Corporate Ties (Silken Ties Book 1) (19 page)

She stroked his face. "No, it was no dream. I'm afraid I didn't bring many clothes, only something casual to change into. I need to go home."

"Wherever
I am
is home to you now. We can have your things picked up, or buy new things."

Her gut tightened. He planned to keep her from leaving.
"Think Olivia."
She leaned in and kissed him. "You were wonderful last night. Let's order some breakfast, sit outside if it's not too cold?"

"If you wish. First things first." He pushed her onto her belly and moved behind her. Grasping her hips he pulled them up, using his knees to spread her legs. He placed his hard cock just inside her entrance and thrust, causing them both to gasp as he filled her tight tunnel completely with one motion. He held there. Reaching for her arms he roughly pulled them behind her. Olivia's hair covered her face like a sable curtain, tears filling her eyes. He held her wrists together behind her back and pulled her arms sharply up, wrenching her shoulder joints and forcing her face into the mattress. Then, with a roar, he started to thrust, banging hard into her over and over. She bit her lip, the pain wasn’t just physical, it was emotional, and it coursed through her body now. It was going to be worth it, she tried to convince herself and it would all be over soon.

Finally he growled and after a few final thrusts he moved away. None of this was about pleasuring her. It was only about control, power and pleasure for him. He left her face down on the bed without saying a word. Seconds later she heard the shower. She curled up into a ball, reaching for the sheet and pulling it over her. Covering her mouth with her hand she sobbed into the pillow.
“Let some of it go. Bury the rest.”

This had turned out to be a terrible idea, but now there was nothing to do but follow it through. She sat up and wiped the tears away. Gathering the sheet around her she made her way into the living room to retrieve her pack. She sat on the couch with the sheet billowing around her like a gown and typed a message into her phone. After she pressed send, she copied it and sent it to a different address. Assuring herself that both had been delivered she put the phone back inside the backpack. She was back in the bedroom, sitting on the bed as Isamu, his body wrapped in a robe, came out of the bathroom.

"I have one outfit, Isamu. I need to go back to my apartment and pick up some things, one you will especially appreciate, a surprise for you, and I need something for the meeting next week."

"I'll have my driver take you. It won't take long, will it?"

"No. I do have an appointment set up with my lawyer to go over the terms of our employment contract on Monday and I have some research to do before the Stein board meeting." She batted her eyes. "I need some time to get used to all these changes in my life Isamu, you understand don't you?" She dropped the pack and let the bed sheet slowly slip from her body. Lust filled his eyes again as his smoldering gaze washed down her naked form.

"Of course I do. I'll order breakfast and then you can go."

"Thank you, I'm starving." She waited until he’d left and she’d heard the latch click, before grabbing her pack and heading into the bathroom. She locked the door, checked it and turned on the shower. The commode was in its own room and slipping inside with her pack, she took out her phone, reading the replies from the texts she’d sent earlier.  She answered, sent and received several more. Then finished, she sighed; it was going to be okay. She cleared all her messages, along with her recent call list and shoved the phone into the bottom of her pack.

In the shower, she let the hot water run over her for a long time, but still didn't feel clean, although she’d scrubbed over and over again. Finally, she turned off the water. Olivia leaned against the tile for a moment and was startled by a knock on the door.

"Everything all right, Olivia?"

She squeezed her eyes closed. "Yes, fine. The shower felt so good. I'll be right out."

Changing into her jeans and t-shirt, socks and sneakers, she gathered everything else and shoved it into her pack. Her heels were somewhere. She didn't care where.

After pulling her hair into a pony tail she took a deep breath, forced a smile and walked out.

"Something smells good."

"It was too cold out to eat on the terrace. I hope you're not disappointed."

She shook her head. "No, we're together, what does it really matter?"

He reached for her hand and kissed her palm. "You're right. I wasn't sure what you liked, so I ordered a bit of everything."

"Perfect, because that's just what I'm craving; a bit of everything."

After breakfast Isamu called his driver.

"I won't be long," she told him after the desk had buzzed up. Her car was waiting at the curb. She gave him a nice long kiss and then a short one. "See you soon."

She entered the limo and when the driver took his place she noticed his glower before the partition raised.

She didn't trust she wouldn't be heard so she didn't do anything on the ride home but look out the window. A million thoughts flooded her mind. It took all her fortitude not to bolt the minute he opened the door. Composing herself she slowly walked up the steps, smiled at Marvin and went to the desk.

Retrieving the ticket from yesterday, she handed it to the concierge.

"I need to get this out of the safe." She turned to see the driver leaning against the car, staring at her. "Could you get that car moved please? I'm expecting someone."

He motioned to the doorman and conveyed her message, before heading to the safe. She glanced over as the doorman gestured, asking the car to move up and around. Begrudgingly, the driver did as he was asked. Olivia sighed and shook her arms out, relieving a little tension that had built in her shoulders. The clerk returned with the portfolio.

"Thank you."

Once in the elevator, she pulled out her purse, found her key card and slipped it into the slot. The doors closed and she leaned against the back wall, relief washing over her. When the doors opened she was half expecting to see Brian standing there. Her hand was shaking as she raised it to her mouth, as upset as she was relieved when he wasn't.

She could barely get the key in the door of her apartment when it swung open. Seeing her friends, she collapsed into Samantha's open arms as Rachel stood next to them stroking her hair.

"Shhhh, everything is going to be all right now. We've got a plan right?"

"Samantha’s right; you can let Loralie's lawyers handle it now."

"You don't understand. I ruined everything thinking I could handle all this alone."

"No Liv, it's going to be fine. After the board meetings we'll get everything to the authorities. Thanks to you, we were working on who in the FBI might be compromised. Paul had a list of guys he thought it might be and we've found a few more, six in all. There are a few at Dolby too. You were right about Jerrod."

"And because you stayed with him, he's never going to see it coming."

Olivia straightened. "I have to go back."

"NO!" her friends insisted.

"He'll suspect something, if I don't go back when I said I would. After the Stein board meeting, I’ll step back and let the lawyers handle everything. Did you bring what I asked for Rachel, Sam?"

"Yes and mine took some doing. Luckily I know a chemical engineer that works at a pharmaceutical lab and I didn't have to explain too much to get it. You're sure about this?" Rachel asked.

Olivia nodded first yes and then no. "I'm going to do this. For Paul, for me, and for all the other's he's hurt. Help me pull some things together for the next few days. And after I've gone, leave this portfolio with Brian, apartment 1404. If he's not home, leave it with the desk for when he comes back. Don't take a chance of taking it out of here, okay?"

"Okay. The more you say, the more scared I get Liv. Please change your mind?"

"After Stein, I won't go back. I'll think of something."

"You’d better or we're coming after you."

Olivia pulled down a medium sized suitcase and they started to pack her things. This time when she left, she took her purse.

"Okay. I'm going. Stay here. Do what we said. Bring everything to Stein on Tuesday."

"Got it, everything is prepared."

The three friends held each other for a moment before Olivia pulled away, taking the envelope from Sam.

"I'll be okay. I can do this. I need to."

She opened the door, rolled the suitcase out behind her and started down the hall to the elevator.

"Liv?" She heard and her heart skipped a beat. She stopped and closed her eyes before she turned. He walked to her. Tears formed again and she buried her face in his chest. He hesitated, stiffly, not offering his arms and Olivia realized it was over. She backed away. He didn't need to say anything; the pain in his eyes said it all.

"I warned you," she reminded him as she quickly walked away.

She stepped into the elevator and shoved her card in. When the doors closed she sobbed. After a few floors she sucked in a breath and composed herself. Digging into her purse for a tissue she dabbed at her eyes before blowing her nose. Stuffing it back into her purse she found her sun glasses and put them on.

In the car, a few blocks from the Plaza, she fixed her makeup and thought about Paul. About how generous and kind he'd always been. It helped steel her will for the next days of her mission.

She forced a smile as she walked through the door to Isamu’s suite. "I'm back."

Isamu looked down at her one suitcase and then to the door, expecting a bellman to enter pushing the rest of her luggage. He frowned. "That's all you brought?"

"You said we'd go shopping. Maybe we'll do the whole ‘Pretty Woman’ thing."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Oh. Never mind, it's an old movie. Maybe we'll watch it together sometime."

He came closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. She ran her hands up his firm chest and around his neck.

"I wasn't sure you'd come back."

She frowned. "Don't be silly." She smiled wickedly and pushed away. "I brought that surprise I promised you.” She actually simpered. “Hmmm, what to get a billionaire? Always a quandary," she teased as she bent and took a large envelope from the side pocket of her suitcase. Sashaying back, she handed it to him.

"What's this?"

"I brought you Stein."

He looked wary, but undid the clasp and pulled out the contents.

"There are enough proxies there to take over the entire Stein board. After that you can do what you wish with it."

"But how?"

She shrugged. "As soon as I heard we were in competition with Stein for your business, I started planning. I have some good friends, good
rich
friends and some money of my own. So I hatched a plan."

Olivia watched Isamu’s face closely. Normally, stoic, she was satisfied to see his suspicion replaced by first shock and then a stunning smile of elation burst across his face. He grabbed her, and swung her around.

"I knew it. The minute I saw you, I knew. You and I were meant to be together. Cut from the same cloth. A perfect fit."

His words, so like what Brian had told her about their relationship and what she'd felt too for the first time, stabbed into her gut like a dagger.  She fit with Brian and she'd tossed it aside. She'd thrown up a barrier, one he'd never be able to get through.

Completely missing her pained expression, Isamu crowed, "I need to get these to my lawyer. Why don't you unpack those few things and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Sure, no problem. I have some work to do, too. I have a lead for another corporation for us to acquire."

Isamu, gave her a punishing kiss and left the suite.

Plopping down on the couch, she closed her eyes. "
Don't start Olivia, don't break down now. It'll be over soon."

After she unpacked, she snuggled onto the bed and fell sound asleep, several hours later she felt a kiss on her cheek.

"I guess I wore you out last night."

"In a good way," she lied. She stretched. "How long were you gone?"

"A few hours. Did you sleep the whole time?"

"No. I spent at least three minutes unpacking."

"It's been a long time since I wanted to hurry home. What would you like to do this afternoon?"

"We could go to the theater, have an early dinner and come back here for more entertainment."

"Done, get ready. I'll order a light lunch."

They spent the entire afternoon out and it was still only eight when they got back.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the day," Olivia said with an exaggerated sigh.

"So did I."

She artfully loosened his red tie and while running her hands down her body, began backing away. She pulled her dress over her head and crooked a finger at him. Her red lace lingerie was all the incentive he needed. He watched her butt swivel enticingly as he followed her into the bedroom.

"You get comfortable. I have to use the restroom." She hung up her dress and pulled a vial from the pocket of the suit hanging next to it. After freshening up, she opened the vial and while holding her finger over the top turned it upside down. Holding the wetted finger out, she carefully replaced the vial’s top and dropped it into the vanity drawer.