Chapter 56

Mia

The lobster was amazing. The meat was succulent, juicy, and sweet, along with the white sauce and roasted vegetable that accompanied it. Of course the entrée of an array of seafood such as prawn, oyster, and mussel were delicious as well. James, not surprisingly, had the steak for his main. He seemed to like it, which was great. It made dinner even better when your companion was in a good mood and enjoying his meal.

As usual, James finished his food before I did, and he sat there watching me. I was used to that by now, used to him savoring every action I made when I ate my meal. I wondered if that was common for a man to watch his companion eat. Then of course, because I was a curious being, I couldn’t help myself and decided to ask.

“So,” I said, putting my knife and fork down. “I was just wondering… Do you enjoy watching me eat?”

That brought a smile to his lips. Gosh! The man was truly handsome when he smiled. There was that something about him, that dark radiance that drew you in like a magnet and that you had no willpower of your own to escape.

As always, he was blunt. “Yes, I do,” he said. “I enjoy watching you eat. You love food. You appreciate food, and I like that. You’re adorable when you eat.”

Adorable? Again? He had used the word adorable on me twice already within a few hours. Should I be basking in delight that he had used that particular endearing word to describe me? I had thought the word adorable was only used in relation to cute, little beings and things such as babies, kittens, and puppies.

I touched my hand to my face and wondered if James thought I was like puppies and kittens. Pets! I was his pet, wasn’t I? That was why he kept referring to me as adorable.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said, my voice a little broken. “I need to use the restroom.”

“Sure,” he said.

I hastily got up from my seat, said, “I won’t be long,” and then rushed away.

In the restroom, I was pleased that there wasn’t anyone around and went to wash my hands. Hesitantly, I glanced up to look at myself in the mirror.

Gosh, but my face was more than a little red.

“Adorable,” I murmured under my breath. “I’m adorable.”

I dried my hands with some paper towels and sighed. I didn’t know if I wanted James to refer to me as adorable or not. Pet! I was his pet.

“Hi,” a soft voice said, interrupting my thoughts.

I turned to see Savanah smiling at me, her green eyes large and bright.

“Hey,” I said, pleased all of a sudden. “Oh my gosh, I thought I saw you before, and I wasn’t wrong. What are you doing here?”

Savanah blushed. “I’m out having dinner with…” She tucked her hair behind her ear.

“With who?” I asked. I was pretty sure it was with that hunky blond guy she was with. Suddenly I remembered that Savanah was also like me, a pet of sort to a billionaire named Mr. Bosworth.

“William,” she said.

“William,” I repeated. It was a very common name, right? William Bosworth. A billionaire. Surely no one I’d know. I wondered though if James knew the man.

I searched Savanah’s pretty face and noted that she didn’t look like she was having a hard time being Mr. Bosworth’s pet. If anything, she looked better than this afternoon when I had seen her back at the mall.

“What about you?” Savanah asked.

“Oh, me, I’m also out having dinner with—”

I paused. How should I describe James Maxwell to Savanah? Master? Owner? A billionaire I had made a contract with in exchange for my brother’s freedom and protection?

I noted she was patiently waiting for me to finish my sentence. I smiled and said, “James.”

“Your boyfriend?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No,” I said. And internally I wanted to say I wish. “You look really pretty in that dress,” I complimented her.

“Really?” She chuckled. “William bought it for me.” She licked her lips. “He bought me lots of clothing because I didn’t have any. I mean, I came with nothing on…” She blushed. “I mean… I didn’t even know…”

I saw tears brewing in her eyes, and I felt my heart go out to her. I had no idea what was happening to her and what she had gone through, but I knew a girl who needed comforting and help when I saw one.

Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight. That made it worse, and Savanah suddenly started crying her heart out.

“Savanah,” I began softly, “it’s okay. Calm down. It’s okay. Hush now… Dear, dear.”

Gosh, I sounded like a mother, I thought. Or an older sister. Yes, I had been through a lot of shit in my life and had craved human sympathy and comfort as Savanah needed now. But of course, I had had none, and the feelings were lonely and desolating. So in turn it was wonderful for me to be able to offer such priceless support to another girl who was in desperate need of it.

Savanah finally wiped her tears and chuckled in embarrassment. “God, I don’t know what came over me,” she said. “I don’t know…when I saw you, I felt like we could be friends and…” She sighed deeply. “Sorry… I’m annoying you, aren’t I?”

I shook my head. “No, not at all. Are you okay? You poor thing, you must have been through a lot.”

I took a few Kleenex tissues from the countertop and dabbed around her cheeks carefully so as not to mess up her beautifully made-up face.

Savanah chuckled. “Thanks,” she said.

Once she had calmed down a little, I couldn’t help but ask, “Savanah?”

“Hmm?” She responded while she was dabbing the tissue about her eye area.

“I saw a bodyguard with you this afternoon back at the mall,” I said.

She took another deep breath and then tucked her hair behind her ear again. She nodded. “Yes. It was my first time leaving the penthouse since—”

She seemed to be having a problem controlling her emotions. I encouraged her by touching her arms to comfort her.

She sighed and continued. “Since I started living with William. Oh, no, it hasn’t been very long. Just a couple of weeks. My world is so different now than what it was before.” She chuckled. “I guess in a way it’s good and bad at the same time.”

I could understand that. My world had changed too, both in a good and bad way. And it was all due to James Maxwell.

“So you said you’re a tourist, right?” she asked. “Are you enjoying your holiday here with this James person?”

I chuckled. “I’m not really here on holiday,” I said. “My brother had a bit of trouble, and I’m here to help him. We’re both from Mystic Spring, New Hampshire.”

“Oh, I see,” she said. “Las Vegas isn’t really a city where your dreams actually come true, is it? It’s more of a tourist city where men come to gamble and do prostitution.” She blushed and looked desperately angry at the same time.

I understood where she was going. Sin City was famous for those two things, wasn’t it? Of course drugs as well.

“So when are you going back?” Savanah asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” I said. “I still have a few things to sort out. I have to tell James first.”

“Can I…” Savanah tucked her hair behind her ear again. “Can I be your friend?”

I smiled. “Of course. But you live here in Vegas, right?”

She nodded. “William told me I’d have to travel with him wherever he goes,” she said. “I think he’s going back to LA soon.”

“Oh, I see,” I said. She must be Mr. Bosworth’s favorite pet.

“Can I have your cell phone number?” she asked. “Then we can talk and text message and do all the fun stuff friends do.”

I laughed. “Sure,” I said. “Oh wait, I don’t have my phone with me now, and I don’t remember the number.”

Savanah hastily took hers out. It was very flashy and brand new. She quickly went into the settings and found the number of her phone. Then she wrote it down for me on a piece of paper she had in her bag.

“Here.” She gave the paper with her number on it to me. “Please text me. Then we can definitely chat and stuff.”

I nodded. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve finally made a girlfriend. I was deliriously happy and gave the girl a big hug. “Thank you,” I said.

Savanah nodded. “Thank you too.”

When we moved back from each other’s embrace, we laughed.

“I should get back. William will wonder where I am,” she said. “He’d make a big fuss and disturb everyone if I didn’t return.”

“Huh?” I wanted to know what she meant. Surely he wasn’t abusing her? Oh God, please don’t let this William guy abuse my new friend.

She frowned. “I mean he’d bring in his bodyguards and tear this place apart if I didn’t return and he couldn’t find me.”

So this Mr. Bosworth was that protective of Savanah? I wondered if James would do the same if I were to go missing. Then I thought, yes, he’d do the same. After all, he himself had tracked down and saved my brother’s life, along with Matt, of course.

The thought made me happy, and I smiled.

“I better go,” she said.

“Yes,” I agreed. “Me too.”

We giggled and chatted like schoolgirls as we headed out the door of the restroom. I was about halfway to my and James’ table when we parted ways. I was heading toward the left and she the right. I waved at her when she turned to look at me. I giggled and waved again with the promise that we’d be the best of friends.

I was nearly at my table when I saw her sitting down on the other side of the first-floor balcony. Then I shifted my eyes to the man named William Bosworth. The moment I saw his face, I gasped in shocked surprise.

“William,” I said under my breath. “William?”

I couldn’t believe it. As in the William I knew, the William in James’ circle of friends.

A moment later, I sat down, my mind racing.

“Mia,” James’ voice reached me. “What’s the matter?”

I raised my eyes to his and shook my head. “Nothing,” I said.

“It seems you’ve met your friend,” he said, teasing.

I nodded my head. Then I remembered about the cell phone number she gave me. I quickly grabbed my bag and then searched for my phone.

“Another number to your contact list, eh?” James said. “Good on you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him as I added in the number under the contact list. As I was sending Savanah a text to let her know that this was my number and to please call and text me anytime she felt like it, I said, “Is that supposed to be sarcastic or—”

He cut me short. “Come here, little pet,” he said and pulled me into his arms.

His lips met mine, and he burned me with a searching kiss that made my body sing and ache for more. His lips were firm and warm, and his mouth tasted of bitter and sweet, the flavor of the wine he had been drinking.