Chapter 1 THE DEAL

ELIZA.

"I can't do that, sir... it's not... it doesn't work for me."

"I don't remember saying this was optional. We have a deal, Miss. Vale. This is part of that deal."

"But I have a lude here! I can't just up and leave it!" I exclaim.

"Don't be dramatic," Lincoln, my boss and CEO of Grey Enterprises retorts in that oh so dry manner of his, the kind that grates on your nerves. "It is just for a week. I am done having this discussion. Also, you can have the day off to prepare for it. That will be all."

This is unbelievable.

I know we have a deal.

I know it is not something I can easily get out of, but this, dropping my lude to follow you halfway across the world on such short notice... it can't be fair.

This is all Nick's fault.

My twin brother.

As I walk out of his office I can't help but think back to the situation that led to this mess.

Me and my brother... Well, we are orphans.

By choice.

Our parents were the deadbeat kind that will abandon you to your devices but still want to take you for everything you are worth.

My brother had left them the second we turned eighteen.

I mean it, the very second.

We had stood by the window hand in hand as we watched the clock strike twelve, and once it was a new day, we had escaped through the window and never looked back.

Not even once.

With the little money I had managed to save up, I had enrolled part time in a community college while working, while Nick had gone to do something more hands on by working in.mechanics shop.

For a few years everything went well.

We had a steady, -low but steady- income, our plans were moving in, and I managed to land a job at Grey Enterprises as a part time secretary.

Everything changed when Lincoln, my boss, noticed me.

Up till now, I still don't know what it is about me that caught his attention but because of that, I had gone from the bottom of the food chain to being his personal assistant to the envy of a lot of people in the company, cough, cough, women.

And also my brother.

I don't know.

Maybe it was because I was moving faster ahead and he tried to keep up, maybe he resented my success while he still remained a mechanic, I don't know but he changed.

Started coming home late.

Hung out with the wrong crowds.

Always picking fights with me and looking down on my colleagues.

And my boss.

Oh he hates Lincoln with a passion and I still don't understand why.

Anyway, one day, I had told him that I would be arriving late because of a dinner meeting I had to attend with Lincoln.

Innocent enough right?

Wrong.

See, Lincoln had a habit of dropping me off whenever work ran a little too late and he repeated the same process again.

Except this time, we were ambushed.

They had not managed to do any damage thanks to Lincoln's defense skills but he still got hit in the head and had to be taken into the hospital.

It was later on I had found out the link between the ambush and my brother but it was already too late.

The cops were on their trail.

I was terrified.

Lost.

He was my only family, the one that we had gone through thick and thin together, I couldn't just let him be arrested.

So I had gone to Lincoln, heart in my mouth, confessing all I knew and begging him to please spare my brother.

He had agreed readily enough.

But with a price.

In addition to being his personal assistant, I will also be his lover, and must be ready to do his bidding at all times.

The proposal shocked me.

Never, not once did I think he saw me that way, and I would have been flattered if he wasn't using my brother's freedom as the bargain chip.

What was I to do?

I agreed.

And so, here we are, secretary by day, lover by night.

Except it didn't stay that watt for long.

Lincoln is... insatiable.

He would me in the middle of the day, while working and the moment I crossed the threshold of his office I would be in his arms

There is no place in his office he has not had me.

The walls, the carpets, his desk, his chairs, everywhere and in every position.

I was like his very own personal toy and the worst part is I liked it.

I liked the way he held me, pulled at me, like IA wasn't some breakable toy

But as a full blooded woman.

He gave pleasure and expected it back in turn.

Sometimes, he would call me to his office while having an online meeting, and point down at his fly and my whole body would zing in pleasure.

Pleasure at taking him into my mouth and pushing him to insanity while he maintained that cold facade for his meeting.

It was like a game

See how far I could drive him crazy.

But he was the one who always won.

I can't resist him.

And now, now I am to follow him all the way to Turkey for what he calls a business merger

I am not bothered about the meeting, my problem is... this thing between us has never left the states.

What happens when we are over there and we do not have the luxury to return to our own personal space.

We will be with each other, twenty four seven, what if everything changes.

How long can I hold on like this?

"Hello? Earth to Eliza?"

I come out of my reminiscing to see Ric, one of my colleagues leaning over me, eyes worried.

"Hi, Ric," I greet as I unconsciously lean away from him. "How are you doing?"

"Good. Are you okay?" he asks, his eyes still showing concern.

"Yeah, yeah. I am good, just... preoccupied."

"Anything I can help with?" he asks with a charming smile.

"Not really. Mr. Grey just informed me that I will be accompanying him to Turkey for the business merger," I explain.

"Wow. Lucky you. What is the issue?"

I heave a sigh at the question.

How do I even begin to explain?

"Yeah, it is great but ... I don't know. It is just quite... impromptu."

"Welcome to the world of business. You need to be quick on your feet."

"Thanks Ric."

"So, are you done for the day? Do you want to grab a drink?"

Before I could answer, I hear Lincoln's door click close and I catch him walking out of the office.

From the look he gave me, I could tell that he had heard the question.

"Mr. Bates,"he begins. "I wasn't aware you were done with the Maximilian project."

"ao,h I am not sir."

"Then why are you here preventing my PA from doing her job?"

"Oh, I wasn't... it is the end of ..."

At the deadpan look on Lincoln's face, he straightens up from my desk.

"My apologies, sir. I will... I will leave now."

With a resigned but expected twinge I watch as he leaves, as well as Lincoln who doesn't even spare me a glance.

Again, how is this my life?