Cheval had abandoned me.
“Congratulations,” Du Cheval said, as we both buckled our seat belts. “You passed. Assuming you do want to stay and pursue this arrangement further.”
I looked at him. “What?” I knew whatever he meant was the answer to why I’d been made to jump through this hoop, but I really didn’t get it. Why would a three-week hook-up—one Calvin had paid for— have to socialize with his colleagues?
“The team’s resident Abercrombie model wannabe,” Du Cheval said dismissively. “The bait. You didn’t take it.”
“The bait.” I repeated back, the full implication dawning on me. “Logan. Logan was bait.”
Some of the indignation I’d finally learned to express began to rise up.
“That was planned?” I asked, my voice rising slightly. Well, I’d had good reason not to be angry at Logan for taking a shot at me. His boss had requested it.
“Calvin can be unpredictable,” Du Cheval said, ignoring the incensed tone of my voice. Business as usual, apparently, for him.
“By fucking testing me?” I was furious. “Is this a joke? Are you telling me that this whole night, this whole party, was one big test?”
Du Cheval shrugged. “There’s no reason to get upset,” he said, and he really did seem nonplussed by my anger. “After all, you passed. If this changes your attitude, you can just back out of the arrangement.” “You think I’m overreacting over being tested like a trained animal?” I asked.
Du Cheval glanced at me impatiently in the rearview mirror. “I told you Chambers is thorough and doesn’t tolerate mediocrity. Disobedience is a type of mediocrity. So is a lack of self-control. You may be offended, but he leaves nothing to chance..”
“And what sort of man is that?” I asked. Please, enlighten me, Oliver.
“A man with unconventional needs and the resources to see them met. He won’t waste his time if he’s not going to get what he wants, from you or anyone else, regardless of how… unusual… his wants may be,” Du Cheval said.
Wow, you’ve gone talkative on me, Du Cheval, I thought. May as well keep asking as long as he’s in the mood—finally—to answer some questions.
“Unusual?” I asked .
Du Cheval shot me a look beyond impatient. “Surely you did actually read the contract you signed, Ms. Clarke.”
Guess question and answer time is over.
“I…” The truth was, I hadn’t actually read it all. Calvin and I had discussed his terms thoroughly and I hadn’t thought there’d be any surprises.
Maybe I hadn’t sobered up as much as I thought because my anger at being toyed with came rolling back full force.
“I know you have a copy of that contract, Mister Du Cheval. I want to see it right now.”
Without responding he handed back a leather binder.
I snatched the binder from his hand and pulled the contract out to study it.
By signing this agreement, the above party agrees to participate in a variety of sexual practices, including, but not limited to domination, foot fetishism restraint, and/or bondage.
“Bondage?” I asked.
“Bondage,” Du Cheval said calmly, as if I should have known.
“I didn’t agree to any of this!” I was on the verge of hysteria. The bastard tricked me!
“You did agree to it,” Du Cheval countered. “When you signed the contract.” His voice was irritatingly calm, which only contributed to my rage.
“No! No, no, no! Get Calvin on the phone,” I yelled. First, the test, and then this ! All that business about nothing until I felt ready, but no mention of ordering subordinates to try and seduce me and bondage?!
Du Cheval shook his head. “You can speak to Mr. Chambers when you see him in the morning.”
He pulled the car into the valet of the hotel. “I’ll be back at nine a.m.”
”Oh, no way, buddy,” I said, marginally aware at Du Cheval’s surprise at being addressed as ‘buddy.’ “Not a chance in hell. Get him on the phone, ” I repeated
“Congratulations,” Du Cheval said, as we both buckled our seat belts. “You passed. Assuming you do want to stay and pursue this arrangement further.”
I looked at him. “What?” I knew whatever he meant was the answer to why I’d been made to jump through this hoop, but I really didn’t get it. Why would a three-week hook-up—one Calvin had paid for— have to socialize with his colleagues?
“The team’s resident Abercrombie model wannabe,” Du Cheval said dismissively. “The bait. You didn’t take it.”
“The bait.” I repeated back, the full implication dawning on me. “Logan. Logan was bait.”
Some of the indignation I’d finally learned to express began to rise up.
“That was planned?” I asked, my voice rising slightly. Well, I’d had good reason not to be angry at Logan for taking a shot at me. His boss had requested it.
“Calvin can be unpredictable,” Du Cheval said, ignoring the incensed tone of my voice. Business as usual, apparently, for him.
“By fucking testing me?” I was furious. “Is this a joke? Are you telling me that this whole night, this whole party, was one big test?”
Du Cheval shrugged. “There’s no reason to get upset,” he said, and he really did seem nonplussed by my anger. “After all, you passed. If this changes your attitude, you can just back out of the arrangement.” “You think I’m overreacting over being tested like a trained animal?” I asked.
Du Cheval glanced at me impatiently in the rearview mirror. “I told you Chambers is thorough and doesn’t tolerate mediocrity. Disobedience is a type of mediocrity. So is a lack of self-control. You may be offended, but he leaves nothing to chance..”
“And what sort of man is that?” I asked. Please, enlighten me, Oliver.
“A man with unconventional needs and the resources to see them met. He won’t waste his time if he’s not going to get what he wants, from you or anyone else, regardless of how… unusual… his wants may be,” Du Cheval said.
Wow, you’ve gone talkative on me, Du Cheval, I thought. May as well keep asking as long as he’s in the mood—finally—to answer some questions.
“Unusual?” I asked .
Du Cheval shot me a look beyond impatient. “Surely you did actually read the contract you signed, Ms. Clarke.”
Guess question and answer time is over.
“I…” The truth was, I hadn’t actually read it all. Calvin and I had discussed his terms thoroughly and I hadn’t thought there’d be any surprises.
Maybe I hadn’t sobered up as much as I thought because my anger at being toyed with came rolling back full force.
“I know you have a copy of that contract, Mister Du Cheval. I want to see it right now.”
Without responding he handed back a leather binder.
I snatched the binder from his hand and pulled the contract out to study it.
By signing this agreement, the above party agrees to participate in a variety of sexual practices, including, but not limited to domination, foot fetishism restraint, and/or bondage.
“Bondage?” I asked.
“Bondage,” Du Cheval said calmly, as if I should have known.
“I didn’t agree to any of this!” I was on the verge of hysteria. The bastard tricked me!
“You did agree to it,” Du Cheval countered. “When you signed the contract.” His voice was irritatingly calm, which only contributed to my rage.
“No! No, no, no! Get Calvin on the phone,” I yelled. First, the test, and then this ! All that business about nothing until I felt ready, but no mention of ordering subordinates to try and seduce me and bondage?!
Du Cheval shook his head. “You can speak to Mr. Chambers when you see him in the morning.”
He pulled the car into the valet of the hotel. “I’ll be back at nine a.m.”
”Oh, no way, buddy,” I said, marginally aware at Du Cheval’s surprise at being addressed as ‘buddy.’ “Not a chance in hell. Get him on the phone, ” I repeated
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