Chapter 4

I had to smile. He had given me permission to call him Mr. Rivera… if the occasion should arise.

It was still early in the night, but there was a lot left to do. This was not just walking into a room and riding the bull. It was about wooing and dancing with them until the mood was just right.

“You’re not what I expected you to be,” I said softly. He looked at me curiously.

“Oh? What did you expect?” he chose to humor me.

“I didn’t expect you to have your foot up on the table,” I said pointedly. He blinked and then gave me a blinding smile.

“Is that so? Why, do I look like an uptight man who doesn’t know how to let loose?” The way he asked the question made me think that he was testing me. Like he would show me just how he let loose. And I would welcome it any day.

“Yes, I did think you are an uptight man. But now that you mention it, I’m not sure why!” I began. “But it also disappoints me.” I looked around the room to emphasize my point.

“What might that be?”

“This room is very… ornate. I thought maybe you would stay in something more…” I trailed off, unable to find the right word.

“Maybe this is my style,” he challenged. I stood up from my seat and made my way around the room. “What did you expect? A secret playroom? It’s just not my style,” he said from behind me. I sucked in a breath as he loomed over me. I kept my eyes on the painting I was in front of, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

“Although, I wouldn’t be opposed to tying you up.”

I gulped and walked to the next decorative item to pretend to scrutinize it.

“I see…” I hummed.

“But where did you picture me in?” he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

“Black satin, black lacquer furniture, chrome fixtures with textured arts that revealed the soul of a naked but abstract woman.” I shrugged.

“So, I scream bad 80s music video?” He laughed and I joined in.

“Yes,” I agreed.

He walked to me and shut me up. Taking my elbow gently so that I didn’t spill my drink, he led me to another massive picture on the wall. I looked at it and wasn’t surprised to see yet another stunning picture. Only, this time, I was paying attention.

“Is this your response to the naked women comment?” I asked, joking. The picture was a renaissance painting style with… yes, naked women in it. It was tasteful and exquisite, of course.

I felt his breath close to my ear, something he seemed to enjoy doing, and he whispered. “No. I take no joy in looking at naked women. I am just accompanying you to scrutinize and make your judgment on what you really think I am like.”

My eyes widened as I listened to him. My fingers danced on my bottom lip and I was suddenly full of nervous energy. “Should I not get to know you better before making my judgment?” I said slowly. “How do you propose I do that?” I asked.

I turned my head so that I could see his burning eyes. He looked at me with a gleam of interest. “How do you want to know me better? I am an open book, Rose.”

“In every way,” I admitted.

“Well then… I might be an open book, but I am a long one. Should we start then?” he asked.

Finally, I found myself thinking.

“Can I take your coat from you?” he asked. He had been eyeing it for a while. I smiled.

“Sure,” I replied. I turned to him and without breaking eye contact, I slowly undid each button of the trench coat. Only when they were all undone did I open the lapels, pushing them apart before slipping it from my shoulders slowly. I held it out to the side before draping it across the bar, revealing my body that was dressed in only expensive lingerie. The bra, panties, garter, and stockings all classic but beautiful.

“Oh, you are not one to waste time, are you?” Kai asked. There was not a hint of nervousness in what he said. His eyes roamed up and down my body. But I could tell by the way his hands fidgeted with his glass that he was nervous. I had studied enough video footage of him over the last few days to pick up on some of his instinctive behavioral tells.

And while he had very few, his lovely hands always gave away exactly what he was feeling.

“Mr. Rivera, we only have a short time together this evening. If I don’t start reading the book immediately, how will I read until the very end? If you would like to use that time getting to know me through a conversation… by all means, ask away.” I smiled mischievously. “Your whole life is in the public eye, so I don’t have much to ask you except perhaps how you actually feel about certain topics.”

He heard me with rapt attention.

“But you and I both know that you are not going to be honest about how you feel with a girl you have known for less than ten minutes. So, don’t you think we should cut to the chase?”

I grinned, trying to hide my nervousness.

“Are you implying that I am not an honest man, Rose?” he asked, his eyes piercing.

“Not at all. But you are a man in power and your family is in politics. You didn’t get to where you are without being able to tell people what they want to hear.”

“That is true,” he admitted. “Then… what do you want to hear right now?” he asked.

“Wouldn’t I tire you out if you just had to pretend some more?” I countered. “Romance is dead, huh?” I teased.

“Indeed.” He blinked. “So… tell me… what do you truly desire?” he asked.