C10 ATTENDING A BUSINESS MEETING WITH HIM

CALI

I was so deep in my thoughts that I almost forgot where I was until his voice cut through the silence.

Low. Firm. Controlled.

“Strip.”

For a few seconds, my body went completely numb.

It wasn’t shock exactly it was realization. A slow, heavy realization that settled in my chest and made it hard to breathe. That was when it truly hit me. I wasn’t imagining this. I wasn’t exaggerating things in my head.

I was really here.

This wasn’t empty talk or some cruel bluff meant to scare me. I had agreed to this arrangement with my own mouth, signed it with my own hands, and now I was standing inside the consequences of that decision.

I tried to remind myself why I was doing this.

For my brother.

I repeated the words silently, like a prayer, hoping they would steady me. But they didn’t bring comfort the way I had hoped. Instead, they felt distant too small to fight the fear crawling up my spine.

My hands began to tremble before I could stop them.

My eyes burned as tears gathered, pushing against my effort to stay strong. I blinked rapidly, lifting my chin as if that alone could force the tears back. I had expected hardship. I had prepared myself for discomfort, humiliation, and sacrifice.

Just not this soon.

Not like this.

I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs even though my chest felt tight. My heart pounded loudly in my ears, each beat echoing like a warning.

This man was cruel.

Cold.

Calculated.

There was no warmth in him, no hesitation, no trace of guilt. Everything he did felt intentional measured. He knew exactly how much pressure to apply without crossing a line that would break the arrangement.

I wiped my tears quickly, angrily, refusing to let him see how close I was to falling apart. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. I straightened my back slowly, forcing my shoulders back even though my muscles felt weak.

I would not collapse in front of him.

I had signed up for this, hadn’t I?

I reminded myself of that fact again and again. I wasn’t innocent in this. I had made a choice. A desperate one, yes but still a choice. And choices came with consequences.

Just as my emotions threatened to overwhelm me completely, he raised a hand.

“Stop,” he said calmly.

The word landed harder than the command before it.

I froze, confused, my breath caught halfway in my chest. His voice didn’t carry anger or urgency. If anything, it sounded… casual. Detached.

Then, as if nothing had happened no tension, no fear, no emotional damage left in his wake he added,

“Go and get ready. We have a business meeting to attend.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.

That was it?

No explanation. No acknowledgment of what he had just done. No concern for how shaken I looked or felt.

I didn’t wait for him to say anything else.

I turned and rushed out of his room, which was directly opposite mine, my heart pounding so hard I felt dizzy. My steps were fast, unsteady, fueled by the need to put distance between myself and him.

I didn’t stop until I found Bethel.

She looked up immediately when she saw my face, concern flickering across her features. I told her about the meeting as calmly as I could manage, my voice slightly strained despite my effort to sound composed.

She nodded without asking questions.

“I’ll help you choose something suitable,” she said gently. “Go freshen up.”

I nodded back, grateful she didn’t press me.

BRYAN

The look on her face was… unforgettable.

She hadn’t screamed.

She hadn’t argued.

She hadn’t begged.

Instead, she had stood there shaking trying desperately to hold herself together, clinging to whatever strength she had left. And somehow, that reaction amused me more than anything else could have.

I almost laughed.

There was something about the way she tried to stay composed, the way she refused to fall apart completely, that made the moment even more satisfying. She looked fragile. Overwhelmed. Completely out of her depth.

And for the first time, I realized just how easily I could get under her skin.

I hadn’t known before. I hadn’t expected it to be so simple.

When I told her to leave, she didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second. She turned and walked out like someone escaping a fire, and the moment the door closed behind her, I burst into laughter.

The sound echoed in the room, sharp and unrestrained.

I shook my head, still smiling as I walked into my room to get ready for the meeting. I chose a black suit clean, tailored, precise. I paired it with gold accessories, adjusting my cufflinks carefully as I looked at my reflection.

Tonight mattered.

Especially since Thomas Winthrop was in town.

That alone was enough to make the evening interesting.

The thought of seeing him again stirred something familiar in me. The memory of our last encounter replayed in my mind, and my lips curved into a slow smile.

This meeting wouldn’t be boring.

CALI

I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hair with a soft pink towel. The steam lingered in the air, but it did little to calm my thoughts. As I moved toward the bed, my eyes fell on the outfit Bethel had laid out.

It was stunning.

Even without putting it on, I could tell it would fit perfectly. A black sleeveless gown simple in design, but undeniably elegant. There was nothing excessive about it, nothing loud. Just clean lines and quiet confidence.

I hesitated for a moment before reaching for it.

Then I dressed slowly.

I smoothed the fabric as it settled against my skin, the material hugging me in a way that felt unfamiliar. The gown fit as if it had been made for me. I paired it with black heels and kept my makeup minimal soft tones, nothing dramatic.

Gold accessories completed the look, catching the light subtly. Not too much. Just enough.

When I was done, I stood still and stared at my reflection.

For a long moment, I didn’t recognize the woman looking back at me.

She looked composed. Poised. Elegant.

She didn’t look like someone who had nearly broken minutes earlier.

I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Bryan to send for me. My bag rested nearby, my phone tucked inside it. I thought briefly about calling the doctor, my fingers twitching slightly but then I stopped myself.

It could wait.

Just for now.

The knock on the door startled me slightly.

It was Bethel.

She gasped softly when she saw me. “Oh gosh,” she said warmly, her eyes lighting up. “You look stunning.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks before I could stop it.

“You’re definitely going to turn heads,” she added with a small giggle.

I forced a smile, unsure how to respond.

“Young master is waiting for you,” she said gently before stepping back.

She waved and left, and the room fell quiet again.

I took one last deep breath, steadying myself.

Then I stepped out.