Free High Stakes Seduction - Book 2 by Ami LeCoeur Page B

a drink and trying not to let all this upset me. I looked up to find Antonio heading toward me. I gave him a smile I didn’t feel and turned away.
    I felt his fingers slide along my arm. “Are you ready to go?”
    “Absolutely,” I said, trying not to sound as jealous as I suddenly felt.

Chapter Twenty-Three
     
    I finally worked up the nerve to break the awkward silence that had been with us all the way back to our cabin. He sat down on the arm of the sofa, but I was too wound up to sit.
    “Antonio, I-I don’t understand what it is you want from me on this trip.”
    “What I want from you?” he said, stretching the phrase into a drawl as he watched me pace.
    I frowned. “I thought you wanted… I thought I was… I mean…“
    “Angela, you are my associate, are you not?”
    “Well, um… yes,” I stammered.
    I hadn’t really planned out what I was going to say when we got back to the room. Much less expecting the need to talk at all. But after the fun we'd had earlier today, and then the "show" tonight, I was totally confused. For my own sanity I needed to know what was going on.
    "Then what is it you are expecting of me?" he asked me quietly.
    I stood there in shock— what did I expect from him ?
    “What do mean? You're the one who… s-set up … this… trip." I bit my lip, praying I would stop stammering.
    “This is a business arrangement, just like all of our other arrangements, Angela."
    "Yes."
    "Then what kind of game is it you think you're playing?”
    My mouth fell open, but no words came out. This conversation definitely wasn’t turning out like anything I had expected.
    Antonio rose, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You came to me asking for help. I'm doing my best to provide that help. What more did you want from me?”
    "But, I thought you—"
    "You thought it would be easy to get what you wanted just because you're beautiful? Angela, there are a million bright and beautiful women in the world. In my line of work, I've seen them all."
    He gazed out through the glass door, staring at the moonlight on the ocean, almost as if I wasn't there. Some part of my brain noticed he'd called me beautiful—but there was an edge to this voice that I didn't understand.
    “If you believe that you are being treated unfairly, or that I am expecting too much from you, then perhaps you need some time to rethink this arrangement. Otherwise, I expect you to fulfill your commitment," he said, turning his back on me. “I’m going out for the evening.”
    I looked up at him sharply. “Wait. Where are you going?”
    He turned and gave me a look, but he didn’t respond.
    I sighed heavily. “Antonio, please don’t go back to the Casino tonight. Can we please just talk about this?”
    “Right now there’s nothing to talk about,” he said, reaching for the door. "But while I'm gone, please consider what's important to you. And where your own priorities lie."
    I slumped back on the sofa as I heard the door click behind him. Unwanted tears welled up in my eyes and I couldn't swallow past the lump in my throat. For a moment, I almost gave in to the turmoil burning inside me. But then I balled my hands into a fist, my nails digging into my palms. I still didn't get it, but I was not going to let it end like this.
     
    ***
     
    I stormed down the hallways until I reached the Casino, then stopped short when I saw Antonio standing just outside, chatting with three men dressed in dark suits. I drew back before he could see me, hiding around the corner.
    I heard them laughing, though they were talking too low for me to hear their conversation. I peeked back around and gasped, putting my hand to my mouth to stifle the sound. I recognized the man with the scarred face that I’d seen walking out of Antonio’s office when I accepted his first job offer.
    My heart raced, pounding in my chest. What were such creepy guys doing on the ship?
    And what was Antonio doing, talking to them like they were all such good