Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“We’ve heard enough out of you. Gabriel and I will manage fine from here on out. You can go now.”
There’s the faintest hint of threat behind Tom’s calm dismissal. My boss stands there, looking between the three of us for a moment. I can almost hear him breathing with fear, and then without another word, Jensen takes the suitcase and flees.
I watch him leave, my heart starting to pound. I can’t stand the weaselly man, but at least I know what to expect from him. As he disappears, I take a deep breath and turn to face Tom and Gabriel Costas.
“Costas?” I ask. “I know that name. You’re clients of the firm I work at. Or used to work at, I should say.”
The two brothers exchange a quick smile and I swear I feel my nipples get hard at the sight of it.
“We are. Actually, let me correct that. We were.” Tom looks at Gabriel before continuing. He nods and Tom continues. “We’re no longer using Draper Peabody for our legal needs.” Tom’s voice is rich and deep. It’s the kind of voice that could whisper inane words in my ear and still make me horny.
“Oh, I see.” I bite my bottom lip. “So that’s how you know Jensen?”
The two men laugh mirthlessly.
“Yes. You see, he thought he was pulling the wool over our eyes, and we couldn’t have that.” Tom straightens his shirtsleeves under his fitted blazer. I can’t help but notice his rippling muscles as he does so. “So he owes us, and when he offered to make it right in the most interesting of ways, we decided to see how far his crazy idea would go.”
My mind races.
“Crazy idea? What do you mean?”
Gabriel shrugs carelessly.
“He offered us something of value. Something priceless in fact. Of course, we didn’t actually expect it to be true,” Gabriel cuts in, “but then, you’re extremely beautiful, sweetheart.” He eyes my voluptuous physique with a hungry look and I again find myself blushing under his close inspection. “You are a stunning woman, Michelle.”
“I… thank you?” I can hardly believe that this gorgeous, rich man thinks I’m the good-looking one in the room.
“And with quite the intellect we hear.” Gabriel folds his strong arms across his chest, and I suddenly can’t help but imagine what it would feel like to be held by him.
“I guess so.” I manage to stammer out.
“Top of your class in law school, and top of your class in college. I’d say more than ‘guess so.’” Gabriel winks at me.
I think I’m going to pass out. Are these two men flirting with me?
I take a deep, steadying breath. I’m unsure what to say next, aside from asking the obvious question. Well, we might as well start at square one.
“What exactly am I doing here?” I blurt out, immediately regretting my rudeness.
But to my relief, the Costas brothers don’t seem displeased.
Gabriel chuckles and flashes another smile. My heart thuds in reaction. “Well, sweetheart, it seems we’ve just bought you from Jensen Draper for fifty-thousand dollars.”
My mouth drops open in complete shock. “You bought me? You can’t buy a woman! That’s illegal. Everywhere. No government will sanction this.”
“Actually, when you’re a Costas, you can.” Tom shrugs while holding out a piece of paper.
“What the hell is this?” I feel my rage boiling up inside, staring down at the piece of paper. I’m so shocked that the numbers become squiggles before my eyes, making it impossible to decipher. I see my name, and a dollar figure, but nothing is computing.
“It’s a receipt.” He shrugs. “Like I said, we paid Jensen fifty thousand for you.”
I force myself to focus and read the receipt quickly. Sure enough, it’s a receipt, signed by Jensen. For me, for fifty thousand dollars. My breathing becomes harsh and my pupils dilate. Is this really happening?
“No, stop,” I say, looking up to meet those flashing blue eyes. “You said that he screwed you over. So why did you pay him for me? He should be giving you money, not the other way around.” I grip the thin paper tightly, trying to wrap my mind around this odd situation.
The two men shrug.
“We caught Jensen stealing from us, siphoning cash from one of our settlements. When we finally got him to admit it, we realized just how crazy he is.” Tom tells me all of this without any emotion, as if stating facts for a case. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to follow.
“And he didn’t have the money to pay us back immediately, so he presented this crazy idea. To sell a woman to us. But not just any woman. A smart, beautiful one. We never thought he’d actually deliver because when you’re that deep in the hole, it’s pretty difficult to clamber out, but he did it,” says Gabriel in a smooth tone. “It’s been a surprise.”