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For thirty-days she had to survive in this golden castle. Endure the loneliness. Bear the brunt of what they expected. Her stomach rolled. She had no doubt what she was expected to do. They might have acted like gentlemen. They might disguise their motives with lavish gifts. They might try to hide behind a job offer at HiTech Global. But she knew. It was an elaborate sham.
They bought her.
They owned her.
And the price was sex.
Six
Alison
Alison had to hold the banister to keep from tripping over the train on the black gown. The beading made it heavy as it clung to her body. Her heels were high and if she tipped forward, there was a chance she would tumble down the winding staircase.
The dress cut in a low V to her navel and draped gracefully off her shoulders. It was hard to deny how elegant and sexy it was. The slight train gave it a glamorous feel. It seemed ridiculous to wear this to dinner in the dining room, but she did as she was told. Douglas didn’t seem like the kind of man who joked around, and she wasn’t interested in testing Hunter or Drew.
When she reached the bottom of the staircase she peered around the corner looking for the dining room. The house was eerily dark and quiet.
She didn’t know what it would be like living with two bachelors. Whether they would have sports blaring on the TV at all times. If they would smoke cigars or walk around in their underwear. These two men didn’t seem like other bachelors. They were different.
She listened for the sound of Hunter and Drew talking and walked toward the front entrance of the mansion. An overpowering chandelier hung in the foyer. In front of her was the front door.
There was no one here. No one to see her. No one to stop her.
She slowly picked up the train, weighted by the intricate beading work. Was she actually considering making a run for it? Could she run through the front door to her freedom? How long would it take for them to notice she was gone?
There was no way she would make it far in these heels. She looked to her right. Then her left. The house was quiet. She slid off her shoes, feeling tiny without them to give her extra height. She hiked the dress to her hip, using the open slit in the side as an advantage. She tiptoed toward the massive set of doors.
She didn’t know where she would go on the other side. With each step she took she tried to think of how this could pan out. Would Leo track her down? Would he punish her for ruining his payment plan? What if Hunter and Drew had an angry side she hadn’t picked up on? Would she have to serve a longer term if they caught her?
There wasn’t time to hash out every scenario. It was now or never.
She reached the handle. It was embellished and carved. Her fingers rested on the design. On the other side was the dark night. Night that offered a chance to run. A chance to escape. Night that held more fear. Held retaliation. A life that would never be certain. She pressed her forehead into the planes of the door.
She heard footsteps behind her and jumped. She quickly maneuvered away from the door.
“Going somewhere?”
It was Drew.
She plastered a smile on her face and turned to face him. “I-I had a cramp in my foot from the shoes,” she lied. “I was walking it out in the foyer. The marble is cool on my feet.”
He bent toward the floor and retrieved her heels. They looked tiny in his hands.
“Let me help.”
He strolled toward her and knelt at her feet. Alison felt her throat tighten. She fought back the tears. The regret sank into her shoulders and worked through her body. Tonight’s freedom was gone. She waited too long and let the obstacles paralyze her instead of taking a chance. It was her own fault. She blinked back the first tear.
Drew touched her ankle, raising it from the floor. “How is this?” He slid it into the shoe and then assisted her other foot while she used his shoulder as a balance barre.
She nodded. “I think it’s fine now.”
He grinned, rising slowly from the marble. “You look stunning, Alison.”
It happened involuntarily, but she shivered. It was the good kind. It felt tingly and electric. She wanted to slap herself. That wasn’t supposed to happen. He was her warden, not some kind of prince.
“Thank you.” Her eyes darted away from him, but landed on Hunter strolling toward them.
He was drop-dead gorgeous in a fitted tux. She inhaled sharply as his eyes caught hers.
