Everything He Demands (5 page)

Work.
Am
I
up
to
the
task?

I
knew
I
was
good
at
what
I
did
—
numbers
and
books
—
but
I'd
never
worked
for
someone
like
Rock.
And
I'd
never
been
doing
kinky
stuff
with
the
boss.

I
ate
what
I
could
as
my
eyelids
grew
heavy.

“
Am
I
losing
you?
”
Rock
squeezed
my
arm
gently,
and
I
smiled
at
him.

“
No,
just
jetlagged
I
guess.
”

“
As
you
should
be.
Would
you
like
dessert?
They
make
an
amazing
canoli.
”

I
shook
my
head,
hiding
a
yawn
behind
my
palm.
“
I
don't
think
so.
Maybe
just
a
hot
shower
and
work.
”

“
Sounds
like
a
good
plan,
Lacey.
”

When
the
waiter
returned,
he
didn't
bring
a
bill.
“
Put
it
on
my
tab,
Dimitri.
”

“
Certainly,
sir.
Have
a
wonderful
time
in
Venice.
I
hope
to
see
you
again
soon.
”
The
waiter
bowed.
“
Would
you
like
me
to
show
you
out?
”

“
Definitely.
How
do
things
look
outside?
”
Rock's
brow
furrowed.

I
had
no
idea
what
he
was
talking
about.

“
Pretty
good,
sir,
but
I'll
do
my
best
to
clear
the
path
to
your
limo.
”
Dimitri
grinned.

Rock
helped
me
up
from
my
chair
and
whispered
to
me
as
Dimitri
went
ahead
of
us
out
of
the
room.
“
I'm
going
to
be
calling
you
Ms.
Pate
regularly...at
least
till
tomorrow
night
when
the
news
of
our
engagement
breaks.
”

My
stomach
dropped.

“
Right.
”

“
It's
best
to
act
as
if
our
relationship
is
the
standard
professional
one
until
then
—
at
least
when
we're
in
the
public
eye.
”

“
I
understand.
”

Now
I
knew
what
the
crowd
was
about.
The
paparazzi
surely
waited
outside
for
us.

I
swallowed
hard.

“
You'll
be
fine.
Just
stay
close
and
don't
answer
any
questions.
”
Rock
gave
me
a
small
nod.

“
I
will.
”
I
took
a
deep
breath
and
walked
out
beside
him.

The
moment
hit
me
as
surreal.
I
was
walking
outside
of
a
posh
Italian
restaurant
with
Rock
Weldon,
billionaire
CEO.
And
I
wasn't
just
working
for
him.
He'd
made
me
his
lover
and
soon-to-be
fiancée.

As
soon
as
we
hit
the
door,
flashbulbs
went
off
in
a
blinding
burst
of
light.

“
Mr.
Weldon,
please
comment
on
the
rumors
about
Regal
Enterprises.
”
Rock
ignored
them
with
a
tight
smile.

Just
a
few
feet
to
go.
The
reporters
were
packed
in
close
to
us,
even
as
Dimitri
waved
them
away
where
he'd
gone
out
ahead.

A
hard
grasp
on
my
forearm
made
me
gasp.
“
Ouch!
”

Rock
turned
toward
the
perpetrator,
an
icy
glare
on
his
face.

“
Miss!
Miss,
tell
us
your
role
with
the
company
and
Mr.
Weldon.
”
The
tone
of
her
voice
was
unmistakable,
and
a
dart
of
hurt
ran
through
me.

How
many
bookkeepers
have
there
been
before
me?
I
must
be
a
laughingstock
right
now.

I
tried
to
shake
the
woman
off,
but
her
grip
tightened.

“
Let
her
go
right
now
or
I'll
have
you
sued.
You'll
never
work
again.
”
Rock
had
stopped,
leaning
toward
the
woman,
a
menacing
look
on
his
face.

The
paparazzi
murmured,
snapping
photos
as
fast
as
possible.

“
No
problem.
Just
trying
to
get
a
story.
”
The
hawk
-
nosed
woman
smiled.

“
No,
you're
not.
You're
infringing
on
my
bookkeeper's
right
to
be
unmolested
by
vultures.
”
Rock
touched
my
arm,
and
we
continued
to
the
limo.

He
helped
me
into
the
car,
and
I
let
out
a
long
sigh,
more
relieved
to
be
out
of
the
public
view
than
I
ever
had
been.

“
I'm
sorry
about
that.
”

“
Where
to,
Mr.
Weldon?
”
Luigi's
accented
voice
came
over
a
small
speaker.

“
To
the
villa.
Take
the
back
way.
I
don't
want
the
paparazzi
there
if
I
can
help
it.
”

Rock
leaned
back
and
closed
his
eyes
briefly.
I
studied
the
fine
lines
around
his
eyes.
My
heart
squeezed.