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“Skye, you’re not average. You aren’t now, and you never were. Do you really think I’d choose someone average to be my girlfriend?”
“That’s not the point,” she says.
“It’s exactly the point. You’re not Addison Ames, and from where I’m standing, that’s a good thing. This is an incredible opportunity. They’re unveiling a line of brand-new products, and they want you to help launch them.”
“What if they flop?”
“What if they do? You’re under contract, and the contract guarantees you your base pay of four thousand dollars per week for three months. That’s roughly forty-eight grand. You’ll still make more money than you ever have, gain more of a following, and come out smelling like a rose.”
“Why didn’t they just get Addie or someone else with a huge following?”
I resist a laugh at Addie attempting to post about discount anything. She could try, but she’d never pull it off. No one would believe her.
“Because they want you.”
She sighs. “Because of you. They tried to tell me I’m selling the American dream. Apparently the American dream is cheap cosmetics and being Braden Black’s girlfriend.”
“Okay, their sales pitch may leave something to be desired. I’ll grant you that. But they want you because you’re not Addie. That’s pretty clear.”
She pauses a moment. Then, “Addie was there. At Susanne Corporate.”
I’m not completely surprised, given Addison’s visit to me today, but she didn’t mention seeing Skye at Susanne Corporate.
“When?” I ask.
“This morning. She was leaving as I got there.”
“So?”
“So…she knew about the butt plug, Braden.” Skye squirms.
I wrinkle my forehead slightly. “What do you mean?”
“She texted me.” She quickly shows me the texts. “She knew about the nipple clamps at the gala as well. How does she know all this? Did you use the same things on her?”
So we’re back to this again. Interesting that Addison didn’t mention the butt plug to me. That would have been her style. How could she know? Skye was probably squirming a little and didn’t realize it.
“What I did with her isn’t up for discussion,” I say.
“But—”
“Damn it, Skye.” I throw the prospectus down onto the table. “We’ve been through this. You have to let it go.”
“It’d be a lot easier to let it go if she didn’t know I was wearing a butt plug today.”
“How could she have possibly known?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
I rake my fingers through my hair. “Do you think I told her?”
“No. Of course not. I just don’t—”
“I’ve already told you I won’t discuss her with you. Why do you keep bringing it up? Is this what you want? To fight?”
“I don’t want to fight. I just want to know how—”
“I don’t know how she knows, Skye. Jesus Christ! Why do you even care? Block her fucking number on your phone, for God’s sake!”
Skye chews on her lower lip.
“I see your mind working. Give this up. It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t matter.”
Damn, no truer words… I wish I’d never met Addison Ames.
Except without her, I wouldn’t have been able to fund my startup ten years ago. It’s not something I like to think about, but because Addison refuses to stop watching me, I don’t have a choice.
Skye pulls her phone out of her purse, and her finger hovers over it. Is she considering whether to block Addie?
I understand. Addie’s a major influencer, and Skye needs to keep up with what’s hot in her field.
But there’s a part of her that also isn’t ready to let go of Addie.
Because of me.
Which means Skye is probably not ready for Black Rose Underground.
“I’m thinking,” I say, “that this trip isn’t the best time to introduce you to the other facets of my lifestyle.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not certain I have your complete trust, Skye, and trust is paramount for what I’ll be introducing you to.”
“You mean the bondage stuff? Like in the book?”
“That…and other things.” Just the thought has my cock aching.
“Please,” Skye begs. “Don’t keep this part of your life from me.”
“I fear you’re not ready. The fact that you haven’t yet gotten over my involvement with Addison—”
She puts her phone away. “I am ready.”
I meet her gaze. “It’s not all pretty.”
“That’s okay.”
I regard her sternly and completely, studying her, wishing I could read what’s truly going through her mind. I know her so well in some ways. In others? Not so much.
My main concern, of course, is her. Skye Manning. The woman I love. I don’t want to pressure her into anything. Even if she thinks she’s ready, she may not be.
“Please,” she says again, softly.
“Are you going to sign this contract?” I ask.
She nods. “If you think it’s a good idea.”
“I see nothing wrong with it. You come out fine even if the products tank.”
She grabs the contract and scribbles her signature.
“I’ll have a courier deliver this to Eugenie in the morning,” I say.
“And…?” she asks.
“And what?”
