Michaela I’m back at Rhys’s place. I had a lengthy conversation with my father about my meeting with Phoenix. He’s relieved we buried the hatchet long enough to set things in motion. Daddy reminded me time is of the essence because he’s choking in debt. Copy that. Once I ended the call with my father, I joined Keira for dinner. We’re sitting where we sat this morning, but nothing is the same. After a light dinner—because I was still stuffed from my delicious lunch on Phoenix’s yacht—I spill my guts to my friend. She’s the only person on this planet other than my father I can confide in. I’m so grateful I don’t have to ke ep this fake marriage charade a secret from her. I can’t imagine having to deal with all of this on my own. Since my mind is still a bit jumbled from everything that’s transpired in my life since I woke up, I blurt out everything in one go. I expected my friend to be shocked, but nothing like this. “Say something,” I say. She stares at me like a deer caught in headlights. “Keira.” She shakes her head. “You woke up this morning unaware your life was going to take an unexpected turn.” “That’s putting it mildly,” I say. “Well, at least you’re marrying a hot guy and a former boy band member.” Keira is a singer, and she used to be a member of a popular girl group. She was a little peeved I never asked Phoenix about his former career as a pop star. I read about the glory days of the boy group 4 Destiny—4 D, for short. Slate, Wilder, Roman, and Phoenix were at the top of their game when Barron died. and I even drooled over a few videos while I was doing my recon. Finding out more about that part of his life was way down there on the list of priorities for our meeting. “I haven’t decided if I’m marrying him yet,” I say. “It doesn’t sound like you have
a lot of options, Mikki.” “That may be the case, but I want to make peace with the decision. It’s the only shred of control I have left. When I’m ready, I’ll give him my answer.” Keira shakes her head, her disbelief still written all over her face. “This is wild.” “Oh, it gets better.” Her head whips in my direction. “You’ve been holding back from me?” “Phoenix knows Rhys.” “Seriously?” “Yes. Something about a club. I asked him to elaborate, but he was evasive about it. I figured I’d get the scoop from you.” “Oh...” Keira’s face turns as red as a tomato. “Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?” She stares at me, wide-eyed. I let out an exasperated sigh. “Keira, I’ve had enough surprises for one day. What club is Phoenix talking about?” She shifts in her seat. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell Rhys I told you.” “Okay.” “That’s not good enough.” “I won’t tell him.” “Swear it,” she says. “Holy shit, woman. You’re scaring me.” “There’s nothing to be scared about, however, this isn’t public knowledge, so it requires a high level of secrecy.” I lift one hand and place the other against my heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die.” She shifts her gaze to the left, then the right before fixing her hazelgreen eyes onto me. “There’s this hotel called the Quintus Hotel. From the outside, it’s another five-star hotel, but it has many layers. There’s a secret passage that leads to a club that caters to LA’s high rollers.” “Oh, like a business club.” “Well, that’s one of the many layers. There’s a gentlemen’s club where members conduct business and there’s also one exclusively for women. Given Rhys and Phoenix’s power positions, I’m sure they rub elbows at that club to talk shop. But there’s more. A whole lot more...” She cocks an eyebrow, as if I’m supposed to pick up on her cryptic explanation. “For the love of God, woman, stop speaking in codes. Spit it out, already.” “I’m not sure you can handle what I’m about to share.” “If I can handle finding out my father practically sold me to an obscenely rich man to cover his debt and prevent our family hotel from going under and not fall apart, I can handle whatever you
have to dish out.” “Dark Compulsion is an exclusive, member only adult club where high rollers meet for an illicit night and all sorts of kinky stuff.” My jaw drops. Talk about ripping off the Band-Aid in one shot. “Come again?” “You heard me the first time.” “Adult club? As in, sex club?” “Yes.” My curiosity is piqued. “Have you ever been?” “I’ve been to the Quintus Hotel for dinner with Rhys. He wanted to introduce me to the kinky club, but my new role in his company, and the accident... delayed things.” She taps her leg. My face contorts. “Is it like a swingers club?” She shakes her head. “Some married couples are into that, but that’s not the essence of the club. There are many floors... there’s a lot to explore. From what Rhys has candidly shared, it’s not sleazy. It’s high-end. There are a lot of hurdles to becoming a Dark Compulsion member. Their screening process is top notch. Hence, the exclusive part. The members prefer their relationships uncomplicated, therefore a mutual level of understanding is paramount. You can’t even get through the door without signing an NDA and leaving your phone in a secure holding area. So, club members get their kicks and at the end of the evening, they walk away. No drama. No expectations. No stalker behavior. No photos leaked to the press.” “I can imagine what goes on in such a club.” “Rhys can’t wait to take me. From my understanding, most of his friends are members and they bring their significant other. You can tailor the experience to your needs and kinks.” Whoa. I rest my back against the seat. “This isn’t Kansas anymore.” “No, it’s not.” Realization hits me. “Phoenix has a kinky side...” “Chances are, he does,” Keira says. I should be freaked out–– concerned, even––but I’m not. “That’s a good thing for you. In no time, you won’t be able to spell the words vanilla sex. Trust me.” Keira grins from ear to ear. I swallow at her admission, and my stomach flips as I flashback to Phoenix’s raunchy words when I asked about our wedding night. Conscious of my shortcomings compared to a master dirty-talker, I decided to press the eject button and
get myself out of that erotic battle of words. Because, holy Jesus, I’m so not equipped to go toe to toe with that man. And damn his de ep, baritone, sexy voice. An afternoon with him and I’m dying to live out every one of his promises. What’s wrong with me? My cheeks flush. “Are you having a moment?” The amusement in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed. I narrow my gaze at her. “No, I’m not.” Lie. “We still have to iron out the detail surrounding our sle eping arrangements, but I made it clear, sex isn’t part of the deal.” Her head jerks back. “You’re going to be married to one of the most eligible men in the country, you’re going to live together, you’re going to see him walking around in his boxer briefs—and potentially, naked—but nothing is going to happen between the two of you? For a whole year?” “I’ll do my best not to see him naked.” Her head rears back. “Why? I bet that man is something else naked.” I’m sure she’s right. “First, he’s still the enemy—” “I thought he was saving your hotel?” “It still doesn’t mean I like him.” I continue without giving her a chance to respond. “Second, this is a business arrangement. Third, there’s a time limit on this fake-relationship, so I’d rather ke ep my wits about me.” “Hmmm...” “What is it?” “Nothing.” I let out an exasperate breath. “Just say it.” “Is he going to hire escorts to take care of his needs while you’re married?” “No. He promised he wouldn’t. And as strange as it sounds, I believe he’ll ke ep his word.” Keira bursts out laughing. “What’s so funny?” “You two are going to kill each other,” she says. “All that pent-up sexual energy.” I roll my eyes. “You must be drinking the same Kool-Aid as Phoenix. Like I told him, I’m good. Thank you very much.” “So, you’re not going to visit Dark Compulsion?” “What’s the point? It’s not like anything is going to happen between Phoenix and me, and it’s not like I’m going to get down and kinky with other men.” “Point taken.” She pretends to drop the subject, but I know her better than that. “You’re not even curious a little bit?” I am, but I’m unwilling to admit it. “This is a business deal.” “Why can’t it come with
benefits?” “Keira, I’m carrying a lot on my shoulders as it is,” I say. “My father bestowed on me the responsibility of saving a legacy that was started four generations ago. He made a string of bad decisions, and I’m the only one capable of digging us out of this colossal mess. Adding benefits to the mix is going to fuck with my head. I can’t afford that. I refuse to give Phoenix more than I have to.” Banging a sexy as fuck man with a kinky streak sounds like fun and games until someone gets hurt. I’ll pass. “You’re right,” Keira says and moves her attention to her wine glass. She circles a manicured finger over the rim in a deliberate slow motion, eyeing me from under her long eyelashes. “What now?” “You have a lot more willpower than I do,” she says. “I was throwing myself at Rhys when I moved in with him.” “You two go way back. I’m marrying a stranger.” “You are marrying him?” Her grin is epic. My jaw ticks. “As infuriating as he is, King Kong Tycoon is my only lifeline. I disagree with the way Daddy went about doing things. This reads like the plot of a bad mail-order-bride-slash-pioneer-frontier romance from two centuries ago.” “At least you lassoed a good one.” I giggle. “Yeah. My father spared me on that front. I could’ve ended up with a hideous man with a severe case of halitosis, body odor issues, an ugly wart on his forehead, hairy knuckles—and back—and scary looking unkempt feet.” I don’t have to see Phoenix’s feet to know they must be as good looking as the rest of him. “Okay, that’s hilarious,” Keira says. “Beggars can’t be choosers.” “That is true. I guess your dad did right by you. Phoenix König is Prince Charming compared to your unappealing description.” “Even though there won’t be anything hot and heavy going on between us, Phoenix is easy on the eye.” And from the flutter of excitement between my legs, I have no doubt he would be easy on the pussy. I’ll never know. “A sexless arranged marriage with a dreamy billionaire for a year in exchange for two hundred million dollars that will save your family’s hotel, which will revert back to your ownership once you sign the divorce papers.” Keira sums up my
pr eposterous life. “This isn’t the picture-perfect wedding I envisioned for my first time walking down the aisle.” “How many people walk down the aisle for the wrong reasons?” “Good point.” “At least you know three hundred sixty-five days from your big day, your husband won’t try to screw you over. How many women get shortchanged during their divorce? You’re walking into this with your eyes wide open and a nice little contract tucked neatly under your arm like a boss lady.” I’m tempted to laugh, but I’m reminded of my precarious situation. “Speaking of which, I need a California lawyer,” I say. “Rhys can hook you up.” “Daddy asked me not to spend any money on the corporate business card because we’re maxed. Since working with Thana, aka returning to the toxic environment I fled, was out of the question and I hadn’t gotten around to calling the art buyer I was working for—” This is so embarrassing. “I have no idea how I’m going to pay for the legal fees, Keira.” “I’ll talk to my boyfriend. We’ll figure something out.” I nod. “Thank you.” My ringtone––a high octave pop Top 100 song––jars me out of a de ep sle ep. Grumbling, I open one eye. I’m surrounded by darkness. My gaze lands on the clock on the nightstand. Four a. m.? I should’ve turned my phone off. I curse and pull the sheet over my head, intent on ignoring whoever dared to wake me up before the roosters. I will myself to fall back asle ep when my phone rings. Again? Fuck. Stop calling. I’m sle eping. My phone rings a third time, causing me to grunt like a bear ready to attack. This is a losing battle. Who needs to talk to me this badly in the middle of the night? With my face still squished into the pillow, I tap around on the nightstand until my fingers grip my phone. I bring the device right up to my face. It’s a struggle to open both eyes. When I do, I narrow them on the screen. I flinch. I flip over, sit up straight in bed, and answer the call. “Daddy,” I say in a groggy voice. Heavy breathing echoes on the other end. I pull the phone
away from my ear to make sure it’s my father calling. “Daddy? Are you still there?” “I am,” he says. “This is the worst day of my life, ladybug.” My heart leaps into my throat. “What’s going on? Are you crying?” “I am,” he says. “Why are you crying?” “It’s gone.” “What’s gone?” “It’s been burned to the ground.” “The hotel is on fire?” “No. The house.” Sheer panic washes over me. “Our house?” “Yes.” I refuse to believe him. “Our house is on fire?” By wording it differently, I’m praying I’ll get a different answer. “Yes.” Oh my God. “But you’re safe?” “I wasn’t inside the house.” Thank God. “I was at the hotel. We were short staffed at the welcome desk.” “Where are you now?” “I’m at Uncle Ian’s. The police were at the house, so were the firefighters. They’ve extinguished the fire, but it’s going to take some time for investigation. It’s been a long night.” This cannot be happening. This has to be a nightmare. “We have nothing left, Michaela,” Daddy says. “The house is gone. Everything inside it. Gone. Incinerated. Your car in the garage is burnt to a crisp. The houses flanking ours are also gone.” I’m surprised I can hear him over the erratic beating of my heart. “Are the neighbors okay?” “By a miracle of God, no one was home. One family was cheering on their oldest son at a basketball game—the three other siblings were with them. The other family was at a school play.” “Thank God.” “People in the neighborhood said it was like an explosion went off.” I’m in so much shock, words fail me. “I should’ve listened to your uncle,” Daddy says. “Why do you say that?” “Ian told me not to let Thana near the house after I served her with the divorce papers. He told me I needed to pack her stuff and ship her shit to her lover’s house. I didn’t listen. I should’ve.” I’m dumbfounded. “Do you think she’d do this?” “I didn’t think she’d cheat on me, and I never expected her to steal me blind.” “Daddy, arson is a serious accusation.” “She threatened me this morning and again via a storm of nasty text messages after the police escorted her out of the hotel.” Dread washes over me. “You never mentioned this.” “People say shit when they’re angry. God knows
I didn’t mince my words.” “She actually said she was going to burn down the house?” “She said she was going to make sure I had nothing left. She was going to strip me of all my possessions, one by one.” I’m shaking like a leaf. “Oh my God. What about the hotel?” “Thana is in custody.” “The police arrested her? Already?” “Yes,” Daddy says. “The text messages were sufficient for probable cause.” “What a bitch.” The C word is burning my tongue, but I refrain. “I never saw her for who she was,” my father says. “Don’t even go there, Daddy. Thana is a mental case and quite astute at duping people. She’s a con artist, through and through. You weren’t equipped to see it coming. No one was.” “I hear you, but I’m still angry at myself. And I’m devastated. We lost our photo albums. All the memories with Mom... Gone.” My father’s voice breaks. My heart we eps. “Let me get on the first flight out of here and I’ll be in New York as soon as I can––” “You can’t come back, Michaela.” His answer comes as a surprise. “What are you talking about, Daddy? I have to come back.” “There’s nothing you can do––” “But I can be there for you––” “Listen to me. You have one thing left of value. I know I said it yesterday when I fessed up, but now, it’s truer than ever.” I swallow. “You need to stay in Los Angeles and see this deal through with Phoenix. This merger-marriage is everything. Everything. Make it happen. Ian will help me with the house, the investigation, and the hotel. Your job is to marry Phoenix. That should be your one and only focus.” My father’s words are so cold and calculated. “But—” “No buts. Do you hear me?” Who is this man? I bite my lip as tears burn my eyes. “Do you hear me, Michaela?” “I––I do.” “Good. I’m going to let you go so you can get some sle ep. You need to get up in a few hours and lock this deal down.” He pauses. “I might sound like an intransigent monster... desperation will do that to a man.” With that, he hangs up. In the dark, my body shakes as I clench my phone against my heart. Yesterday, I knew who I was. Today, I’ve lost my compass. Everything that characterized me is
gone —the hotel, our home, everything I possess, money... and possibly my dignity. Even my father isn’t the same man. I thought I was strong enough to handle this, but now, I’m not so sure. I toss my phone on the bed, pull my legs to my body, and drop my forehead to my knees. I let the tears stream down my face as I mourn the loss of my ind ependence. Saving the hotel is one thing, but now, it’s like indentured servitude. Phoenix König owns me. I’m his payment on my father’s debt. How did my life come to this?