Chapter 9 Paris, Lie and Locked Doors.
Chloe’s POV
I woke up to sunlight hitting my face through the guest room blinds, but my mind stayed stuck on last night, on Liam saying my dad’s debt was part of the reason he picked me and on Kim’s text with a photo of my father looking older but alive outside some cheap motel.
My phone sat on the nightstand with the picture still open because I couldn’t stop staring at it. The connecting door opened without a knock and Liam walked in holding two coffees.
He wore dark jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. “Jet leaves in two hours,” he said and set one cup on the dresser. “Pack light; Paris is business mixed with pleasure.” I sat up fast, pulling the blanket higher. “We need to talk about my dad,” I said, but he shook his head once. “We talk on the plane; get moving.” He left the door open when he walked out.
I drank the coffee black because I needed it strong, then threw clothes into a small suitcase, jeans, dresses, underwear and nothing fancy since I didn’t own anything fancy.
Marcus drove us to the private airstrip in silence and Liam scrolled his phone the whole way. The jet waited on the tarmac with stairs down and we climbed up into cool air that smelled like leather.
A flight attendant took our bags and Liam poured champagne into two flutes, then handed me one. We sat across a small table and the plane started moving.
“Okay,” I said, “tell me everything about my dad.” He sipped his drink slowly. “Your father borrowed two hundred thousand from my grandfather twenty years ago for some startup that crashed,” he said. “He never paid back a cent, disappeared and left your mom with the mess.”
I gripped my glass tighter. “How did you even find me?” He looked straight at me. “You applied for the PA job, passed the interview and were employed, but unfortunately, your surname always rings a bell, which led to a background check.
It flagged the last name, so I dug deeper, saw the debt still on the books, then saw you, perfect timing and perfect face for the fiancée role.” My stomach turned. “So I’m just collateral,” I whispered. He shrugged. “Business, Chloe.” His hand slid under the table onto my thigh, squeezing once, and my body betrayed me, warming up even though I hated him right then.
Halfway through the flight, he stood up and grabbed my wrist. “Come,” he said, pulling me toward the back. A small bedroom waited with a bed made up tightly.
He shut the door and pushed me against the wall hard enough that my breath caught. “Quiet,” he said, covering my mouth with his hand while his other hand yanked my leggings down.
I heard his zipper and then felt him push inside me fast and rough. He kept his palm over my lips so every moan stayed trapped. He thrust deep and fast, hitting spots that made my eyes water.
“This is interesting,” he growled against my ear, “on your dad’s debt.” I came hard, clenching around him, hating how good it felt and he followed seconds later, spilling inside me with a low groan.
He pulled out and fixed his pants, then left me leaning against the wall, shaking from anger and the orgasm. I cleaned up in the tiny bathroom and went back to my seat like nothing happened, but my legs still trembled.
We landed in Paris smoothly and a car took us straight to the Ritz. The suite had huge windows showing the Eiffel Tower lit up gold. Liam dropped his bag and his phone rang.
“Yes, Grandmother,” he answered, walking to the balcony. I heard Margaret’s sharp voice through the speaker, demanding we attend a private Astor cocktail event tonight at some hotel nearby.
He hung up and looked at me. “Wear the black dress in the garment bag. We leave in an hour.” I opened the bag and found a floor-length gown with a slit up the leg. I showered quickly and put it on, then Liam zipped me up, his fingers brushing my spine on purpose. We rode to the venue in silence again.
The room overflowed with suits and jewels and Margaret spotted us right away, pulling Liam into a corner. Kim stood by the bar in the exact same black dress, smiling like she planned it.
“Twinsies,” she said loud enough for people nearby to turn. She leaned close. After exchanging pleasantries, Margaret left us and went to greet some persons and just then, Kim asked me in a low voice, “How’s the debt collection going, Chloe?” My face went hot. “What are you talking about?” I said, but she laughed softly.
“I know everything, sweetie, your daddy’s little secret.” Liam came back and grabbed my elbow, steering me away, but Kim’s eyes followed us the whole night.
Kim watched, too, asking questions about wedding dates we hadn’t picked yet. Liam answered smoothly while his thumb rubbed circles on my lower back, keeping me close.
He disappeared with Margaret for twenty minutes, saying they're going for a board talk and I saw his jacket on a chair in the coat check nook. I slipped inside quickly and found his phone in the pocket.
Texts from the investigator popped up first. “Chloe’s father contacted us and wants to meet her tomorrow at Café de Flore at 3 pm.” Another from Kim. “I told him where she is; he’s coming for her.”
My hands shook so bad I almost dropped the phone. I put it back exactly and walked out calm, even though my heart raced. Liam found me by the bar. “Ready to go?” he asked and I nodded.
Back at the suite, he poured wine and stood behind me at the window. “You did well tonight,” he said, unzipping my dress, slowly letting it pool at my feet. I stood in just panties and heels facing the view of the Eiffel Tower.
He kissed my shoulder, then my neck, his hands sliding around to cup my breasts.
“Turn around,” he said softly and I did. He knelt and pulled my panties down, then pushed my legs apart. His mouth found me, quick licking, slow circles until I gripped his hair, moaning.
He stood up and turned me to face the glass again, lifting one of my legs onto the balcony chair. He entered me from behind, slow and deep, rocking steady while the city lights blurred.
I gripped the railing hard and he reached around, rubbing my clit, matching his thrusts. “Come for me,” he whispered and I did, biting my lip to stay quiet.
He kept moving until he came too, holding me tight against him. We stayed like that a minute, breathing heavily, then he carried me to bed for round two, missionary this time, face-to-face, kissing deeply until we both finished again.
I fell asleep tangled in sheets but woke up at 3 am alone. The suite door clicked and I slipped on Liam’s shirt, walking quietly into the living room. He stood by the window, phone to his ear, whispering.
“Cancel the meeting tomorrow, make sure he never reaches her, and pay him whatever he wants; just keep him away.” He turned and saw me standing there. His face went cold and he hung up fast.
“Go back to bed, Chloe,” he said, voice flat. “This doesn’t concern you.” I stared at him, realizing he planned to hide my dad forever just to keep control over me and the debt.
“It concerns me,” I said, but he walked past, brushing my shoulder, heading to the bedroom without another word, leaving me in the dark, wondering if I should run to that café tomorrow or stay trapped in his lies forever.