Marcus meets the new housekeeper and sets the tone.
Thursday, September 12th, 1:30 pm
“There they are,” Erin said, her face nearly pressed against the glass as the chopper descended. Several people stood about fifteen feet from the helipad as we neared it. I could see my pool and the garden; both looked pristine and untouched—ready for me.
At long last… I was home.
“That must be Emiko,” I said, eyes fixed on the woman leading the group.
“Yep!” Erin looked at me, grinning. “Finally! No more party planning for me. Emiko and Charity can take care of it.”
“You threw such a good one last time,” I said.
“They’ll throw even better ones,” Erin said.
The skids made a touchdown, and I could already hear the faint sounds of the rotor soften, each decibel dropping as the pilot powered down.
Chloe opened the door and stepped out first, adjusting her jacket. She scanned the area through her aviator sunglasses as if there could possibly be danger on top of my own roof.
I stepped out first, squinting to protect my eyes from the sun and rotor wash as I looked at my welcome committee.
Helen drew my attention immediately. She looked radiant in a dark purple button-down that opened at the top to show a tantalizing amount of skin. Her black pants hugged her hips, and she wore heels that made her a couple of inches shorter than me. Her golden blonde hair fell in loose waves down her back and fluttered in the wind from the slowing helicopter blades.
The collar around her neck was still in place and spoke volumes about our relationship—hard-earned ownership. I had crowned her and claimed her—lifted her higher than her husband ever did, even as I wrapped a symbol of submission around her neck.
She was mine… body and soul.
And she was a sight for sore eyes.
“Helen,” I said, her name tasting like the sweetest wine as I closed the distance between us.
What was once an icy, calculating stare was now twin azure flames as she looked back at me with a radiant smile. Her faint laugh lines didn’t detract from her beauty. They matured it and gave it weight.
As soon as I got in arm’s reach, I grasped her face and brought her lips to mine for a soul-searing kiss that she returned with interest. I felt her moist tongue immediately press against my lips and let it in. We spent the next several moments fully making out with each other in front of more than a dozen people.
“Is she going to greet us all like that?” Natashya murmured behind me.
We parted, and she gave the bohemian dancer a smile tinged with demure warmth—an almost-girlish flicker beneath all that poise.
“I don’t think Miss Upton would be thrilled with that notion, Miss Lazarev. Apologies for the overt display. It’s been a week, and our…”
Helen hesitated and searched my face for a moment. “Marcus… he gave us quite the scare.”
What had Helen been about to say?
Helen moved on. “Oh, Marcus! I’d like to introduce you to your domestic manager. Marcus Upton, this is Emiko Hoshino.”
I turned fully toward the woman beside Helen, giving her my full attention.
Emiko looked about five years younger than Helen—maybe a little younger. Several inches shorter, she stood around five foot four, her posture poised without stiffness. Her dark chestnut hair was gathered in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, held with a silver clip.
She wore a silk sheath dress with a Mandarin collar and an intricate Japanese floral pattern. The cut was modest but deliberate—tailored to hint at a slender waist and the soft flare of her hips. The silk outlined her breasts just enough to notice they were slightly smaller than Helen’s. The dress wasn’t designed to seduce, but it made the option available.
Her fair complexion set off the dark sheen of her hair. Her eyes—deep, dark, endlessly patient—seemed to drink in the light and turn it into warmth. And her mouth… full enough to soften her elegance, curved just slightly to the side in a smile that suggested she already knew your secrets and simply chose not to mention them.
She was breathtaking in a way that suggested no effort at all.
And I’d been around women long enough to know: that kind of presence was never effortless. It was art. Studied, refined, and worn with quiet pride.
She gave me a slight bow and a warm smile. “Mr. Upton. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.”
Her voice held a soft, natural husk—unforced, unpracticed. Not seductive, just steady. It reminded me of Shea in spirit more than tone: warmth personified.
“Emiko.” I offered her my hand, and she took it in both of hers. They were velvety soft, and I could feel the slightest caress of her thumb across the back of my knuckles. She gave my fingers a light squeeze and let them go.
“It’s good to have you. I look forward to seeing what you can do for the house.” I glanced to my left at Erin. “I know my assistant is happy you’re here.”
Emiko’s smile widened a touch. “Yes. Erin has taken on too much. Looking after your direct needs is a full-time duty. Managing a household as well only detracts from her responsibilities. That she has maintained all of it is a testament to her capabilities.”
She gave Erin an admiring smile and then said, “Now that I am here, I hope that I improve, not only your life, but your staff’s, so that everyone may serve you better.”
Her words… the way she spoke… her elegant beauty… I might have already been a little smitten.
Erin gave a soft snort beside me, modest but unmistakably pleased.
“Well put,” I said. “How about we walk down to my study. Helen says you have some thoughts.”
Emiko bowed her head slightly. “I would like that.”
“Em,” I said, turning to my sister, “I know you guys have to be tired. I’m going to be tied up with this for the rest of the day. You want to do dinner here tonight?”
“Sounds great,” Emily sighed. Her eyes were already starting to get heavy.
“No naps,” Natashya said as she threw her arm around my sister and gave me a wink. “You have to stay awake at least until the sun sets.”
Emily groaned.
Tara smiled at the other two as she followed, stopping long enough to say, “Tomorrow morning?”
“Jesus… you’re relentless,” I sighed. “We just got back.”
“You’re the boss,” she chided, “but if you want—”
“I just stepped out of a Jack London novel,” I said, cutting her off before she could finish. I already knew what she was going to say. “Give me tomorrow.”
“Fair enough, mate. See you the day after. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking a nap!” She trailed off after the others.
“Go on,” I said to Bobbi, jerking my head toward the others. “Go get settled.”
She only glanced at Helen for a heartbeat before obeying my orders. The tightening of her mouth as if she had just tasted something bitter was minuscule.
“Alright, lead the way,” I said.
Emiko quietly excused Camille and Jessica—neither of whom I’d even spoken to yet. They left without so much as a glance in my direction. Curious… Camille usually had some kind of flirty jab for me, and Jess was usually looking at me like I would change my mind and take her back as a girlfriend any moment.
I glanced at Emiko as she led us toward the elevator. Was the change in my staff’s behavior her doing?
“How was your flight?” Emiko asked.
“It was the best flight I’ve ever had, considering I slept in the woods for most of a week. That’d make most flights feel nice by comparison.”
Chloe was just behind me, and I chanced a look back at her. She was wearing her sunglasses, so I couldn’t tell if she was meeting my gaze. I imagined I felt something behind the mirrored lenses, but with Chloe, imagining was dangerous. I gave her a weak smile and turned back to Emiko.
I gave her a summary of the flight, leaving out the argument with Chloe and the encounter with Bobbi, of course. I told her about all the boring stuff—getting acquainted with my phone, enjoying the hot tub after a nap (post coitus), and watching a movie before falling asleep again.
I had a feeling that jet lag was going to hit me particularly hard.
“What about you?” I asked as we piled into the elevator. “You started Saturday, right? How are you settling in?”
“I arrived on Saturday and started my duties on Sunday,” Emiko said. “I’ve already assessed the available staff, audited the building, and taken inventory.”
“Miss Malik gave me a suggested list of things to start on that was quite helpful. I’ve designated guest rooms, and they have been prepared to be used at a moment’s notice. I understand you occasionally take in strays who need more than a guest room. I’ve prepared a few apartments, just in case.”
She smiled at Erin. “Thank you for your recommendations. They were invaluable.”
Erin’s smile shifted—less assistant and more daughter basking in quiet praise.
“Happy to help! Just let me know if you need anything else.”
Emiko turned her attention back to me. “One of the apartments has already proved useful. Phoebe Lucas is here. She was distraught when she arrived, so I thought it better to give her an apartment so she could grieve her situation without fear of bothering anyone. I’ve had Jessica deliver meals to her.”
“Phoebe’s here?” I asked. “Can I see her?”
“She isn’t available at the moment, I’m afraid. Mrs. Lucas left early this morning looking for work. Years as a housewife left her unprepared for this.”
I frowned at that. Phoebe’s husband ditched her and took her kid. The last thing she needed to be doing was looking for a job.
“Alright. Will you let me know when she gets back?” I asked.
Emiko nodded. “Of course.”
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into my apartment's living room. Before I left, it had started to feel like home, with clothes and other things lying around. It was so big that I didn’t think it would ever be cozy, but at least it had signs of being lived in.
I was wrong. New couches, fresh art on the walls, updated fixtures—every detail had shifted. My house hadn’t just changed. It had become a home.
It actually did feel cozy.
“Emiko,” I gasped. “Did you do all this?”
“It was a concerted effort,” Emiko said with a big, beautiful smile as she stepped into the middle of the living room. She spun on her heels to look back at me. “Erin, Helen, and Charity were instrumental in making this possible.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
“Hopefully, that we can keep her,” Erin said.
I looked from Erin to Emiko. “Yeah… you’re hired!”
Emiko’s smile turned playful. “Good. I’m relieved that my trip around the world wasn’t in vain.”
“I’d like to hear more about your first few days on the job,” I said.
“I would love to debrief you, but I would suggest doing it alone… possibly in the privacy of your study? It might be more appropriate.”
I looked back at Erin and said, “Sure. That makes sense, but Erin should probably come with.”
“No,” Erin said. “That’s okay. Emiko should have the chance to speak freely. Besides, I need to catch up with Chandler and a few others before the day’s over, so this will be a good time to get after it.”
“Speaking of Chandler,” Helen said. “He’s dying to talk to you about Carla Tanaka. You asked him to get her a job, and now he’s threatening to throw himself out of his office window.
“Fuck,” I said, remembering the conversation I had with Chandler. As a result of her help in maintaining my control of VistaVision, I’d promised Carla a position inside the company. Days before fucking off to Europe, I remember pawning that job off to Chandler, who had expressed doubts about her ability to fit in the company culture. Chandler was a team player, so if he was complaining, maybe she was a little more than he could handle.
“Alright. I’ll talk to him.”
I glanced down at the collar that graced her neck. “Let me speak to Emiko first, then I’d like to hear a bit more about Carla, VistaVIsion, and how you’re settling in at YPV.”
“Sounds good,” Helen said. Her gaze was steady and sharp. She hadn’t missed the way my eyes lingered on that collar.
“Before I forget,” I said. “I’d like to have a little get-together tomorrow night. Just some close friends. I guess that’s… you?” I pointed at Emiko.
“It depends,” Emiko said. “You’ll want to give Erin your guest list. I’ll take care of the arrangements for the party. Miss Manalo would handle any celebrities, sensitive invites, press releases, or publicity surrounding any events you throw.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
Emiko chuckled. “If you provide me with the details, I will make sure everyone is involved who needs to be.”
“Easy enough.”
“Before I let you go,” Charity chimed in, “I’m gonna need you at some point soon. We need to figure out how we want the news to break about what happened to you. We also need to discuss the next steps for your public image, and I want to talk to you about the movie production opportunity.”
“Yeah,” I said, already feeling slightly overwhelmed. I’d literally just stepped off a helicopter, but I guess this was my own doing. “Tomorrow?”
“Breakfast?” Charity asked.
There was no way I would be up early enough to eat anything that could be justified as breakfast.
“Best I can do is brunch,” I said.
“Sold!” Charity grinned. “I’ll see you then!”
She scurried forward, stood on her toes, grabbed my shoulders, and kissed my cheek. Then whispered, “I’m going to need you to follow through with where we left off last time. Don’t make me chase you.”
She backed off before I could respond, but her gaze suggested that if my dance card wasn’t already full, she’d be dragging me to my room. Last time we saw each other, she was still recovering from a gunshot to the abdomen, and I ended up eating her out after offering her a job.
“We will… promise,” I said.
Then cleared my throat and turned back to Emiko.
“Office?”
***
Even the study had transformed under Emiko’s care. The bookshelves, the large globe, and the massive television were in the same place, but there were other decorations. A sprawling rug that looked soft and expensive lay across the floor between the ebony desk and the door. Tapestries and old collections of weapons and books lined the walls in spaces where available. The books looked like they had been completely rearranged, and even that small change contributed to the overall aesthetics.
“Goddammit, Emiko! Are you a witch?”
Emiko’s laugh was soft and musical. “I was told to spare no expense in making this place feel like a home when you returned. I just did a little research on your interests. Miss Malik assured me that you would not mind me contacting your mother for additional assistance on how I should decorate.”
I looked up from the glass case holding an original Tolkien-annotated map of Middle-earth. “Is this real?”
“It is,” Emiko said. “I wish I could take full credit, but Miss Malik has been in communication with the seller for a while. I only finalized the deal after I was hired. It arrived in New York a week ago, and I arranged to have it delivered after I arrived.”
I blinked back down at the map. It had to cost a hundred thousand dollars, easily. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t a dream.
“You spoke to my mom?” I asked Emiko, my head still catching up.
“I did,” she said. “She’s a sweet woman. I hope you don’t mind. I did not wish you to return without a properly decorated space.”
I whistled, not having been as impressed by someone since Erin.
Circling behind my desk, I examined the chair; it was different. My old one was one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture that I had ever sat in, but it looked like the kind of office chair that belonged to someone interested only in comfort. This one looked more vintage and conformed with the rest of the decor. I sat in it to test whether they had sacrificed function for form.
Nope. I could have fallen asleep in this thing.
“Well, I’m impressed,” I said.
Emiko had walked up to the other side of the desk and stood in front of it, hands clasped in simple elegance. “You honor me. Thank you.”
When she remained standing, I said, “Please! Have a seat! Can I call you Emi?”
“Thank you,” Emiko said, as she pulled a chair close and sat in it, crossing her ankles. She even made something as simple as sitting down seem elegant and graceful. “I would prefer Emiko, if you don’t mind. Emi is a little too casual for my comfort.”
Something in her tone left an unspoken ‘for now’ on the end.
“Alright then. Emiko, once again, thank you for all this. It’s amazing.”
She smiled graciously and shook her head. A few strands of her dark chestnut hair slipped free of her bun and fell across her cheek. She tucked them behind her ear. “There is no need to continue thanking me. I am simply doing my job.”
“Why did you choose this job?”
“I felt my path in Japan was ending, and I needed a new one. Miss Malik was the guide who showed me the beginning of my new journey.”
It was a strange way of describing it, but the woman could be poetic in the simplest ways. “What was your old path?”
“I managed a private establishment called the ‘Tsukikage-an’ for seven years.”
“I’m not familiar with that.”
“It is a house of pleasure.”
That caught me off guard. “Like a…”
I searched for a better term than brothel. Whore house? No… definitely worse.
“A brothel?” Emiko suggested.
She must have seen my discomfort at basically reading my mind; her smile grew amused. “It is okay to call a spade a spade, Mister Upton. One of the many services the ‘Tsukikage-an’ offers is sexual release.”
“You don’t have a problem calling it a brothel?”
“That is what it is,” Emiko said. “Of course, it is more than that, but most of its revenue comes from men paying for sex.”
Of course, that brought another question to mind, but there was no way in hell I was going to ask that. I sat back in my seat and tried my best to come up with a different one.
I must have taken a beat too long because Emiko, still looking amused at my hesitation, tilted her head to the side. It exposed the graceful curve of her creamy neck, reminding me that not only was she one hell of a domestic manager, but she was also a beautiful woman.
“You’re wondering if I served the ‘Tsukikage-an’ in that role,” she guessed.
Something about the way she looked at me… I didn’t want to lie to her. “I mean, I wondered…”
“It’s okay to wonder. Not asking was... considerate. Most men wouldn’t have resisted.”
I felt growing discomfort at the unspoken question lingering between us, but the seconds ticked by, and she didn’t seem willing to offer any more information.
I decided it was better to move on.
“So, what do you think about your new role?”
Something subtle changed in her that I couldn’t put my finger on, and I wondered if I’d just been tested. I hated the idea that I might be poked and prodded by one of my staff in my own house. This was supposed to be a safe space where I could kick back. I didn’t want to have my guard up every waking minute.
But at the same time, part of me was dying to know if I had passed.
“Your staff is complicated,” Emiko said, easing back in her chair.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” I said.
“Jessica is your former girlfriend?”
If I’d been taking a drink of water, I would have done a spit-take. The question was jarring. “Uh… yes.”
“And I take it you know that she wants to renew that relationship, yes?”
“She’s made that pretty obvious.”
“And yet you chose to have her move halfway across the country to be your maid.”
I didn’t like being accused of something. Hiring Jessica like I had may not have been one of my proudest moments, but I already had my own conscience to deal with. I didn’t need to pay for a Jimini Cricket.
“What’s your point?”
“Please don’t misunderstand,” Emiko said. “I’m not passing judgment. In my years, I’ve seen things that would make you blush. I am trying to ensure that I have painted an accurate picture.”
She continued, “She has willingly submitted to this, seems eager to do your bidding, and hopes to possibly win your affection, but you do not see a future with her?”
Jesus Christ.
“I… guess so?”
“Very good,” she said with a nod. “I don’t think Jessica will be a problem in your household, but there is some remaining entitlement that we will need to watch for. She still thinks she deserves respect beyond her station because of your past relationship. My understanding is that she does not.”
I was still unsure of exactly where this was going. “Okay?”
“If she should act outside the bounds of her station, how do you wish her to be disciplined?”
Erin, who the fuck did you hire?
“Disciplined?”
“Yes. Do you have a preference?”
This was not the direction I thought this conversation would take. “Maybe? I don’t know. I kind of deal with Jessica in the moment.”
“Will you think on it?” Emiko said. “I don’t want to step outside my bounds.”
“Yeah. I mean… I guess I don’t have to think about it. If you catch her doing something she shouldn’t be doing, you’re free to do whatever you think needs to happen.”
Astrid sprang to mind.
“Wait! I mean… shit!”
Emiko smiled apologetically and made a note. “Forgive me. I thought Miss Malik would have prepared you better for this meeting. We’ll revisit staff discipline at a later date.”
“Yeah. That… might be for the best.” I said. I knew how to treat the women in my life, but that was driven by instinct. I had grown accustomed to how we treated Bobbi, but that was something Helen and I had built together. I wasn’t sure how I felt about letting a stranger take control like that… especially after Astrid.
“I’ll just continue my assessment, so this won’t take too long.”
Emiko leaned forward in her seat, folding her hands in her lap. “Miss Manalo is a lovely girl. She was shot when you were kidnapped in Vegas?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Why did you hire her?”
“Well, there’s the fact that I got her shot.”
“Did you feel obligated to offer her a job because of that? You paid for her medical bills, correct?”
“Yes,” I said.
“And she received a significant boost to her status as an influencer because of it, so you would agree she was compensated.”
That was true. Her following had blown up in the last month, and there was a definite uptick after the shooting. Still, Erin suspected that her continuing climb up the ladder of internet fame was ongoing because of her association with me. My limitless budget and own fame didn’t exactly hurt her.
“Well, it also made sense to bring in someone who knew how to market themselves.”
“You could have brought someone on with more experience,” Emiko pointed out.
“In my defense, I did,” I said.
“Mrs. Lyons,” Emiko concluded.
“Yes.”
“She said no, so you decided to go with Miss Manalo despite her relatively low follower count before she was shot?”
“Like I said, I felt like I owed Charity, and she had promise.”
“She’s also very attractive,” Emiko said, looking at me pointedly.
I met her gaze. To say Charity was attractive would sell her short. Charity was drop-dead gorgeous. Those big, dark, almond-shaped eyes, pouty lips, and tight, compact frame screamed at my primal instincts. She had Shea’s warmth and a touch of that sensual, subtle gothic style Erin wielded like a scalpel. If Charity didn’t turn you on, you either had no interest in women or you’d been dead three days.
“What are you getting at?” I asked, feeling defensive again.
“Mr. Upton,” Emiko said. “As I said, I am not here to judge you. I am trying to understand how your household works. Has Erin fully informed you of my job de***********ion?”
“She filled me in a little… said you would be in charge of running the household.”
“Our intention was for me to manage your home. All of it.”
That word “all” did a lot of heavy lifting. She meant everything. How exactly would that work? Did I want something like that? Why hadn’t Erin been more forthcoming on the specifics of what she was hiring Emiko to do?
“What does that look like?” I asked.
“It looks exactly how you want it to look,” Emiko said. “If you’d like, I can merely manage parties, keep your apartment stocked, and make sure your properties stay tidy and ready for you. In that case, I believe you would not be taking full advantage of what I have to offer.”
“Which is?”
“I have spent years teaching men and women how to serve their customers and employers. Not only that, but I managed their service after their education was complete. When someone needed correction, I disciplined. When someone needed guidance, I acted as their north star.”
“If you wish to entrust me with that sort of responsibility in your household… to not only manage your house, but your staff—”
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. “—the women who live here. Who serve you…”
She didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t have to.
My mind filled in the word she was too tactful to say.
Harem.
That word came with baggage.
Emily had said it once, during a conversation I hadn’t enjoyed. Natalie had implied it. Danni had begged to be part of it.
I wasn’t sure I liked it.
But Emiko was right—call a spade a spade.
“Yes,” I finally said. “I hired her because she’s gorgeous. I… also went down on her.”
That confession had been more than a simple admission. It had been an agreement. I was interested in what Emiko was offering. I didn’t know what that looked like, but Emiko had impressed me beyond what I thought was possible. On top of that, Erin had been involved in hiring her and clearly had some kind of intention for this particular set of skills. If I couldn’t trust Erin, who the fuck could I trust?
It was obvious that Emiko had also taken my words as consent for her to step into this part of my world. I could literally see her making mental notes. She leaned forward a little more, her gaze growing so intense that I almost had to look away. “I promise you complete confidence. Whatever you say to me will not be spoken of to anyone else.”
And I believed her. “Okay,” I said softly.
“Camille was also hired by Erin, correct?” Emiko continued as if that brief oath hadn’t just transpired.
“Yes,” I said.
“Does Erin communicate exactly why she hires the staff?”
“Obviously not clearly enough,” I said.
Emiko looked up at me and let out a laugh. It was rich and unrestrained.
And God, she was beautiful.
“I think she’s setting up different scenarios,” I said. “We haven’t talked about it, but my personal trainer, Tara… she’s a lesbian. There might be some bicurious tendencies there, but I’m not sure. Erin’s playing power games with her, though… through me.”
“I didn’t know that,” Emiko said, making another mental note. “And Camille?”
“All I know is she’s coming on strong, for an engaged woman.”
“I suspect she and Mr. Wiggen have some kind of open arrangement,” Emiko said. “I don’t know the details.”
“Yeah. That was what I was afraid of,” I sighed.
She looked up at me. “You’re not interested in her?”
“Oh, she’s beautiful, but the idea of fucking someone else’s fiance feels wrong.”
Emiko nodded once. “What about Bobbi?”
“Helen has her,” I said.
She studied me for several long beats, holding the tip of her tongue between her teeth..
“She’s done a phenomenal job with Bobbi,” I explained, “and Bobbi trusts her. I like the dynamic there and don’t want that to change. Just don’t worry about her.”
Emiko didn’t immediately respond. She just watched me, chin propped in her palm, tapping a finger against her lips—very pretty lips, by the way.
“Very well,” she said at last. “I’ll defer—for now. But clarity benefits everyone, Mr. Upton.”
Then, without pause, she changed the subject again. “Are you happy with Mrs. VanCamp’s service?”
The fact that she even asked that felt wrong. “What? Yes.”
There was that one blemish early on when she tried to manipulate me and spy on me for Roger, but that was water under the bridge. Helen was mine now.
“Good. I think she might be the most loyal person on your staff.”
“What makes you say that?”
“My assessment,” Emiko said, “and the egg incident… very clever, by the way.”
“Thanks,” I said sheepishly, remembering how I called it a stupid idea. “I wish I could take credit for it, but that was Chloe.”
“The bodyguard,” Emiko said. “Have you two been intimate?”
“No,” I said before the question died on Emiko’s lips. She didn’t react… simply stared.
And I felt like she was looking directly into my soul.
“Good,” she finally said. “Intimacy between a bodyguard and her charge is a recipe for disaster. I have never seen it end well.”
Not only was she staring into my soul. She was dumping an entire canister of Morton salt into a gaping wound.
“Are we done here?” I asked, unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
Emiko didn’t seem bothered by my tonal shift. “Have I said something offensive?”
“No,” I said, reining it in. I didn’t want Chloe murdering me in my sleep because the new girl found out about our dalliance within the first hour of meeting me. “Sorry. I’m just… it’s been a long week.”
“I fully understand. We can pick this up another time.”
“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“I have the bedroom next to yours so I can more easily meet your needs.”
“Meet my needs?”
“Yes,” Emiko said, standing. “In case you require something after you’ve retired for the evening.”
“Wouldn’t I get Jessica or Erin to do that?”
“Unless they were otherwise occupied,” Emiko said. Her sly smile suggested what they could be occupied with.
“Think of me,” she continued, “as the personification of your home. I am here to serve you and make this your sanctuary… to provide for your every need and anticipate them as much as possible. In some ways, I am comparable to a smart home.”
“I understand that getting to know me and sharing your habits, rituals, and desires can make you feel vulnerable, but I am not here to implicate. I am here to facilitate.”
I nodded, feeling marginally better about her questions.
“We should do this again,” Emiko said. “But after you’ve had some time to rest and grow accustomed to my presence.”
“That sounds good,” I said, standing up.
Emiko raised her hand. “Please. There’s no need. I will see myself out.”
“Alright then. Would you mind sending Helen in? I need to talk to her.”
Emiko nodded once. “Of course.”
As she turned to go, another thought struck me. “Emiko?”
She paused halfway to the door. “Sir?”
“Do you have a family?”
“I do not. I choose to remain unattached to better serve.”
Her answer was composed. Her eyes were not. The way she held my gaze, tilted her head—it thickened the air and sped my heartbeat without asking permission.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Of course,” she said with a slight bow of her head. “Thank you. I’ll send in Mrs. VanCamp.”
She closed the door behind her with a silence that felt… intentional. Like punctuation on something I hadn’t realized was a declaration.
She was one of the most unique, intriguing women I’d ever met. The way she saw everything—peeled back my barriers like they were nothing.
The way I found myself wanting her approval… without needing it.
Part of me wanted to send her packing just to reclaim what I felt I’d lost.
But she’d been nothing but polite. Graceful. Unjudging.
The discomfort? That was all me.
No. Keeping her was the right move. She was brilliant at her job. If I felt naked under her gaze, maybe that was something I needed to train for. Mental resistance. Emotional conditioning. Just another kind of discipline.
Like what I did with Tara.
A soft knock at the door.
“Come in,” I called out.
It cracked open just enough for Helen to slip in. She closed it behind her, then crossed the room slowly, her gold-spun hair catching the warm light.
“Stop,” I said.
I rose and came around the desk. She halted on the rug, centered and still, waiting. Her eyes held that same fire.
God, I’d missed her.
But that wasn’t why I called her in.
I circled her slowly. Not meeting her gaze. Just drinking in the lines and curves of her body like I’d forgotten how they felt.
“Undress for me,” I said.
I stopped behind her, so close I could look down her blouse as she started unbuttoning it. Each release opened her just a little more—revealing soft skin and the swell of a lacy black bra I knew she’d chosen for me.
Good girl.
“The pants,” I murmured, brushing her hand aside as she reached for the clasp. “Leave the lingerie.”
Her eyes smoldered at the praise, pleased I’d noticed her care. She unfastened her pants, shimmied them over her hips, and let them fall. Bent to unstrap her heels. Stepped out of them. Lost three inches.
She stood straight again, back still to me. I stepped in. Wrapped one arm across her chest. Slid my hand up to her cheek. Pulled her against the growing ridge in my pants and pressed my lips to her ear.
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While Book I is available here, there are an extra 21 bonus chapters for Tier 2 patrons.
Book II is now underway, with Chapters 1–25 already available. 9 bonus chapters for Book II are also available, including some of the events mentioned in this chapter.