Chapter 10

Valerie hung up the call immediately, her heart pounding with fury and shock. Rick had come to her home and was preparing to leave without a word. It's not like it was mandatory that he sees the owner of the car he was working on, but still...

She grabbed her keys and headed for the elevator, she didn't even stop to consider that she wasn't wearing any shoes. Rick wasn't leaving until she understands why he affects her this way.

Within seconds, the elevator doors opened into the private garage, revealing Valerie, with fists clenched at her sides, her face set in a hardened expression. She stepped out marching barefooted, her body exuding fury and rage.

Her dress flowed around her ankle, and she knew how she must look right now - the Duchess of New York, barefoot and chasing after a man.

She strode towards the group of security men surrounding Rick's truck near the exit.

Rick was inside the truck, one hand on the steering wheel, the other gesturing angrily at the security guards who stood at attention beside the gates.

"Move," Valerie commanded, and her security team parted instantly.

Rick turned at the sound of her voice, his expression hardening when he saw her. Without a word, he cut the engine of his truck and stepped out, slamming the door behind him.

"What the hell is this?" he demanded, gesturing toward the closed gate and the security men. "Your guards say I'm not allowed to leave."

Valerie moved closer, standing directly in front of him, her angry eyes piercing into his equally angry one.

"You came to my home and didn't even have the courtesy to let me know you were here," she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "You were just going to leave without a word?"

Rick's jaw tightened. "I came to fix a tire. The tire is fixed. Job done."

"And you didn't think I might want to know that? To speak with you?"

"Speak about what?" Rick asked flatly. "I believe we've said everything that needs saying."

Valerie took another step toward him, close enough now to graze his chest with her boobs. The light contact sent a spark of electricity through her, but she ignored it. Still fuming.

"Did you stop to consider that I might have questions? Like why you made a mistake with my car?"

"What does it matter?" He said in a raised voice, "I realized my mistake and came back immediately to finish it."

"And why would you make such an expensive mistake? If I remember quite clearly, you charged me triple the amount for a tire change. The least you could do is be careful." She challenged through gritted teeth, still seething with an anger she couldn't explain.

Rick stared her dead in the eyes, his gaze unblinking, "You do know you sound ridiculous right? Because If I could remember clearly as well, you offered to pay that price for home service."

"And so what? Even if I offered to pay extra, you shouldn't have accepted it. Is that how you run your business?" Valerie knew she sounded pathetic right now, and she should stop, but she didn't want to. Besides, If she stops now, Rick wins again.

"You are fucking unbelievable. Tell your minions to open the damn gates right now."

" You know," Valerie started, jamming her fingers into his hard chest. "If you hate me, you better say so, instead of being an uptight jerk."

" I don't hate you," he said with steel in his voice. "Infact I don't feel anything for you. You're just like an empty vessel, seeking for attention."

She staggered back at his words, her face draining of color. She felt numb to her bones, even as she opened and closed her mouth, the words stuck in her throat. Finally, she whispered, "Liar. People either love me or hate me, but no one feels nothing."

Rick laughed harshly and without humor. "There's that famous Duchess ego. Has it occurred to you that not everything revolves around you? That some people might have more important things on their minds than whether Valerie Calder is living or dead?"

Valerie flinched as if she'd been slapped. "Who do think you are? What makes you so special that you think you can look down on me?"

Rick's expression remained closed, without a hint of his inner thoughts slipping out, "Open the gate, I'm leaving," he said, not to her but to the security guards who were now nervous and uncomfortable watching the scene between their boss and a random man. They looked conflicted, like they should defend their boss, but at the same time scared that she might channel her anger towards them if they dared interfere.

"The gate stays closed until I say otherwise," Valerie snapped. Then, to Rick: "What is your problem with me? Is it because I'm rich? Successful? Because I have power? You're scared of a powerful woman? Or rather jealous?"

He moved closer now, towering over her. "Stop asking me pathetic questions, and open the damn gate. I don't like wasting my time on a spoiled, entitled princess who's never heard the word 'no' and can't handle it when she does."

Valerie felt something inside her break. All the rejection, the humiliation, the powerlessness she'd felt in Rick's presence - they all morphed into a white-hot rage that consumed every rational thought.

"I've heard enough. Security!" she called out.

Immediately, they all hurried to her side, surrounding both her and Rick.

"Ms. Calder?" One of the guard asked, awaiting instructions.

"Seize him," she commanded, her voice cold and detached. "Take him to the maintenance room in the basement."

Two guards seized Rick's arms immediately, while another moved to secure his wrists with plastic zip ties they usually use for intruders.

To Valerie's surprise, Rick didn't struggle. He allowed himself to be bound, his eyes never leaving hers.

"This is who you really are," he said quietly, with a surprising calmness in his voice, "A frightened little girl who lashes out when she doesn't get her way."

"Shut up and move." Valerie hissed.