Chapter 28
~ Bella ~
It was a close one.
Franklin had been inches away from catching me with the man who actually owns my soul.
Rufus Sandwood—my former lover, my current obsession, and the only person I truly enjoy fucking.
We've known each other since before Franklin and I even started dating.
It was Rufus who suggested the arrangement; he didn't want to share me, but he knew a golden goose when he saw one.
So, I convinced Franklin that I wanted an "open relationship." I told him I needed space to explore, and because he is an obsessed, pathetic fool, he agreed—even though I could see it tearing him apart inside.
I've spent years using Franklin Flemington, and honestly, it seems like he enjoys being used.
He's a billionaire with the backbone of a jellyfish when it comes to me.
My phone rang, breaking my train of thought. I glanced at the caller ID and frowned. Franklin. Again.
"Hello?" I answered, my voice dropping into the sweet, melodic tone he loves.
"Hello, Bell... um, I'm finally less busy at work and I'd love for us to have lunch somewhere secluded. I want to avoid the nosy press following us. What do you say? I'm quite famished," he said.
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.
"I would love to, baby, but I'm swamped," I lied, smirking as I leaned back in my swivel chair, spinning slowly.
"I have this massive project, and I'm deep in the code. It's giving me a splitting headache. I think I'll have to pass on lunch today."
"Oh, sure... okay. I understand you're busy," he said, his voice dripping with disappointment.
"I'll have lunch alone then, with you on my mind. I miss you."
"I'll miss you too. I'll make it up to you next time, I promise," I told him.
"You could make it up to me for dinner tonight?" he suggested. I stopped swaying.
"Not tonight. I have some things I have to take care of."
"Like what?" he asked, his tone shifting toward suspicion.
"Just a family emergency. It's personal—I have to go visit my parents. Don't worry, when I return, we'll talk," I said, rolling my eyes again.
"I hope it isn't serious," he said, sounding genuinely worried.
"It's not, don't worry. Oh! I have to go, Franklin... I'm being called away."
"Sure, I'll let you go. Let me know when you reach your parents' place, okay? And I love—"
"Okay, bye!" I cut him off and ended the call.
I was becoming exhausted by his clinginess. It was like being haunted by a very expensive, very boring ghost.
As I dropped my phone, it vibrated again. This time, the caller ID made my heart skip a beat. Rufus.
"Hey, baby," I said, my voice turning genuinely cheerful.
"Hey. Are you at work?"
Rufus's deep, masculine rasp sent a shiver down my spine.
"Yes," I nodded.
"Good, because I'm in your underground parking lot. Section B," he said.
"Jesus, Rufus! You could have called first. What if someone sees you?"
"No one will see me, baby. I need to see you. Now."
"Okay, I'm coming. Just stay put," I told him.
I stood up quickly, smoothed out my crimson dress, and headed for the private elevator.
When I stepped out into the dim, concrete garage, a silver sedan two feet away honked twice. I recognized the car immediately.
I climbed into the passenger seat, and before I could even say hello, Rufus lunged across the console and kissed me passionately, his tongue deep in my mouth.
"I missed you," he growled.
"Me too, though I'm worried. Someone might see us. If not the staff, then Franklin," I told him.
"Oh, come on, Bella. No one is looking," he waved it off.
Rufus was an ex-convict who had just finished a stint in prison when we met.
He was currently unemployed, so I was the one financially supporting him until he got back on his feet.
The hundred thousand dollars Franklin "loaned" me last night was already sitting in Rufus's pocket.
It was a fair trade; in exchange for the money, I needed him to do my dirty work.
"You worry too much," he said, tilting my jaw up to meet his gaze before kissing me again.
"I honestly didn't like the way you were touching that rich guy last night."
"I know, baby, but it's for us. I have to keep using him. You know I have no feelings for him. It's you I love."
"You have no feelings for him, but yet, you still fuck him," Rufus muttered, turning away to sulk.
"I don't enjoy it! You know that when fuck, I'm on cloud nine," I said, reaching out to turn his face back to mine.
"If I don't use him, our only income is my salary, and that could crash at any time. If I get enough money from him, I'll break up with him, quit this job, and we can run away. That's the plan. Just trust me."
"I trust you, I'm just not happy about it," he sighed.
"You'll get used to it. Now...did you do the job I assigned you?"
Rufus nodded and reached into the backseat, pulling out a thick manila parcel.
I opened it to find a stack of photos of Octavia—my one and only nemesis.
I had assigned Rufus to stalk her, to scare her, and to drive her into a state of total paranoia. I enjoyed her discomfort; it was a soothing balm for my soul.
"This is perfect, Rufus. Increase the frequency. I want her to have zero peace," I smirked.
"She needs to suffer."
I pushed the photos aside and leaned over, kissing Rufus until our breaths came in ragged gasps.
I slowly slid over the center console, straddling his thighs.
We both moaned as I felt the hard heat of him through his jeans.
He reached out, his fingers fumbling with the buttons of my shirt until my cleavage was revealed.
He growled, reaching into my bra to grab one of my breasts, his tongue twirling and sucking around my nipple.
I moaned loudly, the sound echoing in the quiet car. I reached down and unbuckled his fly, pulling out his huge, throbbing cock.
He was so much bigger than Franklin; he was a force of nature.
He grabbed a condom from the glove compartment and rolled it on, while I pushed my panties aside and slowly lowered myself onto him.
His cock filled me completely, stretching me in a way that made me gasp.
It felt like we were destined souls entwined in the dark. I began to ride him, my hips moving in a slow, rhythmic grind that matched the pulsing heat between us.
Rufus leaned his head back, his eyes closed in ecstasy as I increased the pace.
"No, look at me," I pleaded, my voice breaking.
"I want to see all of you, baby. Please."
He opened his eyes, focusing his dark gaze on mine as I hammered down on him.
Every thrust made my moans louder, more desperate.
"Fuck, I'm coming!" he yelled, his hands gripping my hips.
"Not without me!" I cried out, my body tightening as I surged toward the edge.
Seconds later, we climaxed together, my head resting on his chest as our breathing slowly returned to normal.
"Fuck...you are so good, Rufus," I whispered, finally sliding off him to rearrange my clothes.
"And you are one crazy bitch," he teased, zipping his pants.
"I'm your crazy bitch, right?" I said, fixing my hair in the sun visor mirror.
"Of course you are."
"I have to get back to work. I'll call you when you can come to the apartment. And Rufus... don't come unannounced again. Franklin almost caught us. I had to lie and say I owed you a loan just to keep our cover."
"My bad. I'll be careful next time," he said.
"Good." I leaned in for one last, deep kiss, my tongue twirling around his before I hopped out of the car.
"Ciao," he said, and with a roar of the engine, he drove off.
I looked around the garage to make sure no one had seen me. The coast was clear.
I walked quickly back to the elevator, a satisfied smirk on my face.
Franklin Flemington might have the money and the name, but I was the one holding all the cards.