Chapter Nineteen
He’s sitting at the desk with his back to me when I arrive the next morning,
already dressed for the day in a navy suit, leaning back in the chair, a pen
within his grasp. Multiple voices carry over the speaker phone.
I move quietly for his breakfast dishes, intent on stacking and clearing
them for the service staff to pick up when they come at ten to collect dirty
linens and such.
“If we have sound research to show that a Wolf will not succeed in
Dubai, then give me even one good reason why we should—” Henry’s
words drop off. I glance over to find him staring hard at me.
I nod and smile politely, and then quickly move away.
As quickly as my sore crotch will allow me to.
As if being naked from the waist down and splayed across a table
under a bright light wasn’t bad enough, when Katie ripped that first strip of
hair off me, it took everything in me not to scream. And by that point it was
too late to turn back, she so kindly pointed out.
She worked fast, mercifully, and within twenty minutes, I was holding
up a mirror between my legs. She’d left a small ginger “landing strip” at the
top but otherwise, I’m as bald as Rachel. She even made me spread my
cheeks. “You don’t want hair there, either,” she insisted. By that point, I let
her do what she wanted, already past the point of mortification.
The aftercare lotion she gave me helped with the redness. She has
promised that I’ll have smooth, soft skin within a few days.
I hate to admit it, but she was right. Even if no one ever sees her
handiwork, it does make me feel more attractive. And my cotton underwear
against my mound feels weird, as if a shield has been removed. If I step a
certain way, the material rubs against my clit.
The voices on the other end continue on, a low hum in the
background, and I try my best not to disturb Henry’s meeting as I shift
around the place, tidying up. I duck into his bedroom and find his bed
sheets in a rumpled pile. Again, my mind automatically veers to the thought
of him in them.
Don’t let your crush get in the way of your job.
His chastising words yesterday snap me back to reality. Stripping his
bed, I gather the sheets, the hamper, and the wet towels, and carry them to
the servants’ quarters.
Henry’s gaze follows me the entire time.
By the time I’m done folding and putting away his briefs and socks—
even the man’s underwear causes a reaction in me—he’s hanging up the
phone.
“Abbi. Come here. Please.”
I take a deep breath, unsure if I’m ready for whatever he’s going to
say after yesterday’s verbal public flaying. There’s an edge of contrition in
his tone, at least. “Yes?”
He holds out a purple tie. “Will this work?”
His sheepish grin and his rare vulnerability instantly take the edge off
my unease. “Yes.”
He waits quietly, tie in hand. He wants me to finish dressing him. I
don’t understand why he keeps asking me to do this. He must know how to
tie his own tie. Is this a strange power trip thing?
“How did you manage dressing yourself before I got here?” I accept
the silky material and our fingers graze. Electricity courses through my
limbs.
“Not as enjoyably.” His eyes skate over my hair. “You look different.”
“I wanted to try something new. Thank you for giving the okay.” I try
to avoid his gaze but I can’t help steal a quick glimpse. Blue eyes bore into
me. “I planned on paying for it.”
“Consider it part of your compensation package.” He pauses. “For
being such a competent assistant.”
“Is that what I am?” I loop the tie around his neck, positioning it
under his collar just so. Why do my hands always have to shake when I’m
this close to him? Always!
“You’ve made some other changes, too.”
My mouth drops open. How does he know about that?
He nods toward my eyebrows.
“Oh, right.” I exhale with relief, earning his curious frown. “My
mama always told me that I’d look silly with thin eyebrows.”
“She was obviously wrong.”
He’s acting so different now. But I guess he always does within these
walls, and when we’re in private. It’s when we’re out there that the cold Mr.
Wolf persona makes itself known.
I like this version—my private version of him—better. I wish we
could hide in here all day.
“Have you called home lately?”
“I’ve had a few calls, but I haven’t talked to my mama since the night
I arrived.” It’s a strange question to ask, coming from him. “Why?”
“No reason. I figured you were the type of girl to call home every
day.”
“Calling home every day means getting a status report on my ex
every day. No thanks.” Not even the mention of Jed can diminish the impact
this man has on me when I’m standing this close to him, dressing him. And
who thought dressing a man could be such a turn on?
“Still have your mind on him?”
“Not so much.” Not right now. The throb between my legs has begun
again. I work quickly, needing to step away from him, to be alone with his
calendar and my coffee and not able to do or say something stupid or
unprofessional in front of him.
He smirks, like he knows it. “Are you still afraid that you’ll take him
back if he comes to his senses?”
“Don’t you mean to ask if I’m still the silly farm girl pining over a
spineless dickhead?”
He flinches, and it makes me feel good. Maybe he regrets his
unsympathetic words. But why is he getting so personal, all of a sudden?
“There. Done.” I run my hand over his tie to line the two ends together,
swallowing hard as my fingers graze the hard curves of his chest. I’ve seen
it bare enough times to know exactly what’s beneath his shirt. I’m not sure
if that’s better or worse. Had I not witnessed him naked, I’d be left only to
my imagination, and my imagination couldn’t have come up with
something as incredible as the real deal.
Henry reaches up to touch a few strands of my hair and I freeze. I
usually have it pulled back in a braid, but today I left it down, so in love
with how silky it feels, how it cascades over my shoulders and back.
“Thank you,” he finally offers, a rare softness flickering in his eyes.
His gaze drops to my lips, but it’s his exhale I feel skate across them
as he sighs. “You understand why I said what I did to you yesterday, right?”
“Because I’m your assistant and people can’t get the wrong idea.”
His hand curls into a fist around my hair at my nape, tugging it softly
until my head tips back. “There’s a lot at stake for me here, Abbi. Things
are a lot more complicated than you can imagine.” He leans in closer, until
his mouth is inches away from mine. So painfully close that a tiny gasp
escapes my mouth. I can’t believe this is happening.
This can’t be my imagination or my wishful thinking anymore. Either
Henry’s a cruel, cruel man...
Or he’s attracted to me.
The words are on the tip of my tongue, a plea for him to stop torturing
me like this. But I stifle those words, afraid he won’t give in, that he’ll
choose to dismiss me entirely.
“You are so goddamn sweet.” His lips skim over mine as he whispers,
“I don’t even like sweet. I like filthy and unemotional. This wasn’t
supposed to happen. I’m at a pivotal moment in my career and you are
fucking with my head.”
“I’m sorry.” I close my eyes, silently begging him to press his lips
against mine, to let me slide my tongue against his, taste his mouth. It has to
be him making that move; I’ve humiliated myself too many times.
Our hot breath mixes between us, the seconds growing longer as my
nipples grow tight and my breasts grow heavy and the throb between my
legs becomes unbearable, my panties drenched.
And he hasn’t pulled back.
“I need to know that you can keep your feelings for me in check when
we’re in public. Can you do that?”
When we’re in public? My heart pounds inside my chest. “What about
in private?”
Henry’s phone begins to ring and he breaks free of me instantly,
almost as if the sound was a warning alarm. I nearly topple over with
frustration. Taking a step back to grab his suit jacket, he says, “We have our
daily status meeting this morning, right?”
“Right. Because of your afternoon sail.” Oh God. Every part of my
body is hot now, from my scalp right down to my core.
He lets out a deep exhale, the only sign that the unexpected moment
had any effect on him at all. Not the only sign, I realize as he answers his
phone and my eyes drift to the prominent bulge at the front of his dress
pants.
What the hell just happened?
I trail him out, leaving all my rational thoughts scattered on the floor.
~ ~ ~ ~
The meeting runs exactly the same as it did the last two times, only now
I’m out of sorts and struggling to pay attention. I’ve played our moment
through my mind a dozen times since our silent walk from the cabin.
Henry nearly kissed me this morning. Why? I know my hair looks
good, but I haven’t changed that much.
His knee bobs impatiently, mere inches away from mine. So much
closer than he has been in the past. Close enough that I could reach over
and touch him. My fingers itch with the urge, but I know that wouldn’t go
over well.
What is happening between us?
“Staff update, Belinda?”
“We’ve had a few incidents.”
That helps break the spell that Henry has cast on me. I glance up to
find Belinda’s sharp eyes flickering to me.
But it’s Pierre who speaks. “Two nights ago, one of the bar staff
members took it upon herself to feed a celebrity guest free scotches all night
at the bar.”
Now Henry frowns. “Why?”
“Apparently the guest was upset that she mixed up his scotch for a
cheap brand, so she figured she’d ease his anger with a few on the house.”
“How many dollars’ worth?”
“A grand. It was a very rare bottle.”
Henry shakes his head to himself.
Now Belinda steps in. “That’s not all. Security has her going to his
hotel room after her shift was over.”
“Bow-chicka-wow-wow,” Ryan mutters absently, the only indication
that he’s paying attention as he scans his phone.
“You’ve terminated employment?” Henry asks.
“Not yet. I wanted to—”
He cuts Belinda off with “Get rid of her. Get her on a ferry right
away. I can’t have staff making up their own rules, and we’re not running a
damn brothel. What’s her name?”
“Rachel Avery.”
Is that my Rachel? I don’t know her last name but she works at the
bar. Two nights ago... She wasn’t in her bed when I got up to head to the
showers.
My stomach sinks. It must be her.
And Henry just demanded her firing. I glance at him, wondering if he
realizes who she is to me, but he simply stares straight ahead, unaffected.
“The other issue?”
Belinda’s lips twist, her poor attempt to hide a smile. “This morning,
a guest complained that two of our staff were utilizing the spa for their own
personal needs last night, while she and her friends were waiting for
service.” Her eyes settle on me. “I can’t say that I blame them for being
upset.”
My stomach drops. The three women waiting in the lobby when Katie
dragged me into the room last night. Without permission. That was them.
This is about me.
Oh my God.
I’m unable to stop myself from reaching for Henry’s knee below the
table, squeezing it hard as my heart pounds inside my chest. Henry’s gaze
flickers to mine. With my eyes, I plead for him not to press, not to ask for
details, not to fire me—or Katie—on the spot. Worse, I’ll die if Belinda has
figured out what “service” Katie provided and that becomes a topic of
discussion.
He must pick up on my discomfort—anyone would, my face is likely
ghostly white—because he dismisses everyone with an, “Okay. That’s all.”
I could kiss him, right here, right now.
“Sally, Belinda, a word.” Everyone gets up. “Wait for me in the hall,
Abbi.”
I duck out and round the corner, hugging my iPad to my chest, my
legs wobbly, my blood rushing through my ears, throwing my balance off
even more. I consider running and never looking back.
“Sally? Is this true?” The walls aren’t soundproof and, thanks to the
empty, quiet hall, I can easily hear Henry’s deep voice through the door.
“It’s news to me.”
“It was your assistant, Henry,” Belinda offers, the smug tone glaringly
obvious.
“I’m aware that she was in the salon last night. Sally cleared it with
me.” Henry’s calm voice gives me a false sense of security.
“I did,” Sally jumps in. “It was dead in there. Not one person waiting.
I can’t imagine who would complain about anything.”
“And did Henry clear the use of the esthetics room?”
There’s a long pause. “I wasn’t aware that it extended to that. No,”
Sally finally offers.
“They were in there for almost twenty minutes.”
“Who?”
“Abbi and one of the estheticians.”
I squeeze my eyes shut as tears threaten.
“It would have been Katie. She’s the one who orchestrated all this. A
roommate, I think. She’s a bit of a live wire.” Sally sighs. “I’m sorry. I
wasn’t aware. I’ll deal with it.”
Oh no. I’ve gotten Katie into trouble. Or worse, fired! Both Katie and
Rachel gone?
“Hold off on that, Sally. I’ll get back to you. Give us a minute,”
Henry says.
I take several steps back, so it doesn’t look like I was eavesdropping,
just as the door swings open and Sally steps out.
One look at me and sympathy fills her face.
“Please don’t fire Katie. It was my fault. I made her do it,” I whisper.
That’s not at all true, but I’ll say anything.
“Don’t worry. I think it’ll blow over. And by the way,” she gestures
toward her own hair, “stunning!”
I offer her a tight-lipped smile, wishing I could revel in the
compliment. The moment she turns the corner, I step closer to the door to
resume my listening.
“What are you accusing me of?” The venom in Henry’s voice is sharp
and rank. I’ve clearly missed something important.
“It doesn’t look good, Henry.”
“So?”
“Just tell me you’re not fucking her,” Belinda hisses.
“I’m not fucking her.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t give a shit what you believe.”
I know that’s a lie.
“This isn’t New York. We’re secluded here. The future owner of Wolf
Hotels fucking his assistant will have everyone’s tongues wagging. Do you
want that? Because your father will hear about it, even if it’s not through
me. And I’m guessing he won’t be happy.”
What would happen if the Mr. Wolf thought Henry and I were
sleeping together? Does he really care what his son does? I guess so, if it
reflects on his company. By the sound of the phone conversation from the
other day, he takes a lot of pride in the Wolf name. Something in the back of
my conscience pricks at me about that conversation. I can’t put my finger
on it, though.
There’s a long pause and then I hear Henry ask, “What were they
doing in there for that long?”
“What do you think they were doing in there?” Belinda snaps, then
sighs. “It’s a waxing room.”
“For twenty minutes?”
I want to crawl into a hole and die. I can just imagine the look on his
face.
“I have two guesses. Maybe your little farm girl is loosening up a bit.
And if it’s not for you, then it must be for someone else.”
Footsteps approach the door and I scamper back just as it flies open.
Henry steps out and simply stares at me, his face a cold mask. He looks
pissed.
Belinda steps out behind him. “I’ll meet you on the dock at one?” Her
gaze skates over mine briefly. The woman despises me, and it’s purely out
of jealousy. It’s almost laughable, given who she is and what she looks like.
“Yup,” Henry says without turning to regard her. “And please add a
conduct warning to Miss Mitchell’s file for utilizing hotel property for
personal needs.”
My face blanches.
I watch her stalk away triumphantly, waiting for her to round the
corner before I plead with Henry. “Please don’t have Katie fired.”
He begins pacing back and forth, his hands on his hips, not saying a
word. And then, when he does, it’s not what I expect. “Is it for Michael?” he
hisses.
My mouth drops open. “No!”
He seems to weigh that single word, his gaze drifting over the length
of me. “I’ll see you back at my place around five,” he says more calmly.
“Take care of those follow-ups.”
In seconds, he’s gone, leaving me standing alone in the hallway.
