Red Hot Affairs: The Billionaire's Pimp

A Contract For Disaster

Serafina's eyes fluttered open and she sat up immediately to realise that she was no longer in the SUV she'd been thrown into. A splitting headache banged away at her head, causing her to wince painfully and when she finally got a hold of herself, she realised she'd been leaning against a car.

 Memories of the past hour came rushing back and she glared at the men standing before her with so much hatred. "Did I really have to be drugged for me to get here?"

 The men gave her no reply. She was pulled by the arms and led into large, wrought iron gates like a criminal being led away to prison.

 But this prison was paradise.

 Was it possible for a penthouse mansion to have such a spacious compound because she'd never seen one before?

 At the far end of the large expanse of land sat a tall mansion, a huge percentage of it made up of glass. The concrete walls were either looking like they were made out of stone by expert masons or painted in white.

 A fountain was situated in the middle of the compound, demarcating the driveway. A stallion sat in the middle of a perimeter and a gargoyle at the top of the roof, expelling water from its snout and creating a perfect outline of water drops.

 There was something about this place that screamed generational wealth; from the fleet of sports cars to the golf course on the other side to the Olympic-sized pool.

  From last night's encounter with Giovanni, she knew he was rich but it was starting to feel and look like an understatement.

 Finally, they got to a large door and one of the men stepped forward to swipe a key over the device. It beeped before the door opened.

 They walked through a large, spacious hall filled with paintings and artefacts. Serafina knew the worth of all these paintings. If she stole the Mona Lisa painting staring at her, she was set for life and even for generations to come. Which brought her to the question, how had he been able to acquire this priceless piece of art? There was only one of it and it was in the Louvre Museum in Paris. So how had he...

 "Let her go." A familiar voice, filled with displeasure came and the men stepped away from her.

 Serafina turned to see him standing there, dressed in a pair of white slacks that hung loosely around his legs and a black t-shirt with two of its buttons popped open. A silver chain with the pendant of a panther sat on his olive skin. He didn't look to be in a good mood and compared to the man she'd met yesterday, he was colder.

 "And why does she look like she was drugged?" Giovanni asked the men.

 "She was struggling so much and creating a nuisance. We were forced to do it."

 "I made it fucking clear to you all that I wanted you to bring her in without having her rough handled or drugged but you went against my orders."

 The men blinked and Serafina gave them 'I told you' looks.

 "We didn't mean to—"

 "Get out." His voice was low and dangerous. Even Serafina was surprised at the intensity of it.

 The men nodded and left the house, leaving just the both of them. Giovanni gave her a once over before turning on his feet. "Follow me."

 Wow. He didn't even look at her like they had something together last night. Serafina thought to herself as she followed him towards the large living room.

 She didn't blame him anyway. She'd made things this hard when she decided to make that wrong move this morning.

 But she had several questions and as she made her settle on one of the couches in the living room, she began to pile them up in her head.

 "Cider?" He asked as he walked over to the mini bar at the other side of the living room.

 "No. I'll just have water." Serafina replied.

 He scoffed mockingly and poured himself a glass of cider before filing a glass with sparkling water. He handed it over to her before walking over to the window to take a sill.

 "You look like you have a lot to say, Marcia," Giovanni began.

 "It's Serafina." She corrected him. She hated being called that name and even if he said it in the most sensual and alluring way ever, she didn't want to be called that.

 He raised a brow. "I choose what I call you."

 The fucking audacity. Serafina boiled. Was he doing this to get back at her for what she did this morning? "Very well, then." He was the boss here.

 "What are your questions?"

 "How did you know me? Why were you having me followed? Is there any reason why you had me followed for six months?"

 Giovanni laughed. "I don't think that's a question I want to answer."

 She stood to her feet and walked over to him before placing her glass of water on the sill, directly beside where he sat. She looked into his stormy grey orbs, hating that they were drawing her in once again.

 "Are you by any chance doing this so you can get me killed?"

 "Why should I kill you?"

 "Because you might be one of the bounty hunters sent after me. They probably increased the price on my head and to afford you, a huge price must have be paid."

 "Maybe if you stop being cryptic, I'd understand what you're talking about." Giovanni shrugged. 

 "Never mind." She smiled and grabbed her glass of water. 

 "Move back a little. I need to breathe properly."

 Serafina scoffed. "You must be repulsed by me."

 "I do not involve myself with women who hide under the guise of selling sex and bodies to steal from men."

 Blood slowly started to boil from within her. He had the guts to call her a prostitute. But she didn't express her anger. She was really good at keeping her emotions in check. "But you fucked me, Giovanni. Four fucking rounds with you initiating every action and arousal. That sure feels like you are deeply attracted to me."

 Giovanni only smiled and that infuriated her the more. She hated that he wasn't moved by anything she said. He was cold, unmoved and expressionless. "Women. I like that you didn't see the thin line between me trying to get a sex starved woman who probably hasn't been touched in ways by a man she likes to feel comfortable enough to unleash her real identity. Amour, everything I did, led us to this moment and it's hilarious how you're still oblivious to it."

 This time, Serafina couldn't even hold back her anger. She glared at him and stepped away from him, deciding that she was done with this topic. But she didn't miss the tension between them both. The sizzling hot chemistry Giovanni so tried to quench with his coldness.

 "Let's get to business. I am not here to banter with you." Serafina replied and took a seat.

 "Neither am I." He replied and slipped out a file from a table nearby, dropping it before her. "I'd have taken this to the study for confidentiality but I do not see the need."

 "And I do not care." Serafina retorted before picking up the file and slipping out papers bound with a stapler out of it. 

 Giovanni must have had this contract printed out a long time ago. Did that mean he'd been waiting for her that long so she could work for him? Who the hell did this if not a mentally deranged stalker?

 Serafina looked up at him to see that he was staring at her and he didn't tear his eyes away. She looked back at the contract and read through it, searching for any loopholes that might have gotten her trapped but this seemed clean and easy to understand. A pen sat beside the file but she didn't pick it up yet.

 "Do you think this is a good idea? Drake doesn't let one of his go that easily and if he knows I was forced into this, it wouldn't go down well between you both."

 "I didn't force you into this," Giovanni replied and took a seat beside her. She was engulfed by the scent of his cologne. It clouded her senses in ways she didn't like. "I gave you two simple options and you made a choice."

 "Those were dead ends!" She snapped. "You used my situation against me, knowing fully well that you could get me to do anything for you!"

 He smiled. He had a beautiful dentition. "You're afraid."

 "I am not." She looked away from him, hating that he could read her so well.

 "I recognise that look, Serafina. I see the fear in your eyes."

 "I do not want to hear anything you have to say, Giovanni."

 "You're safe. Don't worry. As long as you work for me, I'll make sure you're protected. Leave me to deal with Trevor and just sign this."

 "And what do I get in return?" Serafina asked as she picked up the papers. "Here, you said the duration of the contract is for six months, in which I can choose to leave when the time expires. And I get benefits. What are the benefits?"

 "A work permit," He replied and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. A brass lighter followed. "I know you hate this job so much so I am giving you the opportunity to live and work freely in America. To start a new life after this period of time."

 Serafina laughed. "You're being serious?"

 "Have I ever made jokes with you before?" He asked.

 "It's too good to be true."

 "Why? You're used to toiling day and night to get something as simple as this?"

 That jab hit the right place. She felt a pang in her chest. She was embarrassed to tell him that Drake was making her work for a three year duration to get a work permit. 

 "I don't know. I just don't believe you want me to work for six months to get a work permit and then you let me live for free without holding anything against me?"

 Giovanni sat up and turned to face her. He stared into her eyes and for a split moment, something flashed in his eyes. Something peculiar, something she wanted to see again. Then he spoke.

 "There is a lot you don't know, Serafina and I choose to keep it that way. Yes, I am making this possible for reasons known to me. So sign the contract if you want."

 Serafina closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to Mary before she picked up the pen. She didn't know what the future held but she hoped this train she was about to take a ride on wouldn't end up in a disaster.

 When she was done signing the paper, he smiled at her and picked up the file. His fingers grazed her cheek and he pushed her hair behind her ear, his eyes darkening in the process and when she thought he was going to kiss her, he stood to his feet and walked away, leaving her empty and angry.