughing behind the computer which had been made available for me. The Dufresnes were due to return in time for lunch. Then it would be time to start thinking about going home… Two days. There were just two days left. I immediately forced myself to think about something else. I had work to catch up on, which was fortunate.

I didn’t see my boss when he arrived, as he was expected for a debriefing in Sacha’s office. But at 2 pm, Mr Dufresne asked to speak to me, which was rather unusual. After beating about the bush for five minutes, reminding me how satisfied he was with my work and my involvement over the last two years, then how much of a dear friend Maddie was to him… he announced that he could not give me a job in the firm. Then he started to get tangled up in some disgusting excuse, the position would go to Arnaud’s fiancée… I didn’t say a word, I was in shock. I had been fighting for two years to get that position. It had been implicitly understood, or almost, that it would automatically go to me. Even though I had my Master’s degree, it would be much more complicated to start again in a new law firm. I didn’t understand this turnaround in the situation. Arnaud had definitely influenced Mr Dufresne. I would get even with him…

– You will soon find something else, said Mr Dufresne, with a knowing look. You’re talented, you’re reliable and… he added, smiling at me, now you take care of your appearance! I am sorry to have to tell you this right now, but Sacha Goodman wanted to see you.

I didn’t understand the connection, but I went to Sacha’s office. At least I could tell him what I was thinking!

I entered and immediately said:

– I haven’t got the job! The one I should have got automatically at Courcelles Investissements! It’s not fair. I’m sure it’s a low blow by Arnaud…

– I know.

– What do you know?

– I know, Henri has just told me…

– Really? You talk about me together? Well that’s something…

– I’m offering you the job…

– Pardon?

– You heard me perfectly.

– You mean… er… a job at Goodman & Brown? No!

– Yes!

– But, er, but… I don’t know what to say… Wait, I’ll have to think about it… It’s so sudden. It would change my whole life… and how would I manage in New York? I don’t have anywhere to live. I haven’t got any friends. I haven’t got anything. And then there’s Maddie... my father. Oh my goodness.

– I’m offering you $200,000 a year. I want you to help me with the Asian market. I opened my eyes wide.

– But... that’s well above average… I can’t accept...

– My law firm is above average. The Asian market will be right up your street once you’ve got a bit more experience; don’t get too smug!

– Of course not! But I don’t know, I need to think about it… Can I get back to you this evening?

– Of course, but no later. He looked me in the eyes, smiling. This interview is over, Miss Lanvin. You can get back to work.

I wanted to jump, to dance and sing. I was going to work for Goodman & Brown, because there was no question of me saying no, let’s be clear about that. 200,000 dollars, my word, that was way more than I would have been able to earn in Paris. Incomparable even… And also I would have Sacha close by. Not a bad prospect.

I fine-tuned my response all afternoon… I thought about writing him a message saying
'(In)decent proposal accepted, but I warn you, I don’t fuck in Chinese.'
I also wanted to tell him that I knew I had the right skills, but I couldn’t accept this job because we were sleeping together. I wanted to make it clear that sleeping my way to the top wasn’t my style. All this was going round and round in my head when someone knocked on the door. I raised my head. It was Steven.

– Good evening, Miss.

– Good evening, Steven.

– I have been told to take you to your new hotel…

– Pardon?

– Your luggage is in the car…

– But, er, Sacha… I mean Mr Goodman asked you to take me to a hotel?

– Yes. A very good hotel, don’t worry.

– But, er, where is Mr Goodman?

– He has left, Miss.

– Left?

– Yes, Miss, he has left for Hong Kong.

7.
Rise and Fall

Hong Kong? Hong Kong? My head kept going over and over these words ... He was gone! With no warning, without a word, without a sign ... I collapsed onto the armchair in the suite, a nervous wreck. The whole thing had exhausted me.

Mechanically, I looked around the luxurious room that served as a setting to my vexation. He had rented me a suite! As usual, the suite was designed for comfort and luxury ... A giant screen took up half the wall, a small living room with a large window overlooked Central Park, and a bit further away was a bed that stood proudly in its place in an alcove of finely chiseled stucco. On a side table there was a welcome gift basket of exotic fruit. He could put that where it fits best, I said to myself angrily.

Nothing made any sense anymore.

A few hours earlier, I had been in his arms. He had all my belongings brought to his house ... and then, since my plans to integrate Courcelles Investments had gone up in smoke, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse... I was on cloud nine. I had everything. A job, the most handsome man on Earth ... and poof, he was gone. Just like that. He had his driver take me to a suite he had rented in an ultra-chic hotel ... No explanation. Nothing. Zilch.

I hurled my ballerina pumps to the other end of the room. Never had a man put me in a state like this. I have never revealed so much. And what did I get as a result? More humiliation! But what did he want exactly? Why did he come and get me from Jess's aunt if it was just to get rid of me? When will he stop playing with my nerves? Or maybe he had a good excuse? No, impossible. If he had time to rent the suite and send Steven, he could have found the time to call me. I looked at the screen of my cell phone again... No calls.

I paced the room like a caged lion ... I had no idea what to do. Wait patiently for him to give me some sign of life? Not ask any questions? Suffer? No, that was more than I could bear.

But why was he acting like this? Was it to punish me for running away? To show me that he held the reins? Or was it just that he had very little respect for me and that it was quite natural that he behaved like this...

When all arguments failed me, I decided to take a shower in the luxurious bathroom ... at least if I didn't have a clear mind, I'd be clean and relaxed. I washed myself, going over the same areas of my body that Sacha had explored earlier in the day ... These memories made me shiver, although some places were still a little sore. How could it be possible that just a few hours earlier, the union of our two bodies had transported us to an unprecedented ecstasy? Could he just up and leave me now without having any feelings for me? So many questions and no answers ... And if I just left? If I went back to Paris, right now? No, I couldn't leave. Not like this. Not now. Not without an explanation. I decided that I would give myself a bit of time, at least until the next day, to make a decision. I was tired, troubled and unable to think calmly. After all, perhaps he had a good reason to leave without telling me. Maybe he was moping alone in his hotel room? And what if I called him? Um ... no. Bad idea. I didn't want him to think that he had me under his thumb...

I quickly dried myself and decided I should do some work. After all, I had a new job (in theory) and I was putting a big step in my career on the line. I didn't want to lose it over a love story... however intense and complicated it might be.

I took a diet Coke from the mini bar (all expenses paid for by him) and settled in the lounge with my laptop propped on my knees. I began by looking at the latest studies on the economic health of the Asian market and its most promising sectors ... but it wasn't long before I typed, almost absentmindedly, Sacha's name into the search engine.

His career, his charity work, his company ... I didn't think I would find so many documents mentioning his name. Then I clicked on "Images".

I shouldn't have.

There was not a single picture of him alone. The tabloids had had a great time documenting his multiple conquests. Always accompanied by a brunette, blonde, or chestnut ... he was obviously not very fussy! No redheads, though. I could boast that I was the first! Each one more beautiful than the last... He had been seen and photographed with all these women. A lump rose in my throat. Did he hide them in a luxury suite? Involuntary tears sprung up in my eyes. I scrolled down the page ... Natalia appeared on several photos. I couldn't help making a face. A stunning blonde appeared quite often as well. I clicked for more information. She was the daughter of a wealthy oil tycoon. A Texan.
“Has Sacha Goodman finally found the rare pearl?”
The tabloid insisted that the two lovebirds looked very much in love! I returned to the photos ... and clicked on a new photo of Sacha with the blonde. She was beautiful and he was radiant. Not at all like the aloof and cold Sacha as he sometimes seemed to me. The article didn't specifically refer to them. It was just a photo caption, a photo taken at a charity gala:
"Sacha Goodman and his fiancée, Allison Green, daughter of Bob Green".

His fiancée? What was this all about? He's engaged? Married perhaps? Was the loft a kind of bachelor pad?

Without asking any more questions or trying to understand, I firmly closed the screen of my laptop.

Enough. I had had enough. I would not allow him to hurt me anymore.

At the same moment, my phone vibrated, then rang.
"Sacha"
flashed on the screen.

I was so livid that I grabbed the phone and threw it against the wall of the suite. It shattered and ended up on the ground, silent. It would never ring again.

I fell onto my bed and fell asleep sobbing, exhausted by so many emotions.

The shrill ringing woke me. I opened one eye. It was daylight. Still half asleep, I answered without thinking, breathing a sleepy "hello" into the handset that was on the bedside table.

"Dammit, Liz! Why aren't you answering your mobile phone? It's on voice mail. I called dozens of times! I want to be able reach you anytime!"

Sacha was obviously very wound up. I sat straight up in the bed. His angry voice hit me like a cold shower.

"What, is this some kind of a joke?" I yelled into the phone. "Why is my phone on voice mail? And why did you leave without saying anything?"

"Aha, so that's what this is all about..." He seemed to be gloating on the other end of the line. "Are you angry? Do you understand now?"

"Do I understand? No, I don't actually..."

"Well, you should ... I just showed you what can happen when you behave like a little girl, Miss Lanvin ... And unlike you, I called you last night ... but you didn't answer!"

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