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“I told him I was here to get an early start on paying back a debt to you. He didn’t ask any more questions.”
I grit my teeth and ask the question I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the answer to at any hour of the day, especially this one.
“Did he…act inappropriately or hit on you in any way?”
“No. You’re the only one who’s done that.”
Touche. “And I’m the only one who will.”
“If I permit it…boss.”
“I think we agreed on Daddy, little girl.”
“I signed a contract to work, not a contract to be your wife, and even then I’m my own person. I don’t belong to anyone.”
Her stance is tough, but as a top negotiator, I can see right through it. I know what she wants because I wanted it too when I was equal to her eighteen years. Respect.
But now that I’m thirty-nine I demand it, not ask for it. I tried the same back then because, like her, I didn’t have parents either. As crazy as it sounds I’m going to guide her through all the emotions and troubles I had. There’s no reason for her to make the same mistakes, like trying to be a bull in a China shop like she’s being now when my business experience has constantly shown me that you can indeed attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Granted, you never want to be a pushover, but you don’t need to rush or force things either.
The best negotiation tactic is walking away from the bargaining table, and I’ve used it numerous times. But when it comes to her I’ll never turn my back, leave her unprotected out in the cold on her own, or do anything that doesn’t put her interests first.
“Yes you did sign a contract…and it expired yesterday when you left the premises. So technically, right now you’re trespassing.”
“I should go then,” she says calling my bluff and spinning on a heel, but no way am I allowing it. My arm shoots out and I grab her by the arm just above the elbow, spinning her right back to me, her body into mine and kissing her hard. “You’re not going anywhere on my watch,” I say as I pull my lips from hers. “And as the captain of this proverbial ship, my watch is 24 / 7 / 365.”
“You don’t want me to leave then show me the money.”
“What happened to the little girl yesterday who was talking about working for free to pay back the priceless statue she destroyed?”
“As you said, that contract ended yesterday, as did my offer.”
Damn, she’s good. No wonder she’s the best housekeeper I have even though she’s only been here a month. She takes pride in everything, just like I’m going to take pride in showing her off everywhere and letting the whole world know she’s mine.
“Then it’s time to make you a new offer, princess,” I offer and she doesn’t seem to flinch or show any signs of reacting to the word I chose to address her. “And that offer starts with new job responsibilities.” She cocks an eyebrow, but before she has time to question my motives I keep the upper hand. “Right this way.”
5
Camila
That evening
After finding a different gear inside myself, and a newfound sense of feistiness, there’s just something about being in this house, being around him, that makes me want to break the rules.
And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
After getting me acquainted with the upstairs portion of his home, Carter left for a business trip, and left only one rule…don’t enter his personal room until he gets back. Apparently there are special, very detailed and specific, cleaning rules for the room where he sleeps each night, and I need to show I can handle the guest bedrooms before I get a shot at taking the responsib
ility of cleaning his away from whoever does it currently. It’s strange because not even Sandy knows who cleans up there, and she’s been in the house for two decades.
I tiptoe from my guest bedroom, down to his. Fortunately, as part of my new arrangement, I negotiated a room in the house for myself. I’m on probation, of course, but once that ends I can break my lease and actually start saving money each month by living here, instead of scraping by each week living paycheck to paycheck.
Placing my hand gently on his doorknob, I ease the door open. I’m not too concerned with being found out considering he’s too anal retentive to allow anyone else upstairs, and also because he’s thousands of miles away at the moment.
Stepping inside the first thing I notice is the amazing view out of the floor to ceiling windows and the oversized bed that sits square in the middle of the room. There’s also what appears to be a sauna off to one side of the room and a hyperbaric chamber. This man takes his sleep seriously.
What I don’t see, and what I’m most curious about, is any feminine touches or presences.
Moving over to his wall I start to press on random spots, wondering if some sort of James Bondesque closet will appear out of nowhere. A solid five minutes later I give up and then notice a plain as day door off to a corner of the room, hiding in plain sight, which causes me to smile.
