Chapter 36: Chapter: 36

ANDREA

I don't know what's going on, but I stumbled back, confused, terrified, and embarrassed that they were all dressed and I'm the only one naked, with only a blanket to protect me.

All three were in pantsuits and white shirts, except for Nick.

He had on low hanging jeans, his delicious upper body was exposed, his feet bare, and he looked devastatingly sexy. If I weren't scared out of my mind, I would have ogled and salivated over him.

Hell I would probably throw myself at him and beg for more of what he gave me last. But my fight-or-flight instinct radar was blaring danger.

I had nowhere to go, at least not in my current state, and running without even knowing what's going on will only cement whatever allegations were later thrown at me.

Nick barely looked at me as he leisurely drank his liquor, which I decided was scotch. His favorite drink. His dark eyes were arctic cold.

The men placed the bag I had only just become aware of on the table. They took out something black that looked a lot like a radio transmitter, but when I looked closely, I realized it was an RF Detector.

A modified version.

My body began to shake, my heart beating faster. All of a sudden, sweat began to gather in every crevice of my body.

“Nick, what's going on?” I asked in a choked, small voice I didn't know I had.

Nicklaus didn't answer, only sent me a dark, cold glare that made me take a cautious step away from him. I, of course, remembered Logan. He was a tall, burly, brown-haired, scary guard we'd travel to Australia with, he was never far away from Nick.

But I didn't recognize the woman and the other man. They each held a detector, and as they walked around the room, they swept every nook and cranny.

My heart plummeted into my stomach when I finally realized that they were looking for the secret wireless cameras I had hidden in the room.

It wasn't long before we heard a clicking sound. My eyes widened like saucers when I saw one of the secret cameras I had attached to the headboard of the bed.

I clutched the blanket close to my chest until my fingers turned white. I was sweating profusely, so terrified, I felt faint, and my heart was pounding wildly.

I almost dropped down on the bed when my leg threatened to give out under me. What's going to happen to me?! What am I going to do?

Nick was staring at me with cold, dark eyes, leaning against the bar, his hand swirling the scotch in his glass. It took every strength I had to not bolt from the room.

When the last three cameras were found, Nick threw back his head and gulped down his scotch in one big swallow. He leisurely placed the glass cup on the table.

The way he stood cold, detached, and not at all mad, even though I knew he was probably livid, was more likely. It was what made me tremble with trepidation. This is the ruthless billionaire everyone was talking about; this isn't Nick, but Nicklaus Montgomery.

“Get out.” When they took a little longer than he wanted, he added.

“Now, all of you.”

Just as his countenance, his voice was cold, collected. They began to file out.

“Not you, Logan.” He stopped his trusted bodyguard from leaving.

“Bring me my laptop from my office.” Logan got out to do as he was ordered.

The woman and the man with the mohawk filed out of the room with the bag and, of course, the camera. When I mistakenly glanced into their eyes. I saw hate and disgust directed at me. I bit my lips as hot tears filled my eyes.

I didn't let them fall, I wasn't a victim. I knew what I was getting myself into when I came here. My plan had been simple: one, get Nicklaus to notice me; two, make a sex video; three, get the hell out of the States for a while, until I was sure Nick wouldn't come after me.

Shit, I only got to number two.

Nick stalks towards me like a predator who has cornered his prey. And right now, I very much feel like prey. I scrambled up on the bed, and he followed prowling until he was plastered against me, with the headboard digging into my back. I feel entirely at his mercy.

There was no place for me to run. I'm trapped. He lifted his hand and gently stroked my face, from my brow to my lips. He rubbed my lips with his thumb. I trembled.

“You're shaking, Andrea. Why's that?” I tried to speak, but no words came. There was a huge lump in my throat.

“You have nothing to fear from me, baby.” He mocks me.

“I just want to know one thing. Who sent you?”

“No one, I swear…I didn't. I… I don't know what you are talking about, Nick. Why are you doing this?” I croak. He clicked his tongue.

Tsk tsk!

“Oh, Andrea,” he taunts. He didn't believe me. Of course, he didn't. He's smarter than that. He didn't become the most ruthless, influential businessman he is by being stupid. Even I could hear the lie in my voice, I'd always been a horrible liar.

“You don't know how hard I'm fucking trying to control myself right now? So do yourself a favor and answer the fucking questions. And maybe I could try not to call the police, and we could find a way to work things out between us.”

Nick’s voice was calm, he wasn't yelling as I expected anyone in his position would be. He's not even visibly angry. That hard face, with his dark eyes, was completely blank, impenetrable.

I couldn't read him, but then I never could. And that, more than anything, made me tremble. I was scared, terrified even.

Tears I had been trying to hold in flowed freely down my face. His hand kept stroking me. My throat was so dry. I needed water to moisten my mouth.

“Please, Nick,” I begged, not knowing what I was begging for. Was it mercy? Forgiveness? Or for him to let me go? Maybe it was all three, but I wasn't stupid enough to think he'd let me leave, just like that.

How did everything fall apart in the space of a few hours? Last night, Nick had rocked my world off its axis, he'd irrevocably changed me forever.

Last night I was in his embrace, on this very bed, so sore and completely sated.

Now I'm a suspect, or to put it aptly, a criminal is more likely. I didn't know how the tables had done a 360-degree turn and landed me here, or more precisely, now.

I wasn't a victim, not at all. I knew what I was getting myself into, and even with the knowledge of his frightening reputation, I'd waltz right into his world.

Right now, I was beginning to question my sanity, because any sane person would have turned down this proposition. What was I thinking when I agreed to do this dangerous job for Jules?

To be fair, I hadn't been thinking, I only wanted to rid myself of Jericho at the time. I swallow a lump and pray my body gets found if I never escape this situation.

Nick didn't look merciful. He was still plastered to me, his scent that addictive smell of musk, man, and sin. Filling my senses, even as I trembled in fear before him.

“You know, I kind of doubted you. There were so many things about you that didn't add up. This beautiful, sexy, innocent woman just came to work for me, she was everything I wanted in a woman. I've always been a suspicious fucker, and most of the time, I'm proven right. I had a background check done on you.” I swallowed hard with this news.

“But I couldn't bring myself to read the files containing your information. I wanted you right from the first time I laid eyes on you. So I ignored the warning bells in my head because of it. I thought I was becoming jaded and suspicious of everything and everyone. I didn't want whatever I read about you to change how I see you.”

He shakes his head, his expression that of disappointment.

“A shame, really, that things turned out this way. I can't say that I didn't enjoy you. I like the way your cunt grips my cock greedily. I couldn't get enough of you, it's why I woke at dawn to fuck you. I saw you sprawl on my bed with your tantalizing tits in full view, and I was instantly hard.

I was going to wake you with my cock buried deep inside that tight pussy. But then I heard a strange clicking sound that was almost indiscernible. It reminded me of the cute little cameras I had built a few years ago. And that's when I found one of my own creations being used against me.”

His voice was now cold and dark. He yanked my hair hard and growled.

“You weren't a surprise, Andrea. I just regret that I ignored my instinct. You are as beautiful and treacherous as they come, no different than all the others who had come before you. With the hope of snaring the billionaire so they can get a cash cow.”

I whimpered when he put his large hand around my neck and squeezed hard, choking me until I couldn't breathe. I beat and scratch at his hand, my eyes bugging out of fear and lack of oxygen. My eyes lost focus, I was lightheaded, and tears streamed down my face. I was terrified of dying.

Unexpectedly, he released me. It lasted all of a few seconds, maybe a minute, but he'd choked me hard. I cough and sputter tears running down my face.

Nicklaus stared at me mercilessly, there was no sign of my tender lover. In his place, I saw a ruthless demon. Still, I wasn't ready to accept my fault. I didn't think he would let me go even if I did.

“What are you talking about? I don't know anything, I didn't do anything, really, Nick believes me.”

Nicklaus laughed out loud, but you could tell his laughter lacked mirth. “Oh, I knew you'd say that, deny everything until proven guilty, right? You would do well to remember this, I hate liars. And you, Andrea, are a horrible liar.”

He's right on both accounts. My plan was to deny everything, and I've always known I was a horrible liar.

I have to deny everything, though. Nick had no evidence that I was the one who hid the cameras in his room. It's his words against mine, and who would believe that I tried to make a sex tape? I'm the weak party here, I'm the PA, the woman. And he's the billionaire boss.

If anything, he would be the one in deep trouble, not to mention his reputation would be on the line. But what if, because of all the reasons I'd mention above, the courts believe him?

Women had been known to be conniving and gold diggers. I've read many stories of women who did exactly what I've done, and in the end, they were the guilty ones and faced jail time.

Nick has the money and connections to influence the court hearing in his favor, even if he were the guilty party. And he isn't, I am.

It's fortunate that he has no ev idence against me, otherwise I’d be toast. That thought gave me hope, but that hope shattered like a glass a few seconds later.