Chapter Four – Seeing Her in a Different Light
Alyssa stares at me with wide eyes, overwhelmed. I’d just informed her of four hundred guests and media coverage at my cousin’s wedding—not at a hotel, but at one of California’s most expensive, publicly inaccessible resorts. My cousin, a top-five wealthiest under-thirty in the U.S. thanks to his tech business, is marrying one of the world’s top fashion models. It’s a big deal. I think he's an idiot to marry at twenty-three, but who am I to judge? He’s in love.
She jumps up, pacing her living room. “No, I can’t. It’s too much pressure. You need to find someone else.” Panic colors her voice.
“You already agreed. You’re not backing out now,” I state firmly.
“Yes, because you threatened my damn job!” she snaps.
I shrug. “You could have quit.”
She stops, hands on her hips, glaring. “We don’t all have the luxury of being billionaires, Wyatt.”
I approach her, stopping inches away. “You’re acting like a brat,” I growl.
“A brat? Really? I’m not a child! I think I’m being reasonable, considering you’re blackmailing me!” she yells.
God, I’d love to knock that attitude out of her. I know how to handle brats, but she’s not mine, and I don’t want her to be.
“You’re acting like I’m asking you to do something terrible.”
“I’m being forced! Do you expect me to be happy about it?” she huffs.
“Yes. You’ll spend the weekend at a beautiful spa and resort with incredible food, expensive wine, and watch two people in love get married. You’ll have two nights in a stunning room, all expenses paid. In return, you just need to smile and pretend to like me. Plenty of women would kill for this.”
You’d think I was asking her to rough it. I’m offering a weekend she could only dream of.
“Yes, pretending to like you will be the hardest part,” she replies curtly. It’s hard to avoid snapping back. I take deep breaths to calm myself.
“Trust me, you could spend the weekend with someone worse than me. You don’t need to like me; just make it seem like you do.”
“Whatever. Is that all? If so, you can go. I have plans.” She’s had enough.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” I hiss, fists clenching. The words slipped out unintentionally.
“I can talk to me however I like. I’m in my home, not at work. You’re interrupting my personal time, Wyatt. You can boss me around at work, but not here. Leave.” She stands tall, speaking with confident sternness.
I caress her face with my thumb. She gulps, her cheek flushing under my touch.
“If I really wanted to, kitten, I could boss you around in more places than at work,” I rasp, pressing my body against hers.
She whimpers softly. “W-w-what does that even mean?”
I laugh. “Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?”
I could have her begging, if I wanted. She has no idea what I could make her do. I’m confused by these thoughts. I’ve never seen her like this. Her defiance, her strength…it’s turning me on.
I’m tempted to kiss her, but I won’t, not tonight. She’d forget everything she’s said.
I smirk, pulling away. “I’ll see you in the morning, Alyssa. Don’t be late,” I warn.
She stares, too bewildered to speak. I chuckle and leave. I was dreading this weekend, but not anymore. I can make it fun for both of us. Maybe even a little torture for kicks. I don’t like being disobeyed. Consider it payback. I hope Alyssa doesn’t mess this up. I need a break from everyone.
My family wants me married with kids already. I’m only thirty-three; I have time. I’m in no rush. It would have to be a very special woman—one who accepts every part of me. It won’t work otherwise.
I drive home. No plans tonight, but plenty of work. I usually work Saturdays, and since I’m away this weekend, I need to catch up or I’ll be stressed. I’m a control freak; everything has to be perfect.
I’ll be up late. I don’t sleep well; it’s always been that way. A few hours is enough. Tomorrow will be a long day—work and dress shopping with Alyssa. She won’t make it easy, and she shouldn’t. She’ll forgive and forget once we’re at the wedding.