Rule Master, page 21
My body bowed and fell forward. Lex’s hand came underneath my arm and cupped my shoulder and neck, and the other kneaded my hips and ass. “I’ve got you. Watch the sunrise while I fuck you.”
He withdrew, plunged back in, and set an unyielding rhythm, driving me crazy. He rubbed against the perfect spot inside my clenching walls. He tilted my face up, and I stared into the rising glow of morning. The beauty of the sky dimmed as my desire overwhelmed me. Lex rocked in and out of me, increasing the pleasure strumming throughout my being.
“Faster, please.”
He complied, and I busted, coming in intense waves. I clenched hard enough for Lex to follow. I milked the last of his release with my own orgasm.
We stood there for at least five minutes, trying to catch our breaths and building the energy to move back inside the cabin.
Finally, Lex spoke. “I think that did it.” His hand curved against my stomach.
I giggled in response.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The following night, I woke to the sound of my phone beeping. I glanced at the clock. Three thirty. I groaned and reached over to read the message.
Answer the bloody text. Your mother has lost her ever-loving mind.
What could she have done now that Ian would text me at this ungodly hour?
Ian, someone better be dead or in the hospital. I’m on a weekend getaway with my husband.
“Please tell me you aren’t trading stocks this early in the morning? I don’t care if Japan’s exchange thinks it’s Monday,” Lex mumbled and covered his head with a pillow.
“No, something’s up with the family. Ian’s in a tizzy.”
“Tell him to fuck off and call at a decent time.”
“Yes, sir.” I laughed.
“That’s ‘yes, Master’ to you.”
I rolled my eyes and another message came in.
Your mother is planning an intervention. She believes Lex’s influence puts Castra Enterprises at risk. She’s petitioned the whole family for a trustee meeting in England. Will you bloody well call me so I don’t have to type this?
Fine, give me five minutes, I replied.
Great. All I needed was an intervention.
I slid out of bed, donned my robe, and stepped onto the balcony. I tied the belt and smiled as I remembered the antics of the night before. I’d never be able to look at Arya and tell her that Lex and I christened the balcony of her yacht.
She beat you to it, remember?
I forgot; she and Max put on a very loud display not so long ago during a group outing.
My phone beeped again.
Dial the fucking phone.
“Okay, okay. Keep your knickers on,” I mumbled. I called Ian’s number.
“It’s about time.”
“Well, ciao to you too.”
“I should be out on my boat right now, not dealing with my upset mother and your crazy one.”
Merda, he was mad. What could the old woman have said to make Aunt Isabella so upset?
“Okay, calm down and start from the beginning.”
“Your mother threatened that if Mum didn’t vote with her against you and Lex, she’d reveal the depravity of my parents’ relationship and ruin her reputation with her peers. You know it’s taken Mum years to be accepted in the aristocratic British circles.”
“Oh, come on, Ian. They can’t be into anything more than what you or I enjoy.”
“That may be true, but once upon a time, my mum was caught in a sandwich between Lex’s dad and mine.”
“Mio Dio! I think I need to sit down.” I collapsed on the lounger on the balcony. “So the shit my mom preached about Uncle Chris and Lex’s dad was true?” I laughed.
“The thought of my mother in that kind of situation is disgusting, not funny.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t enjoy this so much, but all I can think is ‘go, Isabella.’ Face it: The two dads are hot.”
“I’m sure your husband would like hearing you say his dad is hot.”
That wiped the smirk off my face. “Sorry, I see your point.” Then a thought popped into my head. “Didn’t you and Lex engage in the same behavior, once upon a time?”
“Yes, but that was before he hitched himself to my baby cousin. Since then, if he even thought to look at another girl, I’d cut his balls off.”
“Now back to the story. What grounds does she have to call the meeting?” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“On the grounds your marriage puts your family loyalties into question. She says your involvement in ArMil creates a conflict of interest with Castra Enterprises.”
“Bullshit.” I paced back and forth. “She enjoyed and reaped all the benefits of ArMil for the past six years. I even heard from Dominic saying Mamma would never admit it, but she loves the new software that keeps track of all cargo throughout the world at all times.”
“Mil, you know why she’s doing this?”
“Because I went public with my marriage.”
“Bingo. I think she believes if the family votes to replace you in the company, then she can use it as a way to make you choose between them and Lex.”
I want you to prove that I matter.
Lex’s words echoed in my mind. I was never going to let him think he didn’t matter again, and if it meant giving up my position in the company, I’d do it. Hell, I’d give up every cent of my inheritance.
“She actually believes I’d pick the family and the company over Lex? She’s lost her mind.”
“Well, you did keep your marriage a secret for ten years.”
“Good point.”
“What are you going to do?”
I peeked behind me to make sure Lex was still in bed.
Damn, no sign of him. I glanced to the bathroom door, and it was open with steam billowing out.
“Here’s my plan. Tomorrow when I get in the office, I am going to contact Avvocato Gallo.”
“And why would you call your family attorney? Are you planning on taking your mother to court?”
I smirked at the idea. It had merit. “No, I’m going to rescind all claims to Castra Enterprises and step down as CFO.”
“Um, that isn’t a good idea. Do you know how many contracts you negotiated? What if they fall through because you aren’t there to oversee them?”
“Both Dominic and Marcello are more than capable of taking over. Ian, I have to do this. I don’t ever want any doubt in Lex’s mind that I’m not picking him.”
“Are you going to tell him about this?”
“Not until everything is finalized. Besides, I want to have a family, and I can’t run the finances of two companies and have a kiddo without losing my mind. I’m never going to put my family second, like Mamma did with us.”
“Holy shit, you’re serious?”
“What? Didn’t I sound serious until now?”
“Well I was expecting you to say ‘just kidding.’ Give me a second to wrap my brain around this.”
“Take all the time you need.” I stared out toward the Atlantic and inhaled the salty air. My decision felt right. “On second thought, hurry up. Lex is awake.”
“So what am I going to say at the meeting?”
“Nothing. As Lex says, let the paperwork speak for itself.”
“Wow. Who are you and what have you done with my wild child, crazy cousin?”
“I’m still the same girl, just a little more grown up.”
A whispered voice sounded on Ian’s end. It was probably one of his submissives from the club. “Hey, I have to go. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I opened the door and entered the cabin. My hands shook as I set the phone on the counter. I was going to do it. I was going to give up the company that I’d kept my marriage a secret for. A sense of calm washed over me, and I knew I’d made the right decision. I closed my eyes and covered my stomach with my hand.
I’ll never be a mother like her.
“What was that call about?”
I jumped as Lex walked out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel around his waist.
How long had he stood there?
“What time is it?”
“Just ten after four. Now answer the question. What’s going on?”
“Nothing important. I’ve got it handled.”
His brow furrowed, and he stepped in front of me. “Why don’t I believe you?”
I lifted my chin. “I have no idea.”
“Milla, you’re hiding something. If this has to do with your mother, then it involves me. Now spill it.”
“It isn’t important. The situation is under control.”
He ran a hand through his wet hair and examined me. “You don’t seem upset, so it can’t be that bad. Or at least you’ve got a solid handle on it. I’ll find out sooner or later.”
I smiled. “I expect you will.”
He held out his hand. “Come.”
I slid my palm over his. “Where are we going?”
“To watch the sunrise and have a little breakfast.”
We walked to the hallway door.
“What’s on the menu?” I asked.
He grinned at me as he tugged my robe off and threw it on a chair moments before the cabin door closed.
“You are.”
* * *
“Here are your copies of the executed documents. The ones for Lex were delivered to him earlier today.” Rachel placed a folder on my desk.
I picked them up and skimmed the file. “Oh, God, no.”
My lungs contracted, and I couldn’t breathe. A pain I couldn’t describe clenched my heart.
“Rachel, you weren’t supposed to file these. I left you three messages to stop the proceedings, one on your voice mail and two through e-mail.”
What was Lex going to think? This couldn’t be happening.
I looked up at Rachel, whose face had drained of all color. “What do you mean? I never received any messages.”
“It was over five weeks ago, right after the Met Gala.”
“Milla, I was on vacation that week, remember? We pulled in a temporary assistant from another floor to help. She was the one accessing all my e-mails and messages.”
My hands shook. What was I going to do? I covered my face as tears overwhelmed me. I had to get to him. He had to know it was a mistake.
I stood up on unsteady legs. “I have to find him. This isn’t what I want. Oh, God, what have I done?”
I rushed out my door and toward Lex’s office.
Fredrick sat behind his desk, and the moment he saw me, I knew Lex had the papers.
I walked into his office and found his jacket on his chair and the remains of a broken glass tumbler scattered along the floor near the back wall. “Where is he? I have to talk to him.”
“He left a little before lunch.”
“Where did he go?” I ran a palm across my face. “Please, Fred. Tell me where he is. I have to fix this.”
“I don’t know, Milla. I’ve never seen him like this.”
I walked back into Lex’s office and collapsed on his sofa, wrapping my arms around my waist. Tears streamed down my face, and chills shook my body to the core.
Why didn’t I follow up on my request? I’d just destroyed the marriage I’d worked so hard to restore.
Lex was never going to forgive me.
I let sobs overtake me until I had nothing left inside. Then I walked to the window to gaze out at the busy streets.
“Milla, dear.”
I turned to look at Fred.
“I’m going to leave now. Is there anything I can get you?” Fred watched me with weary eyes.
I wiped the remaining dampness from my cheeks. “How long have I been in here?”
“For a little over an hour.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hold you up.” I picked up Lex’s jacket, thinking I’d take it home but paused and placed it back on the chair.
“Do you need me to call Arya? She hasn’t left the building yet. Her conference call went over.”
I shook my head. What would I tell her? That I’d broken my heart and Lex’s because of my stupidity?
“No. I think it’s time I went home, too.”
I walked in a numb haze from the office and to my car. I gripped the door handle, but I knew I wasn’t in any condition to drive.
At that moment, Tony stepped out of his car.
“Is everything okay, Signora Duncan?”
My lips trembled. “C-could you take me home? I don’t think I should drive right now.”
He nodded and led me to his car.
Thirty minutes after leaving ArMil headquarters, I walked in the front foyer of the penthouse. I’d spent most of the drive trying to think of what I’d say to Lex. Every excuse I came up with sounded lame even to me.
I set my keys in the tray by the door and rested my hand against my chest as I steadied my breath.
Please, God, let him hear what I have to say.
The sound of ice filling a glass reached my ears, and dread washed over me. I squared my shoulders; whatever happened, I’d find a way to cope. I knew it was a lie, but I had to try to believe something.
“Lex?” I hesitated, but walked down the hall to the kitchen.
He closed the refrigerator and turned toward me. His eyes blazed with hurt and resignation.
“I see you’re home. I didn’t think you’d come here after what you sent me today.”
“You weren’t supposed to get those.”
“Then tell me, when was I supposed to get them?” His voice grew cold. “Were you going to wait until our anniversary or was it going to be when we had our first child? I actually believed you were back. That you wanted this to work, but you had your foot out the door the whole time.”
I took a step toward him. “It wasn’t like that. Everything was real. Please listen to me. It was a mistake. I—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” He slammed his juice glass on the counter.
I jumped but remained where I was. I had to get him to hear me.
“I started the paperwork when I was in Italy. When I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“I said, I don’t want to hear it.” He walked out of the kitchen and to the front hallway.
I ran after him. “Lex, please stop. Give me a chance to explain. This isn’t what I want.” I wiped at the tears streaming down my cheeks.
He opened the coat closet and pulled out his leather bomber. “No. I’m tired of fighting for us. I’ve stood by you through everything. Why couldn’t you give me the decency of telling me what you planned? Then I wouldn’t have believed we had a future.”
Panic filled me, and I clutched his arm. “No, please listen. Please understand.”
He shook off my hand and moved toward the door. “I’m done with understanding.”
“Lex, I love you.”
He stopped midstep. “You have a great way of showing it.”
I couldn’t defend myself. Nothing I said would make any difference. He’d made his decision and I couldn’t blame him.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” I sobbed.
He glanced over his shoulder and released a deep breath. “You want to know why I’m sorry? I’m sorry that I love a woman who will never put me first. Who loves her games. Who doesn’t understand when things get hard you stick around and fight for each other. I can’t do this anymore. You want a divorce? I’ll give you a divorce. I’m done. I’ll send someone to get my things.”
“What?” A panic settled into my gut. “Please. I…beg you.”
He pulled his wedding ring off and dropped it on the table by the door. My heart screamed ‘NO’. He opened the penthouse door.
“Please don’t do this. I can’t…I…please.” I sobbed, almost paralyzed by what was happening.
He ignored my pleas and slammed the door behind him.
Oh God, I’ve lost him
My body shook. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I doubled over and collapsed on the floor.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Milla, where are you? Why aren’t you at the office? It’s nearly eleven o’clock.”
I heard a commotion in my living room, but couldn’t care less.
“Go away,” I whispered. I didn’t want to face the world, even if it was Arya.
I’d lost everything.
I covered my head with the comforter and buried my face in Lex’s pillow. His scent filled my senses. Tears seeped out of my eyes.
“Where is she? Fuck, if she isn’t answering, this is bad.” Carmen’s voice followed Arya’s question.
I had eight meetings today, but I couldn’t bother going to work.
I never should have thought about divorce in the first place. Now all I had was the ring I clutched in my palm.
“Milla?” Arya’s worried voice blared over my head. “Get up. We have an emergency. You need to know what we found on the surveillance software.”
“I don’t care. I don’t have the energy to deal with anything.”
“Mil, are you sick? Shit, you never get sick.” Carmen tugged the covers off my head. “Oh honey, you don’t look so good.”
I cried. “Go away. I can’t…I just can’t.”
“Mil, it’s going to be okay.” Arya crawled onto the bed and gathered my head in her lap.
Carmen joined us on my other side and held my hand. “Talk to us. We can help you, whatever it is.”
“I lost him,” I mumbled, and another wave of tears let loose. I sobbed and sobbed while Arya cooed and petted my hair.
“Mera behna, Lex loves you with his complete heart. It can’t be that bad. Tell me what happened,” Arya said as she pushed the hair out of my eyes and wiped my face with a tissue.
I wiped at the tears streaming down my face. “I fucked up…he was served with divorce papers. I thought I stopped them, but somehow…it’s my fault. I should have known better.” I knew I wasn’t making sense, but I just couldn’t get it out.
“He…” I hiccupped. “He says it’s over.” I sniffed. “I’m so stupid.”
“Did he say it was over?” Carmen asked.
I nodded. “He said he couldn’t do it anymore.” My body hurt remembering the determined clench of his jaw.
“Oh, Mil.” She squeezed my hand. “We’ll figure this out.”
