Free Her Secret Betrayal by Jordan Bell Page B

right or wrong. It’s mine to make.”
    “I’d never force you, Kara, of course I
wouldn’t. However, should you deny me a final night, I’ll stop the
opening of Wonderland tonight. I’ll take it from them.” The corner
of his mouth quirked. “I guess I’m giving you all the power for a
change. Your choice. Your decision. Your power to save him and
yourself.”
    Cold, hollow cold flooded my veins. Marcus
didn’t look any different than he had ten minutes before, but
suddenly he was the devil, a monster used to using money and wealth
to get his way and control everyone around him. That was his game,
to control me even at the ending of our relationship.
    Sleep with him and save Sean’s dreams. Sleep
with him and break Sean’s heart. He gave me an impossible choice
and knew I’d break over either one. His final squeeze of control.
Because he could. Because he was a ruthless billionaire who never
lost.
    How I didn’t see this coming, I don’t
know.
    And another thought curdled my blood. Was he
the faceless nemesis at my back? Not him of course, no he’d never
follow me or trash Sean’s apartment or burglarize the Wonderland
offices. He’d hire someone to do his dirty work.
    I knew, no matter what, he wasn’t kidding
when he said he’d take Wonderland away from Sean and Zach. Tonight.
If I said no.
    “One more night?” I murmured, hating myself
for saving the man I loved by betraying him.
    “It’s a small betrayal, pet. He never has to
know. I won’t tell him if you won’t.”
    “Please don’t do this Marcus.”
    He shrugged so casually, as if he wasn’t
ripping my heart out of my chest. I squeezed my eyes briefly
closed. Opening them was a struggle.
    “It’s already done, pet. You won’t believe
me, but I’ll be very sorry to lose your companionship. I don’t want
you to go.”
    “You think blackmailing me will get me to
stay? You are sorely mistaken.” I scoffed and looked away. What was
I thinking, getting into bed with this man? Men like Marcus
Giovanni didn’t understand the world in which they don’t get what
they want. I was a little fool to ever believe otherwise.
    “You’ll change your mind. I know you Kara.
One taste of what I have to offer and you’ll change your mind.” His
eyes twinkled, the bastard, charming even himself. He smiled, knew
he had me, knew I couldn’t afford to say no.
    Even as my heart dissolved into a million,
guilty pieces, I nodded.
    “One night.”
    He pushed himself suddenly to stand, tall
but not as tall as Sean. He crossed the space easily and moved in
close, too close, so that his cologne overwhelmed me. His shampoo.
The smell of Marcus that was so very Marcus . Rich in every
sense of the word.
    “I promise you won’t regret this.” He tucked
a finger beneath my chin and raised it to present my mouth for him.
I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t soften either. He kissed me
gently, a kiss that would have once melted me into the floor. Not
now. Now it seared almost painfully. “We’re going out tomorrow.
I’ll send an outfit by messenger. Wear it. I’ll pick you up at
nine. Make sure you’re shaved. I want you bare in every way.”
    He kissed my mouth again and I felt sick at
the insinuation. I closed my eyes when he let go and did not open
them again until the front door closed.
     
     
     
9
    ____________
     
    I stared at the package Marcus sent over for
twenty minutes before getting up the courage to open it. The box
was from an expensive boutique that catered to bigger girls with
money. The package itself was shiny silver with a white bow.
Innocent. Right.
    I turned the soft paper aside to reveal a
breathtaking silvery dress in a fabric I would never have dared
wear on my body. Too flimsy. Too revealing. Sumptuous and soft but
it would reveal every curve, ever bump, ever unflattering pillow of
flesh. There was hardly anything to it.
    Beneath the dress my heart plummeted as I
discovered the lingerie he’d handpicked for me, no doubt.