Episode 4

For the first time in his life, Ethan Doyle was at a loss for words.

He hadn’t got a single clue how to carry on the conversation that seemed to have extended for a million years already, even though no one had said anything remotely. Not a single word.

Then again, it wasn’t as if the girl who sat across from him could speak at all. She was mute. Incapable of speaking or expressing herself in words. Like he could, or Jackson—his brother could—or as anyone else could. Ethan had always refused to evaluate others based on their shortcomings, no, he was determined to set a different example than the rest of his family. He was a firm believer that everyone was capable of something. And perhaps that was the reason he sent Alex—his assistant—to see this girl and invite her for the interview, even after rejecting her at first glance. So he could be sure, and see for himself, whether she could truly fill this never-ending void in his life, or if she was simply another waste of his valuable time, which he couldn’t afford to waste any more than he already had.

Which brought him back to realize that staying silent for longer than three minutes in a conversation was a dead giveaway that it was the worst idea he had ever had. Perhaps he should have given it more thought than he did. Perhaps he should never have asked Alex to go back to that café and get this girl for him. Perhaps he should have minded his own business and dropped this idea once and for all. It wasn’t something he wanted to get involved in any way, regardless of how it felt like the safest way to avoid making another stupid mistake in life.

After what happened with his ex-fiancée, Amy Bassett, Ethan was done with relationships. He wanted to stay away from them as much as possible, just like darkness did from light. He wanted to eliminate that prospect from his mind and never think of it again. Surely it would probably break his granny’s heart, but his decision was made, and nothing in the world could convince him otherwise.

Except, he wasn’t so sure anymore…

“So, Ms Hart,” he cleared his throat, finally letting some words out and hoping they sounded serious enough for her to listen to him very carefully. Nothing was more frustrating than speaking just to be ignored.

But somehow Vinnie Hart didn’t strike him as someone to willingly ignore people. In fact, she appeared to be so alert and literally on the edge of her seat, he felt like warming up to her a little and offering a bottle of water or something, just so she could calm down and stop being so nervous and fidgety.

Ethan would have laughed at how miserable she looked, sitting there, shuffling in her seat every now and then, and darting her eyes as if she couldn’t stand gazing at a single object for more than a second if he wasn’t worried she would throw up at any moment and he’d have to deal with not only the nasty smell but also a repulsive sight.

However, he shoved all those emotions and ideas to the back of his mind and leaned forward, fingers interlaced on the table. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m looking for a woman who can meet my sexual needs.” Ethan paused briefly after that, observing her, anticipating some form of knee-jerk response to cross her face, as all the women in the previous interviews had done in reaction to his brashness.

But strangely, she only blinked and swallowed, but never did she turn away, or indicated any signs of being startled or uncomfortable or anything along those lines. Ethan wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. It seemed as though she was waiting for him to finish before she decided to give any reaction at all.

Ethan liked that part for sure. He almost admired it.

He continued, once again keeping the conversation to the point. “I have a certain way of doing things that I don’t trust just anyone with. I value my privacy a lot so this means if you agree to all the terms then you will be required to refrain from making any public appearances. It doesn’t mean you can’t go out, nor does it imply you’ll be confined. You are free to go out. You can travel wherever you wish. In fact, I’ll sponsor them. Anywhere you want to go. Just not with me. You must not be seen with me. Or with anyone in my family or circle of acquaintances for that matter. But I would prefer that you keep your social media activity to a minimum. In my experience, that seems to get out of hand very quickly. Do you have any questions, Ms Hart?”

Vinnie shook her head negatively, without even trying to put forward any demands of her own. This was the reason he wondered if she knew what she was getting herself into. She was a virgin, for crying out loud; did she not care how or to whom she gave herself away? Was she really that entirely innocent? Or dumb? Or was there something else going on that he wasn’t aware of? Maybe...maybe she was in dire need to make some quick money. Could that be a thing? Or was she running away from something? There ought to be a catch somewhere. Was it worth the effort to find out?

Yet the fact was that if she was going to be his secret, it would be foolish to take any chances, even though every cell in his body believed that her motivations were pure. She simply had that look about her you know. The one that could rival a clueless child. Her eyes were so gorgeously brown that every time he gazed into them, he felt a thrill in the base of his spine. Ethan could not express the sense of relief he felt when he saw her saunter into his office without a single layer of makeup plastered on her face. Words couldn’t define how he felt and how refreshing it was to look at someone and not feel like he was talking to a mask. The man had nothing against makeup, do not get him wrong, but sometimes some women didn’t know when it was too much, and that’s where he drew the line.

But who was he to judge how Vinnie was on the inside when it was just their second meeting? Those he had known his entire life had betrayed him more times than he could count.

When she didn’t try to pitch in and just sat with her hands on her lap, Ethan asked again. This time with even more seriousness. “Do you understand the severity of this arrangement, Ms Hart?”

Vinnie nodded and bit her lip.

Ethan wasn’t so sure, so he tried to make it more apparent to her. He rose from his seat, the wheels of his chair gently squeaking on the glossy floor. He watched as Vinnie’s eyes widened slightly and she gulped, continuing to squeeze her hands on her lap. She appeared entirely out of place, like a fish out of water, but as he bridged the distance between them and leaned back on the table, staring down at her from his considerable height, she remained seated, as if determined, and did nothing to steer away from him.

“You are aware that this agreement is for a year and that having sex with me is a contractual obligation."

Vinnie continued to chew on her bottom lip but nodded, no doubt in her mind.

“That you cannot refuse me unless you have a really good reason.”

Her cheeks turned pink. She nodded.

Ethan folded his arms across his chest, his piercing blue gaze fixed on her. “That you cannot have any physical relationship with anybody other than me for a year.”

Vinnie took a deep breath, and for a second, Ethan thought she was about to break.

But she didn’t.

Instead, surprising him yet again, she rose up from her own chair and looked him in the eyes, not cowering away from his icy glare as almost everyone did. Not even for a second. She smiled at him, something Ethan thought oozed with so much serene confidence that it almost made him drop the attempt to intimidate her.

But he didn’t.

Not only was it nearly impossible for him to lower his guard against anybody other than his family, but he also didn’t want her to think she could melt him in any way. He didn’t want to send out the wrong message. He didn’t want her to think that this arrangement could ever be anything more than it was.

Vinnie leaned over his desk and returned with a piece of paper and a pen. She scrawled something on it, taking her time, before flipping it over for him to see.

Ethan lowered his arms and quietly plucked the paper from her grasp, his eyes tightening as he read what she had scribbled for him.

“Don’t worry, Mr Doyle. I understand what this agreement entails. That for the next one year, I will be your mistress.”

Ethan had barely finished his thought when she snatched the paper back, slapped it on the tabletop, and scribbled something else.

As she returned the paper and he read it again, Ethan had a confused expression on his face. But all his confusion mysteriously disappeared when he noticed how she had cancelled out the term mistress and replaced it with another phrase.

“...I will be your mute mistress”

The way she dubbed herself his mute mistress, Ethan should not have felt this strange fall inside his chest.

But he did.