Success.
****
Isaac put his phone in his pocket, disappointed that the call hadn’t been Elle. His work day was boring him, the contracts tedious. His secretary had told him several women were waiting for his call back. The glossy magazines were spreading more gossip about his current relationships. The pressure was too much.
Added to the pressure of work, his mother had asked to see him. And he had had another shocker. His father requested some time as well. It had been over twenty years since he’d last seen his father face to face. Functions were a different matter. When he attended functions where his father was present, he couldn’t help but see him. Willingly seeing and talking to his father had been twenty years ago.
What to do? He would see his mother at her country estate at the weekend. His father, he refused to respond to.
Checking his phone for the hundredth time, he hoped Elle would make the first call. He was a grown man with many relationships behind him, whereas she was a virgin with no relationships. Why couldn’t he take the lead? Be the person to control what happened in their meetings?
He would not spend his nights f**king his hand when she would be open and ready for the taking. Elle was a challenge. Her beauty was more than skin deep.
His phone rang as he began to sign through the endless stack of paperwork. The screen flashed with the warning of an unknown caller.
“Hello,” he said.
“Isaac?” He smiled when he recognized her voice.
“Elle. I was wondering when you were going to phone.”
“You were?”
He chuckled. Being the easy-going Isaac came to him instantly. Usually, he lived for his work whereas now, he wanted something more. Working full time was no longer satisfying his craving.
“Yes. I liked spending time with you.”
“I did as well.”
“I want to see you again.”
“We’re meeting next week.”
“No, Elle. I want to see you tonight. Can you meet me tonight?” he asked. He hadn’t planned on seeing her so soon. Asking her to see him came naturally to him. The only other plans he would have had would have been trawling through bars looking for a willing woman.
“I don’t think I can.”
“Sure you can. Come and see me. I want to see you and touch you.”
His secretary came through the door, and he waved her away. Getting up from his seat, he closed the door behind her.
“Do you want me to meet you at the same hotel?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you there at eight-thirty. I’ll transfer funds into your bank account.”
He wanted to tell her not to bother. The money would stay in the account until he found some way of giving it her back.
“I look forward to it, and, Elle.”
“Yes.”
“Wear your hair back.”
“I will.”
He hung up the phone with a huge grin on his face. His plans for the evening had improved.
Chapter Nine
For the second time she sat on the bed waiting for Isaac to turn up, only this time she wasn’t in a state of panic but in a state of anticipation. Her heart threatened to thump out of her chest. The palms of her hands were sweaty, and her stomach was knotted.
The knock came at exactly eight-thirty. Brad hadn’t been home all day, and she’d left him a note to say she would be out looking for inspiration. He shouldn’t ask too many questions as her funds were beginning to run out. She would have to sell another painting to be able to afford Christmas.
She opened the door and there he stood. Her god.
“Hello, Elle.”
He walked into the room, shutting the door as he did so. She smiled at him, her words hard to find when she stared. He really was a beautiful man, sexy and handsome. She imagined many women were dazzled by him. When he reached out to touch her, she froze. The action was unexpected. He tilted her head back with a finger under her chin.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Wondering why you are so different from the other women.”
“I know you could have any woman you wanted,” she said, crushed at how it hurt her to think of the endless sea of beautiful women she could only imagine panting at his feet.
“And yet, I stand here in your company as there is no other place I’d rather be than with you, Elle.”
“Why won’t you say my name?”
“Because Elle is what I want to call you. No one has called you Elle before?”
“No.”
“Then that is the name I want to call you to make it special for me.”
He leaned down and kissed her on both cheeks. When he went to touch her lips she pulled back, fright stopping her in her tracks. No man had ever kissed her before. The experience frightened her. Twenty years old and she’d never had any practice. What if she was bad at it?
“How was your day?” she asked, pulling out of his hold.
“Tedious and not important.” Noelle watched as he removed his coat. “I spent most of my day thinking about you.”
“What about the other women you’re with? Don’t you have to think about them?”
“I wasn’t with other women today. I’m rarely with many women.”
“But you’re an escort.”
“Escorts can pick and chose the women they want. Are you a natural red-head?” he asked changing the subject. “The colour of your hair. Is it natural?”
“What does my hair colour have to do with you being an escort?” she asked with a frown.
“Nothing. I wanted to know what your natural hair colour is.”
“I’m blonde, usually. Can I ask you a question?”
“Feel free.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. She touched the scar at the side of her face, shocked that she’d forgotten about it in his presence.
“What is your hair colour?”
“The one I’m wearing now. I’ve never felt the need to dye it. You know most women would love to be a natural blonde?”
“Most women don’t have an ugly scar to deal with.” She didn’t know why they were fighting.
“So the little red mouse has claws.”
“What are you doing, Isaac?” she asked him, uncomfortable with the way he was talking.
“I want to know everything about you, Elle. I feel driven to see what you see and to know what you know.” He stood up crowding her with his sheer size and presence.
“I’m no one.”
“No. You’re someone. At least to me you are. I never want to see you hide when you’re with me. Do you understand me, Elle?”