Christmas Pet by Jamie Knight
Chapter Fourteen - James
I threw my pen on top of my desk and rubbed my hands over my face.
Pearl and I had stayed awake until four taking pleasure in one another. Where she was concerned, I couldn’t get enough. This morning, I’d already downed three cups of coffee, but my eyelids felt gritty and my bones heavy.
My body begged me to go home and get some sleep, but I had too much work to do. I’d just finished a three-hour zoom meeting with Erin and Daniel. He’d requested mediation. If that didn’t work, we would have to go to trial.
I assured Erin he was calling her bluff and that he didn’t want to go to trial. He didn’t want the truth about who he was to come out.
I didn’t want to go to trial either. Mainly because Erin wasn’t strong enough emotionally or mentally to withstand the scrutiny.
My intercom buzzed. “Mr. Matthews, Ms. Fitzgibbon is here to see you.”
Fuck. Exactly what I didn’t need right now. “I explained you were busy, but she’s insisting.” Before I could say a word, the door opened, and Lyla strutted in.
“Can I help you with something urgent? I’m in the middle of work.”
She came over to my side of the desk and air-kissed my cheeks. I stiffened. The scent of her heavy perfume stuck in my throat and clogged my nose.
“No need to be like that, James. I’m here to remind you about next week’s fundraiser on Christmas Eve at The Lincoln Center. Since you’re still on the board, you have to go. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“I haven’t.”
“Wonderful. Maxwell Hart will be there. Daddy thinks he’s going to be the next president.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Since we RSVP’d together, you’re aware you’ll be my date?”
I glared at her. “Let’s get one thing clear, Lyla. I said I’ll be there, but it won’t be as your date. Once again, there’s nothing between us.”
She puffed out her lower lip and tilted her head. “That’s not true, James. There’s a spark between us. I’ll let you have your bit of fun with the office girl, but eventually, you’ll come running back to me.”
I sighed and shoved a hand through my hair. I had to get through to her somehow. “Lyla, please listen. I respect you, and, sometimes, I even like you. But you’re not what I want. You’ll never give me what I need. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh.”
The coldness in my words had zero effect on her. She lowered her eyes and did her best to appear submissive. “I can be everything you need and more, master.” The words sounded awkward and stilted coming from her lips.
“You’re not a submissive, Lyla. You can’t give yourself to me the way I need.”
She glared at me, her lips twisted. “And she can? She doesn’t belong in our circle. She’s not one of us.”
“If by one of us you mean the so-called New York elite, then you’re right, she’s not. She’s better.”
She harrumphed and rolled her eyes. “I expect you at my place on Christmas Eve at seven-thirty.” She then gave her head a small shake, and a smile replaced her frown. “I’m looking forward to it, master.”
When she left, I blew out an explosive breath. Dammit. I should’ve known better than to trust and believe her in the first place, but she had said all the right things and did all the right things until she thought she had me in the palm of her hand. I should have opened my eyes sooner. Even when we’d been together, she’d been halfhearted about obeying my commands.
How was I going to tell Pearl I had a fundraising event to attend next week with Lyla? I’d inadvertently hurt her last night, and I didn’t want to hurt her again. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told her Lyla was attending the ball. Maybe I thought she would have figured out my ex would be there, or maybe I was afraid she would back out.
The party had been a trial by fire, but Pearl handled herself well. The party on Saturday night would be a completely different ballgame. I smiled to myself.
I could already see her bound and blindfolded, not knowing what was coming next. Not knowing what I had in store for her.
This party wouldn’t involve fancy dresses or tuxedos. The dress code was the kinkier, the better. I intended to wear what I usually wore whenever I went to the club for a night out—dark jeans and a black T-shirt. Pearl wouldn’t.
She and I would visit Lady Melanie’s boutique on Friday, and afterward, she would stay at my apartment, but I wouldn’t lay a finger on her. I would make her wait. By the time Saturday night arrived, she would be panting.
