Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 18478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“I’m Joan…”
“Our housemaid is on leave,” he says, his voice sharp. “You’ll be taking over her duties until she returns.”
Is he joking?
I search his face for signs that he is but see none. No, he’s serious, and I’m starting to sweat. His blue eyes bore into me, causing me to blush as I wait for his next command.
“Duties?”
“Cleaning, cooking, washing,” he replies. “And anything else I say.”
That last bit shakes me. I may be a virgin, but I’m not stupid.
His eyes move across me, lingering on my chest. I’ve never felt attention like this before. My blood begins to pump madly. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone.
“You’ll need to sign this. It contains a list of your responsibilities.”
Using his finger, he swipes through what looks like a contract until he reaches the end. A black line, just waiting for my signature.
I may have just left the convent, but I’m still pretty sure you should have a lawyer look over any documents before you sign them.
“Amon, I can’t—”
“Sign and stay,” he snaps. “Or leave now.”
Thunder snaps behind me. I can hear the rain pelting down in thick sheets. Leave? I have nowhere else to go. Momma is gone, and our old house has been sold.
Amon’s authority frightens me. His power. But it also intrigues me. There’s no hint of shame in his eyes. He sets the rules, and they are clear: It’s his way or the highway.
“Fine,” I reply, quickly signing with my finger.
The hint of a smile threatens his lips, but he hides it quickly before stuffing his phone away.
I must be losing it. Did I just sign my life away to this man? It wouldn’t be the worst thing I could do. Not him. The man who seems to see straight into my soul.
I swore to Momma I would serve the Lord, and I failed. Now it looks like I have someone new to serve.
And his name is Amon.
2
AMON
I’m lying in the bath, smoking a Cuban cigar and sipping scotch when I realize it’s going to be impossible to take my mind off her. The one girl I should not be obsessed with.
My goddamn step-sister.
She’s not blood-related, so I don’t really give a damn. But Dad will. Her mom will. I may be a cold-hearted son of a bitch, but it’s not my goal to let my lust blow up this family.
I should back away. Let her leave. I just don’t think that’s possible anymore.
I’ve barely spent any time with her, yet my desire has embedded itself in my veins. Cemented itself into my core. I woke up three times last night thinking about her.
This is absurd. I’m Amon Bleakson. Girls fall at my feet wherever I go, if not for me, then for the hopes that I might wife them up and give them a chance at my money. I could have them all. So why do I want her?
My cell rings. It’s Chuck, my number two at Bleaks Capital, my own hedge fund that I started a few years ago. Dad doesn’t pay it much attention. He thinks it’s just my own side project that I’ll get bored of.
Little does he know.
“Yo, Chuck,” I grunt, twisting my cigar in my fingers. “What’s the news?”
“That Chinese tech company. You were right. The bad press was fake news, spread by their competitor. Stock’s rising like a goddamn rocket.”
“Where’s it at now?” I ask, sipping my scotch with a smile. The sweet taste of success.
“Twenty-two and still moving. Amon, we keep on this ride and the firm could clear two hundred million—”
“Relax, Chuck,” I bark. His tone’s too eager. The key to winning in this business is maintaining control of your emotions. “Keep watching it. The second it starts to dip, sell it all. Then go buy yourself a Porsche. My treat.”
“Shit, thanks, Amon—”
I hang up and take a victory drag from my Cuban. Yeah, it’s moments like this that remind me why I do what I do. Money is power in this world. Anybody who tells you different doesn’t have any.
Dad used to boss me around—tell me what to do. Not anymore. And why? Because I could buy this whole house ten times over if I wanted. I could buy his whole company too.
No one tells Amon Bleakson what to do.
Speaking of telling people what to do…
I thumb the buzzer on the wall. It only takes a couple of seconds for Joan to respond. “Y–yes?”
Her voice is so timid. Damn, her mom and that convent really did a number on her. I could see the shame in her eyes when she looked at me.
“Bring my food up,” I tell her. “The tray is in the kitchen, along with the list.”
“Okay…” she replies, so nervous.
I hang up and think back to last night.