SAFE: A Stepbrother Romance (14 page)

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“You must understand, that when you
sign a confidentiality agreement for Mr. V you are agreeing to all of the terms
within that contract.” The woman in the black business suit with her blonde
ponytail and glasses looked up at Violet and paused. Violet nodded.

“It is imperative that you understand
everything written within your contract. If you have any questions then now is
the time to ask them. Mr. V is not forgiving when it comes to breaking
contracts. If you fail to uphold your side of the contract there will be
consequences. You will never work in this city again.”

Violet’s eyes widened and she drew a
deep breath in. “It's not a threat, it's a statement of fact.” Violet could
feel her heart beginning to thump heavily in her chest, this was the last stop,
her last chance to get off before signing a contract with the notorious Mr. V.

“I understand.” The money was too
good for any strictly worded contract to dissuade her. The lawyer smiled and
reached her hand across the table offering Violet a golden pen inscribed with a
large V.

“You’ll be just fine, I know it.” She
winked and spun the contract around on the table for Violet to sign. Violet
smiled nervously and with a quivered breath she signed her name.

“Ah, just in time I see. Perfect
timing, as always.” Mr. V smiled, his teeth a dazzling white. “Welcome to my humble
abode Miss Tyler.” He extended his arm and gestured to the penthouse apartment
around them.

“I'm so glad that you have decided to
join our little family.” He turned and gave a half smile to the lawyer who did
her best to hide her childish laughter. “As I recall Daisy will be showing you
the in’s and outs of keeping up the place before she leaves us, but if you have
any questions that I can answer in the meantime I'd be happy to oblige.”

He leaned over beside Violet, the
scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a warm blanket, pulling her in,
inviting her closer. She watched as he signed beside her name on the contract,
her eyes tracing each swirl of the pen on the paper.

“Right, I think that's your part done
Vanessa.” He handed the pen back to the ponytailed lawyer who picked up her
leather satchel and began to slip away her things.

“Yes, Sir. I’ll see myself out.” Her
pouting red lips curled in to a smile that punctuated her cheeks with deep dimples.
Mr. V nodded.

“Miss. Delgado, will you join me for
a drink out on the balcony?” Violet’s head was still spinning from the scent of
his cologne, she wasn't sure that she could stand upright with the added
assault of alcohol.

“Please call me Violet.” Mr. V
searched her face for a moment as he considered this informality.

“Violet, will you join me for a drink
out on the balcony?” She could feel the blush rising in her cheeks as he
reached out his hand to take hers. Leading her through the long foyer they
passed through the kitchen and out on to the largest ‘balcony’ that she had
ever seen. She couldn't help herself when she caught sight of the city lights
below and tugging his hand she rushed to the railing.

“Wow!” Mr. V couldn’t stifle his
laughter as he watched her eyes grow to the size of dinner plates.

“I will leave you to ‘wow’ for a moment
if you will excuse me, I’ll fetch the wine.” He slipped his hand from hers and
Violet barely noticed as she counted the streets below.

“I forget, living here, just how
amazing this view can be to virgin eyes.” Mr. V’s hand slid around in front of
her, holding a glass of white wine. She took the glass and turned to face him,
keeping her eyes lowered.

“My apologies sir, I’ve never seen
anything quite so…breathtaking.” Mr. V took in a sharp breath and spoke almost
inaudibly.

“And neither have I.”

The wine was nothing to Violet’s
taste, but she never had been one for wine. She had sipped her glass slowly not
wanting to appear ungrateful or uneducated in front of her new boss. He smiled
and told her all about the grapes and the region of the world where it was
from. Eventually she had stopped listening and instead concentrated on the
soothing hum of his voice and the delicious scent of his cologne.

“Did anyone show you to your room
when you arrived?” The change of subject startled Violet and for a second she
was unsure if her voice would still work.

“Yes, sir. Although I'm afraid after
finishing this I may need a reminder…or perhaps a map.” She giggled at her own
joke, her fingers lightly placed in front of her lips to hide her open mouth.
Mr. V let out a brief chuckle.

“Oh dear, just one glass of wine
Violet?” Violet felt her cheeks burning. She had never been a drinker, just a
few sips of alcohol and she was giggling like a schoolgirl. The way he had said
her name, the way he had said ‘oh dear,’ as though she were in trouble, that
deep voice like mahogany. It reverberated inside her body.

“I’m sorry, I'm not much of a
drinker, Sir.” She smiled, her own small dimples showing as she avoided eye
contact. She heard another sharp intake of breath and lifted her eyes just
enough to see him closing his eyes and biting down on his bottom lip before
regaining his composure.

“No apology needed for that, Violet.”
There was a sharp intake of breath again as he finished his sentence.

“Sir?”

“Yes?”

“May I ask you a question?” Violet’s
voice was timid, afraid that with just one wrong step she might lose her new
job and the best paycheck she had ever been promised in her life.

“You may, but whether I will answer
is, of course, at my discretion.” There was that mahogany voice again, playing
like the velvet tones of a cello.

“There have been a few times tonight,
Sir,” she paused for the predicted intake of air that came right as scheduled,
“that you have almost gasped as we have spoken…am I saying something wrong?
Please, if I am then correct me so that I may learn the right way in your
home.” Mr. V smiled, the same broad white smile he had given her when he
welcomed her in to his apartment.

“No, Violet, you are doing nothing
wrong. I am just afraid that I may have hired you for the wrong position,
that's all.”

She frowned, a bit afraid of this new
admission.

“But I only applied for one position
so how could you hire me for the wrong one?” Mr. V drained the last mouthful of
wine from his glass.

“That, is a conversation to be had
over a bottle of tequila. Now let's show you where your room is before you end
up sleeping in a closet.” Violet took his hand and shakily got to her feet.
They walked in silence to the door of her room. “Goodnight, Violet.” He said
with a slight smirk as she walked into the room.

The rhythmic ticking of the clock on
the wall is what woke her up, but it was the dry mouth and craving for orange
juice that kept her awake. She laid in the darkness for what felt like hours
debating the etiquette of helping herself to beverages. As a live-in employee
she wasn’t sure if it was the ‘right’ thing to do. Until finally the craving became
too much.

Opening her bedroom door just a
little, she peered out in to the hallway. There were no signs of life and no
lights on. Slipping out to the end of the hall she peered down the main hall
and again in to nothingness, the coast was clear.

Still, not wanting to get caught and
having to explain to him why she stole a little juice, she crept as quietly as
possible. Her nightgown breezed around her legs as she tiptoed in to the
kitchen where the hunt for a drinking glass began. As she opened the first
cupboard the balcony door slid open. Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

“Couldn't sleep?” Mr. V stood in the
darkness, a white crew neck t'shirt and a pair of black cotton pajama pants – a
far cry from the suit she had seen him in last.

“I'm…I’m so sorry! I was just looking
for a glass for some orange juice if…” He walked over and flicked on the
countertop light.

“Why are you sorry? When you live
here it is my job to make sure you have everything you need.” He opened a
cupboard and pulled down a drinking glass while Violet still tried to make
sense of what he had just said.

He poured her juice and handed her
the glass. “Are you hungry?” He put the orange juice back in the fridge and
stood to the side. “It's fully stocked. Veggies, chocolate cake and everything
in between.” She smiled as she gulped the juice down quickly.

“No thank you, but may I please have
a little more juice?” She put her glass down on the counter and he refilled it.
As she watched him she considered their conversation from earlier.

“I know it isn't tequila, but perhaps
orange juice could count?” She said with a timid smile. He pushed the glass
towards her again and put the carton back in the fridge.

“Violet…has anyone ever told you
there are certain qualities about you that make you perfect for…something?” She
drained the second glass of juice and seemed to think hard before answering the
question.

“No, Sir. I don't think so.” Mr. V
sucked in a sharp breath of air and snatched up her hand.

“Come with me.” He pulled her along
behind him, his pace fast and excited. She walked behind him timid and wary.

“Where are we going?”

“To answer your questions.” He
stopped in front of a door. It looked like every other door in the apartment
only it had a keypad for a lock. Mr. V turned to her.

“Remember that you are bound by the
terms of your contract never to discuss anything that you see during your time
here.”

 
Violet nodded slowly, anxious now to see what
was on the other side of the door. He stepped in front of her, his fingers carefully
pressing at the number pad until Violet heard the sound of the electric lock
click open. He pushed at the door and without turning to see if she was going
to follow him. He stepped inside the dark room. Her eyes squinted as she tried
to see past his shoulder.

She couldn’t see anything, but the
smell was one that was familiar to her—leather. She loved the smell of
well-worn leather. She imagined wall to wall bookcases and wing backed leather
chairs – a private limited edition library of some sort.

He turned up the lights and as the
room appeared in the dimness Violet gasped loudly before slapping her hand over
her mouth in embarrassment. Mr. V chuckled at her reaction.

“Now you can see why I have lawyers
and contracts…” Violet walked slowly to the wall closest to her, the top
section was painted a scarlet red while the bottom half was a deep black.