She took it, staring at the screen.
“What about my old phone?” “Dead, you said.
Consider this an upgrade.” He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him.
“I need to know where you are at all times, Eve.
Not to control you…well, not only to control you…but to keep you safe.” “Safe from what?” “From everything.” His thumb stroked her cheek.
“You’re mine now.
That makes you a target.
Every enemy I have will see you as a weakness.
Every rival will think they can use you against me.
So until you understand how dangerous this world is, you stay where I can protect you.” She swallowed hard.
“And if I don’t?” “Then you learn the consequences of disobedience.” He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear.
“And trust me, cara mia, my punishments are very…
educational.” Her breath hitched, and he smiled against her skin.
“Now.
Breakfast.
Then we’re getting your things.
Then….” he pulled back to look at her, letting her see the hunger in his eyes “….then you’re mine for the rest of the day.” **** POV: EVE Breakfast was surreal.
Dimitri had a private chef.
Apparently.
A woman in her fifties who appeared from somewhere in the penthouse, laid out a spread of food that could feed ten people, and disappeared without a word.
Fresh fruit.
Pastries.
Eggs benedict.
Coffee that smelled like heaven.
And Dimitri sat across from her at the dining table, eating like this was completely normal.
Like he hadn’t just trapped her in a contract.
Like she wasn’t sitting here in a dress he’d picked out, panties he’d put on her, feeling more exposed than if she’d been naked.
“Eat,” he said when she just stared at the food.
“I’m not hungry.” “You didn’t eat last night.
You got drunk on an empty stomach and then I made you come multiple times.
Your body needs fuel.
Eat.” The clinical way he said it…like her orgasms were just facts to be noted….made her face heat.
But her stomach growled traitorously, and she picked up a fork.
The eggs were perfect.
Of course they were.
Everything in Dimitri’s world was perfect.
“Tell me about your company,” he said after a few minutes of silence.
She looked up, surprised.
“What?” “Phoenix Talent Agency.
Tell me about it.” “Why do you care?” “Because it’s yours.
Because you built it.
Because….” he set down his coffee “…I want to know what drives you when you’re not pretending to be someone’s perfect wife.” The barb stung, but it was true.
She had been pretending.
For three years, she’d played a role.
“I started it four years ago,” she said quietly.
“Right after I graduated with my MBA.
I wanted to represent models and actors who didn’t fit the traditional mold.
People who were told they weren’t pretty enough, thin enough, conventional enough.” She stabbed at a strawberry.
“The industry is brutal.
I wanted to change that.” “And did you?” “I’m trying.
We’ve placed over two hundred clients in the past three years.
Major campaigns.
Magazine covers.
Some of them are household names now.” Pride flickered in his eyes.
“Impressive.” “Simon hated it.” “Of course he did.
You were more successful than him.” She blinked.
“How did you know that?” “Because I know everything about Simon Ward.
Including the fact that his marketing firm is hemorrhaging money and he’s been embezzling from clients to keep it afloat.” Her fork clattered to her plate.
“What?” “He’s a fraud, Eve.
A weak, stupid fraud who saw your success and resented you for it.
That’s why he cheated.
Not because you weren’t enough….you were too much.
Too smart, too driven, too everything he could never be.” Tears burned her eyes.
Not for Simon…fuck Simon….but for the years she’d wasted questioning herself.
“Don’t cry for him,” Dimitri said, his voice hardening.
“He’s not worth your tears.
And soon, he won’t be your problem anymore.” “What does that mean?” “It means I’m handling your divorce.
My lawyers are filing the paperwork today.
No-fault, quick, clean.
You’ll be free of him within a month.” “I have my own lawyer…” “Not anymore.
Mine are better.” He leaned back in his chair.
“And Simon will sign whatever papers they put in front of him.” “How can you be so sure?” His smile was cold.
“Because I’m very persuasive.” The way he said it made her shiver.
This was the man people called The Devil.
The man whose reputation made grown men flinch.
And she’d signed herself over to him.
“Finish your breakfast,” he said, checking his watch.
“Marco will be here with the car in twenty minutes.” “Marco?” “My head of security.
He’ll be with us when we go to your apartment.” “Why do we need security to pack up my things?” Dimitri’s eyes met hers, serious and dark.
“Because from this moment forward, cara mia, you don’t go anywhere without protection.
Simon knows you left him.
He’s predictable, which makes him dangerous.
And I won’t risk your safety on the assumption that he’ll accept the divorce quietly.” “You think he’ll come after me?” “I think he’s a weak man who just lost his meal ticket.
Weak men do stupid things when they’re desperate.” He stood, came around the table, tilted her chin up.
“But he’ll have to go through me first.
And no one is stupid enough to do that.” The absolute certainty in his voice should have scared her.
Instead, it made her feel…
safe.
Which was insane, considering this was the man who’d trapped her in a contract and forced her to read her own submission out loud.
“Go get your shoes,” he said.
“The ones from last night are by the door.
Unless you’d prefer to go barefoot?” “The shoes are fine.” “Good.
Because after we’re done at your apartment….” his hand slid down her throat, over her collarbone, coming to rest just above her breast “…..we’re coming back here.
And I’m going to spend the rest of the day reminding you exactly who you belong to now.” ”You don’t own me.” she protested with a weak voice ”Oh i do now cara, I own everything about you now, everything, including the air you breath.” He replied her with a smile that made her blood run cold.