The Billionaire's Terms: Prison Or Passion (10 page)

Gerald stilled and looked back at her. “The chicken with the white wine sauce?” he asked hopefully.

Alicia nodded. “But I don’t think he likes the fruit in his salads,” she mentioned, remembering how Adam had pushed the mandarin oranges off to the side one night. She’d thought the spinach with oranges and a sweet and sour dressing had been delicious but she didn’t pay for the food or preparation.

Gerald looked crushed for a moment. But it only took a moment for his sunny disposition to spark back to life. “Well, at least it is something,” he replied, instantly moving again to finish unloading the food onto the counter.

“Well, this week, I’m making some luscious dinners, very romantic,” he explained. “And you, my dear, are going to learn the fine art of making chocolate chip cookies.”

Alicia instantly perked up. “Really?” she asked, more interested in the cookies than the romantic meals he was considering.

“Of course.” He reached into his last bag and pulled out a piece of paper. “While I cook the meals, you stay over there and whip us up some cookies. I’ll let you know if you are doing anything wrong or answer any questions.”

“I thought the first thing to try was pie since it was so simple.”

Gerald shook his head. “Darling, whoever thought up the phrase “easy as pie” was simply sadistic. Pies are almost impossible to make correctly. The crust has to be flaky but not too dry, the insides have to have just enough oomph for them to stick together but not be mushy,” he explained. Waving his hand in the air dramatically, he laughed and said, “Ignore the pies for the more dedicated chefs and trust me. Make the cookies.”

Alicia read through the instructions determinedly. “If you’re sure,” she said.

They worked on opposite sides of the counter for the rest of the afternoon. After about an hour and two cookie sheets destroyed, Gerald was whipping up a brandy sauce. “Here, love. You’ve got to relax a little,” he said, handing her a glass of brandy.

“I’m not sure alcohol will be the answer,” she said but took a tentative sip anyway. Gerald was the expert so who was she to question his instructions. By the time the fourth sheet of cookies came out of the oven, she wasn’t even bothered by the fact that the bottoms were black. She was making progress since the tops weren’t black.

“What am I doing wrong, Gerald? The time on the instructions say that they should only be in for ten minutes but they are all burning,” she said, taking another long sip of brandy and almost missing the counter as she plunked the sheet down in frustration.

“You’re probably putting them too close to the bottom of the oven. Don’t get discouraged, dear. Just keep trying.”

Gerald was already finished with the meals and had completely cleaned up the kitchen when her first batch of cookies came out perfectly. “Look!” she yelled, jumping up and down in her excitement. “I can’t believe it. They are perfect!”

“Good girl! Now finish off that batch of cookies before the sun sets,” he teased.

Alicia put down the cookie sheet and lifted off the first few cookies, carefully placing them on the cooling wrack just as Gerald had shown her earlier in the afternoon. “Well, this has been amazing. What can you teach me next week?” she asked, biting her lip as she delicately off-loaded the cookies, careful to not let them break.

“What the hell is going on in here?” a deep voice demanded from the kitchen doorway.

Alicia screamed and her hand automatically flew up in to the air. Gerald, understanding what she had been in the process of doing since he was leaning over her shoulder watching her, ducked immediately. He avoided the flying cookie. Adam, who was looking like the wrath of the devil, didn’t even flinch as the cookie landed on the wall only inches from his ear.

“Adam!” Alicia called out, horrified that she’d almost smacked him with a cookie but excited to share her achievement with him.

 

He didn’t look too enthused by her excitement. In fact, he looked even angrier. “Yes, Adam. Who were you expecting? Or should I say, not expecting?”

 

Alicia shook her head. “What are you talking about?” she asked. “Come over and see what I’ve made!”

Gerald, who understood exactly what was going on inside his client’s mind, quickly picked up his gear and moved towards the door. “Alicia dear, I’ll see you next week. You’ve done a wonderful job and we’ll work on maybe a casserole next week,” he said. “If I’m still employed, that is,” he muttered and squeezed out of the kitchen.

Alicia gazed unsteadily after him, not sure she understood what was going on. “Why would he wonder something like that?” she asked Adam who had started to walk forward.

“Because he might be fired,” he said, a muscle twitching on the side of his face.

Her smile as well as her balance was a little wobbly due to the brandy she’d imbibed during her cookie making lesson. “Why would he be fired? He’s a wonderful cook and you love most of his meals.”

“What the hell were you doing here with him this afternoon?” he demanded, both hands on his hips.

Alicia stared at him, her mind slowly clearing of the brandy induced haze as she realized he was genuinely angry. “Adam, what exactly are you implying?” she asked, putting the cookies down onto the cooling wrack and taking off her oven mitts.

“Perhaps I’m not being clear enough. What was that man doing in here with you alone?”

Alicia finally understood. “Adam, please tell me you didn’t think that me and Gerald…” she couldn’t finish the sentence but started laughing instead. “Oh, Adam. That’s ridiculous.”

Adam didn’t like being laughed at. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her against him. “While you’re paying off this debt, you’re mine. Do you understand me?” he said harshly. “I don’t care what you do once our agreement is over with but you are my exclusive property in the meantime.”

Adam took a step away from her and turned away, then just as quickly turned back, picked her up into his arms with her feet flying in the air. She had only moments to grab his shoulders before he was walking determinedly towards the bedroom. “Adam, what are you planning?” she asked, becoming slightly nervous when he didn’t answer. He was angrier than she’d ever seen him. Angrier than she’d ever seen anyone in her life. He controlled it well, but she could feel the anger under her fingertips.

“Take off your clothes,” he demanded, setting her on her feet and kicking the door closed. His hand went to his tie and pulled it off, tossing it to the floor. His jacket followed and he didn’t even care that the beautifully tailored jacket was in a crumpled heap on the floor of his bedroom.

“Adam, I think we should talk about this,” she said, holding up her hands in front of her and backing slowly away. But each step she took backwards, he took one towards her. Suddenly, her legs were against the bed and she was trapped. The dark look in his eyes told her what his intentions were and she was tingling with excitement and not a small amount of fear.

“I don’t think we should talk at all. I think you should do as I say,” he demanded. By that point, the buttons were undone on his shirt as it hung loose around his waist. He reached out and grabbed one of her wrists, then pulled her close to him.

Alicia could barely think when her hands touched his heated skin. She wanted him. There was no denying it. When his mouth came down on hers it was hard and demanding, almost brutal. She cried out softly, and her hand reached up to touch his face. Instantly, the kiss changed from angry to coaxing. He lifted his mouth and stared down into her soft, blue eyes that showed her hurt and her excitement. With a groan, he pulled her closer to his body and lifted her into his arms, putting her down onto the bed.

His lovemaking that night was different. It was more intense as if he was trying to show her that he was the only man who could make her feel these kinds of feelings. It was overwhelming and by the time he entered her, she was so desperate for release, she was begging him to take her.

By morning, he was gone and Alicia rolled over onto her stomach, staring out into the morning sunshine. “What am I going to do?” she asked the empty apartment.

Laying her head down on the pillow, she looked at the ceiling and thought about her dreams and what she had been hoping would happen by this point in her life. She remembered laying in her bed as a little girl and thinking about dating in high school, going to the prom, or other high school dances. It was such a long time ago, she though in amazement. She didn’t notice that she was crying until she felt the tear slide down her cheek.

What was it about her life that she was constantly being punished? She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough for this, she thought to herself.

The ringing phone brought her out of her moment of self pity. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and reached for the phone. It was odd to hear it ringing since no one called Adam here. Anyone trying to reach him would call his mobile instead of his home phone.

“Hello?” she said tentatively, worried about answering his phone. But she didn’t even care if it was a salesperson. She needed human contact.

 

“Alicia? Did I wake you?” Adam asked.

 

Alicia sat back on the pillows, amazed that his authoritarian personality could reach through the phone. “No. I’ve been up for a few minutes,” she explained.

 

“Good. Listen, I’m sorry about the short notice but we’re going to have to go away this weekend,” he said.

 

“Really?” she asked, the thought instantly exciting her.

 

“Yes. You’ll need new clothes though. I’ve arranged for you to get a few things over at a store Bill will take you to. He’s on his way back to pick you up.”

 

“What kinds of things and where are we going?”

 

“To my house in the country. I have some friends who are coming into town. Do you think you could handle that? No stealing the family jewels, okay?” he asked.

“I’m glad you have such faith in me,” she said sarcastically, her hands picking up the soft, cotton sheet and dropping it again. “If you’re worried that I’ll be an embarrassment, why in the world would you want to take me?”

“You can ask me that after last night?” he chuckled.

Her face turned red with embarrassment. Even after four weeks, she still didn’t understand how he could change her so dramatically with his simple touch. “I guess I am rather convenient,” she said stiffly.

“That you are. And lovely to boot. So be a good girl and go get dolled up. I’ll pick you up at three so you don’t have much time and you have a lot to buy. Have fun,” he said and hung up the phone.

Alicia stared at the dead receiver, furious with him for his insensitive words and how unfair it was that she was being accused of something. But she remembered all the evidence. If she’d come across that amount of evidence, she’d feel pretty good about the case against the person.

Sighing, she pulled back the sheets and slipped into the tee-shirt that had fallen to the floor in last night’s wild passion. She picked up the rest of the clothes that were still scattered all over the carpet, grimacing when her muscles protested. She certainly didn’t need to work out when she had Adam in her life, she thought. He definitely kept her exercised.

The shower was wonderful and each time she stepped into it, she felt better, cleaner both inside and out. She wished she could do the same thing with her mind and her heart. She wondered how much longer Adam would continue this farce of a relationship. He’d mentioned a month for every ten thousand dollars he claimed she’d stolen from him but how much had the real criminal actually stolen? She could only hazard that it was a lot.

She dried her hair and piled it loosely up on her head with a clip. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and wondered where Adam had set up an account for her. Her tee-shirt and jeans were extremely well worn. She wondered if they would take one look at her and kick her out of the boutique as if she were a beggar.

Alicia smiled at the idea and shrugged her shoulders, strapping on her watch and one of her two pairs of earrings. They were a simple gold bead dangling from a hoop. They had been inexpensive but looked nice at the time she’d bought them but now they were a little tarnished. If she were still working and had an income, she would go out and purchase a new pair. Her only other pair were simple, silver hoops. The two pairs alternated each day or with her outfits.

Sighing, she shook her head at her reflection. She certainly didn’t look like the kind of person who moved in the same circles as Adam who had immaculately tailored suits and beautiful silk ties. She suspected that one of his shoes cost more than her entire wardrobe. She could have chosen one of the other outfits Adam had bought her but she didn’t feel right wearing them when he wasn’t around. She knew she was being silly, but she just couldn’t help herself.

“See you later, Joe,” Alicia called to the doorman as she walked through the white, marble lobby.

 

“Going for a walk?” he called back to her, tipping his hat.

 

“Not this time. I’ve got a shopping spree planned,” she laughed, waving to him as Bill held the door for her.

 

“You have a good time then,” he said.

 

“Thanks. See you in a while,”

 

She ducked her head into the back of the limousine, smiling to Bill who closed the door after her.

 

“Where are we off to, Bill?” she asked, leaning back into the soft, leather seats of the car.

 

“Mr. Meyers asked me to drive you to Barney’s, ma’am.”

 

“Just call me Alicia, Bill,” she said, not for the first time. But the man was a stickler for protocol. “Barney’s sounds expensive.”

 

“I’m sure you’ll find something that you like,” he teased. “Are you excited about the weekend?”

 

“Not really. Adam only mentioned that we were going to his country house. But I don’t know where it is.”

 

“It is a beautiful home in Dover, right on the cliffs. You’ll love it,” he said reassuringly.

 

A few minutes later, they pulled up outside a large department store. Alicia took a deep breath and stepped out, prepared to be poked and prodded.

 

She was pleasantly surprised when a friendly woman in her thirties walked up to her upon entry. “Are you Alicia Morgan?” she asked, smiling pleasantly.