Page 54 of Emergence and Ascendance

"Would you like a tour?"

"I would."

I stood and extended my hand to help her up.

"Come on. We'll start with where you'll be staying."

We walked through the house, past the main staircase and down a hallway to the west wing.

"This is my area and the entire section was recently renovated. It has two bedrooms, my study, a gym, and private access to both the indoor and outdoor pools."

"Why the renovation?"

The truth was complicated but there was no point in lying. I hated my ex-wife and anything associated with her. I wanteda reset. "After my divorce, I needed a change. I didn't want reminders of how much time I lost loving someone who didn't give a damn about loving me."

I watched her expecting an adverse reaction because even though my words were true, they were still pretty harsh.

"I get that." Her eyes met mine for a brief minute and I nodded and kept going.

"This is yours." I opened a door to a room with a king-sized bed, sitting area, and private bathroom. The decor was neutral with cream walls, tan and cream bedding, and natural wood furniture. Simple but still nice. She walked in and moved her fingers over the dresser then smiled at me over her shoulder. "It's beautiful in here."

You're beautiful in here…

"I'm glad you approve. Everything is new. You'll be the first person to stay here."

"I wasn't going to ask."

I arched my brow and she smiled, big as hell. "I didn't say I wasn't going to think about who else might have been in that bed, just that I wouldn't ask."

I chuckled and nodded.

"Why two bedrooms in your private wing?"

"Each one has two. That's how the house was designed. I told you my mother was extra as fuck. There are two outdoor pools and one indoor. Two tennis courts, two racquetball rooms, two indoor basketball gyms; both are full court."

"Shit."

"Makes no damn sense but it worked with the so-called design plans she had for balancing each wing. Overkill, because no one uses that shit."

She grinned and moved around the room. I watched her exploring the space while I explored her.

"I'm out of my element with all this.”

“How are you out of your element? I’m well aware that the Whitney empire is much larger than my family’s.”

“Not your house. This, us. It doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?"

"Why do you want this contract with me?"

It was a fair question and one I'd been asking myself since Giselle first mentioned her to me. I had never wanted a submissive contract before but I damn sure wanted this one.

I wanted Scotlyn but I also didn't know anything definite outside of wanting her.

"I honestly don't have a simple answer I can give you."

I didn't even have a fucking answer at all…

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