Stiletto Secrets (6 page)

“Laters!” Adam walked out of the office.

Nicholas just shook his head, and then sat down on the leather couch. He smiled thinking of Emma. She looked so innocent and lost while she was on her knees on the floor. Like a little doe searching for…
something
. One thing was for sure, she wasn’t like his usual pick in women.

Why was he thinking of the maid exactly?

“Fuck.” Nicholas placed his palm over his face. If only he could move out of the mansion and get away from his dad. It had always been a pain in the ass to stick around the old man, but it was bearable. Lately though, every day that passed, it just became harder and harder to deal with Robert Blake. And now, with his latest stunt, trying to force Nicholas into doing something he sure as hell did not want to do, Nicholas wasn’t so sure he could keep the promise he had made to his mother on her deathbed.

Nicholas sighed heavily and leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. He desperately needed a distraction from this shit.

And then his mind drifted to the stripper,
Cinderella.
Since Saturday night, Nicholas was unable to get her out of his mind. Her voice, the way she moved, the way she breathed, her smell, it was all just too damn intoxicating to forget. The previous night he had spent with the twins he picked up while out with the guys, all he could think about was her. He imagined that it was her he was touching, kissing, claiming. He didn’t even know what she looked like, but he sure as hell had no problem creating his own image of her inside of his head. Maybe a blonde with light blue eyes, or a brunette with dark brown eyes. There were so many different images, but the most important image of all was that sleek and sexy leg of hers wrapped around his waist while that sharp, high heel pushed hard into his thigh.

How in the hell was he going to get her out of his head? He didn’t think it would be possible. In fact, he
knew
it wouldn’t be possible. So the only solution would be for him to go back. He
needed
to go back. But according to Adam, Cinderella only performed on Saturday nights which meant that he would have to wait another five days before he could go to her again, and that sucked.

Nicholas got up from the couch and placed his briefcase on his desk, pulling out the shoe he had nabbed from Cinderella after she sprinted out of the room. He fell back on his chair while holding the white shoe with diamond bow in his hand, staring at it like it was a magic lamp and she would just appear out of thin air in front of him at any second.

He refused to think about the fact that him carrying around the damn shoe wherever he went might have been slightly creepy. The way he saw it, the shoe had
sentimental
value to him, a reminder of the best fucking lap dance he had ever had in his entire life. Yup, not creepy at all.

“What in God’s name is that?”

Nicholas jerked and shoved the shoe back into his briefcase. “Geez, Dad, don’t you fucking knock?”

“Is that a woman’s shoe you have in your briefcase, Nicholas?” His father eyed him with a disapproving glare.

“It’s none of your goddamn business.” Nicholas placed his now closed briefcase back on the floor next to his desk.

Robert strolled into Nicholas’s office like he actually thought he was welcome, and took a seat on the couch. “Well whatever it is, get rid of it. Claire is on her way here.”

“Claire? Now why would Claire be on her way here?” Already Nicholas felt the prickle of warning in the back of his skull.

Robert shrugged. “To discuss business.”

“What business?”

“Oh, this and that.”

Nicholas shot up from his chair and leaned over his desk. “Whatever the hell you think you’re doing, stop. Just…stop!”

“She’s the perfect match for you, Nicholas. Why can’t you see that?”

“Why can’t you see that I do not need to get set up? I control my own life, not you.
Me
. The sooner you get that through your thick skull, the better.”

“Well, I would be much inclined to let you make your own decisions if you actually acted like an adult every now and then.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I refuse to grow up just to piss you off?”

Nicholas was indignant by his father’s blatant assumption that he could just dictate every aspect of Nicholas’ life. But Robert didn’t even blink. Robert just did not care how Nicholas felt, or what Nicholas wanted out of life. All he cared about was himself and what he wanted.

“If that is the case, then it just proves my point that you will never be mature enough to make decisions of your own.” Robert’s eyes flashed with anger and Nicholas was suddenly livid.

“You can just go—”

“I’m so sorry I’m late.” Claire walked into the office interrupting the cursing fest Nicholas was about to embark on. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in a white pencil skirt and rose colored blouse she just oozed confidence—a little too much confidence if you asked him.

Robert got up from the couch and held out his hand. “Claire, you look lovely as always.” He took her hand in his.

“Thank you, Robert.” Claire turned to Nicholas and stared at him with blue eyes and batting eyelashes. “Hello, Nicholas.”

“Claire.” Nicholas acknowledged her, but he made it perfectly clear that he would not be as charming toward her as his crazy old man.

Claire turned all her attention to him. “I see you still look as striking as ever.”

“Don’t let the suit fool you. Deep down I’m actually a troll.”

Claire narrowed her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. Then she glanced from Nicholas to Robert. “I’m so sorry, was I interrupting anything?”

“As a matter of fact I just told my father here that I already have a meeting scheduled for this morning, so unfortunately I will not be able to join you.”

His father glared at him with the flames of hell burning behind those big brown eyes of his. “Nicholas.”

Nicholas picked up his briefcase. “I’m so sorry, Dad, but you will have to excuse me. Next time, check with me first before you schedule any type of
get together
.” Nicholas shouldered past his father. “I do after all have a life of my own.”

Without glancing in her direction, he said, “Nice to see you again, Claire.” And he was out the door without even waiting for her to reply.

Within minutes Nicholas was out of the office building, in his Audi R8 and on his way home. He didn’t really have an appointment with anyone, but just wanted to prove a point to his father. Plus he never liked Claire much anyway. Even though her family had more than enough wealth, Claire had always sought out the men with even bigger bank accounts than her to seduce. A gold digger even though she already owned the motherfucking crown jewels.

Nicholas parked his car in front of the mansion and headed inside. It wasn’t even ten a.m. yet and he already had the pressing need to consume an entire bottle of scotch.

Deep in thought and still fuming over his father’s little stunt, he stormed through the front door and straight into someone who had passed the door right at the same moment.

“Shit!”

Nicholas grabbed the person’s arms steadying them both, and then saw that it was the same woman from that morning. “Emma?”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Blake.”

Nicholas froze. The way she said
Mr. Blake
reminded him so much of
her
. Emma almost said it exactly the way Cinderella did.

He looked down and saw that Emma had immediately gone on her knees trying to gather the things that had fallen out of her hands. Being the smart-ass that he was, Nicholas grinned. “Emma, why is it that every time we run into each other you’re on your knees in front of me?”

She looked up and shot him a half-grin. “Maybe you’re just that good, Mr. Blake.”

He cocked a brow. “Maybe? Oh I assure you, I am that good.”

Emma chuckled and then looked down at the mess in front of her. Only then did Nicholas notice that liquid had spilled all over the carpet. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll get that cleaned up in no time.”

Emma still stared at the mess. “It’s bleach.”

“Oh…well…” Nicholas dragged a hand through his hair. “Crap.”

Emma moved, and Nicholas reached out to help her up. She quickly righted herself and continued to stare at the carpet which had now started to discolor from the bleach. “I guess I’ll go get my things then.” She wiped her hands on the apron in front of her dress, and turned.

“Wait!” Nicholas grabbed her hand and stopped her from walking away. “This was my fault. I’ll sort it out.”

Emma’s gaze travelled to where he held her hand, and he quickly let go. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to take the blame for this. I’ll take care of it.”

“There’s no need, Mr. Blake. I will just gather my things and go.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I insist that you stay and continue on. I will handle my dad, and that will be the end of it.”

Emma tucked a loose curl behind her ear, and Nicholas noticed that she had the cutest, daintiest little freckles on and around her nose. With big blue-green eyes, heart-shaped lips and beautiful defined cheekbones, Nicholas really liked what he saw. Thank God he told Adam she had a hotness rating of eight because he knew Adam would most definitely give her a ten should he see her. And once Adam had his eyes set on a woman, he will not stop until he got her exactly where he wanted her—on her back.

Nicholas leaned his head to the side, his curiosity piqued, wanting to know more about the maid who had the tendency to be on her knees in front of him a lot. “Has anyone shown you the garden in the courtyard yet?”

Emma glanced around before looking at him. “No, Mr. Blake.”

“Nicholas. Please call me Nicholas.”

Emma turned her big eyes onto him and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling at her. “Come on, let me give you the tour of the garden. It’s beautiful this time of year.”

“Mr. Blake, I have chores—”

“Which just happen to include keeping me company.” He grabbed her hand. “And please, don’t call me Mr. Blake again. You can keep that title for my father.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nicholas led Emma through the house and out one of the side doors into the courtyard. They strolled along the path of the garden, the smell of fresh rain still lingering in the air.

“So, Emma, tell me about yourself.”

He noticed her fiddling nervously with her thumbs. “There’s nothing to tell really.”

He gave her a sideward glance. “Why do I get the feeling that isn’t entirely true?”

“I’m just a normal girl trying to survive in a big city.”

“Is that the in-a-nutshell version?”

Emma shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“Well,” Nicholas turned his gaze in front of him, “I’m just a rich bastard trying to survive a controlling father.” He had no idea why he felt the need to say that exactly, but what the hell. “And that’s the in-a-nutshell version too.”

Emma chuckled, and he kind of liked the sound.

Nicholas turned to her. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, and please don’t be offended by my question, but—”

“Why am I working as a maid?” She looked up and met his eyes. “My sister and I got handed a raw deal with a new stepmother and sister, and when my father passed away, they made sure we got as little as possible.” She pulled up her shoulder. “The nutshell version.”

Nicholas held her gaze. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay.” She turned away from him and continued forward. “Lizzy and I are surviving just fine.”

“Lizzy is your sister?”

“Yes. She’s a law student, so I try to help where I can.”

Nicholas stopped. “I’m confused. If your sister can manage to go to law school, why are you not pursuing a better career?”

Emma turned to face him and he noticed a faint flush spread across her cheeks. He wanted to kick himself for embarrassing her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Emma nervously played with her thumbs again, and he noticed her scrunching up her nose. It was kind of cute. “Our inheritance is barely enough to cover Lizzy’s tuition, which is why I have to work, to cover everything else.”

Nicholas gave a step forward, and narrowed his eyes. “In other words you are sacrificing your future for hers?”

Emma tried to look anywhere but directly at him, but he was suddenly so captivated and intrigued by her that he had his gaze fixed on hers, forcing her to look at him.

“I do what I have to do. I’m all Lizzy has, and I’m the only one who can take care of her.”

“But who takes care of you?”

A long moment passed between them where they just continued to stare at each other. If Nicholas didn’t know any better, he’d say that they kind of had a moment, but then she abruptly pulled back.

“I should…I should get back to work.”

“Emma…”

She had already dashed off, heading inside the house. Nicholas just stood there and realized that there might just be more to the maid with the dainty freckles and beautiful eyes than he thought.

IT
was Saturday night and Emma had just arrived at the club. The past week had gone by so fast, and luckily she hadn’t seen Nicholas since their little stroll in the garden on Monday. She had only heard the other maids talk about Nicholas and his father’s little spat about the big bleach stain on the carpet in the foyer. Turned out that Nicholas told his dad he went on a drunken bender and decided that the
old rag—
as Nicholas had put it—needed a little
make-over.
Emma had to hide her smile when she heard the others talk.

But there was no denying it. Emma could not stop thinking about Nicholas and those piercing blue eyes that managed to pull her in every time she looked at them.

“Hey, Harvey,” Emma greeted the bouncer standing by the back entrance.

“Hey, Cinderella-girl. How are you this evening?”

Harvey was a big guy, but he had a heart of gold. He treated every girl in this club like they were gems. He was also in charge of security and took his job very seriously when it came to the safety of all the girls.

“I’m good, thanks, Harvey. How’s the night going so far? Busy?” Emma walked up and he held the door open for her.