Seven's Diary (Hers #4.5) (8 page)

The only thing I kept was two pieces of artwork, which I proudly displayed in my new home. One was a replication of Starry Starry Night that hung over my fireplace, always reminding me of our tortured souls, so much like the tortured painter.

The other was a black and white print which hung over my bed. It is a woman’s ass covered in thin lace with the silhouette of her body. That woman was me. That was from the night he asked me to marry him, and I declined. A night I never wanted to forget. The very night I made the biggest mistake of my life.

Everyone and their mother had these amazing corporate brainstorms. Only problem was, none of them had the money to backup whatever they wanted to do. They came to me with their hands out like I was some kind of charity. I was damn near a hermit just because I didn’t want to deal with these assholes asking me for shit anymore.

This one wanted to start a restaurant.

That one had the next best internet startup company.

Oh, and this one had a genius idea for a fucking t-shirt business. T-Shirts!

It was August of the year I met Levi. I know, a person I didn’t expect to write about in my little diary here, but it helps to put the story I am about to tell you into perspective. The timeline is of the utmost importance for events you will witness in His. I promise you that.

Star and I had been spending a lot of time at Sinners and Swingers because I knew soon I wouldn’t have the time to get my kink on when the takeover for Alexander Mobile started. The one project James had trusted me with from the beginning, and I would rock the hell out of. Because it wasn’t just about success. It was about revenge. I would be working long hours and really just wanted to crash at the end of the day. Have I ever mentioned how much I love sleep? Because I do. If I could marry sleep, I would. The love affair I have with sleeping is just untouchable. Enough about sleep though, or I am going to fall asleep right now.

It was a Wednesday night, and I ordered my typical shots from Rex behind the bar when the owner walked in. Master Vince had been after me for years, before I had even met Master Robert. He was a man that didn’t like it when people said no to him, and I said no, a lot. He just wasn’t really my type. Not that he was a bad looking guy. And word on the street was… he had a pretty impressive dick, but he loved his girls submissive. Something I am not. Something I would never be again. And he didn’t like that. In his mind, he was the owner and he should be able to make the rules and have whoever he wanted in the process. Not this bitch. Never this bitch.

The sub side that came out of me with Master Robert wasn’t me actually being a sub, it was me loving him. A weakness.

As Vince slinked next to me at the bar, I did my best to ignore him.

“Mistress Marilyn, always a pleasure.” I nodded in his direction and took a sip of my drink.

“Master Vince.” Acknowledging him but never falling into his trap of small talk. I guess you could say I merely tolerated him.

“Have a moment?” His question took me off guard, and when I looked for Star to bail me out of this rabbit hole I was heading down, she was nowhere to be found. Then I spotted her, clear across the open room talking to some blond guy who just looked like a douche. Damn her and her weakness for pretty boys!

“Um…” I didn’t have a chance to say no before he was heading in the opposite direction only stopping for a moment waiting for me to follow him.

“You better not be trying to get in my pants, Vince.” I sassed him and followed behind him to his office.

“I would never do such a thing,” he laughed, knowing that was a lie. Every chance he got he tried to pull me into a private room. You would think he would finally get the hint and just leave me the hell alone right? But nooooooo. Not Master Vince.

Closing the door behind us Vince pulled a chair out for me and sat down across from me. His playful mood was gone, replaced by an all business demeanor as we sat in his office.

“Seven, Sinners and Swingers is in trouble.” Of course it is! People only want anything to do with me when it has something to do with money. Before he could continue, I put my hands up in the air to cut Vince off.

“Vince, I think I know where this is going but I can’t help you. I love this club, but I just can’t support your business.” Nor did I want to be involved in any of the red tape that came with a club of this nature. I just didn’t have the time for the aggravation.

“Seven, can we maybe talk a loan? Something to keep me going for a couple months to make back the money I lost with the remodel.” It was a catch twenty two. I would lose my favorite place to hang out when I actually had a bit of free time. But, at the same point in time, Vince and I didn’t have a relationship like this. We weren’t friends, or business associates. It was uncomfortable to say the least. I could only imagine how uncomfortable it was for him, as a big bad Master having to come to a woman to be bailed out of a tight spot. The words flowed out of my mouth with little thought, and even though it wasn’t something I wanted to do, I knew this was the only offer I could make. An offer just like James would have made. Take it or leave it.

“Vince, I will make you this offer. You can take it or leave it. That is up to you. I buy out 51% of Sinners and Swingers and put it in Star’s name. I will give you one hundred thousand dollars for it. You get the paperwork done and it’s a deal. That is my only offer.” I stood from my chair and started walking to the door of his office and back to the night I had planned for myself, although now with a soured mood I really just want to leave.

“Seven, I won’t give up my business. I won’t sell my shares to you.” Vince’s tone was assertive, rude almost.

“Well, Vince. I don’t know what to tell you then. I wish you the best of luck.” Instead of going into the private room I had planned with the hot sub with the abs… I went home and poured myself a glass of Jameson and ginger and took a bubble bath.

Sinners and Swingers didn’t go under, and a few months later my life changed after a chance encounter with a man named Levi Parker. But, I couldn’t shake the feeling that from that day on Master Vince, or Vincent Esposito had it out for me. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but I rarely had a feeling that didn’t pan out to be something in the long run.

After Hers, I felt like there were so many questions left about my past. Where I came from? How I got to the top? Why I have been so bitter and closed off when it came to love and relationships?

I hope this explains me better. It was painful to write. These were events in my life I didn’t want to revisit. Memories that cut me pretty damn deep. But they are part of who I am today. They brought me to the life I now share with Levi and our daughter Marley.

The broken road I survived brought me to the one place I thought I never would be.

I love who I have become, even if I hate who I was, and what I did to get where I am today. I hate that I turned down James, and now you know that is the biggest regret of my life. That is something that will never change. I can assure you of that.

Going into our next book; His, this will help to explain some of the events.

I just hope I get the happily ever after I am pretty sure I finally deserve.

W
HAT IS
N
EXT?

A lot of fans have been asking me what is next for the Hers series crew..

Well, I figured this would be the best way to handle all the upcoming news and announcements. All of this information will also be available on my website: EroticaDawn.com

Next?

L
EVI’S
S
TORY

Yes. You read that right. After writing about Seven’s life before Levi a couple extremely thoughtful people asked when they would be getting a little backstory on Levi. Well, I guess it will be sooner rather than later.

Levi’s Story will be coming at the end of June. Look for details soon!

OMG! HIS! I know everyone has been waiting so patiently for this. I am working on it! But, I am taking my time because I want to make sure it is the best book it can be. Y’all have been anticipating it so much I don’t want to fumble the ball with a story that COULD be better. I’m doing it right!

I am anticipating late July or early August for His.

R
IVER

Oh my poor River… I don’t know what to do with this boy. But, I do have a pretty good idea. I still want to punch him in the face from This Girl Stripped though.

I do not have a release date for River yet. Because after His is finished I am going to be taking a bit of a break from the Hers series to work on another book that will be a stand alone novel…