Chapter 29：Mia

It was true where the two million was concerned. I'd been going through every possible scenario in my head last night, but there was simply no solution.

"I…" I lifted my eyes from his lips to his eyes. Suddenly I blushed. "If I agreed to your proposal," I said, nervous all of a sudden, "you'd free Andy from his debt? I mean… you won't go after Andy… Andy would be free?"

James smiled. "Of course," he said, his face stern and serious. "I'm a businessman, Mia. A contract is a contract."

I licked my lips and nodded. "A business contract," I said. Suddenly a thought struck me. "A written and signed business contract," I said distractedly. "I… I would have one between us, please."

He released me and then roared with laughter. I was bewildered at his reaction. When he managed to calm down, he folded his arms across his chest.

"Well." I carried on, annoyed at his amusement. "I don't want you to go back on your word now, do I?"

He leaned toward me again and proceeded to stroke my lips as if he found the red, sore flesh fascinating.

"I would be sad if you didn't want a signed contract, Mia. I wouldn't want you to run off on me," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I'd be sad."

I cocked my head to one side, wondering why he'd care if I were to run away before the contract ended. It must be his pride and possibly a billionaire thing. And of course I could never do that, running away before the contract ended.

Five years was a long time though. I wondered if I could handle it. But it was for Andy's sake. If both Andy and I were to work our hardest, me as a kitchen hand and he as a waiter, to pay that two million dollars, it would take us the rest of our lives. Unless, of course, one of us won the lottery, which was very unlikely because neither of us had ever bought a lottery ticket before and weren't likely to in the future.

"I won't run away," I confirmed. "I'll live up to my end of the contract, and you, mister, better uphold yours as well," I said firmly.

He straightened up. "Sounds good to me," he replied.

I watched him with interest, my guard up.

"Follow me," he instructed and then headed toward the living area.

I slipped off the barstool and followed him as he commanded. He led me into a spacious room that had a great view of the city below. The moment I saw the large, sleek glass desk and leather chair, I knew it was his office. He went to sit on the comfortable chair and powered on his laptop. I reluctantly stepped in farther as he turned his attention to me.

He must have noticed my low spirits. "Have you changed your mind?"

I reddened. Even though I was afraid and unsure of what I was doing, of what would happen after the contract was signed, of what he'd do to me, I wasn't a coward. I wasn't the type to turn tail and run.

"Of course not," I stammered and marched to stand before him, refusing to show him how anxious I really was.

"Sit down. This won't take long," he said, nodding toward the sofa a few steps behind me.

I glanced behind and was reminded of the scenario of us together in his office back at his mansion yesterday. I hesitantly moved toward the sofa and took a seat. I was to become his mistress for five years. I knew mistresses performed nightly entertaining with their men, and by entertaining, I meant sex of course. But what else did a mistress do with her man? Oh God! I really hoped the sex thing wasn't an every night session.

Suddenly James's statement from yesterday rang loud within my ears. I'd fuck you every night.

I swallowed hard, and my heart leaped with dread. But surely it couldn't be that bad, right? People enjoyed sex. There was pleasure in sex. But every night? Who'd have the energy for that?

The very question caused me to raise my eyes to the man who was to be my future lover. My master?