Free Don't Ever Stop: A BDSM Billionaire Romance by Vivie Rock

own choice.’ His cheeks were flushed again. Was he angry?
    ‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ I said quietly. ‘Patrick is just a friend.’
    Mr. Cooper seemed to be thinking about something for a while, as he bowed his head, and remained silent. Finally, he beckoned me over to the glass. ‘Come here, Rose,’ he said. ‘Look at this.’
    I walked up to the glass and looked out at the city. Even some of the skyscrapers weren’t as tall as we were, and I could see their roofs. I looked further down and saw the tops of many more buildings, then I saw the roads, full of miniature cars, barely moving, and the sidewalks, crammed with teeny tiny people walking in all directions. I began to feel quite dizzy.
    I hadn’t stood on top of a building and looked down like this since I went up the tower at the Pleasure Beach when I was seven years old, and I fainted, and Dad had to carry me down.
    I felt the blood running out of my cheeks. Please don’t faint.
    ‘You have a choice, Rose,’ Redmond said, standing beside me now. ‘You can either be down there, walking past all these buildings, your head down and your earphones in, blocking out every opportunity that comes your way… Or you can be up here, with me, looking upon it all, remembering why you made your decision.’
    I nodded, swaying slightly, feeling seasick.
    ‘I’d like you to visit me once a week, Rose,’ Redmond said. ‘I want you to report to me, to tell me how you’re getting on.’
    ‘Sir,’ I said dizzily. I wanted to ask him why he was so interested in me, why it meant so much to him that I took this role in his company. But instead I felt my knees go weak, and then everything went black.
     
    *
     
    The ceiling was white. Pure, sleek white. Not a single mark or stain. It had been painted perfectly.
    I closed my eyes again, weak.
    Where was I?
    I felt the warm softness of leather under my arms and legs. I let my hands explore the leather, grabbed onto the sides. Okay, there were sides. I was in a chair. A leather chair. Gradually, I opened my eyes again.
    Redmond Cooper was standing over me, looking down at me. ‘Rose? Are you okay, Rose?’
    ‘I’m okay… I think. What happened?’
    ‘You fainted,’ he said. ‘I was worried. You need to get your blood sugar up. When did you last eat?’
    I shook my head. ‘Last night,’ I replied. ‘I had some pasta…’
    ‘You’ve had nothing today?’ Mr. Cooper shook his head, and walked away from me. I heard him pacing, but still felt too weak to move my head. ‘Rose,’ I heard him say, somewhere to my right. ‘I’m going to make sure you eat properly. While you’re under my employment, I feel that it’s my responsibility.’ I heard him pace a little more. ‘I’m going to ensure you get proper meals, while you’re here,’ he said. ‘How much do you normally eat?’
    I reeled at such a personal question, but still felt compelled to answer: ‘I don’t know… Not enough. I get so busy. My mom and dad eat before me, so I usually just snack when I get home from work…’
    ‘One meal a day?’ said Redmond, walking over to me, anger in his eyes. ‘That’s terrible. You need to eat more. You could do with putting on a little weight, anyway. Get some meat on your bones.’ He looked down at me, more tenderly now. ‘Let me look after you, Rose,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll make you a diet plan. I’ll email you a list with exactly what I want you to eat each day, and I want you to follow it. No exceptions. Do you think you can do that for me?’
    Still dizzy and weak, I found myself nodding. I was hungry. I had been skipping meals lately. A lot of meals.
    ‘Good,’ he said, satisfied. He handed me a glass of water. ‘How do you feel now?’
    ‘I’m alright,’ I said, taking a few sips. ‘I think I’m okay to go back to my desk.’
    Mr. Cooper helped me up. His strong palms encircled my waist, helping me to my feet. He held on to me for a few moments, making sure I wasn’t about to