Chapter 68 Lewd Offer
ALICE
My week was slow but eventful, and I was rarely derailed by thoughts of Theo.
Because I made the mistake of Googling about his engagement when I got home that night, I received news about him and Carmella all the time, so I was forced to see him even when I didn’t want to, and it hurt.
I’d admit that. Why not? It wasn’t like Theo could hear my thoughts or something. It hurt seeing him with someone else, and deep down, I didn’t know why I felt this way. I didn’t have time to think about it, either.
What were the chances I’d see him again? It was a one-time thing that wouldn’t happen again. Hell, I even suspected that he truly showed up that night wanting to tell me to keep my mouth shut about our brief, problematic affair, but the second I told him that I wouldn’t, he changed his mind and walked out.
Whatever. That didn’t matter anymore. Things would get better, and I’d go back to not thinking about him all the time.
I was staring at the screen of my laptop distractedly when someone rapped their knuckles against my door. I looked up and my heart skipped a beat.
Todd?
He raised his hand and waved at me. I was glued to my seat. The last thing I wanted was to have an interaction with this man. I couldn’t stand him and I was tired of pretending otherwise.
But he just kept standing there. I had to clench my jaw in anger because glaring at him was out of the question. Freddie told me yesterday that he’d agreed to do business with us, so he was a client now.
That meant I had to treat him with all the politeness in the world.
So, against my will, I rose and walked toward my door. Hell, I even smiled softly. I opened the door and he walked right through me and into my office.
“Miss Rhodes,” he began, looking around. “Or should I call you Alice?”
I closed the door. “Miss Rhodes is fine.”
I heard him laugh softly, and then he turned his head to look at me with those curious eyes of his. The grin on his face was broad. “I’m here to sign a contract. Get everything in order.”
“I’m glad you’ve decided to sign with us,” I remarked, still trying to sound cheerful. We were standing a few feet away from each other. He was standing close to my desk, and I was closer to the door. I added, “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.”
“Oh, I doubt I’ll be disappointed,” he claimed. “Freddie offered to take the contract to my office, but I told him I’d come here instead.”
And he was telling me this because…?
I struggled to find something to say after this. He tilted his head and stared at me with amusement gleaming in his eyes.
“Do you want to know why I decided to come here?”
Hell no. “Of course.”
“I came to see you.”
I nearly choked on air. “Me? I can’t imagine why.”
“You’re not a fool, Miss Rhodes. I’m pretty sure you know why. Or at least, you can imagine it.”
“I can’t. Sorry.”
Todd’s smirk didn’t falter for a second. “From the second I lay my eyes on you, I knew I wanted you. I’m here to make you an offer.”
My skin felt much hotter all of a sudden and my anger rose to the surface. “I’m at work, Todd. And even if I weren’t, it wouldn’t have made a difference. I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
He pulled out the chair across from mine and grabbed a seat. Freddie’s office was empty and I had no idea where he was.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Miss Rhodes. Not unless you give me an answer.”
“I already gave you one. I asked you to leave.”
“And I don’t want to. If you’re going to say no to me without even hearing what I have to say, then you have to give me a much better answer. Convince me why you don’t want anything to do with me. Are you in love with Theo? Are you in any relationship with him?”
I scoffed. I was losing control of my emotions pretty quickly, and it was a struggle to keep my voice down. “That’s none of your business! Why do you even care about whether or not I’m with him if you’re here, asking me this? Isn’t he your friend?”
Todd brought his hands together and tilted his head to the side. “Maybe Theo and I have the same kind of emptiness. You filled his. I was hoping you’d do the same with mine.”
I scoffed. This was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard, and I didn’t hide it from him. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
He laughed. “You’re right about that. On a serious note: I think you're beautiful, and if he's snoozing, then he's losing.”
I turned my head to the side and for some reason, he took this as a cue to stand up and make his way toward me. He said, “I could teach you all sorts of things. We'd have a signed agreement, and we’d both agree to the things we expect from one another. You could keep this job for…appearances, but I’d give you whatever you want in exchange for a few nights per week.”
God, was he really telling me this? “No. If this is your offer, then I’m not interested in it.”
“Come on, Miss Rhodes. We’d have a lot of fun, you and I. And we’d both benefit from such an agreement immensely.”
Todd seemed to be looking right through me, and for a moment, I recalled that night in Helsinki. One that felt like it happened a hundred years ago. He told me he had something to show me, and he took me to that room.
That was what he was suggesting. It was similar to what Theo had explained to me. Domination. Submission. It was different when I was under Theo. It didn’t feel like…
Oh, God. What was I thinking about?
“What do you say?” he murmured, reaching for me. I stepped back just as the door behind us opened with no warning at all.
Freddie.
“Mr. Steimer. You’re half an hour early to our appointment.”
Without taking his eyes off my face, Todd tells him, “Oh, you know. I hate being late to anything.”
“Shall we?”
At last, Todd stepped back. I glanced at Freddie and hoped that he hadn’t heard a thing. He looked a little angry, though.
They finally went to his office and I was alone. God, this was embarrassing. I couldn’t believe that man thought he could walk in here and make me such an offer! Angrily, I tried to go back to work and concentrate on what I had to do, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him, and the fact that he was seated in Freddie’s office but kept looking at me didn’t make things easier.
A light knock on my door made me look up. It was Francesca. I stood up and she walked inside. Her smile was broad and distracting.
“Alice! I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me.”
“I…Today?”
“Yes.”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “I would love to.”
“Let’s get going, then.”
I logged off, grabbed my bag, and met her near the entrance.
I felt Todd’s eyes on me the entire time.