Page 15 of Midnight Secrets

“Are these the best diamonds you have, Nigel?” I asked. “Because if they are, then your quality has definitely dropped and I’m disappointed.”

Lucrezia leaned back against my chest and my breath caught.

“I have no idea what you mean,” Nigel said from behind me.

I put the diamond down and turned to face him, my hand on Lucrezia’s stomach to manoeuvre her around. “Seriously?” I asked. “Father will be pissed that you’ve been trying to scam someone under my protection.”

His eyes darted from us to the trays on the table. “Maybe I can see if we have an alternative out the back.”

“Forget it,” I snapped. “I have a list of other suppliers that will be able to accommodate Lucrezia.”

He held his hand up. “I’ll get Mark to bring up some other trays.”

“Your contract with the Council is terminated,” I informed him and watched as he blanched back. “Lucrezia came to you on our recommendation and you have disrespected us. Have a pleasant day, Nigel.”

I didn’t wait for a response, Jordan would make his opinions known later. The threat of the wrath of the Council was enough to make Nigel step in front of the door as if to block us from leaving.

“Have a pleasant day,” I said, glaring at him. “Move because I have no problem opening the door over the top of you.”

Before coming here today, I had already decided that Lucrezia wouldn’t be doing business with this lowlife. He was a necessary evil in my world, but that didn’t mean he had to pollute someone as pure as Lucrezia.

He reluctantly stepped away from in front of the door.

“Next time you decide to try and rip someone off, you might want to reconsider,” I threw over my shoulder on the way out the door.

My arm around Lucrezia’s waist propelled her forward, because I could almost sense her panic at me destroying the deal she’d tried to set up. I didn’t stop until we were down the street and around the corner to where my car was parked.

“That was the only contact I had,” Lucrezia said when I released her, turning to stare in the direction we’d come. “I had already started to create the fastenings and chains.”

I spun her until her back pressed against the door of my car and my hands landed on either side of her. “Nigel will have someone watching us right now. Smile and pretend that everything is perfectly fine right now.” I lowered my head until the tip of my nose grazed her ear. She smelt divine enough to make the tastebuds of the celibate flood.

Her hand grasped my waist and her head canted slightly to the side in submission that made me want to control her. My knee pushed between her leg and I desperately tried not to notice how her body fit against mine. Her other hand landed on my chest.

“Is this okay?” she asked in a low tone.

Her innocent touches were more seductive than a thousand trained subs. My blood burned in my veins, all the way down to my dick who was twitching with interest. She had the power to bring a man to his knees with her naivety. I counted in my head until I felt the danger had passed before reluctantly pushing myself away from her.

“Get in the car, Lucrezia.” I opened the door and stared pointedly inside the car until she took the hint and climbed in before I walked to the other side and got in. My hands gripped the steering wheel to stop myself from touching her.

“Are they gone?” Her teeth bit into her lip and she stared at me with those huge, wide eyes that felt like they could bore into my soul.

“Yeah, I saw a movement from the corner of my eye.” That was a lie, but our performance would have been enough for no one in that organisation to fuck with her again.

“Ash?” I finally looked at her directly. “What am I going to do about my collection?”

A smile curved my lips and I winked at her. “All sorted. We’re heading there now.”

Her brow wrinkled in confusion and I started the car to move us out into traffic. The supplier I was taking her to was legitimate and owed me a few favours for insightful tax information I’d helped him with. I’d called him this morning on my way over to Lucas’s townhouse and he was setting up a display to see what would suit her style. He told me that different designers have signature cuts they tend to gravitate toward, and after he saw her first choices, he’d know what she would want.

Most places that held valuable items were hidden behind bland exteriors, and that included where Seth kept his imports. His warehouse held a lot of different goods since he had his fingers in a lot of juicy pies.

“Ash!” He wandered down the metal staircase from his office when he saw my car arrive. “And this must be the mysterious lady you need my help for.”

“Thanks for sorting this for me with such short notice,” I said, shaking his hand.

“No hassle, man. You’ve dragged me out of a few pickles in the past.”

“Seth, this is Lucrezia. She’s a jewellery designer branching into different markets, hence why we’re in the market for some specific stones.”

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