Free King of New York by Diamond R. James Page B

sleep in the hope that the following day will be better
than today.
    CHAPTER 7
    The phone rings.
    It’s
Chad on the other end of Sierra’s phone. Her heart skips a beat of happiness as
she smiles to herself.
    “Oh
Chad, I had forgotten about you.”
    Chad
laughs. “That is another of your beautiful lies, Miss Malcolm. I must admit
that I’m beginning to like the way you lie.”
    She
smiles to herself as his deep and soothing voice captures her heart. She is
beyond ecstatic to hear from him.
    “Get
ready for eight. I will send a chauffeured vehicle to pick you up for dinner
and some drinks.”
    Sierra
is not the type to let a man make all the arrangements, but the command in
Chad’s voice weakens her senses. He lacks a regard for what she wants, and for
some strange reason she likes that about him. His cockiness attracts her, so
she says yes to his demand.
    “Oh,
and wear something classy, but also sexy. I’ll be in my usual attire, which I
know you like as you wouldn’t have stalked me that day had you not found me and
my clothing attractive.”
    She
bursts out laughing at his cockiness before saying goodbye. She skips merrily
in her apartment, unable to contain the joy she feels. She rushes to her walk-in
wardrobe and rummages through her clothes and heels. Nothing is suitable enough
for her date with Chad, so she hurriedly drives to Fifth Avenue to look for the
perfect outfit before the boutiques close.
     
    ****
     
    Chad sits calmly in his
palatial apartment staring at the magnificent view through his panoramic
windows. His heart races at his thoughts of Sierra. He wishes he hadn’t phoned
her, but he couldn’t contain the longing he feels for her. He finds it ironic
that he doesn’t want the pretty young Sierra for her body like he does the
rest. He actually likes her. However, no matter how much he likes her, he still
regrets calling her.
    He doesn’t
want to put her life in danger. He cares for her. Her innocence, even in the
way she lied, was something he cherishes about her. She’s unlike other women of
his city who are street smart and only go for millionaires or billionaires like
him, even if they know men like him will never love them. Sierra seems
different. She doesn’t know anything about him, nor does she seem to want him
for his money or his status. He’s never met such a woman in his life. Even
though the women fell in love with him for free, he knew that they still wanted
his money. But he feels different about Sierra.
    Still,
he fears for her safety in his company. He knows the wolves that he deals with
will smell her like fresh blood. They will see that he likes her and they might
target her to get to him, something that may cause him to carry out drastic
measures that may be irreparable.
    Is
she worth the risk, he thinks to himself?
    It’s
a risk he doesn’t want to take, but his heart will not allow him to leave her
alone. There’s something special about her. None of his business partners cared
about all the other women he had because they know he isn’t a man that puts
women before his money, but with Sierra he feels he may be proven otherwise.
    Slowly,
he smokes a Cuban cigar. His stylist brings him an array of designer suits, all
of them black.
    Half-heartedly,
he dresses and sends one of his cars to pick up his dinner date.
    He
drives himself in his Mercedes because he doesn’t want people to see him courting
the British socialite, especially those that he does business with, that always
happen to see him whenever he is being driven in and around New York
    The
restaurant is exquisitely designed and attracts those from high society. The
live band plays soft romantic music while Chad sips his drink. Anxiously, he
waits for Sierra to arrive. He’s impatient and the time appears to move slower
than usual.
    His
thoughts spiral out of control as he fears she may have been kidnapped by those
that loathe him. Angry at himself for thinking that he’s put her in a
compromising