Ace-High Flush (11 page)

"That's okay. If it's legit, I'll take it."

"I'll call you."

"Thanks."

She pressed
disconnect
and put the phone away. Her sense of self got immeasurably lighter. The tears had dried on her face.

"Good girl," Ace told her. "Take off your clothes and prepare for a spankin' like the one you got when I first met you."

"Oh no, Ace. Please. I made a mistake. It was an honest mistake."

He snorted. "So honest that you kept it from me like a dirty secret."

There was no denying that. "I'm ashamed." Tears formed again, and her breath hitched as a sob escaped. "Please don't hate me, Ace."

He tilted her chin up. "Look at me." She did. "I don't hate you, Gabby. But I
am
gonna teach you a lesson. No matter how much you need money, there's a better answer than abasin' yourself. If you'd thought that through, you'd have realized that takin' help from a friend is not the same thin'. You don't need to be embarrassed about needin' money, Gabby. You need to be embarrassed about how you decided to go about getting' it."

"I guess I deserve it, but it's our last day together." Another sob escaped her. "I don't want it to go badly. I guess it's too late for that." She broke down in tears, the tension of the day overwhelming her. She felt dirty and embarrassed and a little panicked about her relationship with Ace. She had to take the money from him, and that would mean an ongoing relationship of debtor and creditor. It wasn't what she'd have liked, but any tie was better than none.

He smelled so good, and it was so comforting to have his arms around her as he pulled her in close. He whispered nonsense into her ear and kissed her temple, while she sobbed into his suit coat.

"Let's get it over with, Gabby." He unzipped her dress and stepped back a pace.

Gabby let the dress slide to the floor and took off most of her other clothes, leaving her panties on. When her thumbs went into the waistband, she sought Ace's approval. He'd already said he didn't like her bare pussy. She didn't want to add to her sins by making him look at it.

"Go ahead, li'l girl."

How she wished she was truly his girl, his woman, his love. Maybe she should tell him. But it was too late. She'd done so many things wrong. He wouldn't believe her; he'd think she was just trying to get out of the spanking. She should leave before this went further, but something made her stay. She needed the little spark of hope that continued closeness to him provided. Maybe she could find a way to bring his respect back; a spanking might be the way. And there was no getting 'round the fact that she deserved it.

She slid the panties off and stood naked. His gaze raked over her, pausing at her waxed pubes and moving down to her feet and back up to her eyes.

"I don't have a strap this time, Gabby." He shrugged out of his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. When he reached for his belt, Gabby took a step back. It didn't escape his notice. "I will not harm you."

She knew he wouldn't, but it was frightening. She remembered the first spanking he'd given her. She'd hurt for three days. This one was going to be like that. All the spankings between then and now were nothing in comparison.

"Come with me." He held out his hand and pulled her with him to a big wingback chair in the corner. Grabbing the ottoman, he positioned it in front of the chair, then went into the bedroom and retrieved three pillows. Two of the pillows went onto the ottoman and one on the floor nearby. He gestured. "Lie across here, Gabby."

"I'm scared."

"You need to respect yourself more, Gabby. You need to think thin's through. Imagine if your mother found out, how sick she'd be. Imagine how your career would suffer if businesses thought you'd be a bad representative for their products.

"You deserve this spankin'."

She knew she did. "Yes."

"Lie down on your tummy on the pillows."

Shivering from awful anticipation, she did as he told her. The belt was wrapped around his fist, leaving a loop exposed and his free hand rested on her lower back to keep her from squirming too much. But she knew she was going to squirm anyway, and kick and buck, and plead and cry. She was going to suffer for her misbehavior.

The first swat wasn't too bad, although it landed across the seam of her behind, making both cheeks hurt at once. That minor sting was soon replaced with heat, and next with fire as he struck her with the leather over and over again. Her butt was screaming with pain, and she was screaming with it, her face pressed into the spare pillow.

She tried to pray for mercy, but she was the worst kind of sinner.

Soon her thighs were stinging and knives seemed to shoot from them to her butt and back down again.

"No more lies, Gabby," Ace told her between spanks. "No more misdirection, or lies by omission. Respect yourself and think about thin's before you jump in."

He whaled on her more, and the pillow under her face got soaked with her tears. She might never be able to sit again! She couldn't take anymore. But she did. She took it until he was done, and he was done when she had gone past reason and had become a limp rag doll, nothing but tears and sobs and anguished begging.

Instead of taking her into his arms as he'd done the first time he spanked her and every time since, he let her lie there, her ass feeling like the skin was going to burst from swelling and burning. She felt unwanted and bereft. She wanted his affection and his comfort. But she'd hurt him and lost his respect. He looked resigned and tired, and all of his 38 years.

"I can't be here to stop you from doin' foolish things, li'l girl. You'll have to keep out of trouble on your own. But if I ever find out you've done somethin' as demeanin' as posin' for a trash magazine, I'll be on the first plane out here with my ridin' crop in my hand. Do you understand?"

She nodded and gasped out, "Yes, sir."

He stroked her back a few times, as if she was a kitten. His touch was gentle, but it wasn't enough.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry, Ace."

"Yeah, li'l girl. I know you are. Nothin' for it now, though."

It was dead and she'd killed it. She began crying hard again; it was amazing that she had any tears left.

"Get dressed and head home."

She slid off the ottoman and knelt in front of him. "Home? Don't you... can't you... " She couldn't finish. It was obvious that he wanted nothing more of her. He didn't want to be around her. Didn't want to hold her in his arms. She'd become a disgusting, putrid wretch to him.

"Go on." His voice was soft, his eyes focused on his hands where they were folded in his lap. His knuckles were white where they grasped the belt.

Sniffling and gasping, she dressed and headed for the door. "I'm sorry, Ace. I'm so, so sorry."

"Goodbye, li'l girl."

She closed the door softly as she left, leaving her heart on the threshold.

* * *

Ace watched her go, his stomach tied in a knot. He wanted to rush over to her, to hold her and pet her. He wanted to keep her close to him. But he couldn't tie her to him if she didn't trust him. She had to want what he had to offer: safety, security, discipline and deep affection. He thought he'd shown her those things, and that he was willing to share them with her. But the entire nude modeling debacle drove home the point that it had started out as a kind of romantic whim, never intending to be something more abiding. He had to get back to that. He had to find a way to shelter his heart back up.

It was obvious that they couldn't work things out. She couldn't stand the idea of depending on another person, so much so that she was willing to do pretty much anything. As long as he held her tight, she wouldn't be as self-sufficient as she wanted to be.

That meant never seeing her again.

At least, with their final parting, he'd convinced her to take the money for the aide for her mother. Maybe the reprieve from caring for Anita 24/7 would help Gabby pursue a career that was something she could be proud of, not hide. Maybe he'd made a difference, but that didn't change the fact that they were 1,000 miles apart, and geography was the least of it.

Chapter 7

Gabriella spent time with cucumber slices over her red, swollen eyes after she got home. Although her mother was peeved about it, Gabby wasn't willing to talk to her or explain why she was so upset. Anita had intuited that the problem was with Ace, so she harped on how Gabby didn't need a man in her life. After a few minutes of that, and getting no argument from Gabby, Anita quieted.

The cop sirens and street noise coming through Gabby's  windows were soothing. She needed to rest, to recover from a terrible blow. She had broken up with Ace and it was devastating.

She couldn't quite believe she'd been so stupid.
Again
. Not only had she foolishly tried to sabotage Liv's career the year before, but she'd also pretty much tried to sabotage her own with the nude pictures. Not just nude, but pornographic. She'd barely escaped the worst mistake of her life, and she had Ace to thank for that escape. But she'd never thanked him. Instead, all she done was blubber her apologies and take her punishment. She owed him a debt.

It seemed like she owed everyone some sort of debt. She was crushed and mangled and more exhausted than she'd ever been before. After a few more tears, she fell asleep.

When her cellphone began to ring, Gabby pulled herself out of a deep and—thankfully—dreamless sleep. She felt like she was slogging through chewed gum as she reached for the device.

"Hello?"

"Miss Gabriella Appleby?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"My name is Cameron Park. I'm Mr. Jonny Chow's assistant."

Gabriella was instantly alert. Jonny Chow was one of the richest men on the east coast. He rivaled Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch. Why in the world would his assistant be calling
her
? "H-how can I help you Mr. Park?"

"Mr. Chow would like to meet with you."

"With me?" she squeaked.

"Yes. He wants to thank you for your help in the park recently."

The park? "I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Weren't you with a Mr….um….right. Weren't you with Mr. Journey when Mr. Chow was attacked by criminals?"

"That was Jonny Chow? Oh my God."

"You don't read the papers?"

"I've been a little distracted the last few days."

"Hmm. Well, Mr. Chow would like to meet with you. Can you come to Mount Sinai hospital at 4:00 this afternoon?"

"That's an hour from now."

"Well, if you can't make it-"

"I can make it!"

"Good. Will you be able to bring Mr. Journey with you as well?"

Gabby's heart sank. If she needed to do this with Ace, the meeting would never happen. She didn't have the courage to ask him, and there was no way Ace would agree to accompany her. "No, I can't. Mr. Journey and I…Mr. Journey and I aren't seeing each other anymore."

There was a pause. "I'm sorry."

"I guess Mr. Chow will be rescinding his invitation." Her stomach felt leaden. What next?

"No, of course not. Come by yourself."

Maybe she was finally getting a break on this awful day. "Okay."

He gave her the room number and his phone number, just in case.

After they rang off, she explained to her mother about the meeting, though she didn't have many details to impart. Then she scurried around to find the right clothes to wear. What did one wear to a meeting with a billionaire in the hospital?

* * *

After fighting with the urge to stop at the hospital gift store for flowers—if she spent the money on a bouquet, she wouldn't have enough for the train home—Gabby made her way to Jonny Chow's hospital room. It was at the top floor of the hospital in a quiet wing where the nurses whispered and the doors were closed for privacy. Gabby glanced into an empty hospital room and was shocked by how big it was. It was no less than a luxury suite. Oh sure, it had a hospital bed, but it was a big one, and the furnishings were tasteful and covered with expensive fabrics, leather and wood. This was definitely the rich patients' floor.

She paused and took a deep breath before knocking on the door of Mr. Chow's room. A firm voice said, "Come in!" So Gabby opened the door and took a few steps in.

Late afternoon sunlight streamed in the windows on two walls of the room. The décor was all blues and grays, very pacific. Jonny Chow sat up in a big hospital bed. His head was wrapped in a bandage and he had a black eye and a big contusion on the left side of his jaw. One arm was in a cast. It was him, though; his face, battered as it was, was recognizable. On either side of his bed were several people.

Including Ace, standing tall and relaxed on Chow's right along with a young Asian man with ruffled black hair tipped with platinum blond. The young man held an open portfolio in one hand. On Chow's other side, a young woman stood ready with a steno pad.

"Miss Appleby!" Chow said genially. "Come in! Come in!"

Gabby eyed Ace from under her eyelashes, and came into the room to stand at the foot of the bed. Ace was a few feet away. So close and yet so far.

"Please, call me Gabby."

Chow nodded. "And I'm Jonny. This handsome fellow to my right is Cameron, and the lovely young lady on my left is Lisa. You already know Ace."

"Yes. Hello, Ace."

He didn't smile. "Gabby."

There was a pause. "I've already told Ace, but I want to tell you too, Gabby, thank you so much for helping me in the park. I could have been killed."

"I didn't do anything, Mr… Jonny." Her face felt hot as she remembered exactly how cowardly she'd been.

"Oh but you did! And I appreciate it." He reached up and squeezed Cameron Park's hand affectionately, giving him a soulful look. "I had so much to lose."

Gabby looked between the two men and mentally shrugged. "Whatever I did to help, I wish it was more. You were pretty badly hurt."

"They're letting me out tomorrow. But saying thanks was not the only reason I called you here. I have a thank you gift."

Gabby was curious, but she didn't think she'd done anything to deserve a gift. She'd wanted to run away in the park, in fact. Had Ace not shown her the honorable path, she'd have left Jonny Chow for the criminals to chew up and spit out. "That's not necessary."