Page 10 of Erotic Behavior (Observant Behaviors)

“Yes, it appears they have.”

“Do you have a name?Or do I just call you Mystery Man?”

“My name is Michael, ma’am.I apologize for not properly introducing myself inside.”He looked nervously back at the double doors we had just walked out of.

“Do they make you uncomfortable, too?”I asked as I slid into the backseat.

“Who ma’am?”

“The perfect match or perfect auction or whatever they call themselves people?”

“Yes.Yes, they do.”

He handed me my uncomfortable heels and made sure he tucked my dress in before closing the door to the backseat.I felt like I was moving around inside a bubble with a mess of thoughts running through my head as he drove off into the city.

“Where are we going?”

“To my employer’s penthouse.It’s where he stays during the week.”

“And where does he stay on the weekends?”

“That depends on the weekend.”

“But it’s Friday night.”

“Yes.From what I understand, he wanted you to feel comfortable as you got settled in, so this weekend he will stay there.The city is where you live now, isn’t it?”

“I live in Brooklyn, so not far, but also not here,” I said as I watched the luxurious buildings of New York City pass by in the night.Nothing was going according to plan, but then again, no one had promised me it would.The plans me and Talia spoke of were the ones we made up to feel as if we had some control in what was going on.Turns out we had no control at all.

“Do you know what happened to my friend Talia?”

Michael looked up into the rearview mirror.“No, I’m sorry, Ms.Wessex.I don’t.”

The car pulled up to a massive highrise.Instead of pulling into a garage, Michael pulled up out front and a woman opened my door and stuck her head in.

“Ms.Wessex, my name is Pamela.I’m Mr.Haynes’ personal assistant.I will escort you the rest of the way.You can follow me.”

I leaned down and slid my awful heels back on as quickly as I could and buckled the straps.Pamela looked like a damn model and just stood there with a smile on her face the entire time.It unnerved me, and at the same time sparked a flame of jealousy deep within me.I followed her into the building and then through to an elevator in silence as I tried to figure out why I was jealous of a woman who worked for a man I’d never met.Sure, I’d be marrying him soon, but I didn’t even know him.I looked over at her in the elevator.She had on a black pencil skirt with what had to be five-inch heels, and a nearly see-through black blouse.The only thing covering her correctly was the tank top she had underneath it.She was beyond gorgeous and even with my new makeover and fancy dress, I felt like a frumpy kindergartner.

The doors opened, and she stepped out.“Ms.Wessex, is everything okay?”

Her voice pulled me from the daze I was in and I walked out of the elevator and joined her in the foyer of one of the largest apartments I had ever seen in my life.My entire townhouse could have fit inside the entryway.The floors were a dark gray stone, maybe slate, and the walls were a similar color.The dark tones did nothing but accentuate the look of everything else.The style was rustic yet modern, with gold accents and warm leather furniture.I slowed as we passed huge windows that overlooked the city.It was truly breathtaking.

“Mr.Haynes is still working in his office, but he wanted me to ensure you get settled in.Michael will bring your bags up shortly, but I can show you to your room if you’d like to freshen up.”

“My room?”

“Yes, we have prepared one of the guest rooms for you while you are staying.”

“Wait, I’m sorry.Do you live here too?”

“Me?Oh no, my apartment is a few floors down.However, I spend time here while Mr.Haynes is in the city to help with anything he may need.”

This was great.My future husband came with a walking, talking, barbie doll for an assistant and I was staying in the guest room.I shook my head, unable to gather enough thoughts to figure out why that bothered me.I should be happy for my own space, yet I wasn’t.I honestly felt as if I were getting the cold shoulder.Whoever Mr.Haynes was I didn’t know but I did know that he already seemed too busy for a wife.He didn’t bother to meet me at the auction house, wasn’t in the car when I was picked up, and now he’s saddled me with his assistant, who was showing me to my room.My regrets were growing by the minute and I just kept reminding myself I was here for the money.That was it, five quick years of my life to be debt-free and financially stable.I needed to keep a clear head and remember this was nothing but a business deal.As many times as I told Talia her fantasies of some sexy billionaire husband falling in love with us weren’t true, I realized now some part of me had held out hope for the same things.

“This room is yours.Mr.Haynes is at the end of the hallway in case you need anything, however we have staff working twenty-four hours so if you don’t want to disturb him you can simply press this intercom button and it will connect you with whoever is working for the night.”

Pamela pointed to a control panel on the wall with more buttons than my cell phone had.