My Love Forgive (19 page)

“Risa, that’s not what I want you to feel.”

“Well, I do.”

“But why? Risa, I told you not to worry about it, didn’t I?”

“I know but—”

“No, Risa. Do as you’re told. Understand?”

“No, I don’t! How come you get to work but I don’t even get to check in? What if I get fired?” I kept my complaints verbal but my body still. I didn’t want us to accidentally take a tumble down the stairs and break our necks.

“You won’t.”

“You’re so sure I won’t but you won’t even tell me why.”

Damian stopped halfway up the stairs. He cursed softly under his breath. “You need the words.”

“Yes, I need the words.”

“Fine but don’t forget. You asked for this.”

“What?” He didn’t answer me. He just kept striding towards his room. “Damian, what?”

He carefully set me down on the bed. “Stay here.” When I shifted he stopped and turned back around. “Not an inch, Risa, or I’ll have to chain you again.”

I stayed right in place.

I left the room and stood outside in the hall. The moment had come and I wasn’t sure what to say. I absolutely knew I wasn’t going to tell her about my true origins as a Konstantinov, but as far as the rest? How did I even begin?

Discomfort. I felt it and I didn’t like it.

I could imagine Risa’s reaction wasn’t going to be one of joy that she had landed a billionaire without even trying. No. She’d assume that I lied to her because I never planned on staying in her life for long.

She’d think I used her.

I couldn’t fault her logic. If it was the other way around, I’d believe the same thing. It wouldn’t matter that I told her now because Risa would only assume I’d done it because what I’d done to her this weekend. Perhaps she’d even take it as a subtle warning to not go to the police because my money made me untouchable.

Which would be an easy conclusion to make since I wouldn’t allow her to use the phone.

The truth was I didn’t fear that Risa was going to call in for help. I feared what she would hear when her supervisor explained he already knew of her extended absence.

You made a mess. Clean it up. Simple. Wringing your hands like an old woman isn’t going to do anything.

Clenching my jaw, I inhaled and exhaled for several minutes until my mind settled and emotions calmed. Decision made, I walked into the room that had been Risa’s and picked up the discarded chain.

You can’t make it a habit to do this to Risa every time you need to tell her something she won’t like.

Maybe that was true. However, I needed to make an exception this time because Risa was a runner and when I told her what I needed to she’d definitely try to take off.

When I walked back into the bedroom, Risa visibly startled at what was in my hands.

“This again? Is this really necessary, Damian? I thought we moved past this kind of stuff?”

I didn’t hear anger or fear in her tone. Merely curiosity and a bit of chagrin. Perhaps it wasn’t going to go over as badly as I predicted.

“Forgive me, Risa, but you’ll understand in a few minutes why I feel the need to take this precaution.”

If anything, her face paled. A shaky grin and then “You’ve never asked my forgiveness before. This must be bad.”

I couldn’t comfort her so I didn’t even try. I slipped her boots off, wishing it was for the same reason as last time. Keeping her socks on, I closed the manacle over her ankle. Guilt touched me. Risa would not handle this well at all.

Once I secured the other end of the chain to the bed, I took several steps back. I raked a hand through my hair and when I realized what I’d done, I let my arm drop back down. This wasn’t going to be easy so I might as well just start.

“Risa.”

“Yes?”

Looking at her beautiful face made it harder to continue. It was better if I kept my gaze somewhere else. Suddenly, I remembered how that was Risa’s favorite position every time she came near me after my first rejection. My sympathy for her grew. Facing her wasn’t easy.

“Risa, I own this house because I paid for it. I didn’t inherit it and it wasn’t given to me. I didn’t win the lottery.”

“Okay. Did you make some really good investments?”

A humorless smile eased across my mouth. Of course, she’d verbalize the one thing I didn’t. “No, Risa. Not for this. I own this house because I also own your company.”

The air left the room. I glanced her way and saw her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. “You own it?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not just the IT Director?”

“No.” In for a penny, in for a pound. “Your company is just one in my portfolio.”

She shook her head once slowly, eyes riveted to me. “There’s more?”

“Over a hundred.”

Risa’s shoulders hunched. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” I faced her fully. She was bound to explode soon.

“But…how? Why?”

“I visit several companies every year. Different ones. I go in as a regular employee so I can really see how things are being run. From there, I go back to my headquarters and implement any necessary changes from there.”

“Headquarters? You mean, not here? Not in this state?”

“No. Not here.”

Risa turned away from me. She brought her legs up and rested her chin on her knee. Her voice, although soft, remained clear. “Does anyone know at work?”

“Only the CEO and CFO.”

“Not Julie?”

“No, not Julie.”

“I see.” She still didn’t look back at me. “Did the other IT Director really get let go or is he coming back?”

“No, he was really let go.”

“Oh. I see now. You chose that position so you could spy more easily. You have access to our entire network and can read everything that comes through. Our surfing habits, how long we take on emails, everything.”

I took umbrage at one word in particular. “It’s my company. It’s not spying.”

“Yes, it is. You’re going to use what you found against people. You’re going to fault them for being human, for having a life outside of working for you. People have a right to take time for themselves, to have fun at work, to be something other than corporate drones. We can’t work non-stop, Damian. We need a certain amount of freedom.”

Risa stopped abruptly. She picked up the chain and dropped it.

“Wait. You probably don’t understand that, do you?”

What? How did this turn into a discussion of business ethics? And why were we going back over my methods to keep her here? We saw each other’s respective sides. The fact that it worked out proved my methods were correct.

“Need I remind you, Risa, you lost? You agreed to wear the chain if I wanted you to.”

She tipped her chin back. “I’m not fighting you. About this.”

“Risa, my being here isn’t to spy on how much time Sales surfs the net or whether my company resources are being used to watch movies online. As long as production remains in line, and it is, your collective methods are your own.”

“Oh. Then why are you here?”

“To make sure the company culture isn’t one that’s going to get me fined from here into eternity. To make sure the company heads aren’t just telling me what they think I want to hear. To know the truth.”

Risa didn’t immediately reply. She drew circles on the bed with her ring finger. “How long are you supposed to be here?”

“I’ve already left.”

This got her attention. She jerked her head up. “What do you mean?”

“I’m done. I’ve learned everything I need to know and my assignment is over.”

“Just like that.”

I nodded. My neck prickled. Risa’s rage would be showing itself anytime now. Her recriminations would be difficult to subdue especially given to how this weekend progressed.

“Is that why you didn’t want me to call in today? Because everyone knows now and would tell me?”

“No one knows. They’ll just think that I was temporary to begin with.”

“Is that your story?”

I nodded.

“And me?” She swallowed hard. “Am I fired for getting involved with you?”

“We’re more than
involved
, Risa.” My suggestive grin didn’t seem to move her at all. In fact, her gaze narrowed and the first signs of anger licked her expression.

“You go out undercover several times a year, right?”

I had the feeling I wasn’t going to like what would happen after I answered.

“Correct.”

How did he manage to still sound so cool and detached? Hurt mingled with anger the longer I looked at Damian. Now I understood why he chained me up again. If he thought this would be enough to keep me from hitting the crap out of him, Damian had another thing coming.

“So were you planning on telling me at all or was I going to find out when you never came back?”

His luscious mouth tightened. “I wouldn’t have gotten involved with you if I never planned on telling you.”

A terrible thought thundered through me. I suddenly felt sick. “How many times have you done this, Damian? At every company? Is that how you pass the time when you’re going slumming? Seduce a girl and spank her silly?” He took a step towards me. I backed up on the bed and held out a hand. “Don’t!”

Like always, Damian didn’t listen.

He pulled me onto my lap even though I was fighting him at every turn. His large hands cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him even though I didn’t want to. “I’ve never done this before, Risa.”

“Oh God. Gretchen. Is that how you met her?”

Damian gave me a decisive head shake. “No.”

“Then how did you meet her?”

“It wasn’t through work.”

Once again, Damian sidestepped my question. He’d done it so often it was commonplace but now in light of knowing who he was…

God. He wasn’t just a regular guy. He wasn’t someone I could ever really spend my life with because Damian Black didn’t’ really exist…

“Is your name really Damian Black?”

Guilt burned metallic bright in his beautifully mismatched gaze.

My stomach dropped. “It’s not, is it?”

“Not completely. I’m Damian Black-Price.”

I inhaled sharply. It all clicked. I remembered the distinct black and silver logo from orientation a couple of years ago. I didn’t give it much notice then, but if I knew then what I knew now…

“Black-Price Holdings. It’s yours.”

“Yes.” Damian kissed my cheek. “It’s mine as I’m yours, Risa. I told you already. I love you.”

Things were going too fast. A headache pushed its way to the forefront. I remembered how Damian didn’t want me to push about calling into work.

He didn’t want me to know.

I said as much to him. He confirmed it by saying, “No, I didn’t want to share it right now.”

“Why not?”

The tenderness in his gaze made my eyes prickle with tears. It was the look of complete adoration, of someone completely in love. Damian let go of me long enough to brush the back of his fingers across my cheeks.

“Because I didn’t want to overwhelm you further. I know this weekend has been beyond stressful for you and I was trying to spare you further.”

A high-pitched laugh erupted from my throat. “Chain versus truth and you think the chain is easier.”

His brows snapped into a deep frown. Apparently, my love didn’t find humor in mine. He said my name in reproach. His dignity offended, he murmured stiffly, “I tried my best. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.”

“Damian…seriously. I’m not going to apologize to for this.”

“I don’t expect it. I’m not asking you to do it either.”

His hands left my face. I missed his touch desperately. “Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because…because you needed to know.”

“Why?”

His serious gaze settled on me. “Words again, Risa?”

“Yes. Words again.”

He sighed, seemingly put out by my need for verbal clarity. “Because I want forever with you, Risa.”

My heart leapt into my throat. “Forever?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not exaggerating?”

“No.”

Silence.

Finally after the silence dragged on, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you asking me to—”

His phone rang. The chime cut through the most important question I’d ever asked him before. Damian pulled it out of his pocket, glaring at the metal for having the bad manners to interrupt us.

The irritated expression on his face changed. He looked at me briefly, gaze gone opaque and unreachable. “Excuse me, Risa. I have to take this now.”

He got up and left the room without another word.

My mouth parted in surprise. What could be more important than what we were about to say?

Oh my God. Was he about to ask me to marry him? Is that what it was?

No. It couldn’t be. I had to be reaching. We’d only been together for a month and just said “I love you.” There was no way Damian would be ready for a commitment this quickly.

Especially not if he was a super-wealthy man like it appeared he was. Damian had probably dated the most beautiful women in the world. There was no way he’d want to settle down with an Account Executive just yet.

No matter how much money she had made him during her tenure.

I lightly slapped my cheeks. I had to reel my thoughts back in and calm down.

Easier said than done.

The door opened and Damian stepped back inside. His face was a beautiful, expressionless mask. It seemed alive only by the barest of movements.

“Is everything all right?”

He clenched his jaw quickly. “I’m going to ask a favor from you, Risa.”

“Anything.” I scooted to the end of the bed, lovely thoughts of being married to this beloved man forever mostly forgotten. “What do you need?”

Damian pocketed his phone and sat down next to me. He held both of my hands in his. “I’m going to need to leave you alone for the next few hours.”

Nervousness jumped about in my belly. “Okay. That’s fine. Will you at leave me the key so I can get free if something happens?”

Damian blinked, obviously unsure about what I was asking him. “The key. Of course.” He exhaled shortly. “No. There’s no need. I’m not leaving you here locked.”

I watched as he produced the key and undid my manacle. Strangely enough I already missed the weight now that I knew what it had signified for Damian.