Chapter Four

Elena blinked rapidly, trying to understand if one of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in L.A was trying to make such a proposal with her.

"I don't understand," she breathed. "You want me?"

"Yes," Andrea replied casually. "Are you always this slow to figure things out?"

"Are you talking about sex?"

"What else?" He said shrugging. "I want you to be my mistress in exchange for your father."

"Is this some kind of test?"

"I don't do tests."

Elena studied him for some seconds, sitting proudly behind his desk, in his beautifully tailored designer suit. He was dashingly handsome but she pushed the thoughts at the back of her mind immediately.

"Are you saying that you will keep my father out of prison if I sleep with you?" She asked.

"Yes."

Elena was shocked by his revelation. Indeed, everyone had a price but Andrea's was nearly impossible to fulfill. "Don't you think that's wrong? Sleeping with me in exchange for my father?"

"We're two consenting adults. It's your choice to make, Elena." He said. "Most women will take the offer immediately."

"Not everyone desires to be in your bed, Mr. Andrea." She bit back. "I am not one of the many women you sleep with. I have higher self-esteem."

Andrea chuckled softly. "And that makes you even more desirable."

Elena shook her head in disbelief. "Do you usually offer everyone who comes into this office sex? Do you just sleep with anyone you feel has no choice to make?"

"No," he rose to his feet. "Just you, Elena. Just you."

"So, you're one of those men who love to desire what they can't have?"

Andrea met her gaze briefly and felt the anger radiating from them. He was stunned and intrigued by her ability to resist him. No woman had ever done that. Everyone wanted to be in his bed. Everyone except Rocco's daughter who should have the greatest desire to be in his bed.

"I've never met anyone who I can't have," he told her truthfully. And he was right. In all his years, he had never had issues with women. Except with Elena.

"Well, you just met one and I will not sell my dignity to you." She said, almost gritting her teeth. Then she turned on her heel toward the door.

"Then your father will go to jail and I will make sure that he doesn't get bail." Andrea mustered and she froze, halfway to the door and turned back.

Pure fury crashed through her as she stared gravely at him. She was torn between leaving to preserve her dignity or saving her father by doing what Andrea wanted.

The idea of her father going to prison and suffering scared her and she could do anything to keep him out.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"I am not doing anything, little one," he said. "Your father deserves to be punished. He deserves to rot in jail for stealing from me. No one does that!"

"And you've decided to punish his daughter too? To feed on my self-worth till I am worse than my father."

"If you agree to be my mistress, I will withdraw the current charges against your father and ensure that no harm comes to him," Andrea said, swiveling in his seat. "So what do you think? Are you going to give it a thought?"

Shivers ran down her spine as she ingested the words he spoke. He wanted her. Andrea Santino wanted her to be his mistress. Could he really want to have sex with her that much or he just desired to humiliate her more because of her father?

Most women would be happy that they were made such an offer. But not her. She didn't want to be anyone's plaything but did she have a choice? Could she really say no when that was the only way to save her father?

"What do I have to do as your mistress?" She asked, her naiveness written all over her face.

"Pleasing me," Andrea replied with a smug smile on his face.

"I don't know how to do that," she replied, hoping he would see that she was hopeless and offer her another condition.

"You'll learn how to please me," he told her. "I'll teach you the very things I love."

Why couldn't he just give up, she thought to herself. She had never thought her visit to his penthouse would result in her making such a hard decision.

She imagined what being his mistress would be like. She imagined taking her clothes off in front of him and cringed a little bit. She was attracted to him, of course, who wouldn't be? But she did not plan to lose her virginity that way.

She knew a lot of people had sex without an emotional connection and never made it a big deal. But how could she do that? She intended to give her body and soul to the man she would love. Not the famous playboy and ruthless billionaire who wanted her body for pleasure.

"If sleeping with you for one night will save my father, then maybe I—"

"I don't intend to have you for one night, Elena." He said, cutting her off. "You'll be mine for as long as I want."

His words dropped like a bomb to her aching heart. He wanted her for more than one night? He wanted to keep her for as long as he wanted.

The realization of what he intended to do with her hit her like a bullet. In exchange for her father's freedom, she would become his prisoner. But this time, he would be her jailer. Locked up in his penthouse for his personal benefit.

He was going to explore every inch of her body till he got tired of her. That was her fate if she decided to accept his terms. And if she didn't? How many years of freedom was her father going to lose? Would he make it out alive from prison? How would he endure all the years of being shut away from his family?

She could save him. She could save her father by selling her body to the devil himself. She would become Andrea's mistress for as long as he wanted her.

"I want your answer now," Andrea said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "My lawyers are eager to put your father away. You need to make your decision quickly."

With a fervent prayer that he would get tired of her quickly, Elena exhaled before speaking. "You've made me an offer I can't refuse."

"I'm glad you see it that way."

"But I have my terms if I am going to be your mistress."

"I'll have my lawyer prepare a contract between us. I like to keep everything professional and ethical."

"Good," Elena replied. "I guess we have a deal."

With a smile on his face, Andrea rose from his seat. Then he walked over to Elena who was nearly trembling.

Before she had the slightest idea of his intentions, he cupped her face gently and brought down his mouth to hers.

Elena froze for the first ten seconds as a wild surge of heat rose within her. She had never felt anything as intoxicating as that moment.

Slowly, Andrea lifted his head and their eyes locked. "I've wanted to do that since you walked in here. Elena Mario, you're like a drug and I might want too much of you."

Elena stared at him, unable to say a word.

Leaning away and walking back to his desk, he said, "I'll be in touch with you as soon as my lawyers prepare the contract. See you soon, Elena."