How did one get to this point in their life? She’d always lacked sympathy for people who settled, never looking beyond the image in front of them. Wasn’t a spade a spade? Victims allowed themselves to be taken advantage of, didn’t they? She was discovering very quickly that the world wasn’t as black and white as she’d always seen it from her privileged vantage point.
If her mother received the care she needed, and got back on her feet, it would be worth it – even if Ari was never able to look herself in a mirror again. She could finally understand why desperate people made impossible decisions.
“We’re here,” Mr. Kinsor said, snapping her from her thoughts.
“Thank you,” Ari uttered as she stepped from the car and looked at the privacy glass of the exclusive restaurant. Her stomach was rolling over as she followed Mr. Kinsor inside, past the host, and straight back to a secluded area.
Sitting at the beautifully set table was Rafe, looking quite devastating in his black Armani suite and brilliant red tie. It wouldn’t be so bad being his mistress, she tried to reason. She could suffer through the actual act of sex; it wasn’t like she had any desire to enter a real relationship anytime soon, so she could think of it like practice for her future husband.
“Please have a seat, Arianna. I’ve taken the liberty of ordering.”
“Thank you.” Irritation covered the increasing panic as she heard the timid sound of her own voice. She was already starting to not recognize herself. Was she truly that far gone? She’d made one mistake – one! Up until that party, she’d been the dream child, achieving the highest grades in her classes, walking the line through life. She hadn’t snuck out the window at night, taken drugs, or gotten pregnant like so many others.
Even in college she’d walked the line, putting her studies first, visiting her mother often, and staying true to the course she’d mapped out by the time she was thirteen.
Her mother wouldn’t want her to do this – wouldn’t want her to give up at the first roadblock.
“I have the contract right here. Before we proceed, I need you to initial each section and sign at the bottom.” Rafe said as he pulled the papers from his briefcase and held out a pen.
Ari sat there as she tried to force her hand to reach up and take hold of the shiny silver pen he was holding. She just needed to take the pen, sign the papers and accept her fate. That’s it. They could fine tune the details over a nice meal.
“No.” Ari heard herself say the word, though she couldn’t believe it. Shock radiated through her as she stood there motionless looking at him. She’d had every intention of saying yes, serving herself up on a silver platter. She was stunned to be refusing the man offering her the ability to get out of her situation.
She stood in thunderstruck silence as puzzlement crossed Mr. Palazzo’s features. He was gaping at her as if he’d never before heard that word. Stillness suffocated the two of them as a waiter came in and set dishes on the table before scurrying from the tension filled room.
“You said yes over the phone. I thought this was settled,” Rafe calmly replied as he picked up his glass of wine and slowly took a sip of the dark red liquid while she awkwardly stood a few feet from him. She finally moved her head, looking around for Mr. Kinsor, who had disappeared. She’d have to find another ride back home. It was too long of a walk.
Ari watched as Rafe swallowed, the way his throat constricted as the fluid slid smoothly down. As if looking through another person’s eyes, she noticed he was quite handsome and so self-assured. Why would he even need to hire mistresses? Like he’d pointed out in his offices, there was a line of women practically begging to be chosen to be on his arm.
He had to know she didn’t want to do this even before she’d refused, so why go through the motions? She would understand it a little more if he was an ugly tyrant, hideous to look at. With his olive complexion, slight Italian accent, and amazing self-assuredness, she didn’t see a reason behind what he did. In another time she may even be disappointed not to date him.
Of course, he wasn’t asking for a girlfriend – he didn’t want to date. He wanted a woman to do his bidding, be at his beck and call, fall at his knees, and do all sorts of kinky, twisted sexual favors. She’d never be what he was looking for.
Ari’s knees grew shaky as the two of them continued their stand-off, so she slowly sank down into the chair. As his gaze held hers captive, she took a steadying breath as she picked up the full glass of sweet red wine in front of her and took a sip, giving herself a minute to think. She didn’t know why it was important for her to say anything, but she needed to.
“I thought I could do this – sell my body for the sake of my mother. I was wrong. I planned on saying yes, was determined to take the position and deal with it. I had no idea I would say no until the word popped out of my mouth. I’m slightly desperate at the moment, but I guess I do actually have a bit of pride still intact.”
Ari watched as his eyes narrowed dangerously. She hadn’t been trying to insult him, but it looked like she had, anyway. He seemed to be the type of guy you didn’t want to push when you were so precariously close to a steep cliff that they could shove you over.
Suddenly, she didn’t care. She felt exhilaration take over the ever present fear as she took another drink and looked him dead in the eye. He may have all the money in the world, and he may even have more power than the President, but he was still just a man. The bottom line was that he couldn’t force her into anything she didn’t want to do – no matter who he was.
If she’d been born in a foreign land, he could probably just shoot her right there on the spot with no consequences, but she was here in the land of the free, where she was safe. Feeling like she actually had a choice gave her hope. She’d made the right decision.
She refused to be somebody she wasn’t. She never would’ve even thought of dating a man as striking and sophisticated as Rafe – not in her lifetime. She would marry an accountant, or a fireman. She’d have a small house with a yard that needed mowing and two kids splashing in a pool with their puppy. She wasn’t a girl who wanted to play kinky games.
She finished her wine and felt relief that her knees had stopped shaking. It was time to leave so she stood from her chair. There was no point in their conversation continuing. She’d said no. She didn’t owe him an explanation. She reached down to grab her purse when his hand snaked out and gripped her arm.