“So, you used me to save your baubles, but now that you’re out of options you want me to just take them in lieu of payment.”
“I want you to take them as payment.” Lily Mae could feel herself starting to get nervous. “They’re worth…”
“Less than what you owe me, Lily. If they weren’t, you could sell them and get the money.”
“You’re right,” she said. “A pawn shop won’t give me what this stuff is worth. But I know you can get what it’s worth.”
“I could if I were willing. But I’m not.” He stood and walked behind Lily Mae, dropping his hands to her shoulders as he leaned down to speak into her ear. “We had a deal,” he hissed. “You owe me cash or what was suggested. I think we both know what that is.” His lips brushed her lobe and Lily Mae jumped from her chair, upsetting it as she whirled to face him.
“I never promised you anything,” she said, her voice wavering.
“Oh, didn’t you? I remember what you were wearing the day you came in here begging for help. I remember that short little pencil skirt, the high heels, the way you played with your hair and crossed and uncrossed your legs every time you thought I was looking.”
Lily Mae shook her head, ashamed because she knew his words were true. She had done more than ask; she’d dangled her assets as encouragement.
“You said you were the kind of girl who always honored her commitments, remember?” Tony walked over and grabbed her suddenly by the hair on the back of her head. “What were your exact words? Especially the attractive ones?”
His gaze was hard now, and Lily Mae had gone from ashamed to terrified in his grasp.
“I know you thought you were playing me, Lily. But what you didn’t realize was that I not only saw through you like a pane of glass, I also knew how this would end. I pegged you as a little girl lost from the day I met you. And I planned to make you my possession. What I didn’t expect was for you to all but put yourself in my hands.” He gripped her hair harder. “Of course, you thought you’d slip away by moving back to Texas, but all that did was make me want to teach you a lesson…”
“No, Tony…” Lily Mae could feel her heart hammering in her chest.
“I don’t ever want to hear that word out of your mouth again,” he said. “From now on, it’s going to be ‘yes, sir’ every time I want something, whether it’s your pretty hands lighting my cigarette or your pretty mouth around my cock.” He smirked. “Unless you’d rather me send some of my guys to Texas and find out who was taking care of you all this time. You couldn’t have been taking care of yourself if you can’t even square up with me. So who was it? Old flame? What does he do? Work in a garage? Run a hardware store? It doesn’t matter who he is or what he does. I can have him taken care of. You know I can.”
Tony cocked his head now as he used the pad of his thumb to wipe away a tear trailing down Lily Mae’s cheek. “Don’t cry, baby doll. We’re going to be so happy together.”
He leaned down, righting the overturned chair and shoving Lily Mae back into it before going over to his desk. For a moment, Tony Orzo regarded her silently before picking up the phone on his desk and ringing his receptionist.
“Kelly, come in, please.”
Lily Mae could not even meet the receptionist’s eyes as she entered the office.
“Lily is going to dinner with me tonight, but she doesn’t have anything suitable to wear. I’d like you to go down to Pandora’s Boutique and pick her out something elegant and sexy to wear. Tell the owner she’s about a size six, B-cup, 5′3″. Get her some shoes, too. What size do you wear, Lily?”
Lily Mae didn’t want to answer, but feared what would happen if she didn’t.
“Seven,” she said quietly.
“Heels that match the dress. At least three inches.” He grinned. “And underwear. Black thong, half-cup bra.”
“Jewelry?” Kelly asked, and Lily Mae wondered how often she was given odd commands that she obeyed without question.
“She brought plenty of her own,” Tony said. “Oh, and make reservations at Malargo’s for seven.”
“For seven tonight?” Kelly asked. “You were supposed to meet Phillip DeMarco.”
“Cancel,” Tony said.
“Are you sure, sir?” Kelly asked. “Mr. DeMarco was pretty adamant that you meet him tonight. He won’t be happy.”
“He’ll get over it,” Tony insisted. “Now go do what I told you to, or I’ll find someone who will.”
“Yes, sir,” Kelly said, and Lily Mae heard the office door shut as the receptionist left. A moment later, Tony appeared at her side.
“Look at me,” he said.
She forced herself to obey.
“We’re going out tonight,” he said. “We’re going have a nice dinner, and then afterwards we’re going to go back to my place. You owe me, baby. And tonight you start paying back. With interest.”
Chapter Fourteen