Taming Eric (61 page)

“Everyone? Who? What are you talking about Eric? What woman?” Suddenly her eyes widened. “Oh god you don’t mean Vi
vian?”

He nodded. “Alex doesn’t know her for obvious reasons and we only ran into her at the restaurant last night so I didn’t think we were going to potentially have a problem with her, but yes, from Alex’s description, it sounds like its Vivian. He caught her coming out of the office, but she managed to bluff her way through why she was there. Fuck I could kill Alex for not keeping an eye on things. He’s my PA for fuck s
akes.”

“Eric you can’t blame Alex. He’s never met Vivian and she does know how to turn on the charm when it suits her. She probably gave him a convincing s
tory.”

“He wasn’t in the office baby. He’d gone to lunch and he caught her coming out of the office when he got back. He didn’t realise anything had happened until he noticed the back up disc for the computer is missing. It’s the one with staff details on it. Everything for you is still on it plus I have lists of my properties and details relating to them o
n it.”

How the hell did she get her hands on that Eric? You normally have something sensitive like that secure.” Eric could see the worry in her eyes and he hated to see her growing more and more upset because of his unstable ex girlf
riend.

“Alex was using the damned thing baby. He was updating files as we’ve had some staff changes. He’d left everything out while he went to lunch. I’m not happy with him at all. Now that bitch has her hands on files for everyone on staff. God knows what she intends doing with it but I’m more concerned about her showing up at our
home.”

“Can’t you call the police? It’s definitely Vivian i
s it?”

“From Alex’s description it’s her. He doesn’t know her of course. She was from before his time and when he questioned her, she told him she’d been out of the country for a few months and had hoped to surprise me. It’s her I have no doubt about that.” Eric fr
owned.

“Well shouldn’t you call the po
lice?”

“I have baby. The police have been around to Vivian’s home but she’s not there. According to neighbours she’s flown out of the country on business. The police won’t do much, there’s no proof and they’re always reluctant to do anything on hearsay, so I’m hiring a private investig
ator.”

“So what happens now Eric? What do we do? Vivian must have wanted the information for some reason. What do you mean the police have no proof? Alex saw her so he should be able to identify her.” Her eyes suddenly got really wide. “Oh hell, I thought I saw her when we were leaving the beach today then again when we got the kebabs, I saw a woman who looked like her. I didn’t say anything because I thought it was my imagination, but what if it was her? That would mean she’s followin
g us.”

Eric stared at her in shock at her words and a part of him wanted to throw his hands in the air in frustration that she’d said nothing to him. “God baby, why didn’t you say something? When you thought you saw
her?”

“I almost did, but when I looked again, I couldn’t see her. I just thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me. After how much she upset me I thought I was seeing her in every blonde woman we passed and I didn’t want to cause tension between us again.” Eric’s heart contracted when her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry
Eric.”

He immediately felt guilty for getting frustrated that she hadn’t said anything to him and he just hated to see her cry. Once again that bitch was upsetting his gorgeous wife. “Oh baby, baby it’s not your fault. How were you to know? How were any of us to know? We’ll find her and then the police can deal with her but in the meantime I’ll get a private investigator and I’ll take out a restraining order on her if necessary. Hopefully that will be enough to keep her away. Vivian is obviously a little unstable but I don’t think she’s a criminal. Still, I’m not taking any risks. I’m sorry baby, but we’re going to have to cut our honeymoon short and get home again.” He pulled her into his arms holding her tight agains
t him.

“I had a feeling that was going to happen anyway Eric. I understand that being home is probably the best place to be right now. Still if Vivian has your address, what will you do if she comes around to the h
ouse?”

“Well apart from the restraining order, the house has a full security system baby. If I have to, I’ll employ someone to watch the house. We’ll get her don’t worry.” He dropped a kiss on her for
ehead.

The truth was, he was worried. He really didn’t know how far Vivian was prepared to go but it did seem like something had snapped with her and suddenly she was after him and he wasn’t sure what lengths she might be prepared to go to, to get him. He was worried about Natasha more though, whether Vivian might go after her. She was vulnerable being so heavily pregnant and it scared the hell out of him to think of anything happening to her. He had to do whatever it took to keep her
safe.

“So when do we go
home?”

“I want to head home tomorrow. We’ll lose a day baby. I’m sorry but I need you home where you are
safe.”

“How safe is it though if Vivian knows where you live? She could come to the house. I hate this I thought she was just a jealous ex girlfriend. I never expected that she could become dangerous.” She lifted worried eyes to his and he tightened his arms aroun
d her.

“I won’t let her hurt you I promise. She’s a bitch but I can’t imagine she’d do anything of a criminal nature, apart from what she’s done already, taking the files. Wanting access to our details sounds like a woman who is going to stalk not necessarily cause
harm.”

Her expression was a little doubtful and Eric hated that she seemed to not be so convinced that he could protect her. She turned to him again. “Why now Eric, why is she doing this now? We’ve been together for months, we got married a couple of days ago, so what’s taken her so long? Last night was the first time we’ve seen her since you used to go out with her. She said she was at the restaurant with her lover so she’s obviously got someone new. Why come after you now? Why try to destroy our relationship now? She’s had plenty of time to do
this.”

Eric felt a wave of guilt at her words. He hadn’t told her just how persistent Vivian had been trying to get him back. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen her baby. She’s turned up at the office a few times, this was months ago though and I thought I’d given her the brush off for good, finally, as I’ve not heard from her for a few months. It turns out she really has been out of the country. Her job involves a lot of travel baby, have you forgotten, she’s a model. If you really did see her at the beach and the shops then she’s not out of the country as she’s led her neighbours to bel
ieve.”

“Well she can’t be away Eric since she stole the file from the office today.” Natasha pointe
d out.

“That was several hours ago baby. Alex had tried to call a few times. I didn’t take my mobile when we went to the b
each.”

“But if that was her at the beach, how did she know where we were? The file doesn’t tell her things like that. It mustn’t have been her I guess because I can’t figure out how she’d know where we
were.”

“My guess is she got that information when she was in the office. Alex has the hotel details in case he needed to contact me. It was to be only for an emergency. If she’s been watching the hotel, she might have followed us to the beach. It’s amazing how sneaky people can get when they stalk someone. Why the hell she’d bother lowering herself that much to chase after us when I made it perfectly clear I don’t want her anymore, I have no idea.” He raked his hands through his hair with frustration. He was getting tired of how much of their time his crazy ex was taking u
p now.

“So why didn’t he contact the hotel when you didn’t answer your mobile?” She paused for a moment studying him. “I can understand Vivian following you and wanting you back. You’d be a hard act to follow.” She smirked a
t him.

Eric grinned at her although he thought she might have been exaggerating a little or teasing him. “He did call baby but since he called, the hotel has gone through a staff change on reception apparently. Somewhere along the way, his message to call didn’t make it through to the new staff. Don’t worry, I’ve made it perfectly clear I’m not happy with the hotel’s fuck up.” His eyes flashed with renewed anger over the less than professional behaviour from the hotel
staff.

“God this is turning into such a mess Eric. How the hell did you end up going out with a woman like Vivian in the first place? Ok, most of your girlfriends seemed a bit… well… cold… self centred but she seemed to take being a bitch to a new l
evel.”

Eric felt a bit embarrassed at her words. Fucked if he knew why he’d bothered with someone like Vivian. He’d had the warning signs that she was not entirely stable, that she was nothing more than an out and out bitch for that matter, but he’d ignored it all and he didn’t even know why. He hadn’t even liked her all that much. “You are so fucked up Rothman.” That little voice in his head chastised him
again.

“I know Natasha, I don’t know what the hell possessed me to go out with her. It was purely just sex and she looked good for business functions where I needed someone on my arm.” He winced when Natasha flinched at his mention of the sex with Vivian. “I’m sorry baby, but that’s all my ex girlfriends were for, sex. The thing that makes me crazy is that you were there, working right next to me and although I thought you were beautiful, you never gave me any indication that you might have been interested in more. If I’d only known, I could have saved us all this crap now.” He gave her a rueful
smile.

“It’s pointless wishing for things that we can’t change Eric. We just have to get through this and hope that Vivian doesn’t actually do anything. She has to know that she’ll put her career and possibly even her freedom at risk if she does something st
upid.”

“I hope you’re right baby, but I’m not taking any risks with you or our babies. I need to keep you safe. I couldn’t handle it if anything happened to you sweetheart.” He dragged her into his arms, holding her close. The idea of her being hurt in any way scared the crap out of him and his heart began to beat more rapidly as his mind tortured him with thoughts of a life withou
t her.

“Eric… please… air. I can’t breathe.” Her gasped words penetrated his thoughts but he couldn’t let her go. His body was overcome with tremors as his fear of losing her threatened to consume him. “Eric, it’s ok, nothing is going to happen. Please don’t look for the worst case scenarios. I know you’ll keep us all safe. Lets not waste the rest of the day worrying about something we can’t change for now. I’m going to need food soon, I’m actually feeling hungry, despite the whole Vivian thing. Are we going out for dinner or eating
here?”

“I’m not leaving this hotel Natasha until we go home tomorrow. We can eat here or the hotel’s restaurant, take your pick.” He released her from his strangle hold and sat back his expression serious. “This hotel is safe. The restaurant is only open to guests so no one can just come in off the street and eat here. If you want to come down and eat, we’ll do that, or I can orde
r in.”

Natasha’s face lit up and Eric’s eyes moved over her gorgeous features. Fuck but he loved her so damned much. Despite all that was happening, the spectre of Vivian hanging over them, she could still push it aside and not dwell on it. She was such an incredibly strong woman and she wa
s his.

“Can we eat in the restaurant? It’s our last chance and I know if probably sounds silly, but that’s where we first met up remember? I met you in the restaurant and well…” She blushed and Eric’s heart swelled with the surge of emotions he felt for her. Fuck they’d come so far since that first night when he’d asked her to come to the restaurant without her panties and what had blown him away was she’d done it, she’d trusted him enough to do as he’d requ
ested.

As he stared into her stunning eyes he felt the need to revisit their first night in the restaurant too but would she agree to his suggestion again? “Oh I remember that night well baby. You were beautiful, amazing, so responsive and you got me so aroused I thought I was going to come at the damned table. Ok we’ll dine in the restaurant then but on one condition.” He quirked an eyebrow at her as he waited to see if she knew what he was going t
o ask.

“What’s that?” She
asked.

“You do as you did last time and don’t wear any panties.” He gr
inned.

She groaned in response and gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious Eric? Look at me. I’m so big now I can’t see my feet anymore. I can’t see down there anymore actually and you want me to sit in the restaurant exposed? I need a tidy up below Mr Rothman. Things are getting a bit out of control. If you take care of things for me, I’ll do as you
ask.”

His heart leapt in his chest as he digested what she was asking of him. Holy fuck! Could he shave her and not accidently cut her? It was going to turn him on so much doing something like that for her and if his hands shook he’d possibly hur
t her.

“You want me to shave you baby? Damn, now that’s going to drive me to the point of insanity, you know that, don’t you? If you want me to shave you baby, I’ll do it. Do you trust me?” He
asked.

She reached over to cup his cheek, and Eric closed his eyes briefly when he saw the love shining in her gaze. “Of course I do, with my life. Come on Mr CEO, you’re not squeamish are you?” She t
eased.

Was she serious? The chance to spend time with a part of her body he loved so much. Fuck no, he wasn’t squeamish, just nervous he’d accidently cut her in his excitement. “Hell no Mrs Rothman, you just lie back and relax. I’ll go get the razor and everything else I need. I’ll be right back.” He told her as he almost bounced off the bed in his enthusiasm and headed for the bat
hroom.