Page 20 of Master Heimdall
“Banks.”
I made a turn off Ludlow, and about half a mile down, she said, “There it is.”
“Where? All I see is a hostel.”
“That’s it,” she quipped. Clearly not having an issue with her location.
“Rose, we are in the city center. Not only is this not a good location for a woman but, it also has a lot of break-ins. You’re not staying in a hostel on my watch.” I was pissed, fuming, as I parked and opened her door. But not at her, at myself for not paying better attention to her address on her application. I took her by the hand and we walked purposefully toward the entrance. Outside, two guys were making a drug deal. I glared down at her meaningfully.
She didn’t return the look, but I detected a pink stain in her cheeks. Inside it was worse. The rooms were tiny and the walls were paper thin. “I hope you aren’t seeking attention in this place.” My tone had a nasty undercurrent to it that she didn't miss. But to her credit, overlooked.
“Sir, I understand this isn’t ideal, and I don’t intend to stay here forever, but it’s all I can afford right now.”
It was smart of her to not provoke me further by calling me by my name instead of Sir. She was holding on fast to that place of submission, I noted with grudging praise. “Pack, we are leaving in ten minutes. I will go and settle up with the manager.”
“But—”
“No buts, Rose. My company owns a building and it is located in a safe neighborhood. I’m moving you there tonight. Now, get a move on.” As I headed toward the door, I added, “I will make the rent part of your salary, and the next time you can’t afford safety, you will let me know, or next time we play, there will be no safeword. Do I make myself clear?”
She gulped. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good.” I left her to pack her belongings while I went downstairs to settle the bill. That went way better than it would have had she not still been in her role. Her reaction to my threat told me much about her state of mind. She expected there would be a next time, maybe even anticipated when that would happen.
When I returned, she was ready and seemingly more in control of her faculties than when I’d left her which made sense as Rose was a person who functioned by doing. By giving her a to-do list, I’d restored the remainder of her equilibrium.
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into the secured parking located under the building. I parked by the elevator and helped her out of the car. “There is a card code entry system for all the entrances to the building. We do a full override monthly, to keep things fresh and hopefully, sabotage proof.”
Rose smiled up at me. “Oh? And are there security cameras inside the elevator?” Her tone was naughty and it didn’t take much to guess what she’d say next. “Maybe we should put on a little show.”
“We could, but no one would see it. The system will record, but it isn’t monitored, at least not live feed, unless the panic button is pushed.”
“Well, isn’t that a shame? What a waste of a perfectly good opportunity.”
She pretend pouted and having never seen that look on her before, I laughed aloud. “Aren’t you just full of surprises tonight.”
We arrived at her floor and I opened the door with the master key. The view from the fourteenth floor was pretty decent. The blinds were left open and she had an unobstructed vista.
“Oh! This is lovely.” She dropped the bags in her arms on the couch. “And furnished to boot. I’m a lucky lady. This feels more like a suite in one of the hotels I managed in Paris. I love the glass and wood accents.”
Little did she know that the resemblance to a hotel was because this was the show suite and it was staged to perfection. I wasn’t the least surprised it reminded her of a hotel suite. It was designed to showcase the best of what the space had to offer. To the left of the open-floor living and dining room was a rustic kitchen with exposed brick and Edison bulbs hanging from driftwood fixtures. She gazed at her surroundings with a pleased smile.
“There are cameras in this particular suite. If you are uncomfortable with that, then I can take you to another, but unfortunately, it comes unfurnished. Or you can stay in my guest room for a few days if you like, while I furnish the other one for you.” I gave her options, knowing full well, she’d want to stay here and maybe even put on a show and maybe I’d decide to go through the footage and see it. Her options hung between us like ripened fruit, ready to be plucked, but as I said, I already knew what she’d choose, and regardless, they all worked for me.
“The same cameras as in the hallways and entrances? The ones that no one monitors unless the panic button is pushed?”
“The very same,” I replied with a smirk. I could see where her naughty mind was going with this.
“Lucky me!” Her gaze flitted once again to the view. “I’ve stayed in some nice places in Europe, and this would rival all of them. I love it!”
I put a lot of money into the staging of this suite and handpicked all of the furnishings. That she loved what I’ve chosen was a bonus, and another tick mark. We had similar taste and I knew if she could appreciate this, she’d love my place.
I opened the cupboards. “The stoneware is from Italy, and the glassware is hand blown by a local artist. There are a few appliances but not many. Just give me a list of what’s missing and I will have the rest delivered to you.”
She looked surprised. “Thank you. I mean it, thank you so much for this, Gabriel, it’s lovely, and closer to work to boot. I won’t have to take a cab every day now.”
I gritted my teeth beneath my smile, wondering if she heard my molars grinding, and if I gave off the impression of resembling a serial killer. Of course, she’d been cabbing it. I should have asked Yula how Rose got to work every day as the travel expenses would be included.
“Did you not see that travel costs to and from work are covered?”