I excuse myself to the bathroom to straighten up, but the minute I lock the cubicle behind me, I sink back against the wall, overwhelmed.
Oh my God.
My heart is racing from my climax, my body on fire.
How does he do this to me?
Vaughn is right, I am dirty. Fucking him on the balcony, where anyone could see. Sure, we were hidden by the barrier, discreetly nestled back in a dark corner away from the crowd. But anyone could have come exploring, anyone could have seen.
Maybe that’s why it felt so damn good.
I quickly clean up and emerge, running cold water over my wrists until my pulse slows. My reflection stares back at me, flushed and sparkling.
That was exactly what I needed.
So much is riding on the gala going well. Everyone is watching to see if there’s discord in the management: if Ashcroft Industries is about to crumble without the man himself at the wheel. I’ve been so nervous, even chatting with people downstairs has felt like a huge battle, but now, thanks to Vaughn and his incredible skills, I feel refreshed and relaxed.
Ready for war.
I reapply my makeup and head back outside. Vaughn said he was going to fetch us some drinks, so I walk back towards the main stairs. The tribute to Ashcroft extends up here too: exhibiting old photographs that track the evolution of the company, capturing the many successes of his life. I donated some pieces from around the estate, but they found others too, from old newspaper articles and archives at the office.
“He was a great man.” An older guy is browsing the display, leaning heavily on a cane.
“You knew him?” I pause.
The man smiles. “Sure did. I was one of his first customers, shipping auto parts back in the day.”
“That’s amazing. I’m glad you could be here tonight,” I add.
“Great guy. Him and Jack too.” The guy shakes his head. “Tragedy what happened.”
“Jack?” I freeze. That was the name on the mystery photograph -- Ashcroft’s old friend.
“Great guy,” The man nods to a photo on the wall. “They founded the company together. I don’t know what went down, but Jack left a few years in. Killed himself not long after, terrible business. Great guy, devoted to his sons.” He gives me a regretful smile. “Time and fate will get us all one day.”
The man slowly walks away, but I stay, looking closer at the image. It’s from the early years, Ashcroft and his buddy, but this one has an official caption too.
Charles Ashcroft and Jack Vaughn.
Vaughn.
Holy shit!
My blood runs cold. It can’t be related. No, it’s a coincidence, it has to be. Plenty of people named Vaughn.
Except Vaughn said his father killed himself too. And every time I talk about Ashcroft, I can see him tense up. I told myself I was imagining things, that he was just taking my side against the man who abandoned my pregnant mother. But now...
Now I realize, he’s been lying to me all this time. Vaughn’s father was Ashcroft’s partner.
But why keep it a secret? What’s he doing here -- with me?
I hurry downstairs, trying to keep my panic under control. There’s a simple explanation, there has to be. I just need to find Vaughn and hear it for myself.
Because if he’s been fooling me for some hidden agenda, using me to infiltrate the family...
I feel sick, but force myself to stay calm. I look around, but it’s a sea of tuxedo and gowns, with no sign of Vaughn in the revelry.
“Keely.” I feel a hand on my arm. It’s Brent.
“Not now.” I shake him off.
“I need to talk to you, right now.”
He looks too happy. I can’t deal with his games right now, so I keep walking. “Later, OK?”
“Keely!” He trails after me. “It’s important.”
“I need to find Vaughn,” I tell him, still looking desperately through the happy faces for any sign of him.
“You’re going to want to hear this then.” Brent grabs me again, and this time I stop. He’s smug, full of satisfaction. “What I have to say concerns your friend.”
I gulp. “What is it?”
“Not here.” Brent looks around. “I have something you need to see. Come with me.”
I pause, torn. I need to talk to Vaughn right now, but Brent is waiting, impatient. Maybe he knows something about Jack and Ashcroft. Maybe he has more information.
“Fine,” I agree. “But you better make it quick.”
Brent grins. “Oh, I will.”
He leads me out of the main ballroom, gesturing someone a security guard to come follow us.
My stomach flips. This can’t be good.
Brent opens the door to a room down the hall from the party. He instructs the security guy to watch the door, then gestures us inside. It’s some kind of office, with a big TV screen on one wall. Brent heads for the video system, and slips a disc into the drive.
“Whatever you have to say, just get on with it.” I try to sound like I’m not cold with dread. “People are waiting for me.”
“It’s not what I have to say, but what I can show you.” Brent turns back to me. “Vaughn isn’t who you think he is.”
My heart pounds so loud I think the whole room can hear. “What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t meet him at a function, like he said.” Brent smiles. “I hired him, a month ago.”
“Hired him...?” I frown, confused. “To do what?”
“To fuck you.”
His words crash through me. I gasp for air and stumble back, collapsing on a chair. “What…? No. You’re lying,” I stammer. “I don’t believe you!”
“It’s true.” Brent smirks, sounding amused. “Your boyfriend is actually a highly-paid gigolo. The Seducer, I believe he calls himself. He’ll screw anyone, for a price. His charge for you was pretty high,” Brent adds. “But it looks like it was worth every penny.”
He hits a button on the remote, and the huge TV screen flickers to life. It’s grainy black-and-white footage of a bedroom somewhere.
“What is that?” I ask, not understanding. This is all too much to take, I don’t believe it. I can’t.
“The Seducer in action,” Brent chuckles. He fast-forwards a couple entering the room, then pauses.
It’s me. Vaughn and I -- in the bedroom at Ashcroft’s estate.
I freeze.
He fast forwards again, “This is my favorite,” he muses cruelly. “Blindfolds. And oh look, bondage. I didn’t realize you were such a kinky bitch.”
I stare at the screen in horror as he plays it out. The night that Vaughn tied me up, it’s all there right in front of me in grainy footage. The spanking, the sex, the passionate screams.
It was all a lie. I was just a job to him, nothing more.
“Make it stop,” I whisper, dizzy.
“But we’re just getting to my favorite part,” Brent laughs cruelly, winding it on again so that Vaughn is fucking me on my hands and knees. He turns up the volume, until our animalistic noises fill the room.
Oh God.
“Stop it. STOP!” I yell, leaping up and grabbing the remote from Brent’s hand. I rip the disc from the machine and grind it with my heel, snapping it in two.
Brent laughs. “I’ve got copies. Fuck, you guys didn’t give it a rest. You really are a dirty little slut.”
My head spins. I feel sick, to see our private, intimate passion playing out for them to see. God, Brent’s been watching it all. All this time!
“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, choking back sobs. I feel so betrayed, like the walls are caving in. “What do you want from me?”
“I want what’s mine.” Brent’s smile drops, and I see the rage hiding under his cruel laughter. His eyes drill into me, full of contempt. “Ashcroft Industries should belong to me. My father must have been out of his mind to think I’d stand by and let anyone steal my company, my property!”
He’s yelling now, spit flying from his mouth at every angry word. I shrink back, scared.
He’s the crazy one, not his father. I can see it in his eyes: he’s way out of control.
Brent catches his breath, dialing it back. “Don’t worry, I’m willing to make you a generous settlement.” He pulls some papers from his jacket pocket, and lays them on the desk. “This contract transfers all your shares to me, and agrees to install me as CEO and publicly back all my proposals for the company.”
“Like breaking it in pieces and selling it off,” I realize in horror, scanning the document.
“You’ll be paid a million dollars for your troubles,” Brent adds with a sneer. “Which is more than compensation, considering it looks like it was no trouble at all.”
He leans closer, sliding his hand over my arm. “If I’d known you were such a filthy animal, we could have had some fun.”
I shudder, pushing him away. “What if I don’t sign?” I think fast. “What happens then?”
“Then I release these tapes on the internet. All of them.”
I feel dizzy again, and hold onto the desk for support. “You can’t...”
Brent gives a cruel laugh. “Oh, I will. Journalists have been buzzing to get to know the new heir to Ashcroft Industries. I bet they’d love to know what a whore you are. I’m guessing a sex tape would trigger that morality clause in five seconds flat. You’d be disinherited, and I’d get the company anyway -- but you’d be a national scandal.”
He pushes a pen towards me. I shake my head. It’s all happening too fast.
“I need to think about this,” I protest weakly.
“What’s there to think about?” Brent scowls. “Either you give me the company, or I ruin your fucking life. You want to be a national joke? Just try and show your face after everyone’s seen you on your knees, gobbling cock like a common whore.”
Tears sting my eyes, and I fight to keep from crying. He’s right. I would never live down a scandal like this. The press has already been asking to feature me, speculating about my life. A sex tape would ruin me forever.
As if my heart isn’t already destroyed knowing the truth about Vaughn.
Suddenly, there’s a commotion outside. “Get the fuck out of my way!”
There’s the sound of a scuffle, then the door flies open and Vaughn comes bursting in.
“Keely!”
The security guard tries to pull him back, but Vaughn shoves him away. “What’s going on?” he demands, “They said you were off with Brent. Are you OK?”
My heart twists. I could almost believe the worry in his eyes is out of concern for me -- that he’s just worried about my safety. But then his gaze slides to Brent, and I see the panic there, like he knows a secret only Brent can tell.
It’s true. Oh God, it’s all true.
“You’re too late.” Brent smirks. “I told her everything.”