The Endgame (14 page)

‘There’s really no point,’ Gaby said, barely hiding her irritation now. ‘He won’t be able to see you. But I’ll tell him you called, and I’m sure he’ll be in touch.’

Lisa nodded. ‘Okay. Thank you,’ she murmured, swallowing over the lump forming in her throat.

‘If you’d like to make an appointment for another time, leave your number with me and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can,’ Gaby added helpfully.

‘No, that’s ... that won’t be necessary,’ Lisa said. She couldn’t risk having Grayson’s office number on her phone. If Mark were to discover it, she would never be able to explain it away. ‘I’ll try him at home later,’ she said, backing out of the office, her lip trembling.

Blinking back tears, she turned and stumbled back down the corridor towards the lifts. She didn’t know what to do now. She felt ridiculous and deflated. She had worked so hard psyching herself up to come here, and it had all been for nothing. It was stupid of her to think she could just walk in and see Grayson in the middle of the working day.

‘Lisa?’ Startled, she turned in the direction of the voice to see Grayson walking towards her, frowning at her curiously. She had been so wrapped up in her misery, she hadn’t even heard him approach.

‘Lisa?’ he said again as he came close. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I– I came to see you.’

‘Well, this is a surprise – a very pleasant one,’ he added with a smile. ‘Why did no one tell me you were here?’ he asked, glancing back towards Gaby’s office with a frown.

‘I ... um ... I know you’re busy. I’m sorry. It doesn’t matter.’ She shook her head. She turned away as the lift arrived with a ping.

‘I’m not too busy for you,’ he said, taking her hand as the lift doors opened. ‘Come into my office.’ He jerked his head in the direction from which she had come.

Lisa hesitated for a second, then nodded, relieved that all her effort wouldn’t be wasted after all.

‘I’m sorry, Gaby didn’t tell me you were here,’ he said crossly as he led her back down the corridor.

‘She didn’t think you’d want to be disturbed,’ Lisa said, not wanting to get the woman into trouble.

Grayson sighed. ‘She’s just doing her job,’ he said more reasonably. ‘I do pay her to keep people out. But sometimes she’s too bloody good at it.’

Gaby’s eyebrows shot up as they reached the entrance to her office, and she rose from her desk. ‘Sorry, Grayson,’ she said, with a wave towards Lisa. ‘You said you didn’t want any interruptions.’

‘It’s all right, Gaby,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘You weren’t to know, but Lisa is an exception.’

Gaby nodded. ‘Sorry,’ she said to Lisa with a more genuine smile than she’d had before.

Lisa smiled back. Then Grayson led her through another door off the corridor and into a vast office with breathtaking views over the river. He waved her to a seat in front of a large desk that was covered in plans and drawings.

‘So, you wanted to see me?’ he asked, leaning against the desk and folding his arms as he looked down at her.

‘Yes.’ Lisa licked her lips. ‘I wanted to– I mean, I have a ...’ She trailed off, all her rehearsed words failing her now that she was actually here in front of him.

She took a deep breath and started again. ‘I wanted to make you a proposition,’ she said.

‘A proposition?’ He raised his eyebrows, seeming taken aback.

‘Yes. Well ... an offer, really.’

‘I see. And what is it that you’re offering?’

Lisa looked at the floor, screwing up her courage. Then she lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. ‘Me.’

‘Um ... yes.’ God, what if she’d read him all wrong? Maybe he wasn’t interested in her in that way at all.

He frowned, looking perplexed. ‘I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand. Are you saying what I think you’re saying? I just want to be clear.’

She took a deep breath, steeling herself to look him in the eye. ‘I mean sex. I’ll sleep with you – if you want me, that is.’

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. ‘I think it’s pretty clear that I want you – very much.’ His eyes were warm on hers, and she realised that he didn’t yet understand exactly what she was proposing.

Damn! She chewed her lip nervously, not sure how to introduce the subject of money. She should have started with that. He thought she had simply changed her mind, and had decided to have an affair with him. ‘How much exactly?’ she asked.

‘How much?’ He frowned in confusion. ‘Sorry, I don’t understand.’

‘I mean, how much do you want me? What’s it worth to you?’

Something flickered in his eyes and the smile was wiped from his face. He was silent for what seemed like an age. ‘You’re talking about money?’ he asked finally. ‘You want me to pay you?’

‘Yes. I don’t see why I shouldn’t get something out of it,’ she said more boldly.

Grayson looked baffled, and a little intrigued. She had taken him by surprise. She got the impression that didn’t happen often.

‘Well,’ he said, with a crooked smile, his eyes roving over her body, ‘I like to flatter myself that you’d get a lot of pleasure out of it.’

She shrugged. ‘I’m not interested in having sex with you for pleasure,’ she said coolly. ‘But I’ll sleep with you if you pay me.’

He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘How much?’

The question felt like a slap. For the first time she felt like a whore and the brutal reality of what she was doing hit her. But she couldn’t betray her nerves and risk this all falling apart. This was a gamble and she was playing with the highest stakes of her life. If she succeeded, she could win big – she could win her freedom. She assumed her best poker face. ‘A thousand pounds,’ she said. She was pleased with how steady and firm her voice sounded. It took all her nerve to maintain eye contact as she said it.

Grayson raised his eyebrows and gave a low whistle under his breath. ‘That’s a lot of money.’

She shrugged. ‘You’re a wealthy man, aren’t you?’

‘Yes,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘Very.’

‘Well, then. It’s all relative, isn’t it?’

‘You don’t get rich – or stay rich – by throwing money away.’

She forced herself not to react to the implied insult. It took all her will not to flinch or lose eye contact, but it was vital that she brazen this out.

‘You really think you’re worth that much?’

‘It depends how much you want me,’ she said without emotion. ‘I’m worth whatever you’re prepared to pay for me. That’s how the market works, right?’ She had to stand her ground. She had nothing to lose. If he wanted her badly enough, he would pay what she asked. If he didn’t, she would be no worse off than she had been before.

He laughed softly to himself. ‘Yes, that’s how it works. What would I get for a thousand?’

‘Me.’

‘Yes, but for how long? One time? One night? What acts exactly would you perform?’

‘One night,’ she said. ‘And I’ll do whatever you want. ‘

He drew in a harsh breath. ‘Whatever I want?’ he asked. He seemed almost angry. ‘What if I want to be rough with you? Hurt you even?’

She bit the inside of her lip, willing herself not to show her panic. Could she really let him do whatever he wanted to her? What if he was sadistic? Still, she reasoned, it could hardly be worse than what she’d had to endure from Mark. And it would just be for a week at the most.

She nodded. ‘That would be all right.’

His eyes widened. ‘Please tell me you’re not in the habit of making offers like this to men you barely know.’

‘I’ve never made anyone an offer like this before.’

‘Thank Christ for that!’ He sighed.

She frowned, wondering why he’d care.

‘I hate to think of someone taking you up on it,’ he said, as if he understood her confusion.

‘Does that mean you’re not going to take me up on it?’

He sighed. ‘Are you in some kind of trouble, Lisa? If you need money, I could help you.’

‘I don’t want a handout.’

‘I could give you a loan.’

‘I don’t know when I could pay it back – maybe never.’

‘That doesn’t matter.’

‘It matters to me. I do need money, but I have to earn it.’

Grayson frowned at her. She could tell he was torn.

‘I can’t accept a gift or a loan from you. The money has to be mine, free and clear. I can’t explain, but this is the only way I can do this. If you don’t want to accept my offer, I’ll go away and I won’t bother you again. I’d just ask that you please forget that this ever happened and don’t mention it to anyone.’

‘Lisa, I don’t want to feel I’m exploiting you. If you’re in some sort of trouble–‘

‘It’s nothing like that.’

‘But you won’t tell me what it is?’

‘No, I can’t. But I promise you it’s nothing sinister. I just want to make some good money quickly, and this is an easy way for me to earn it. After all,’ she added with a sudden flash of inspiration, ‘it’s not as if I’m not attracted to you.’ She thought of their kiss in the library. He had left it up to her to make the first move and she had initiated it. She hoped he was remembering it too, and that it would ease his qualms about taking advantage of her. ‘You know I want you too,’ she said, looking up at him seductively from under her eyelashes.

Grayson looked at her for a long time, his eyes dark and unreadable, but she thought she saw desire hidden in their depths, and she felt sure he was remembering that kiss too.

‘But you won’t act on that unless I pay you?’

‘No.’

‘What about Mark?’ he asked. ‘Are you leaving him?’

‘No, this has nothing to do with Mark.’

‘But you can’t ask him to help you out?’

‘No. I can’t.’ She twisted her hands in her lap. ‘He– he gives me enough as it is. I can’t ask him for more.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘You still love him?’

‘My feelings for Mark haven’t changed,’ she said, choosing her words carefully. She didn’t want to lie any more than was necessary. ‘We’re still together. But he’s away on business this week.’

‘So you’re available to have a fling with me?’ His mouth curled up at one corner.

‘Yes, for one week only,’ she said brightly. ‘It’s a limited time offer. Like I said, I want you, Grayson. This way, I can get you out of my system, and it won’t seem so much like cheating if you’re paying me.’

He gave a startled laugh. ‘Interesting logic,’ he said with a quirk of an eyebrow.

She shrugged. ‘We can both get what we want, and no one gets hurt. It seems like a win-win to me.’ She kept her tone light, insouciant.

Finally he sighed and leaned back on the desk, his hands gripping the edge. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I accept.’

‘You do?’ Lisa smiled, relief flooding through her body.

He nodded, his eyes already heated as they rested on her face. ‘Yes, so help me. I do.’

‘There are a couple of conditions. First, this has to be a secret. You mustn’t tell anyone. Mark can’t ever find out.’

His jaw clenched as he nodded. ‘Understood.’

‘And I’ll need the money in cash.’

‘That’s not a problem,’ he said, but he looked concerned.

‘Okay, great!’ she said with a smile. ‘Thank you.’

‘So when is this ... transaction going to take place?’ he asked.

‘Any time you like this week. Mark is away until Tuesday. But I always have to leave by midnight.’ Mark had told her that he would Skype around six each evening Chinese time, which would be about one in the morning in London. She couldn’t risk missing that call. ‘Apart from that, it’s up to you. When would you like to do it?’

He pushed away from the desk and came towards her. He took her hand and pulled her to standing, their bodies almost touching. Then he cupped her face, his eyes burning into hers as his thumb stroked her cheek.

‘I’d
like
to do it right now,’ he said, his gaze fixed on her mouth. ‘I’d like to take you to the hotel down the street – or have you right here on my couch.’ She followed his gaze as his eyes flicked to the leather sofa across the room. ‘The possibilities are endless.’

His hands pushed up into her hair as
he bent to kiss her. His lips were soft and warm on hers. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as his tongue slid across her lips and into her mouth. She pressed herself against him, waves of heat and pleasure washing over her as she buried her fingers in his hair.

Finally he lifted his head, his eyes dark with desire. ‘What if I want more?’ he asked.

‘More?’ Her voice was shaky. She already felt she was losing control of this situation.

‘More than one night.’

‘You can have me as often as you like in the next seven days,’ she said. ‘But it will cost you more.’

He smiled sadly, his eyes crinkling. ‘Lisa,’ he said softly, one finger lightly tracing the curve of her jaw. ‘You’re not who I thought you were.’

His words and the look in his eyes saddened her. She wished she could be herself with him. She wished she could just let this happen naturally between them – no money, no agenda. But she couldn’t. It was her only hope, and she couldn’t afford to be sentimental right now.

‘How much for a lunchtime quickie?’ he asked with a crooked smile.

‘Two hundred,’ she blurted, before she had a chance to second guess herself.

Grayson raised his eyebrows. ‘You know I could get a professional for a quarter of that?’

‘That’s your choice,’ she shrugged, determined to keep her cool and not let him shame her into backing down. ‘But this offer isn’t open to anyone but you. You pay more for exclusivity.’ She was gambling on him wanting
her
specifically, but the heat in his eyes reassured her that it wasn’t a big risk.

‘Agreed,’ Grayson said. ‘Can you start right away?’

She gulped and nodded, her heart starting to race. She hadn’t expected this to happen so fast. She’d thought she’d have more time to prepare. But she didn’t want to put him off.

‘But don’t you have a lunch meeting?’ she asked.

‘Damn!’ He threw his head back and closed his eyes in exasperation. ‘And I have a site visit in Scotland in the morning. I’m flying up there tonight.’ He sighed. Then suddenly he grabbed her hand. ‘Come with me,’ he said urgently, his eyes dancing with excitement.

‘I can’t,’ Lisa said regretfully. ‘I have to leave by midnight, remember?’

‘Shit! I wish I’d known you were going to turn up today with this fantastical proposal,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘I would have arranged my week around it.’

‘Sorry.’ She hated having to say no, afraid he would regret his decision. She wished she could tell him that if she had a choice in the matter, she would much rather be in Scotland with him than at home Skyping with Mark.

‘I guess I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow evening,’ he said, trailing a finger lightly along her jaw. ‘But it’s going to be torture.’ His eyes were dark, his tone brooding. ‘I’ll spend the whole time thinking about you – the feel of your naked body against mine, the taste of you ...’

Lisa felt her nipples tighten, heat spreading through her at his words. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, so she felt the hardness of his erection. He smelled amazing, of citrus and sandalwood, and she was consumed with longing.

‘Do you have any time before your meeting?’ she asked breathily.

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Only about fifteen minutes. What are you suggesting?’

She answered him with actions rather than words, her hand going to the bulge in his trousers. His breath hitched as she began stroking him. She dropped her eyes to watch the movements of her hand, licking her lips suggestively as she felt his cock harden beneath her fingers.

She looked up at him questioningly, and he nodded, his eyes burning into hers. ‘Just give me a moment.’ He pulled away, then went to his desk and picked up the phone. ‘Gaby, I don’t want to be disturbed for the next fifteen minutes. There’s no need to let me know when the guys from Global Tech arrive. Just keep them out there, and I’ll join them at two. Thanks.’

He put down the phone, swiftly crossed to the door and locked it. Then he went to the sofa and took a cushion from it. His eyes were on Lisa as he walked back to her and tossed it on the floor in front of him.

Lisa sank to her knees on the cushion, grateful for his thoughtfulness. Her hands went to his belt, unfastening it deftly.

‘Can you open your dress?’ he asked huskily. ‘I want to see you.’

She nodded, her hands shaky as she quickly unbuttoned the top of her dress and let it fall to her waist. Then she reached around and unfastened her bra, taking it off and tossing it aside. She knew it wasn’t just the cool air hitting her skin that caused her nipples to feel tight and achy, longing to be touched. She couldn’t remember when she had last felt this turned on, but she still recognised the feeling, and she knew it was down to wanting Grayson, and the way his eyes darkened and burned when she exposed her body to him.